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Getting a bit twitchy now as we have booked a site near Sarlat for last 2 weeks in August,however worried that the weather could be a bit iffy so am thinking of trying the Ardeche where the weather for all accounts is spot on.Can anyone suggest a site suitable for 2 five year old grandchildren and within walking distance of a town.Looking at a few but find best recommendatrions come from first hand experience.Oh and possible route from tunnel would be appreciated.

Many thks

Taffy

L'Ardechois is within walking distance of vallon, and very highly recommended, but is very expensive.

Edit: we changed site at the very last minute (with three days to go!) last year from Dordogne to Ardeche as the forecast was dodgy, and had a fantastic time. The Ardeche is fab! 

We are going back to Domaine de Gil for the third time this July, at the village of Ucel, no shops or bars, in Ucel but Val's les Bains is within easy walking distance, all flat and just under 1 mile walk.

Val Les Bains has plenty of shops and a full on market at least once per week, no big supermarket but there are a couple of Spar type mini-markets, and a superb tourist information centre, interesting art gallery and large municipal swimming pool next to the park were events are often happening.

You can get the autobus into Aubenas from Val les Bains which is the largest town in the Ardeche, only 3 miles from Val les Bains and the bus ride is €1 return!.

As for route we use the Autoroute on the East side, past Reims, Dijon etc, and exit at either at Valence or Montelimar, for the country road into Aubenas.

We have Car+Trailer, so only pay the car rate on the Tolls, which worked out at £106 return (£53 each way).

I guess you can double the Tolls for having a Caravan, Val on here has a superb Western route, almost none Toll with plenty of Autoroute sections, which are marked as Toll free on both Michelin and iG maps.

Hope that helps.

Thks for the replies looked at Domaine de gil and waiting for aprice from them and if they have availability.As for getting there tolls are a bit steep especially as i've got a caravan and only 2 days to get there going no toll route will probably be pushing it will try and find out Val's route though.Keep the info coming its very helpful.

Camping Indigo Moulin in St.Martin D'Ardeche is a cracking little site next to a safe river for the kids to play in. Site has open pitches so it feels a bit 'au naturale'.

The village is literally 100 metres walk and is very lively in high season. This area tends to be quieter than the tourist honeytraps further up the valley at Vallon.

We took our two small children to this site a few years back and they loved it.

Steve

PS. You should be ok in Sarlat though. The site at Beynac is my fauv all time site.

Quote: Originally posted by taffy648 on 17/6/2012

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Thks for the replies looked at Domaine de gil and waiting for aprice from them and if they have availability.As for getting there tolls are a bit steep especially as i've got a caravan and only 2 days to get there going no toll route will probably be pushing it will try and find out Val's route though.Keep the info coming its very helpful.

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The route Francais mentions is Calais to Abbeville using either the toll road to Abbeville, or coming off at Boulogne, and using the N road, or taking the N road from Dunkerque towards St Omer, Hesdin, and then Abbeville.  From there to Rouen, Rouen to Evreux, Dreux, Chartres, Orleans, Vierzon, cross-country to St Pierre le Moutier, Moulins, Gannat, Clermont Ferrand, and then down the A75.  Take the Brioude exit and head towards Le Puy, but take the Le Puy bypass, then the road from there toward Langogne,  but don't go into the town - then Aubenas, and you're in the Ardeche.  We've done it entirely toll-free - but would advise avoiding Orleans centre by paying the small amount in tolls to go on one junction before Orleans, and then off just south of Orleans and back on to the N154.

It's not for those in a tearing hurry, it runs through some beautiful countryside once you get past Orleans (ish) and it's a route to 'savour' rather than just rush down as quick as you can!