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Topic: Starting to panic!

heg1

14/8/2012 at 9:50pm
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Hi All, after some big thunderstorms in the Loire Valley last summer (but a great site/pitch) and a second week in the Biarritz with a horrible pitch and a long, long drive home I promised my kids and husband to get our camping hols in France right this year. My daughter was so scared of the storms we had that this year I have booked our ferry but no site as yet, I am waiting for the weather reports! So far this year we have only camped once, the 1st May bank holiday weekend when it was a freezing -4 but it was a fab pitch/site in the Lakes and even in the freezing weather we had a lovely time. I have learnt from last year and our May trip that its so important to get the site and pitch right. So I am starting to panic that I need to forget the weather and book somewhere now.
What we would like - my husband has said that he really does not want to drive more than 4.5 hours from Calais. The kids ages 3,5,7 want a great pool with slides and a lake / beach to play at, I want a nice big pitch and good shower block etc... and some sun! Can you all help we go Wed 22 August for a week? Everywhere next Wed seems to be cloudy with rain and I really would love some sun. We are camping this Friday (17-08 till Tuesday (21-08)in Bala with friends so will go straight to France from Wales. Do I need to book a site by this Friday (after this time I wont have access to a computer) or shall I wait till next week and just turn up at a site in France? Any help would be appreciated as its my husband and daughters birthdays whilst we are away so I want to be a nice, special holiday and for them to love camping again!

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bridgeywidge

14/8/2012 at 11:08pm
Location: North Herts
Outfit: Monterey4 Cabanon E

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I can't advise you on a site, but I think booking in advance and knowing you have a pitch would give you peace of mind: nothing worse after a long drive to be finding there's no room at the inn...

I know what I'd rather do, even if it is after the main French frenetic vacances period.

Biarritz was a long drive (I've done it) so completely understand the need for a shorter journey.

I hope you find what you are looking for and have a great trip.

-------------
Do campers 'peg it'?

franbee

14/8/2012 at 11:42pm
Location: Lancashire
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I can't advise you on a site either, however it is said that the south of France starts south of the Loire, along with it's weather, and that might fulfil the travel time you require.

TethersEnd

14/8/2012 at 11:51pm
Location: Welsh in the Cotswolds
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I'd echo franbee's description of the french climate

Don't stop before the Loire unless you are content with only a slight difference to UK. Loire downwards the crops in the fields change - cos the weather is different.

-------------
Huw

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

Pennine Plodder

15/8/2012 at 2:50pm
Location: Wakefield West York
Outfit: Swift Basecamp+ Fo

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On the other hand we were so lucky with the weather this summer. Both Normandy and the Vendee were lovely. As for sites. Your OH is limiting you with a 4 ish hour drive, though for a week I can understand this. The Moulin Fort on the Cher has a pool and is on the side of a river. Le Picard has a pool - it's in Normandy and I think the pitches are a reasonable size. - probably within the 4 ish hour drive from Calais. I seem to remember a site north of Amiens getting a good write up recently. Val A is a font of knowledge re sites.
Good luck and enjoy!

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Some days are diamonds.......

minicamper2001

15/8/2012 at 5:31pm
Location: West country
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I would not book at that time, just go for the sunshine. Have at least 3 sites picked out in each of the different areas you might head for, then you will be sure to find a pitch - promise! Does your 4.5 hours include motorways? If so, you will have a much greater choice of area. No promises about the thunderstorms though, hot sunny days can lead eventually to a storm in summer.

dubs1978

15/8/2012 at 5:49pm
Location: Birmingham
Outfit: Pennine Pullman

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We did a similar camp last year, one week in the Loire and one week nr Biscarosse. We had dry hot weather in the Loire, but on the coast we had lots of rain/thunder and a flooded pitch! So because of this, and the extra drive/fuel we decided to just stick to the Loire again.

While the long range forcast for the next few weeks has to be taken with a pinch of salt, it doesn't look too bad where we are heading. We arrive in France early Sunday and it's mid to high 20's with some sunny and some rainy days, but this could change so you never know.

I'm not really a 'fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants' holiday maker and with two small children prefer to book and know where we are going. This can mean that I scare myself silly over reviews but TBH if you have your own accommadation how bad can a campsite really be!?

For us the Loire is really the maximum drive we want to do in a day and don't want to head to the coast as that didn't exactly work out as I planned last year with lots of rain. Yes, sunshine too, but more rain than I had thought we'd have and having spent a dry week in the Loire it was a tad annoying that we'd travelled for more 'sun' and ended up camping in a soggy puddle on two different days (it was crazy, our whole tent was surrounded by water, and our tent was pretty big!)

Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!

Val A

15/8/2012 at 6:12pm
Location: West - North Yorkshire
Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate

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The weather map doesn't look bad to me (La Chaine Meteo) - though four and a half hours from Calais isn't going to take you that far.

I'd echo minicampers advice - just have a Plan A (with a couple of suitable sites), a plan B with more sites, and a Plan C - for each area you fancy. Then find the weather forecast and head in the direction of whichever of your chosen areas has the best weather.

heg1

16/8/2012 at 8:49pm
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Thanks so much for the reply's, I have finally got the kids to sleep so I can now look at that weather site Val. PenninePlodder I will look at those sites you mentioned and yes Dubs1978 I think we too will stick to the Loire! My husband is back from working away tomorrow so I think I will make a list like you all suggest maybe Normandy as a back up! Minicooper2001 it does include the motorways they are so good in France and the services are a great standard, it helps so much on a long journey with small kids! Now I better get on and decide on a site I think this part is exciting, part of the holiday. I will look at the site feedbacks on here which are great! Thanks again.

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