Hi CKLawden
I was recently asked about this but it may have been on another forum. I am pasting my Travel Log of our holiday at Bois Soleil about 4 years ago. Hope this helps. we had a great time and it is a good site. Let me know if I can be of more assistance
LOG
This site is really three sites. There are completely separate camping areas. “La Foret” is across the road and in the pine trees. This area mostly contained the static and holiday caravans. “Les Pins” is all touring caravans and has approximately 160 pitches. It is well laid out in terraces and hedging separates pitches. The pine trees provide some shade but they do not hide the sun. “La Mer” leads directly to the beach. The front section nearest the beach contains French seasonal static and mobile homes. The rest of this section is for touring caravans and again has approximately 160 pitches. “La Mer” leads directly over the dunes to the beach. It is used only in the high season although due to the busy nature of the whole site there were a few campers on it when we were there.
Each section has its own shower and toilet block and undercover food preparation and dish and clothes washing area. All are regularly cleaned and hot water is free and plentiful. Reception is in “Les Pins” along with shop, boulangerie; take away, laundry, restaurant and bar. There is a very well equipped play area along with tennis courts and mini golf. The shop is very well stocked and is like a mini market. Everything was available from toys and shoes to wine and fresh produce. Although prices were slightly above supermarket levels they were not excessive and we could have bought everything there. Our visit was the last two weeks in June and the site was busy.
Pitch sizes varied from tent size to twin axle plus awning plus 4-track plus separate gazebo area! I had e-mailed a reservation the week before which was promptly confirmed along with a request for caravan size and preferences for shade or open pitch and whether I wished to be near toilet or beach etc. On arrival I was greeted warmly and given a choice of available pitches that satisfied my criteria. The pitches themselves are gravel and sand based. Water and waste are adjacent to each pitch so no long walks are necessary. I was able to connect my aqua roll mains adapter and have a permanent water connection throughout the stay. Due to the terracing I was on the low side of the drain otherwise I could have run the long waste pipes directly to the drain.
The site is family orientated and a “no noise after 2200” hours rule is enforced. The main attraction of this site is of course the beach. This is fifty yards from “Les Pins” or “La Mer”. The sand is golden and stretches all the way to St. Georges de Didonne (a forty minute paddle through the water) Round the point from there are another long stretch of sand all the way to Royan. The other direction is full of little coves and seaside villages etc. it is a veritable Blackskegmouth on sea but more peaceful and a lot prettier and cleaner.
All in all this was one of the better sites we have been to in France. (And we have been on a few) it is the first time we have been on a coastal site. The whole place has a great atmosphere. It was helped by the weather. After an inauspicious start of cloudy warm for two days we then had completely cloudless skies for 12 days with temperatures to match. One day showed 36C on the external gauge and 42 in the caravan with the fans running!
As far as entertainment goes there is a weekly karaoke and live singers in the restaurant on a Sunday. This was low season so perhaps there is more in high season. But we found it very pleasant.
Surrounding areas
There is much to see and do. Every one has their own personal itinerary of what they wish to do and see so the following is ours to give a flavour.
We visited St. Emilion [50 miles] as this is Isobel’s favourite of favourites in the FDJ stakes. The village itself is fabulously pretty perched on the hill as you approach. It dates back hundreds of years. Even if you do not like wine it has to experienced.
La Rochelle is an absolute must. We joined the locals at lunch in one of the many cafes of the Vieux Port. This area is famous the world over for its seafood so I had to start with Moules Mariniere. [Mussels in a wine sauce with shallots and herbs] Sit there in the sun on the quayside with the French and enjoy a lengthy lunch and watch the world go by. There is nothing better. We were also privileged on this day to be in La Rochelle for the arrival of all the yachts on the BT Global Challenge round the world yacht race. They had docked at the end of the penultimate stage. A day we shall not forget in a hurry.
The Isle d’Oleron is another worthwhile visit. If you cross the viaduct at low tide you can see all the flat bottom fishing boats whizzing out to the oyster beds. The harbour at La Cotiniere is especially pretty. We spent a pleasant couple of hours people watching in the hot sun.
The weather was so hot we were very lazy and never ended up going to Bordeaux, Saintes or Rochefort. Royan was interesting. It has a huge marina and excellent waterside restaurants. St Palais sur Mer is a lovely fishing village. Meschers has Troglodyte dwellings to visit.
We all choose our own favourite places to visit. I never travel without the Michelin green guide for the area of our holiday. It is so useful and full of hints and tips for the area. I always keep a log of our travels and a brochure of the sites we have visited. If anyone reads this report and wants further information in the future I can land mail copies of site plans etc if requests are e-mailed to me. Any other information I will help with as long as you realise that comments are my personal views. We visit France out of the high season so what I find good those with young children may not. However I think all ages will find something at Le Bois Soleil. For ourselves we shall definitely return.
I have not quoted any prices as they vary. We were using the excellent Camping Cheques.
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DavidC
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Topic: bois soleil Royan France
