Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums

Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
  Caravanning and Camping Abroad
Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: Driving to the Vendee on Black Saturday!
Page:  1  2 Post Reply Post New Topic
15/7/2015 at 11:18pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View simonamyjakeuk's Profile View Profile   Reply to simonamyjakeuk Reply   Quote simonamyjakeuk Quote  
Joined: 14/9/2006

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   347

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hello Sarah and thank you

-------------
2017
June honeymoon
August not sure. Yet
Sep long weekend Rome
October week. In Devon

2018


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


16/7/2015 at 8:50am
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View MisterB1959's Profile View Profile   Reply to MisterB1959 Reply   Quote MisterB1959 Quote  
Joined: 24/10/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1252

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

you could possibly avoid nantes by taking the route from rennes towards st nazaire? I am going back to blighty to collect the boss and the other boss (daughter) today (thursday) so will let you know re progress around Nantes, which is always busy, and any hold ups along the west(?) route, over the bridge.


16/7/2015 at 8:50am
 Location: West Sussex
 Outfit: Canvas frame tent &
View latecamper's Profile View Profile   Reply to latecamper Reply   Quote latecamper Quote  
Joined: 20/7/2007

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1137

Site Reviews Total: 4
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

As Val mentioned earlier Bison Futé is the place to go for information. There is a excellent pdf with loads of info about traffic in summer. It has maps and a calender showing the black and red days . This is the link. You will need to translate it though. translate

It mentions that the month of August is often a time when they choose to do road works, "This work then generate traffic problems that may be disadvantageous for the road users in transit." Now there's a surprise!

It makes interesting reading while you are planning your holiday. Anything that me closer to the time when we go makes me happy, even if its reading about bouchons.

Latecamper



16/7/2015 at 5:25pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Baguette95's Profile View Profile   Reply to Baguette95 Reply   Quote Baguette95 Quote  
Joined: 24/4/2013

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   666

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

We're off to La Vendee too, but from the website, the route from Dieppe looks roadworks free! Here's hoping!


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


16/7/2015 at 7:48pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View Sarahturner9's Profile View Profile   Reply to Sarahturner9 Reply   Quote Sarahturner9 Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2015

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   7

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thanks for the new replies.

Yes please Dave if you could report back on how you find the journey around Nantes that would be helpful.


Advertisement



16/7/2015 at 8:06pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View Sarahturner9's Profile View Profile   Reply to Sarahturner9 Reply   Quote Sarahturner9 Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2015

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   7

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Looking at the map, as the Rennes to St Nazaire route is closer to the Coast, I wonder if that may be more busy as a lot of French families will be haeading towards the coast for holidays? Happy to be corrected though.

Maybe a more inland route would be better?

I'm envious of you having the clear route from Dieppe, Baguette! Ironically I thought from St Malo would mean less time spend on the road...


18/7/2015 at 2:32pm
 Location: Gloucestershire
 Outfit: Vango Euphoria 600
View camp-cat's Profile View Profile   Reply to camp-cat Reply   Quote camp-cat Quote  
Joined: 17/9/2010

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   111

Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 10
Site Nights 2018: 0

We mistakenly travelled on Black Saturday a few years ago. 8 hours from Calais to just past Paris and then all day the following day to get across to the coast. Was horrendous and we vowed, never, ever again. Good luck if you have to do it though x

-------------
Cath - Cinderella is living proof that shoes can change your life!


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


19/7/2015 at 12:53pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View Sarahturner9's Profile View Profile   Reply to Sarahturner9 Reply   Quote Sarahturner9 Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2015

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   7

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Thanks for being honest camp-cat, but I'm dreading it even more now.

Has anyone else travelled on Black Saturday before and can share their experience?


19/7/2015 at 1:32pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Berriow's Profile View Profile   Reply to Berriow Reply   Quote Berriow Quote  
Joined: 21/12/2010

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   3980

Site Reviews Total: 53
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 1  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 1

Sarah, did you say you are going to gite, so not towing?

Just spread out a big road map and mark in a route on the roads coloured yellow, miss out all the main roads and big cities, and you'll have a pleasant journey through places you never heard of, and see no traffic at all. You are not going all that far and have got all day to get there.

You might even stop at a village restaurant for lunch - we had four courses and half a litre of cider for £8.50 last week, but the coffee was extra. Relax, it's a holiday.


19/7/2015 at 8:04pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Avondale 555-4 & santa fe crtd-cdx
View Bud53's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bud53 Reply   Quote Bud53 Quote  
Joined: 08/9/2010

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   21

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hi, i would agree with what Dave said, go for St. nazaire and over the bridge, only traffic issues we ever have is people slowing down at the top to take in the view! we sre going Roscoff to la moth Achard on weds morning, once over the bridge, you can cut across country on the quiet country roads.
Dave, dont know your area, but when my daughter came out to see us for a week last year, she got a flight from Liverpool to Nantes for around £75.00 return


Advertisement



19/7/2015 at 10:26pm
 Location: south west
 Outfit: Rialto caravan combi tr quecha tents
View suechick43's Profile View Profile   Reply to suechick43 Reply   Quote suechick43 Quote  
Joined: 16/7/2010

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   347

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Hello,

It's OK it's not that bad if you plan for it.

We got caught a couple of times on this route, our daughter as an infant and then later on as a 6-7 year old: and then with another family travelling together.
We got stuck in some massive queues and on one occasion got stuck for around three hours and our water ran out in really hot temperatures.
We have now learnt and do the following:-
1) The night before we leave we freeze small bottles of water and loads them into a cooler box in the car. We also have additional water in the boot. With young children we get ice-poles as they are great for cooling them down if you get stuck in the heat.
2) we always get off the ferry and drive for at least an hour and then we stop in a large supermarket for toilets and supplies e.g water, bread, snacks, fillings for lunch or to eat on the way. We then drive for the rest of the day, just stopping at aires for toilet breaks and a lunch type picnic break.
3) I always plot on the map the aires that you can stop at, so you can see ahead how far you have to go before that next stop.
4) we carry plenty of games, activities, one year we used video screens with dvd's, but most of the time if they are comfortable enough they just go to sleep.

In the long run we learnt to book for the end of week crossing Thursday or Friday, drive down and stay somewhere south of Nantes for the night (there are lots of fab stop-overs). We then resume travelling on Saturday morning around 9am and get on the way before there are further build ups.

The Via Michelin site, is good for weather, routes and traffic reports showing you delays. I found that it even showed you the worst time to travel on sections on certain dates. I think Nantes is worse on that date from 11-1pm.

Good luck and don't be too scared, after all it's an adventure, you could get all Frech-i-fied and have your picnic in the Nantes aire whilst you wait for it to pass.


-------------
sueze


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


19/7/2015 at 11:02pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View Sarahturner9's Profile View Profile   Reply to Sarahturner9 Reply   Quote Sarahturner9 Quote  
Joined: 13/7/2015

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   7

Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Many thanks for the new tips.


21/7/2015 at 11:25pm
 Location: NOTTS
 Outfit: TENT
View christian3's Profile View Profile   Reply to christian3 Reply   Quote christian3 Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2012

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   330
Tent Reviews:   1

Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Got caught a few years ago comig back from the east coast of Spain , bottle neck traffic jam coming into France , sat there for a few hours then it all sort of eased off. Not good at time as air con was broken and heat can make you groggy and grumpy 😳
Just sit back turn air con up and think of the wine / beer at journeys end!

Good luck


22/7/2015 at 8:20am
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View MisterB1959's Profile View Profile   Reply to MisterB1959 Reply   Quote MisterB1959 Quote  
Joined: 24/10/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1252

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

nantes ring road over the bridge was CLEAR on sunday afternoon, though we did notice a much more heavier amount of traffic from rouen all the way to nantes. lots of caravans, cars loaded up etc, but traffic was pretty much free flowing.


lay in bed, contemplating whether to get up and face the morning vendee sun !! last couple of days have been quite cloudy but very warm/humid, but its clear blue sky and sun this morning !!

Post last edited on 22/07/2015 08:28:18


22/7/2015 at 8:39am
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View Baguette95's Profile View Profile   Reply to Baguette95 Reply   Quote Baguette95 Quote  
Joined: 24/4/2013

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   666

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Good for you Dave! It's foggy up here in the Shropshire Hills!
We arrive in Dieppe late Sunday night & aim to drive through the wee small hours, (we've got a cabin for the evening before we do!) so that we'll arrive in Apremont on Monday morning at the crack of sparrowfart!
My automatic, (so Mr Baggers & I can share the driving,) goes into the garage today. Fingers crossed!


22/7/2015 at 1:02pm
 Location: 
 Outfit: 
View MisterB1959's Profile View Profile   Reply to MisterB1959 Reply   Quote MisterB1959 Quote  
Joined: 24/10/2009

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1252

Site Reviews Total: 2
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0

Mrs Bag, hopefully it wont need too much doing to it, then you can get back into the sun !! strange, it always seems to take less time if Mrs B drives, however much traffic is on the road, she claims its nothing to do with her inability to work out the maximum speed limits ......

Sarah, Im sure everything will be ok, busy but it should be moving traffic, we tend to freeze a bottle of juice the night before, it works great as an ice pack and then later in the day as an ice cold drink that isn't fizzy !!! if you've got air con, don't forget to make sure its working etc



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

  Prev       Next

Jump To Page:  1  2

Quick Links - All Forums - Caravanning and Camping Abroad - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...














7745 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement


Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar


Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder