Hi, we are travelling to the Dordogne in August via the eurotunnel. We normally stay at Hawthorn Farm near Folkestone because we can arrive at whatever time we can get there and leave early morning. This year we've been thinking about getting a late night eurotunnel and staying at a site the other side preferably between Calais and the Somme region. This would mean arriving late night/early morning but I'm really struggling to find anything like that. We don't fancy staying at an Aire for security reasons.
We wondered if you could recommend anywhere suitable?
Thank you
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You would not have to worry about security at the Aire de la Baie de Somme, the camper/caravan specific parking there is used by many on here. It is an hour south of Calais, there are marked bays for about 10 vans and picnic tables. When you drive off the autoroute keep right and follow the motorhome signs - - first exit at the small roundabout and then a left at the end of that road. We use it every time we arrive in France and have never had any issues, there are always others parked there.
Le Bien Assise at Guines is open until at least 10pm, we have come in there late, you pitch up and pay in the morning. We have also arrived late at Le Pommiers de Trois Pays at Liques, the Warden came out from the bar to see to us. Neither of these were booked in advance.
Both reviewed on here.
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Hi Dobbo, I think It depends on how late your arrival will be.
In the days when went via Calais after work we used to arrive at midnight or later. It never seemed worth paying big money to Bien Assise for a few hours sleep (I see they charge 54 euros in July these days to park in their overflow area). And I was usually too tired to drive for another hour down to Baie de Somme service area and risk it being full. So we just cruised around Calais town till we saw a car park where other outfits were - trucks, motorhomes, market traders or gypsy travellers - and pulled in with them to grab bit of sleep wherever we could. I became quite an expert on Calais car parks, but in the end we retired and decided to use other routes.
Thanks for all the replies, it would be around midnight or later so that rules a lot of the options out. The travel to Baie de Somme would be OK but we've called there a few times for a short rest and all but twice we haven't managed to get in as a lot of the caravan spaces were taken up by motorhomes or cars. I've also read some horror stories about security there although that wasn't recently. I think we might have to do our usual stay at Hawthorn Farm then get an early morning crossing which isn't an issue, we were just wanting a bit of a head start the next day.
There is a site which whilst not actually open late, has an arrangement for pre-booked late arrivals where they inform you of your pitch number and you just drive in. It is Les Epinettes at Peuplingues, which is also in the right direction for you. Email them to find out if they are still accepting late arrivals and what the current arrangement is.
L escale 20 minutes from the tunnel near Wacquinham is where we stay. If reception is closed you go round the back of reception find a pitch and stop, then pay in the morning 19 pn. It used to be arrive and depart anytime day or night. Just email them to double check.
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Best bet is a supermarket car park. It is what we do. From Calais 10mins down A16 take exit to Marquise. Turn left then up to roundabout. Look over to your left see an Intermarche supermarket Large car park & fuel pumps you can get onto with caravan.