Message Forums

Hi want to camp in France this year for the first time.We have a dog and a 10 year old so the on site facilities need to accomodate.Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Many thanks Rob

Hi Rob,

whereabouts do you want to go? This is a BIG country.

Hi

World's your oyster really. Neither your little 'un nor the hound will restrict your options much in terms being allowed on sites. So, it just depends what you want; coast / sights / waterslides / short drive from ferry etc. Let us know more, then maybe we can make some suggestions.

I've never taken a dog over, but I know the vaccines program takes a while, so you'll need to have begun that already I think.

TT.

Hi trekkin

we do not want to travel much more than 2hrs into france,coastal site would be good as iam a windsurfer,sights are good as well

Thanks for your reply Rob

Are you limited to the Calais crossing? If not, 2 hrs from a western port opens out a lot more options.

TT

From Essex it's likely you'll be choosing Dover/Calais or similar - so in a couple of hours drive you're talking about Normandy/Pas de Calais (ie on the channel) - not sure about the wind-surfing here, but the Normandy beaches (Second World War - history, etc) would seem the best choice.  There's loads of lovely sites within reach of the battlefields, depends what you like.  Go a bit further afield (Normandy/Brittany borders, and you've wilder coastline, rocky walks, lighthouses, small bays, etc).   Port L'Epine is highly recommended by friends of ours, and we've done Chateau des Ormes a couple of times - but this is quite a treck from Calais.   Now we usually go further south, but I'm sure someone can point you in the direction of other lovely sites in the north.  We stay overnight on the way down/back at Chateau de Gandspette - and that's a good site for first-timers - only 40 minutes from the port - good facilities, pool, nice (cheap) restaurant, good sized pitches, clean 'facilities', child-friendly, patisserie within walking distance - but very quiet area, though lots of war history (Blockhaus at Eperleques - very moving, La Cupole in St Omer, etc) and natural history - canals, castles, etc.  However, southern France is a different kettle of fish, with amazing sites around each turn in the road - but give newcomers year or two and they're all venturing further south!!!).