Advice needed for October/November in France (1 Viewer)

[The Cruisers]

We are going to France for the last week in October (just 5 days, half term) and it will be the first time in our MH. We want to try just Aires so have bought the Aires book. We are only there for 4 nights so won't be going very far.
We are booking the tunnel using our Tesco vouchers so that won't cost anything, which is great. We were thinking of just going as far as Honfleur in Normandy or into Northern France somewhere. We like little fishing villages, lakes, canals or fortified towns, etc. If you have any favourites or even ones that are a definite "no no" then can you please let us know about them. I realise there are loads but would like to go to recommended ones first. Next year we will be more adventurous.
I know I shouldn't listen to all the scaremongering about gassing, thefts, breathing in dust, etc but it does worry me a bit. I am not going to let it put me off as we have been waiting to roam around in our MH and not just stay on a site.

Thanks

 

[Munchie]

Montreuil sur mer. Walled old town 40 mins from Calais. Campsite and there is an Aire.
Supermarket on outskirts and great restaurants,

 

[busby]

You shouldn't listen to any scare mongering. Safe as houses.No different to motor homing in UK except its more motor home friendly...BUSBY.

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[Adrian & Alison]

I know I shouldn't listen to all the scaremongering about gassing, thefts, breathing in dust, etc but it does worry me a bit. I am not going to let it put me off as we have been waiting to roam around in our MH and not just stay on a site.

Thanks

Please don't let it worry you, once you have been there a couple of days you wont want to go home ..

Montreuil sur mer. Walled old town 40 mins from Calais. Campsite and there is an Aire.
Supermarket on outskirts and great restaurants,

Yep i will second that

 

[Stealaway]

You obviously need to get your confidence.
In over 3 years at home and abroad we have no problems what so ever and we wild camp and uses aires exclusively.
There is no such thing as gassing, most robbery's are simply because people have forgot to lock the doors!
I'm sure you will feel much happier when you have a had great time in France.
Don't dismiss Belgium there are some wonderful places to see - Ypres - free aire just out side the city walls, you must see the last post. (at 8.00pm every night) Brugge is stunning, with a pay aire very close to the old town.

 

[filopastry]

Tis B.S. the gassing tales, everyone hears them but NO-ONE actually knows a single person to whom it has happened and has filed a report with Gendarmes and/or visited a hospital. I for one would do BOTH if such a thing happened ergo .... RUBBISH !!! We have lived in France now for more than 10 years where we both work, French love it when you try and speak french so .... jump in .... give it a go ..... learn a few words of French and don't be scared to make a fool of yourself, if they laugh you can be sure they will be laughing WITH you and not AT you ....... bloody 'ell I'll be signing the sodding La Marseillaise next ... ENJOY you will not look back ....... cos you might see meeee .......................... BOO!

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[Fenman]

That's a great time to go to Honfleur. It is so pretty and when it is not crowded with the summer visitors it's far better.
Bayeux is interesting to go and see the tapestry.
St Valery sur Somme is also a nice little fishing village. Willie the Conq and his fleet tied up there before setting sail the next day to visit England - liked it so much he stayed. There are two lovely fish shops on the quay if you like seafood. Or there were when we last visited a fair while ago.
Just chill and enjoy and ignore all the b/s that you read in the publications that jokingly call themselves "news"papers.

 

[The Cruisers]

Thanks for your replies. I think Honfleur is a definite. Will look up St Valery sur Somme as well.
Thanks - if there are any more recommendations I'd like to know about them please.

Fenman I just looked at the link www segue prior eu. Wow what a pretty village. Is it possible to park a MH there?

 

[Fenman]

Fenman I just looked at the link www segue prior eu. Wow what a pretty village. Is it possible to park a MH there?

Last year they put up notices forbidding overnighting on the "village green" area but since it has been spruced up and the new magnificant toilet block built those notices have gone and not been replaced.
So this summer we had motorhomes staying for a night quite often. But there's no hook-ups or anything.
So, though not official, the answer seems to be yes you can.
Just be aware that whilst the village is alive in July and August it is much, much quieter the rest of the time. Sadly the chateau is private so can't be visited. We are in the process of making a lot of tablets to go on the many ancient houses explaining their history but they will not be up until next year - in fact I am doing the English translation for them and I haven't seen the French originals yet! Typically French, it's only been talked about for 3 years!
We are back home now after nigh on 9 weeks there and missing it terribly.
If you visit I hope you enjoy.

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[scotjimland]

Boulogne-sur-Mer

Campercontact http://www.campercontact.com/en/fra...72/motorhome-parking-aire-de-camping-car.aspx

Good aire which has some grassy pitches.. €5.25 , water €3 .. easy to find , it is at the top of the hill as you come into town on the D940

We spend three nights here .. plenty to see and do in the town.. which you can walk to..

The walled part of the city is worth visiting

From Wiki
Sights


The Belfry is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


Our Lady's Basilica towers over the city.


Boulogne's Castle Museum
Boulogne's 12th century belfry is one of 56 in northeastern France and Belgium with shared World Heritage Site status. It is the oldest building in the upper city, and currently serves as the home to a museum of Celtic remains from the Roman occupation. Founded as the Counts' dungeon, the top floor was added in the 13th century. Damage by a fire in 1712 was built over by 1734.[5]

• Medieval walls long 1,500 metres with 4 gates and 17 towers from 13th century
• Medieval castle, whose foundations date to Roman times. It houses an Egyptian art collection
• Gothic church of St. Nicholas, housing several 15th century statues
• Cathedral basilica of Notre-Dame, with a dome standing at over 100 m. The crypt is one of the largest in France, and has Roman, Romanesque and Gothic elements.
• Opened in 1991, Nausicaä - The French National Sea Centre is a science centre entirely dedicated to the relationship between mankind and the sea. It houses Aquaria, exhibitions on the marine fauna, and the exploitation and management of marine resources (fisheries, aquaculture, coastal planning, maritime transport, exploitation of energies and mineral, tourism).
• The Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, created during the Great War

Map https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...s0x47dc2c40b157a363:0x40af13e8163fb30!6m1!1e1

 

[The Cruisers]

Lots of info there thanks to you both.

 

[Steve101uk]

You may want to consider avoiding the toll roads, you get to see a lot more of France. Places I recommend to the west of the tunnel are Le Crotoy, Le Treport further on Saint Vallery en Caux and to the East Gravelines, then into Belgium for Ypres and Burgge. We are a little bit addicted to going to France and will be going for our third visit next week, Normandy this time. It's perfectly safe and easier to Motorhome in France, My golden rule's are stay near other vans overnight at aires or campsite and never stay on motorway aires.

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[Viennese]

On your way down to Honfleur have a look at Fecamp and Etretat - lovely seaside towns!

 

[The Cruisers]

Thanks again. We have spent bit of time this morning looking at aires. We are thinking Honfleur, Neufchâtel en Bray, Rugles, Fecamp, Etretat, and Long.
Boulogne sur mer and Segur are definitely on our list for next year.
Laser10 I have looked at your aires gallery - lovely photos.

 

[Lenny HB]

Only one thing you need to know about France:-

It's Motorhome Heaven

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