1st French Tour! Route / aires advice needed 😊

[Pocket Rocket]

So … we’re new Motorhomers, and setting off on our maiden voyage in our new motorhome with a 2 month tour of France at the end of May (after a “test weekend” in the UK). Kind of jumping right on in with a big European trip, but we have a positive attitude and a sense of adventure! Plus seeking advice from all you more experienced folks

Rough plan - Eurotunnel, one night at campsite (pre-booked) within 50km near(ish) to A16, then …

- heading for Loire (Blois / Tours) - route advice? I’ve heard about Rouen Any recommended quiet green aires, or low-cost camping sites with direct access to river (we have a kayak) and cycle routes (we have road bikes) near the Loire

- heading down to Dordogne, hopefully following Vezere valley then along Dordogne river via La Rocque Gageac. Are the roads narrow, will we have problems with a 7.2m motorhome (usual 2.35m wide)? Any recommended aires / camp sites?

- heading east over towards Clermont-Ferrand, but want to avoid the city and stay in the Volcans national park - any recommendations?

- heading further east via Lyon to the Alps. Where we end up will depend on the weather, but considering the Ecrin, Vanoise, or Mont Blanc areas. Aires / campsite suggestions?

- finally, if the weather is good, we’d like to go over to the Swiss Alps! Probably just the Matterhorn / Jungfrau / Eiger areas. Aires don’t seem that common in Switzerland so any recommendations for low cost camping sites appreciated

Many thanks all

 

[Lenny HB]

You don't need to book in France as you have two months just go with the flow, some of our best trips to France have when we have gone and not had a clue where we were going.
We never use campsites in France (or most other places), so many Aires and wild spots.
The massive Central is great for walking, plenty of Aires.

Links to quite a few of my trips in my signature

 

[FIDGET]

Hi Pocket rocket
Welcome , we love France , and use mostly free or reasonably priced Aires , one thing to think about is gas , no calor or flogas available in France , when we went I took an extra 6 kg in the side locker but I've only gone for 4 weeks at a time.
I will look back at my trips and try to find somef nice Aires by Loire also canals lakes etc later as currently sat on campsite
Terry

 

[HugoBNB]

Sounds like a nice trip.
There are masses of places to stay. Use "Search for Sites".
The beginning of your route is our usual way to the house. We use a short blast of toll roads and taking a direct route to Rouen. Thereafter, we use "avoid tolls" to get to Tours and it is a very pleasant route. After Tours and your Loire bit, drop through the centre. La Roche Pose - St Savin (abbeye) - Chauvigny - La Trimouille (our closest village where you will get a fantastic reception form Ken and Nicky (who are ex-motorhomers) and good grub, at their Cafe de Centre). There is a river there where you could paddle a bit and a free car park (no services) just up from the Credit Agricole bank on the main road through. Montmorillon is another nice town close by. There is a campsite and a free aire in the town. Henry at Bar Commerce will also give you a good welcome. Restaurant Lucullus in Hotel de France is top quality. After that in the direction of Limoges is Oradour-sur-Glanne, it is worth a visit but it can be a sobering experience. Form there Lac de Saint-Pardoux. There is all sorts there with watersportss. Further down again, Brantôme is a lovely stop. There is an paid aire there right in the town. We stayed there a month ago and they were digging in new electricity points. I doubt they will have it finished but, all the other services were functional.
A few things, apologies in advance you already have them covered.
Decent tool kit
Spare wheel?
What type of gas? Calor is not available out there. You can get a local bottle but you will need a different pigtail or adapter.
Have a safe and a great time.

 

[TizzyOnTour]

Hi Pocket rocket
Welcome , we love France , and use mostly free or reasonably priced Aires , one thing to think about is gas , no calor or flogas available in France , when we went I took an extra 6 kg in the side locker but I've only gone for 4 weeks at a time.
I will look back at my trips and try to find somef nice Aires by Loire also canals lakes etc later as currently sat on campsite
Terry

Good advice in our opinion. If you have re-fillable gas installed, it is usually widely available and you just need the appropriate adaptor for the pump to fill your gas.

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[mitzimad]

if your kyakers i wouldnt miss the gorge du tarn lots of site all the way along we prefer the far side of the valley(east?) as it get the sun more

 

[BikerGraham]

if your kyakers i wouldnt miss the gorge du tarn lots of site all the way along we prefer the far side of the valley(east?) as it get the sun more

Yep canoed down the gorge. Fantastic experience

 

[chaser]

Hi Pocket rocket
Welcome , we love France , and use mostly free or reasonably priced Aires , one thing to think about is gas , no calor or flogas available in France , when we went I took an extra 6 kg in the side locker but I've only gone for 4 weeks at a time.
I will look back at my trips and try to find somef nice Aires by Loire also canals lakes etc later as currently sat on campsite
Terry

Have you been tempted out of retirement from France yet, we are hopefuly off in a fortnight

 

[Dart]

A tip regarding kayaking the rivers with a relatively fast flow (such as the Dordogne and Vezere) where transport is needed in the upriver direction. In the past we have often been able to chat up the staff at the commercial canoe/kayak hire outfits to put our kayak on their trailer and give us a lift alongside their punters for a few euros so long as they have space.

 

[Googlebot]

The Ecrin can be very cold this time of year. I have been kayaking there for 10 years or more. Had snow, rain, sun, sleet, hail and all weathers in between.

We always have a stop here, it’s close enough for a walk into Guillestre which is an amazing old town with supermarkets close by and a few bars.

Camping La rochette - Hautes-Alpes

www.campingguillestre.com

If you want the proper mountain experience then this is ideal.

Camping d'Ailefroide – Un camping naturel au cœur du parc national des Ecrins

They have an Aire as well, that however will be cold as it’s about 1500m up and gets sun later in the day due to the high peaks around it.

Briancon is well worth a visit too, lovely old buildings and walks. The Durance valley and the Ecrin is not easy to get to by any route and all involve a lot of climbing over cols, it is however our favourite place in the world.

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[royandsharont]

Our first stop after the tunnel is often the municipal site, Camp Eure, with adjacent Aire, at Pont de L’Arche just outside Rouen on the river Seine/Eure. Not sure but think you can access river with kayaks via a gate off the site. It closes for lunch opening again at 4 I think. In town centre. If you go via D6015 from Rouen you miss the underpasses in Rouen & follow the Seine on your R. Once over the bridge turn left at the first set of lights down to the river & left again to the campsite on your right to avoid access issues. Basic site with full facilities but well located. The Aire is also managed by site reception Re payment. No problems for your van size. Supermarket & fuel just before the bridge at the roundabout

 

[FIDGET]

Have you been tempted out of retirement from France yet, we are hopefuly off in a fortnight

Hi chas,
No ,due to health issue,s , possibly next year but not sure, then new passport for both of us plus dog passports etc .
Hope you have avoid time

 

[Pocket Rocket]

Thanks all - really useful info!

Any further advice appreciated- especially your favourite aires / sites / places to visit (gardens, cycling, kayaking, hiking etc)

 

[Riverbankannie]

At Chamonix, you can (for a charge) stay overnight in the cable car station carpark. Go up on the first one of the day, take the first cars over to the Italian station then have coffee. Slowly make your way back (now against the flow) stopping and exploring the different areas you can access.
If you have been to Mont Blanc before and don’t want to return up Aguile du Midi, then stay outside town at Camping de la Mer de Glace and you can walk to the cable car up the mountain the other side of the valley, cheaper and quieter.

Photos — Camping de la Mer de Glace

Le Camping de la Mer de Glace à Chamonix Mont-Blanc en images. Campsite pictures.

chamonix-camping.com

 

[MisterB]

If you are kayaking along any French river, just spare a thought for some of the amphibious animals, lots of which have lost their rear limbs to the French culinary traditions.
It's such a shame to see them sitting in their little wheelchairs on the river banks.
You could get the kids to carry some breadcrumbs, preferably soaked in garlic, to feed any they see along the way ...

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[Gaston aires]

Another vote for Pont d larche, just South of Rouen for a first night stopover. Great aire next to the municipal campsite.
Phil

 

[FIDGET]

We usually go to LA Mailleraye Sur Seine first stop lovely Aire right beside the Seine might be too tidal for kayaking go via totes to avoid Rouen about 180 miles
Aire costs 6 euros I think

 

[jollyrodger]

If you want a different view of the Millau viaduct you may want to wild camp at Compregnac.
Fantastic views at night a dark spot if into night photography or just stargazing.
Have see kayacs out on the river

Comprégnac

Details for Comprégnac a Overnight parking - no services Comprégnac, Aveyron, Occitanie, France, 12100

www.searchforsites.co.uk

Did put a couple of vids up on you tube of the drive down off the A75 if you have good brakes you'll need them but well worth it for the views

 

[Aly1]

I usually avoid Rouen by stopping a night at Honfleur and driving down from there. I’m not a kayaker but when I stayed on the Ardeche last year there were lots of people on kayaks and it was a lovely area.

 

[Buzz67]

Have a great trip.
A good first stop is Neufchâtel en Bray. About a 2 hour drive. Very good aire. Campsite next door by same people. Both campsite and aire are probably the cleanest I have seen.

Dont see what all the fuss is about with Rouen. Same as driving through / around any large city.

Villandry in the Loire highly recommended, one the finest chateau and gardens. Traffic free cycle route into Tours and access for kayaking on Le Cher.

If your in the Dordogne it would be a shame not to go a bit further south and explore the Lot. Probably my favourite area. Like the Dordogne but less commercial. Great food and wine, excellent cycling and loads of kayaking. The cycle route “Vallee du Lot” is really nice. Loads of free aires Check out Puy l eveque, Prayssac and Luzech. Try Chateau Nozierre for great Malbec wines from £1.20 a litre.

You will love it. The only nasty bit is coming back.

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[rb62]

Some advise here on Rouen,albeit travelling in the opposite direction.

Route advice needed

We are currently in Port en Bessin and need to get to Buchy for the vet. It's blowing a hooly at moment so Pont de Normandy route will be a no go. So I need to go through Rouen which I've avoided. I'm concerned about the low tunnel.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Jenben]

Thanks all - really useful info!

Any further advice appreciated- especially your favourite aires / sites / places to visit (gardens, cycling, kayaking, hiking etc)

If you are heading to the puy de dome area lac Aydat is my favourite spot. It’s a pay aire with a cc barrier by the side of the lake .

It’s my favourite swim lake in France .

 

[Jenben]

If your in the Dordogne it would be a shame not to go a bit further south and explore the Lot.

We are currently parked on the side of the Lot on a little lovely free aire .

 

[Buzz67]

Where is that Jenben. Don’t recognise it.

 

[Jenben]

Where is that Jenben. Don’t recognise it.

It is at Boisse Penchot , it’s a little free aire by a park in a lovely spot .

There is a drive over drain and toilet dump point and euro relay with jeton to buy water but that isn’t working. They have come to apologise about it not working this morning .

Think there is parking for 8 vans , it’s a lovely spot by a small cycle route .

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[The Wino]

Ask at tourist information offices if they have a list of vineyards that allow motorhome stopovers if you're in a wine region. We've found some good ones that way without paying to join France passion

 

[Buzz67]

It is at Boisse Penchot , it’s a little free aire by a park in a lovely spot .

There is a drive over drain and toilet dump point and euro relay with jeton to buy water but that isn’t working. They have come to apologise about it not working this morning .

View attachment 611193

Think there is parking for 8 vans , it’s a lovely spot by a small cycle route .

Looks perfect. Thanks.

 

[Pocket Rocket]

Fantastic suggestions - thanks all

Quick query - are mosquitoes a problem in a motor home in June?

 

[FIDGET]

Personally never had a problem , always went June and September , always park near water , lakes ponds canals rivers etc
But it could be they don't like the taste of me

 

[royandsharont]

I personally have never experienced any in France in June

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