Brittany/western France in Winter

[999RAR]

We were going to be taking our fist trip into France in our van next spring. However for family reasons we will have to bring it forward to January or early February. We're intending going for about 2 months and travelling down towards Spain, roughly following the coast.
Will probably stay on aires most of the time and occasionally campsites. Can anyone tell me if this area is worth going to at that time of the year? Or would we be better going towards the Mediteranean?

 

[carolyn]

Head to the Med. the weather will be no better than the SW of England. Almost all campsites will be shut. You will be very disappointed unless you like being cold and wet of course!

 

[manners]

It can be very cold and water will be turned off in most aires we normally have two overnight stops in France before we cross into Spain. It can still be very cold until you get near the Med but water is always on in the camper stops.

 

[Millcourt]

You may be lucky (or a best get a few warmer/drier days), but you should expect the weather to be little better than the UK in January/February. Almost certainly no snow/ice but likely much rain coming in from the Atlantic weather systems.

Also, you may find many of the places you had in mind stay closed until late Spring/Easter time and it is not unusual on the free aires in Northern France to find the water supply turned off to avoid any risk of freezing damage.

If you want to enjoy some winter sun and pleasant weather your best chance at this time of year is the Mediterranean coast of Spain, south of Valencia.

 

[manners]

You may be lucky (or a best get a few warmer/drier days), but you should expect the weather to be little better than the UK in January/February. Almost certainly no snow/ice but likely much rain coming in from the Atlantic weather systems.

Also, you may find many of the places you had in mind stay closed until late Spring/Easter time and it is not unusual on the free aires in Northern France to find the water supply turned off to avoid any risk of freezing damage.

If you want to enjoy some winter sun and pleasant weather your best chance at this time of year is the Mediterranean coast of Spain, south of Valencia.

It's not just Northern France that can be cold, we normally stop south of Bordeaux for our last night before crossing to Spain and it has been around minus three to five most years so ice can be a problem on the minor roads, but the main roads are treated so usually OK.

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[999RAR]

Thanks for all the replies. Cold weather doesn't bother me but if it's wet and windy I might as well stay in Scotland! If most things were closed it would be a waste of a trip I think. From what I've read and seen on youtube the Spanish med coast seems really busy, and don't really want that.
Does anyone know if the French med coast would be OK at that time of year?

 

[Dart]

Alternatively you could embrace the winter vibe and head to the Alps where the resorts will be open and not have the dead feeling of the coastal resorts or inland France. We are normally in the Alps from just after Christmas until the main French holidays start around the end of the first week in February and the majority of days are fine and bright with a few snow days thrown into the mix for variety. The scenery is great and you don't have to be a skier to enjoy the resorts.
Then when you've had your fill of the mountains you could drop down to the South of France for a while. Cities like Avignon, Nimes and Arles all have plenty of sights and museums that will be open at least some days a week, even in the winter period.

 

[999RAR]

Alternatively you could embrace the winter vibe and head to the Alps where the resorts will be open and not have the dead feeling of the coastal resorts or inland France. We are normally in the Alps from just after Christmas until the main French holidays start around the end of the first week in February and the majority of days are fine and bright with a few snow days thrown into the mix for variety. The scenery is great and you don't have to be a skier to enjoy the resorts.
Then when you've had your fill of the mountains you could drop down to the South of France for a while. Cities like Avignon, Nimes and Arles all have plenty of sights and museums that will be open at least some days a week, even in the winter period.

That sounds a good alternative. Thanks

 

[DBK]

Does anyone know if the French med coast would be OK at that time of year?

It will be warmer than the UK but expect some rain. For a chance of reasonable winter weather in the Mediterranean you really need to head for places like Sicily or Crete.

 

[manners]

Even though the main spots are very busy it you don't mind being slightly inland you can find loads of places with just nature for company most are found using Park4night. We've been wintering in Spain since 2017 and only suffer the crowds if the weather drives us to the coast. (This March it was that bad it drove us to France earlier than expected) If you try southern France it should be quite as most are in Spain

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[Figaro]

Remember the Atlantic coast of France doesn't generally benefit from the gulf stream to the same extent that UK does.
I'd be inclined to head for the Med