France Again!

[Gillus]

Hi all

Ive been reading chaser's post about France and am deciding whether to go in our motorhome for the first time. Chaser has in the past given us some advice re: France Passion (thank you) we never got there then. Our circumstances have now changed and we have two dogs one being under 1 year old when we intend to go in September. As we live near Portsmouth it seems a good idea to give it a go.

So my questions are:
Can you name your top 3 sites/aires we should try which are dog friendly, good walking nearby, good restaurants and maybe the coast but open to suggestions. We think probably best not travelling too far in France for this first time?. We will do over a 2 week period.
Suggestions for best travel route from Portsmouth

There are so many threads on here to wade through if you could name just 3 places for our trip we would be grateful.

If its not such a great idea with the dogs its back to Scotland for us
Thanks

 

[chaser]

Hi all

Ive been reading chaser's post about France and am deciding whether to go in our motorhome for the first time. Chaser has in the past given us some advice re: France Passion (thank you) we never got there then. Our circumstances have now changed and we have two dogs one being under 1 year old when we intend to go in September. As we live near Portsmouth it seems a good idea to give it a go.

So my questions are:
Can you name your top 3 sites/aires we should try which are dog friendly, good walking nearby, good restaurants and maybe the coast but open to suggestions. We think probably best not travelling too far in France for this first time?. We will do over a 2 week period.
Suggestions for best travel route from Portsmouth

There are so many threads on here to wade through if you could name just 3 places for our trip we would be grateful.

If its not such a great idea with the dogs its back to Scotland for us
Thanks

I presume you are not going to go the Calais route, but if you are, and you have followed my posts you will know I am going to recommend gravelines for a start, it has got everything you have on your list for a first stop.
After that you either go inland towards Belgium, or down through the ww2 landing places, plenty In northern France it's useually passed through without a second glance on the mad rush south.
Going down the west coast there are all sorts of different things to see and do, our second place would be honfluer, very dear but an experience not to be missed.
Just our preference not to be strictly adhered to, just do your own thing and enjoy.

 

[Nigel P]

We recently visited Notre Dame de Monts (Easter), 240 miles, toll free from Caen. Small town with a decent aire at one end next to a Super U. The other end of town is a campsite (Municipal) next to the beach/dunes. It is a coast of pine forest with miles and miles of walkways and cycle routes. France tends to be more dog friendly for bars and cafes than UK. For us the Vendee seems to be the nearest bit of decent coastline along the north west region of France.

 

[Adrianlle]

We are about to do the same thing as Gillis but no dogs , just the two of us for about two/ three weeks . We’ve done it through Germany to Austria but not France. More usually windy and cold Hebrides! We are about 2 hours from either Portsmouth or Plymouth so any suggestions appreciated- treat us like idiots please! We don’t like big campsites and often CL or wild ( for peace and solitude) so in particular do folk recommend getting All the Aires/ France Passion/ the online Apps for parking up or what? As I say treat us like idiots and you won’t go far wrong.

 

[Speve]

We are about to do the same thing as Gillis but no dogs , just the two of us for about two/ three weeks . We’ve done it through Germany to Austria but not France. More usually windy and cold Hebrides! We are about 2 hours from either Portsmouth or Plymouth so any suggestions appreciated- treat us like idiots please! We don’t like big campsites and often CL or wild ( for peace and solitude) so in particular do folk recommend getting All the Aires/ France Passion/ the online Apps for parking up or what? As I say treat us like idiots and you won’t go far wrong.

Just get a few apps to find Aires and you will be fine Campercontact is a pretty good one and there is a free version and a pro version which you pay for but well worth it for the money

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[chaser]

We are about to do the same thing as Gillis but no dogs , just the two of us for about two/ three weeks . We’ve done it through Germany to Austria but not France. More usually windy and cold Hebrides! We are about 2 hours from either Portsmouth or Plymouth so any suggestions appreciated- treat us like idiots please! We don’t like big campsites and often CL or wild ( for peace and solitude) so in particular do folk recommend getting All the Aires/ France Passion/ the online Apps for parking up or what? As I say treat us like idiots and you won’t go far wrong.

You seem to have it covered there

 

[Speve]

so in particular do folk recommend getting All the Aires

IMHO think that all the Aires is quite expensive and not always up to date whereas an app you have it updated regularly and save a lot of thumbing through pages and pages of books

 

[Stonemags76]

I would recommend the tunnel with the dogs, even though it’s further away, & more expensive! It’s so easy, & I believe there is a vets in Folkstone that does the AHC for £99 per dog? Other than that, if you have the camper contact app, then just go where the fancy takes you, as no need to book & you pay for sites when you leave so you can stay as long as you want!

 

[Detnor]

If you are going Portsmouth - Caen, a site that may suit you is Camping Haliotis in Pontorson.
About 90 miles from the ferry, in a town with decent shops, Carrefour supermarket within walking distance, large site with pool and a path along the river from the site to Mt St Michel.
There is a restaurant, La casa de Quentin a few minutes walk from the site.
Not in the top sites bracket, but quick and easy to get when time is restricted.

 

[nicholsong]

The Apps now do all that the 'All the Aires' book does and more, and as you say is soon out-of-date, and now expensive since they split it into N and S France.

The most popular Apps are -

park4night (English)
searchforsites (English)
Campercontact Dutch or English
campingcar-infos (French but easily usable)

They list other parking places, but also Service areas, for water and cassette and grey water dumping - useful if passing one en-route to/from an Aire without one. The latter are often in Service Stations or S/Market CPs.

In France the Service points are often 'Bournes' (Boxes with all services) supplied by different companies and normally require use of Jetons if one needs water. Each company has a different shaped Jeton and there are usually instructions on the Apps, or on the Bournes, where one can buy one (€2-3), e.g. local Mairie (Town Hall) or Tabacs. It is a good idea when buying a new type to stock up on 2-3 more and build up a stash of all (4?) of them for future use - they do not expire.

Another good source for parking is France Passion, which lists 2,000 places such as vineyards, cheesemakers, fruit farms etc. It has a €30 subscription each tear for their Book and membership card but no charges for parking at any sites. See here for description

https://www.beerandcroissants.com/wild-camping-for-motorhomes/

If you can't get around to find good stops with that lot above, then you are on the wrong Continent

Bon Voyage!

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[Gillus]

I presume you are not going to go the Calais route, but if you are, and you have followed my posts you will know I am going to recommend gravelines for a start, it has got everything you have on your list for a first stop.
After that you either go inland towards Belgium, or down through the ww2 landing places, plenty In northern France it's useually passed through without a second glance on the mad rush south.
Going down the west coast there are all sorts of different things to see and do, our second place would be honfluer, very dear but an experience not to be missed.
Just our preference not to be strictly adhered to, just do your own thing and enjoy.

Thank Chaser useful information

 

[Gillus]

We recently visited Notre Dame de Monts (Easter), 240 miles, toll free from Caen. Small town with a decent aire at one end next to a Super U. The other end of town is a campsite (Municipal) next to the beach/dunes. It is a coast of pine forest with miles and miles of walkways and cycle routes. France tends to be more dog friendly for bars and cafes than UK. For us the Vendee seems to be the nearest bit of decent coastline along the north west region of France.

Sounds Ideal Nigel thanks

 

[Gillus]

I would recommend the tunnel with the dogs, even though it’s further away, & more expensive! It’s so easy, & I believe there is a vets in Folkstone that does the AHC for £99 per dog? Other than that, if you have the camper contact app, then just go where the fancy takes you, as no need to book & you pay for sites when you leave so you can stay as long as you want!

Thanks for the tunnel advice Stonemags

 

[Gillus]

If you are going Portsmouth - Caen, a site that may suit you is Camping Haliotis in Pontorson.
About 90 miles from the ferry, in a town with decent shops, Carrefour supermarket within walking distance, large site with pool and a path along the river from the site to Mt St Michel.
There is a restaurant, La casa de Quentin a few minutes walk from the site.
Not in the top sites bracket, but quick and easy to get when time is restricted.

Brilliant thanks Detnor

 

[FIDGET]

Hi Gillus
If you use campercontact or similar app , I suggest you familiarise your self with your satnav and the use of map ref's co-ordinates and putting them in to your satnav , it helps find the aires . when we've been we always use the aires . If you get a better idea where you are off too, let us know and I or someone else will suggest some good aires .
Terry

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[Adrianlle]

Thanks for all the contributions- as helpful on here as ever. We will give All the Aires a miss then ( and save some weight!) and just familiarise ourselves with the various Apps mentioned and sign up for this years France Passion.

 

[Gillus]

Hi Gillus
If you use campercontact or similar app , I suggest you familiarise your self with your satnav and the use of map ref's co-ordinates and putting them in to your satnav , it helps find the aires . when we've been we always use the aires . If you get a better idea where you are off too, let us know and I or someone else will suggest some good aires .
Terry

Thank you

 

[FIDGET]

Hi again Gillus
We prefer tunnel albeit a distance to travel , especially with the dogs as saves them getting stressed down below decks locked in Moho for long time , one trip we had got a bit choppy and continuously set off loads of vehicle alarms and we weren,t allowed down to check on the dog , at the time we lived on the Isle of Wight so similar journey to you .
Terry

 

[Gillus]

Hi again Gillus
We prefer tunnel albeit a distance to travel , especially with the dogs as saves them getting stressed down below decks locked in Moho for long time , one trip we had got a bit choppy and continuously set off loads of vehicle alarms and we weren,t allowed down to check on the dog , at the time we lived on the Isle of Wight so similar journey to you .
Terry

I think that would freak them out so the tunnel does seem the better and quicker option. Thanks

 

[FIDGET]

I think that would freak them out so the tunnel does seem the better and quicker option. Thanks

They sit in the van with you and it's only 30 mins , we usually organise somrthing to eat and drink to save time stopping on route , you can't make a cuppa as no gas (turned off before traveling on tunnel ) remember to stop on leaving tunnel terminal ond turn back on, don't want to loose any frozen food you may have in freezer..

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[Fragle]

If you are living near Portsmouth it has to be Brittany ferries to Caen. Has so many options once you get there. The dogs don't mind the crossing at all just sleep in the van they know. I always put the screen cover on nice and dark they think its night time.

As many apps as you can is all you need. maybe an ACSI card as September. Camping-car parks are very useful and you get the card from the barrier the first time you go in. very easy to set up.

Straight out of Caen to Villers Bocage for first stop 20 mins beautiful aire on edge of village. I think about 6 euro with electric 4 without couple of large shops to stock and then just enjoy. I don't think anyone could narrow France down to 3 stops the freedom to explore is so different to UK even Scotland. There's always somewhere to park or empty. Enjoy your trip.

 

[nicholsong]

They sit in the van with you and it's only 30 mins , we usually organise somrthing to eat and drink to save time stopping on route , you can't make a cuppa as no gas (turned off before traveling on tunnel ) remember to stop on leaving tunnel terminal ond turn back on, don't want to loose any frozen food you may have in freezer..

Don't you turn it to 12v when driving? If so turn it to 12v at time of switching off gas and then no need to stop on other side.

 

[cyberyacht]

Don't forget to allow a good three hours to get to the ferry from Turktown.

 

[FIDGET]

Don't you turn it to 12v when driving? If so turn it to 12v at time of switching off gas and then no need to stop on other side.

Yes , as it automatically changes 12 volt/240/gas . But I do it because otherwise I will forget it .

 

[nicholsong]

Yes , as it automatically changes 12 volt/240/gas . But I do it because otherwise I will forget it .

Terry

Got it. I did not think of these new-fangled-contraptions.

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[Aly1]

If you’re going via Portsmouth you have https://www.passpets.co.uk/ for the AHCs

 

[The Wino]

Whatever a newbie to France does I'd recommend trying two or three nights on aires ( different ones) to see if they like it. The thing I really like about France is we generally don't need to make any real plans just meander and when we get to afternoon look at potential aires to use.
We had France passion once but found we never bothered using them.. It's worth visiting the local tourism information office they often have lists of places where motorhomes are welcome quite often some in passion but they're not bothered if you have the book or not.

 

[chaser]

This is nothing

Whatever a newbie to France does I'd recommend trying two or three nights on aires ( different ones) to see if they like it. The thing I really like about France is we generally don't need to make any real plans just meander and when we get to afternoon look at potential aires to use.

Absolutely

 

[Barryh]

This is why I love France. We decided to drop into a Camping Municipal at Bligny-sur-Ouche for a couple of nights to put our stuff out and have a relax in the getting better weather. According to Campercontact the site should have opened on 1st May, the sign on “reception” says 22nd June! There’s a man cutting grass so we say is it ok to park in the entrance, the man seems surprised we asked, no problem. So here we are, no hassle and a quiet night beckons