France. First time in the Moho (1 Viewer)

[Craigderby]

We’re looking to head to France from 21st August for a week or two and would like to pick your brains. We’ve been before, but only when we had a caravan, and rather than staying in one place for the entire time we’d like to do things differently.
It will be the first time we’ve taken the dog and we’re happy with how that works with passports etc, but as a result we are limiting how we get there to the tunnel for ease.
So for the questions.
At that time of year is it reasonable to think that we’ll be able to stay within 2 hours or so of Calais and expect to find somewhere to stay day by day, or do we really need to book?
Can anyone recommend any sites near beeches within that area? Ideally pool on site, and a beach where the dog will be welcome?
In general, are dogs allowed on beaches?
Thank you in advance

 

[spitfire]

Can't help with sits in the north as live much further south but sure there are many who have toured the north.
Remember it is the school holidays so the coast will be pretty busy.
Reference the beaches a lot of them don't allow dogs in the summer months but once again doggie people I am sure will be along to help you out

 

[DJA]

Hi Found this on the Tinernet re Dog Friendly French Beaches

Dog-friendly beaches in France in 2023

List of dog-friendly beaches in in France. Plages.tv is the only media to visit the various beaches in France and make information accessible for free.

en.plages.tv

Doug

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[Lenny HB]

Should be OK for finding places to stop as the last really busy week in France is the week with the 15th Aug in it.
Can't help with sites as we don't use them.

 

[spitfire]

Is still the school holidays however.
Reference dogs on the beach , some beaches don't allow dogs in the summer so some doggie people who have toured the north I am sure will b able to help .

 

[peterc10]

Are you aware that France has a network of stopping places exclusively for motorhomes, called Aires de Camping Car, which most people just call Aires? We use those as much as possible rather than camp site. Have a look at Camper contact. Try using their search facility to look for La Mailleraye. A lovely Aire on the banks of the Seine. They also have an app which will allow you to download all the info onto your smartphone so you have it hand wherever you are. Only costs about a fiver a year and well worth it

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[EX51SSS]

Montreuil sur Mer. No beach but free Aire and you can walk around the walls to the castle or the base for all round. Lots of places in Pas de Calais and the Somme. Aires vary from free to around €10/12 per night, some include electricity and water. ACSI is not available, usually until after the end of August.

 

[Craigderby]

Thanks for the replies folks.
I'm much happier to use Aires than forking out for campsites, but having never used them I wasn't sure how busy they tend to get in the summer. I was trying to avoid driving round all the time looking for somewhere to stay, but if that's not likely to be an issue we'll go for that option.

 

[chaser]

Thanks for the replies folks.
I'm much happier to use Aires than forking out for campsites, but having never used them I wasn't sure how busy they tend to get in the summer. I was trying to avoid driving round all the time looking for somewhere to stay, but if that's not likely to be an issue we'll go for that option.

Have a look at France passion, free parking on farms, vineyard, fisheries, you have to pay to join but we'll worth it.
www.france-passion.com/en/

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[Craigderby]

Thanks

 

[peterc10]

Thanks for the replies folks.
I'm much happier to use Aires than forking out for campsites, but having never used them I wasn't sure how busy they tend to get in the summer. I was trying to avoid driving round all the time looking for somewhere to stay, but if that's not likely to be an issue we'll go for that option.

The ones near the coast will still be busy, but the answer is to get there lunchtime, after the morning leavers have left and before the afternoon rush.

 

[Parrot Face]

Montreuil sur Mer. No beach but free Aire and you can walk around the walls to the castle or the base for all round. Lots of places in Pas de Calais and the Somme. Aires vary from free to around €10/12 per night, some include electricity and water. ACSI is not available, usually until after the end of August.

Yes Montreuil is a good one but popular however we stopped overnight in the car park next to the aire, toilet available here. The beaches on the north coast south of Calais are expansive and you will find many will let you take your dog on them if you go to the left or right of the town area. Our Welsh Terrier loves the beach at Wissant as its the only time he's let off the lead...no one about and massive.

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[jo10000_6]

Hi Craig
Last time I read you your post you were heading to Chatsworth for an initial couple of days in your new to you older Hymer.

I’m guessing it has performed well to be heading to France so do enjoy.

I keep looking at the older slightly bigger ones - have a 1993 B544 - they older ones really turn my head I have to say.

Jo

 

[rod_vw]

Your first shock with a 'Campingcar' in France will be that you are actually welcome! Unlike Britain where in many places you are frowned upon.

Links for discovering Aires etc. in no particular order...

searchforsites.co.uk

park4night - Home

Share the nice spots where you like to relax with your camper, your equipped van or regular van

www.park4night.com

MotorhomingFrance for the best aires in France

MotorhomingFrance is a website which is designed to be an invaluable resource for anyone who visits or plans to visit France in a motorhome. The site covers various aspects of motorhoming in France, news on aires, travel news, useful info, tourism, motorhome books

www.motorhomingfrance.co.uk

i-Camping Car

Aires de Services pour Camping Cars

www.i-campingcar.fr

Camping, Glamping, Caravan and Holiday Parks

Book campsites, caravan sites and glamping from the specialists at Pitchup.com, with over 14,000 listings and 730,000 independent reviews your next holiday awaits you.

www.pitchup.com

CAMPINGS MUNICIPAUX FRANCE I Retrouvez les Campings Municipaux en France sur cartes

www.camping-municipal.org

CAMPINGCAR-INFOS

Les aires de services Campingcar-Infos

www.campingcar-infos.com

Campercontact | All nice motorhome stopovers at your fingertips

All motorhome stopovers worldwide on one platform for motorhomers. Includes up-to-date reviews, photos and an overview of beautiful motorhome stopovers.

www.campercontact.com

This domain name is registered with Netim

PHOTOS - AIRES SERVICE - CAMPING-CAR - STATIONNEMENT pour CAMPING-CAR visites panoramiques 360° en France

Ami(e)s camping-caristes, retrouvez les différentes aires de service et de stationnement en panoramique 360°. Pour faciliter votre périple, chaque aire de service est visitée pour se rendre compte de la réalité sur place. Ensuite elles sont mise en ligne avec la visite virtuelle, le détail des...

www.aire-service-camping-car-panoramique.fr

AireCampingCar.com: All the Motorhome stopovers, throughout France

en.airecampingcar.com

(I would love to expand this list so if anyone can add to it please PM me.)

Our current personal preference is Searchforsites but often a combination of more than one source if information gives the best view of the location.

Where ever you go enjoy your selves, leave no trace of your visit except your tyre marks and keep safe.

Rod

 

[lorger]

We always went during school holidays when our daughter was at school and never once booked a site, the only place we had trouble finding a site was one night near Paris.

Searchforsites is good for Aires and campsites you can download the ap and pay around £5 or just use the online version and sign up for free.

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[Reallyretired]

Could also recommend camping car parks. They are commercial aires costing 8-12 euros so relatively expensive but have good facilities for water and dumping ehu and wifi. Mainly in the south and west though. You can also check online to see if they're full.

 

[keithchesterfield2]

We usually use Campercontact to find Aires nearby with unbiased reviews - works for us - see link to Aires videos below --

 

[Craigderby]

Thank you to everyone for your input. You've put my mind at ease, so I'd going to research a few aires and decide which ones we'd like to try and use.

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[Craigderby]

Hi Craig
Last time I read you your post you were heading to Chatsworth for an initial couple of days in your new to you older Hymer.

I’m guessing it has performed well to be heading to France so do enjoy.

I keep looking at the older slightly bigger ones - have a 1993 B544 - they older ones really turn my head I have to say.

Jo

Yes it's been great. We've been using it for taking my daughter to sailing events, which has been really useful.
We've only had one mishap when a £3 bit of plastic broke in the gear linkage, but it was easy to fix once it was home.

 

[EX51SSS]

Thank you to everyone for your input. You've put my mind at ease, so I'd going to research a few aires and decide which ones we'd like to try and use.

And don't forget we're here to help when you are there and thinking where next.

 

[Craigderby]

Oh don't worry, I'm happy to pester!

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[Wombles]

If you don't already have Campercontact & you would like to try it https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...-to-try-free-for-14-days.192509/#post-3227645 then let me know & I will PM you with a code

 

[Craigderby]

If you don't already have Campercontact & you would like to try it https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...-to-try-free-for-14-days.192509/#post-3227645 then let me know & I will PM you with a code

Hi
Thanks for the offer, but I'm already sorted.