Motorhome to France Loire Valley

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

Hi
We are seasoned caravaners but decided to have an L4 Boxer converted to high spec motorhome. Layout exactly as we wanted. Been to France many times and stayed in Gites and hotels. Never used aires or campsites over there. Used tunnel many times but never with motorhome or caravan.
Would appreciate any tips for things we might need. Other than wine glasses and cheese knife. Would also appreciate if anyone has a route suggestion that includes Loire valley that can be done in a week ish without rushing. I’m a professional driver often covering 400 miles in a day so that doesn’t bother me. The van has onboard gas tank built in as well as 85 litre fresh water Toilet etc. Have the hook up lead with eu plug adaptor too. Light converters. Usual hi viz and fire extinguishers all sorted.

 

[Kirsten]

You will love it. No idea of route sorry - others will help ( I don’t do maps or remember names of aires) with that. If you have time get the book ‘All the Aires’ France from Vicarious book website it is v helpful. It can be confusing as m way stops are also called Aires but these are often not safe and nearly always not nice for overnighting. Proper aires are everywhere in France, they have various amenities ( sometimes none, sometimes hook up water and waste disposal all free- and often some amenities for a charge. It is all about the scenery and local people- do smaller trips stay more places, often aires are in the middle of towns so you can stroll to a bar - if there is no visible aire you are often welcome to park in a village if you ask 5he local mayor. Campsites are a bit posher than in uk I find - but very very swish with washers and dryers etc ( in the main) let us know how you get on !

 

[DonA4000]

Hi and welcome

You should be able to find lots of info with the search button. Everyone is abit different in what you'll need but the basic, cables, connectors, water container, hose and tap connectors etc. Get something like CamperContact on your phone to help you find a nice stop for the night don't stay on motorway aires and you don't need to cover lots of miles if you only have a week. Just enjoy and hopefully you'll find some nice stops along the way.

 

[Riverbankannie]

I guess all the channel crossings are much the same distance for you, so you could use the overnight Portsmouth Caen crossing, one day to Portsmouth (10 pm ) crossing and then the next day a fairly easy run to the Loire. It’s much more expensive though than the shorter crossing routes.
There are lots of campsites and aires along the Loire @DBK did a nice thread about his trip, I’ll come back and add the link.

Post #36 onwards on this thread
https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/two-return-to-france.152926/page-2

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

Thank you all. The crossing is sorted and the tunnel is easy. I think the first stop will be the unknown. We hit Calais about 1.30 am so want to find somewhere that I can stop overnight which is less than a couple of hours from Calais en route to Le Mans. Ideally a known safe stop with basic facilities is fine. We will be al watered up and don’t need hook up. Have a good compressor fridge and decent size solar panel charging both batteries. Gas tank onboard does the rest with 10 litre hot water etc. Would like to spend a day in Le Mans on Saturday then down to Loire valley for rest of week.

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[Emmit]

Can I respectfully suggest that you 'dump' all, (well a lot of it) your previous experience in being in France in the caravan. Motorhoming or being a 'Camping-Cariste' as the french call it, is totally and refreshingly different with thousands of places to legally stop and enjoy without hassle.

We too were seasoned caravanners when we first went over the water in our motorhome. Despite umpteen trips, we hadn't noticed the 'Aires' sign because it didn't apply to us as a caravanners.

Take full advantage of the motorhome Aires on offer.

Here's some websites to be getting on with;

https://en.airecampingcar.com/
https://www.aire-service-camping-car-panoramique.fr/carte.php
https://www.camping-car.com/aires#France

Enjoy.

 

[dabhand]

I wouldn’t be without Park4night, it’s got me out of the Merde loads of times

 

[Stonemags76]

Thank you all. The crossing is sorted and the tunnel is easy. I think the first stop will be the unknown. We hit Calais about 1.30 am so want to find somewhere that I can stop overnight which is less than a couple of hours from Calais en route to Le Mans. Ideally a known safe stop with basic facilities is fine. We will be al watered up and don’t need hook up. Have a good compressor fridge and decent size solar panel charging both batteries. Gas tank onboard does the rest with 10 litre hot water etc. Would like to spend a day in Le Mans on Saturday then down to Loire valley for rest of week.

Cite Europe is free, safe (next to police station), well lit & ten minutes from tunnel. We always stay there and it’s easy then to set off “on holiday” the next morning. Dedicated Motorhome parking, but no facilities except rubbish bins.

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

Thanks for the info. We never took caravan into Europe for all those reasons. City Europe sounds an option. Would like to just get a bit further towards Le Mans. I normally go via Rouen.

 

[berni109]

Just sitting waiting on the ferry to depart for home. We managed a bit of Normandy on the way down to the Loire. Started at Blois and headed west taking the back roads whereever possible. Unless u are really into visiting chateau then they look better from the outside imho although we did do 5.
Get park4night as already mentioned and ASCI discount card if it's not too late before u set off.

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[trophychap]

If you're going via Rouen, you could do a lot worse than heading for the aire at le Crotoy which is easily accessible either from the A16 peage mway or via Boulogne onto the D940 which though not dual carriageway all the way is jolly quiet at that time. You hang a right off the D940 towards Le Crotoy and the 'harbour' aire is a right turn after the one for the water tower and the station, and then left at the end of that rd.

 

[Spriddler]

A favourite and regular stop for us is at the Camping Municipal at Beaumont-sur-Sarthe, just before Le Mans. Immaculate riverside facilities, level ground and quiet with large hedged pitches. The small town hasn't much but a SuperU supermarket with fuel is just up the road.
http://www.beaumontsursarthe.com/index.php/la-ville/le-camping
Otherwise a couple of miles away at Fresnay-sur-Sarthe. Lovely site and medieval village.
All the Loire river villages and towns are glorious (too many to detail) but if you're interested in military tanks (my son is) there's a huge museum at Saumur, plus fascinating Troglodyte caves.
BTW - fin future if the person who books the ferry ticket is over 60 on the Newhaven to Dieppe crossing (4 hrs duration) the whole ferry fare (not on the cabins if chosen) attracts a 20% discount, but you have to book by phone and ask for it.

 

[Camping Gaza]

All the Aires books and maps France North and South, My traveling companions, Excellent

 

[Old and wise 1]

My wife and I came through the tunnel on Sunday, drove for 2 hours to a French family run campsite which also had an aire opposite. The new owner can't do enough to help. Very safe and all required facilities. 10 minute walk into the town. Camping Minere, Boulevard Nicholas Thiesse, FORGE LES EAUX. We are currently spending 4 nights at a campsite owned by a lovely Britsh couple, next to a beautiful stretch of the river Sarthe. Very Secure and quite. ONLY 4.1/2 miles into Le Mans. 10 minutes walk into the village, usual bakers, butchers and general store. Camping Le Vieux Moulin, Neuville sur Sarthe.well signposted from the village.
We have stayed before at Beaumont and Fresnay sur Sarthe, this is, I think, better.
We are slowly working our way down to Bregerac with a total of 6 weeks. We just love being retired.
Enjoy yourself.

 

[WynandJean]

Hello and welcome from West Midlands.


Wyn

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[Camdoon]

Aire de la Baie de Somme. On the motorway so no navigating down back roads etc. 60 miles down the road and separate area for caravans but used by motorhomes athttps://www.google.com/maps/@50.1702524,1.7544978,3a,75y,200.56h,83.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_dwMRLM8tcZY0L08BHAr4g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

50.169444, 1.753889

https://www.google.com/maps/place/A...85bfe4aa48ffcca6!8m2!3d50.1672254!4d1.7555028

Showers, food and expensive fuel available as well.

 

[denisejoe]

Depends what you want to do or see plenty of vineyards in Loire. Valley and plentiful tasting available vouvary has. Nice aire and a campsite just behind it at least 4 places to try the local wine but this weekend was there wine festival but. Not a lot people turned up

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

All good tips thankyou. The Aires all look good options. We won’t be parking up until maybe 3 am do any of the aires have late arrival policies or is it just be quiet and find a space?

 

[Spriddler]

All good tips thankyou. The Aires all look good options. We won’t be parking up until maybe 3 am do any of the aires have late arrival policies or is it just be quiet and find a space?

Some aires have access controlled by a barrier (c/card bollard), and some don't, so there are no wardens or security staff. Just find a space to park. Yes, obviously be as quiet as poss but if you can't, leave early before anyone else is about . (I'm joking, you're unlikely to get beaten up in the morning for arriving late/early).
BTW - you will need an adapter to fit on your LPG gas filling fitting for most pumps in France. Look on eBay or the Gaslow/Gasit/Alugas websites.

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

Good tip for the gas and thankyou. It’s a 25 litre tank and told will probably last a year or so. The bottles in caravan usually lasts a good year even with multiple daily showers etc. Granted normally hooked up to mains too.

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[dalspa]

Aire de la Baie de Somme. On the motorway so no navigating down back roads etc. 60 miles down the road and separate area for caravans but used by motorhomes athttps://www.google.com/maps/@50.1702524,1.7544978,3a,75y,200.56h,83.39t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s_dwMRLM8tcZY0L08BHAr4g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

50.169444, 1.753889

https://www.google.com/maps/place/A...85bfe4aa48ffcca6!8m2!3d50.1672254!4d1.7555028

Showers, food and expensive fuel available as well.

We have been staying at this Aire for 10 years often on the outward and home legs. About one and a half hours from Calais and an easy drive at any time, especially after midnight. About 12Euros for peage, but we balance this fee with the brilliant free aire. Go to the farthest end of the site away from the building. Parking side on to the one way road around the grassed area. Security van patrols in the night. Always found it very safe.

 

[Spriddler]

Good tip for the gas and thankyou. It’s a 25 litre tank and told will probably last a year or so. The bottles in caravan usually lasts a good year even with multiple daily showers etc. Granted normally hooked up to mains too.

You'll use more gas if stopping at aires as opposed to sites. In my experience not all (few?) aires have electricity, and if they do there are far more m/hs than outlets. I've seen 5 or 6 permanently connected to one socket via bunches of multi-way adapters even though the notice says leccy is only to be used as long as necessary for battery charging.

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

I haven’t taken delivery yet and never had to gas up so not sure what filler looks like. Been looking on eBay and gas sites but not managed to nail down what the adaptor looks like. Any chance of a link to one. I’m a well qualified engineer lol but need something to start with.

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

A change of search criteria and I think I have found it

 

[Clarky]

@Rich the Hermit Crab. Here is the French dish type adaptor:-

...and the Spanish one:-

Available from Gaslow:- www.gaslowdirect.com or many other sites.

Richard.

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[Clarky]

Haha. Beat me to it.
Yes, that's the one.

Richard.

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

For s few pound more there is a set with 3 in. Looks like the best option then covered if sat nav packs in and we end up in Eastern Europe lol.

 

[Rich the Hermit Crab]

Hi all. After another tip. I’m looking for a hose for filling freshwater tank. It’s an 85 litre tank and ideally fill it as quick as possible. Don’t really want a great big hose reel with me if I can help it. How long and what type of hose is the best way forward. Any tips on connectors required for french taps also?

 

[Landy Andy]

I’ve got a 10m and 15m flat hose and a joiner so can have 25m if required. That way it saves me uncoiling it all every time.

The joiner can also be used at some of the aires. You will also need a threaded tap to hose connector, and best to have a couple of them.

Other option is an expanding hose which are popular with others.

 

[Allanm]

For s few pound more there is a set with 3 in. Looks like the best option then covered if sat nav packs in and we end up in Eastern Europe lol.

Good idea to get the set with 3, the 3rd adapter ( euronozzle) is for use in Spain and Portugal, though there was talk of most of Europe changing to the euronozzle, ( in 2000) but I haven’t seen one in France.

You will find there are at least two sizes of tap on aires, so best to buy an adapter that fits these. I think they are 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch and commonly available. You should also get a male to male connector, some aires require these fittings.