Nice aire near the tunnel? (1 Viewer)

[The Cruisers]

We are heading towards the tunnel on Sunday and would like a nice Aire for one night. Not a car park but somewhere with either a nice view or grass around. Do you know what I mean?
Apparently there are a couple at Graveline. Can anyone tell me about those please?
We don’t mind travelling about 30-45 minutes to the tunnel.
Thanks x

 

[Jo662]

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...d7a5b03366fd5425!8m2!3d50.9887712!4d2.1228298

 

[Rob Turner]

Don’t go to Gravelines if you’ve got bikes on the back.
Not unless you have a bat of some description to wrap around the scumbags heads!!!

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[TerryL]

Which way are you coming? How close to the tunnel do you want to be?
From East, despite Rob's post (he had a problem unfortunately, when we were there) we like Gravelines Rue de Port, overlooks the marina and town a few minutes walk.
From south I'd recommend Wissant but at this time of year it'll probably be full by early afternoon. However the aire just north of Boulogne has excellent views and is reasonably close to the town to walk in.
We did find another quite close to Wissant, near Tardinghen "Ferme de l'Horlage" N50°51.771' E001°38.955' Very pleasant, grass - an adjacent area is used as a launching point for microlight aircraft at weekends. Campercontact 8944.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Depends which direction you’re going.

There are loads within half an hour of Calais so you might as well head the right way.

 

[The Cruisers]

We are coming from Saarburg so that’s from the east.
Actually I think we’ve been to Tardinghen. If I remember correctly
there was electric behind a big barn? Nice and quiet.
I look into the one north of boulogne.
Thanks.

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[Allanm]

I can recommend Tardinghen too. Been there many times.

 

[The Cruisers]

Thanks

 

[Deleted member 29692]

I quite like Watten.

It’s a small one next to a canal.

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[Clarky]

If you don't mind spending a few Euro's more Camping les Erables at Escalles is a very quiet, safe and pleasant stop. Nice views over the channel and about 15 minutes from the tunnel. About €10 last time we were there.
http://www.camping-les-erables.fr

 

[chaser]

another for gravelines , you can choose between parking on hard standing looking at boats or across the road on grass, short walk into town with all you need.

 

[Shrimp]

We stopped one night at Grande Fort Philipe, no grass just car park type but a walk thru grassland to the port and a free foot ferry to Petit Fort Philipe on other side of inlet, lots of boat activity, a beach & restaurants!
There is a campsite opp Aire that is quite reasonably priced, think it was about 11€.

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[scotjimland]

also used Gravelines many times.. lovely location with a nice town to stroll around with a few good eateries.. also it's a nice cycle down river on either side to the beach.. also close to Lidl for restocking

I read your bike report @Rob Turner . sorry to hear about it, I had a bike stolen on an aire at Capbreton .. cut through security cable and away and never heard a thing..

no aire is 100% safe, nor indeed is any site, just take usual precautions, nothing left outside and if bikes are on a rack they need to be both locked and alarmed..

 

[chaser]

at gravelines if you have bikes on the back and worried about them just back up to the harbour side then no one can get at them

 

[MichaelT]

Which way are you coming? How close to the tunnel do you want to be?
From East, despite Rob's post (he had a problem unfortunately, when we were there) we like Gravelines Rue de Port, overlooks the marina and town a few minutes walk.
From south I'd recommend Wissant but at this time of year it'll probably be full by early afternoon. However the aire just north of Boulogne has excellent views and is reasonably close to the town to walk in.
We did find another quite close to Wissant, near Tardinghen "Ferme de l'Horlage" N50°51.771' E001°38.955' Very pleasant, grass - an adjacent area is used as a launching point for microlight aircraft at weekends. Campercontact 8944.

WE used Tardinghen last year, very nice views over the channel and nice grass pitches, only bad thing was the WC emptying point, totally disgusting, worst one we have used, just a big tank you put it in, you can guess what it smelt like!!! But apart from that would recommend.

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[Wh05apk]

Another vote for Watten, now doubled in size, so will take about 10-12 vans - mainly british! 30 minutes from the tunnel, nice and quiet, with a nice walk along the canal.

 

[colyboy]

I know don’t want a car park , but try the Citi of Europe shopping centre. We were there three days ago and there were at least 30 + vans parked up. Very safe and have yet to see any scumbags around .

Colyboy

 

[John&Kate]

We too use Citi Europe.

Will be there on Monday night for early train on Tuesday morning.

We have kids and bikes on the back and always feel safe.

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[Clarky]

We too use Citi Europe.

Will be there on Monday night for early train on Tuesday morning.

We have kids and bikes on the back and always feel safe.

At last, a sensible way to deal with noisy kids in a small van........................strap 'em on the bike rack.

Richard.

 

[andyman]

Am i right in thinking there is an Aire at the Port in Boulogne. Or is it just day time parking.

Thanks

 

[PhilMary]

We just left Cite Europe this morning haveing been there last Monday night also. As before 30 motorhomes or so last night and a few "ilI' park where I want to ers "
It's easy safe and there is fuel and shops.

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[Dorwyn]

Am i right in thinking there is an Aire at the Port in Boulogne. Or is it just day time parking.

Thanks

Don't know about Boulogne but there are 2 aires at Berck just a bit further on, the 2nd one on the western side is worth a visit, it's close to the beach, there are basking seals on the sand banks in the bay. There must be 100 plus spaces but it'll be busy at the weekends.

 

[Pilote87]

If you want some idea of what is available then may I suggest you have a look at the web site https://www.campingcar-infos.com/Francais/cci.php?pays=FRANCE Even without a knowledge of French it is possible to get the gist of what is available. Click on the 62 near the top of the map for the Calais area. Clicking on 59 is for the area down the Belgium border. You can "untick" any of the sites you don't want to look at, in my case, the red motorhome (for motorway facilities) and the three symbols which show a tent. Some of the aires may be "car park" type facilities, but you can see what is available by looking at the photos for each place.

I hope this helps.

J

 

[andyman]

Don't know about Boulogne but there are 2 aires at Berck just a bit further on, the 2nd one on the western side is worth a visit, it's close to the beach, there are basking seals on the sand banks in the bay. There must be 100 plus spaces but it'll be busy at the weekends.

Would like to be in Boulogne as will be dropping of our son at the railway station in September.
I seem to recall seeing motorhomes park at the harbour.
May just have to drive in to drop him ff.

Andy

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[brynric]

Another sad report about theft at Gravelines Aire.
Last night we were woken by a noise about 4:30 am, I opened the door to hear footsteps scampering away- didn’t see anybody. When I went to the back of the van the bike cover had been partly peeled away and the straps securing the wheels undone. It’s a high level wind up rack locked in position with 4 locks on the bikes so they still had a lot of work to do but it still leaves a very nasty taste. I sat up the rest of the night with a light on and looking out from time to time.

The awful thing is that we’re here with friends in their new Motorhome, first time into Europe with it. We’ve told them how we usually use aires and how safe they are. We have often stayed st Graveline as it’s so convenient.

I fancy our next van will have a garage!

 

[KUSKUS]

Another vote for Les Erables in Escalles much better than spending your last night in a car park, beautiful walks beach nice restaurants..

 

[suavecarve]

Don't know about Boulogne but there are 2 aires at Berck just a bit further on, the 2nd one on the western side is worth a visit, it's close to the beach, there are basking seals on the sand banks in the bay. There must be 100 plus spaces but it'll be busy at the weekends.

We tried getting into that one last week. It looks like a car park in Bournemouth at the moment ! Full of old vans that have obviously been there for the summer and no intention of moving. Wouldnt have dreamed of even asking the mrs if it was a good place to park. Might be all right off season

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[suavecarve]

Bergues is a good stopover, no facilities but plenty of vans around the walled town which is worthy of a walk round the ramparts. For a very quiet site try Hondschoote next to the windmill with full facilities. Both about half hour away and on the way for you.
Hondschoote is on tarmac and Bergues is hard ground

 

[pjay]

Esquelbecq is a free aire in pleasant parkland just off the A25 near Wormhout…

https://www.campingcar-infos.com/Francais/cci.php?numero=22995

https://www.park4night.com/lieu/18756//esquelbecq-26b-rue-d'arneke/france/nord#prettyPhoto

There is also a moving little known ww2 memorial nearby which everyone should visit if in the area...

http://cheminsdememoire.gouv.fr/en/la-plaine-au-bois

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wormhoudt_massacre

Pete

 

[colyboy]

C O E every time

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