Sea & River swimming without the crowds

[Hymerbell]

So, I couldn’t go off in Apr, May, June because no number plates (long story) so have been forced to go in August at height of tourist season . I’m just south of Limoges...fancy a swim. Does anyone know of anywhere one can go that is not packed with people...rivers or sea will do....no lakes...don’t like lakes so much. Within 200 km.

Dordgne, Ardeche probably too crowded, Riviera same...Bay of roses...same and lots of Covid so they say....Lot...too big a river and so no swimming...nice empty campsite with pitch on the river bank even better...will be around all September so perhaps those areas will be OK by then but want a swim NOW ! It’s hot.

 

[suavecarve]

I know a shed load of wild swimming places in that area. Lakes rivers many of them well out of the way.
Let me know where you are headed and i can give you exact details with co ords. Waterfalls clues gorges etc. They are from the book "Wild Swimming in France" and i have been to nearly all of them over the years.

 

[big map]

It’s a shame you don’t like lakes
<Broken link removed>
This is where we were supposed to be heading next week

 

[suavecarve]

It’s a shame you don’t like lakes
<Broken link removed>
This is where we were supposed to be heading next week

Perfect spot around there, the Vezere river is good. Montignac has a couple of aires, one right by the river but St Leon sur vezere is really quite pretty as well and near to Lascaux if that floats your boat.
Lacave near Rocamadour you can go tubing where the 2 rivers meet

 

[suavecarve]

The other trick i use can be done on maps.me or google maps.

Scroll into an area and then do a search for "Plan D'eau" (I know its a lake) or "plage" and hit the search button so you are looking for all plan d'eaus or all plages.
Little blue dots turn up where they are.
The plages inland will be pebbley beaches along rivers or sandy areas by lakes.

You need to look at the Pland D'eaus before committing and my rule of thumb is that it has to have parking otherwise it is likely to be a fishing plan d'eau and not a swimming one

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[Hymerbell]

I know a shed load of wild swimming places in that area. Lakes rivers many of them well out of the way.
Let me know where you are headed and i can give you exact details with co ords. Waterfalls clues gorges etc. They are from the book "Wild Swimming in France" and i have been to nearly all of them over the years.

I had that book..but it got incinerate (long story). Never been opened Well I’m heading here goingvdown towards the Dordogne. Just know it will be packed so was hoping to find somewhere before I get there for swimming. I was thinking of going over to the Gorge to Verdon but again thought I’d try to find somewhere for a week or so before heading that way but can only think of the Dordogne

 

[Hymerbell]

Perfect spot around there, the Vezere river is good. Montignac has a couple of aires, one right by the river but St Leon sur vezere is really quite pretty as well and near to Lascaux if that floats your boat.
Lacave near Rocamadour you can go tubing where the 2 rivers meet

Hmm...The Vazere...might give that a go...hopefully less busy than Dordogne....and on the way to G de Verdon maybe...

 

[Hymerbell]

It’s a shame you don’t like lakes
<Broken link removed>
This is where we were supposed to be heading next week

Trouble with there is that it is just below Gueret which has just had the biggest outbreak of Covid in France...whether that means anything I’ve no idea.

 

[Jenben]

I can recommend lac Aydat in the puy de dome area near clermont Ferrand. Volcanic lake , lovely aire in Aydat itself (ex municipal campsite ). Marked swim area in the lake and outside showers plus toilets right by a Tourist office.
Short walk from the aire to the swim zone I mainly swam in the morning with no one else around.

I can’t comment about rivers , I swim a lot outdoors but my river experiences haven’t always been good !!

 

[suavecarve]

I will pm you. I have quite an amount of places to swim around Verdon.

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[Hymerbell]

Found one today... suavecarve sent me a map. Lovely water rushing over me.....I say rushing over me..more akin to being swept downstream...but it’s 35 degrees today so even that would have been a relief ! Made me forget all about Covid !

“In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes; so with present time.”―Leonardo de Vinci

 

[suavecarve]

And this is the map being created at the moment.

2 out of 10 regions done.

 

[Rachelc]

I was going to suggest Beaulieu sur Dordogne, not in the Dordogne region but looks like you've already found somewhere! Fantastic!

 

[Hymerbell]

I was going to suggest Beaulieu sur Dordogne, not in the Dordogne region but looks like you've already found somewhere! Fantastic!

I’m here for as long as I like so any suggestions welcome..that’s in the Correze isn’t it ?

 

[Rachelc]

Yes although, remembering back, the river may be quite fast flowing there too, I've just found some pictures of my kids using inflatables to float down. It is a lovely spot though with the small and pretty town right behind .

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[Hymerbell]

And this is the map being created at the moment.

2 out of 10 regions done.

View attachment 417512

How do I use these maps....do I need map.me or something ?

 

[suavecarve]

How do I use these maps....do I need map.me or something ?

No its easier than that !

Create a google account hymerbellweirdo@gmail.com is available.

That gives you an email account and a google account. You use the email account to sign up to all the offers that you really dont want and forget about it.
Then you use your google account to sign in to google. What this does is allow the americans to track your movements so they can target you for cat food,
Then you ask me nicely for the map.
I send you access to the map and depends which map as to what permissions i allow like allowing you to update the map or not.
Then you get access and just put it in your bookmarks. And then Robert is the brother of your mother.

The maps.me map that i have with the 18,500 aires is a different entity that i still have to get a work around on in order to share it.

I ve got this one as well but i didnt create it so no idea if i can share it but it looks like i can
7,000 ACSI sites (not even sure they have 7,000)

And i have the Germany one i am working on and sharing. which i might extend to France/Europe. Dont know yet

 

[paddymcc]

Agree with Rachelc -Beaulieu is a lovely campsite. It's on an island -one side is quite fast flowing although still swimmable but the other (town side) is fine.

 

[Helen Ariel]

No its easier than that !

Create a google account hymerbellweirdo@gmail.com is available.

That gives you an email account and a google account. You use the email account to sign up to all the offers that you really dont want and forget about it.
Then you use your google account to sign in to google. What this does is allow the americans to track your movements so they can target you for cat food,
Then you ask me nicely for the map.
I send you access to the map and depends which map as to what permissions i allow like allowing you to update the map or not.
Then you get access and just put it in your bookmarks. And then Robert is the brother of your mother.

The maps.me map that i have with the 18,500 aires is a different entity that i still have to get a work around on in order to share it.

I ve got this one as well but i didnt create it so no idea if i can share it but it looks like i can
7,000 ACSI sites (not even sure they have 7,000)

And i have the Germany one i am working on and sharing. which i might extend to France/Europe. Dont know yet

View attachment 417540

Please could you add me to your wild swimming map? Swam in the Lot today at St Cirq Popie. It's rather low at the moment.

 

[suavecarve]

Please could you add me to your wild swimming map? Swam in the Lot today at St Cirq Popie. It's rather low at the moment.

PM me your email addy.

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[Hymerbell]

Found a lovely spot....Carsac....hardly anyone there....in August ! Been there before and thought I’d hunt it down as it’s so nice....There’s a free aire a few minutes up the road as well...paradise.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Best swim of the trip so far. Crystal clear, fresh water but not numbingly cold like the alpine rivers. Nice deep pool and natural stoney beach. Can also jump in the fast bit and surf down to the next bend in the river. Also good for a flt overnight in the lay-by.

 

[Vikdikdok]

Another good place is the municipal campsite in St-Julien-De-Lampon, river runs at the bottom of this campsite

 

[Hymerbell]

View attachment 419167View attachment 419168View attachment 419169

Best swim of the trip so far. Crystal clear, fresh water but not numbingly cold like the alpine rivers. Nice deep pool and natural stoney beach. Can also jump in the fast bit and surf down to the next bend in the river. Also good for a flt overnight in the lay-by.

Ooh...that looks nice...Pyrenees....4hrs 5 mins south. That’s my next stop. Few more weeks in Dordogne Valley first...as it’s relatively quiet.....it’s good to have a direction in life and you’ve given it to me.....South ! Thanks Helen Ariel

 

[Hymerbell]

Another good place is the municipal campsite in St-Julien-De-Lampon, river runs at the bottom of this campsite

Ah right...that’s only 20 mins from my aire at Domme.....will scooter to it..thanks.

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[Lenny HB]

Ah right...that’s only 20 mins from my aire at Domme.....will scooter to it..thanks.

I Swam in the Dordogne by the Aire near Domme last year
You may not believe this but I actually paid to stay on the private Aire.

 

[Hymerbell]

I Swam in the Dordogne by the Aire near Domme last year
You may not believe this but I actually paid to stay on the private Aire.

 

[Hymerbell]

The annoying thing is that there is a free aire 20 mins away at Carsac near much nicer swimming but I’m here now .....€11.50 ! ....I’ve taken the scooter out and it’s such a faff strapping it down again when I get it in the garage especially when it so hot I whimped out and stayed another night....ratchet straps ! I hate them !!!!

 

[Helen Ariel]

Ooh...that looks nice...Pyrenees....4hrs 5 mins south. That’s my next stop. Few more weeks in Dordogne Valley first...as it’s relatively quiet.....it’s good to have a direction in life and you’ve given it to me.....South ! Thanks Helen Ariel

If you do find this spot just bare in mind whilst we were here the water level went down suddenly and a couple arrived and waded over the river to sit on the opposite shaded beach and when they went to leave the water had gone back up and they only just managed to get back with water waist high. I must admit it was amusing watching them almost topple over in the flow.

 

[suavecarve]

If you guys are going up the pyrennees, there is a place to bathe (not swim) up there where the water that comes out the mountain is so hot you can brew tea.

As it goes down a load of bathing baths have been made out of rocks and they gradually get cooler.

They accommodate about 8-10 people each.

There is an aroma of sweet smelling green herbal smoke in the area, and it is known as the holy grail of the hippy trail as many travel to the place.

Hymer will be happy as it is about 50/50 whether you wear bathing suit or not so you dont look odd if you do or dont wear one.

Its a fair to medium walk (memory says you can probably take your mountain bike down the path but not 100 per cent certain)

You can leave the motorhome at Fontpredouse and cycle/motorbike up. or you can gamble and drive up to
42.503755, 2.179303
where there is limited parking, so go very early if that is the plan.

Then take the footpath down and follow the other people, from memory you go down to the right from the hairpin at the bottom there is a river and you turn left to cross the river and go back up hill.

It is most certainly different

The actual spot is 42.5044 2.1818

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