vendee in sept - baby/france camping virgins need advice!

[holytoast]

Hi all, have been lurking lots n this thread, and now have my own question..

We have a 3 month old, and for hols this year are thinking first two weeks in sept, and the Vendee, as it seems to have a good climate, and a good mix of seaside and nice inland bits, but not too much of a drive (we are in Kent).

Apart from that, havent a clue though! we camp a lot in the uk, but this is our first time with a baby and in France.

1. is the Vendee a good idea at this time of year? or will it be too late? we are hoping to take a bell tent (although thats another story altgether!)but worried it might be too cold, or campsites closing around this time? main reason is to avoid crowds.

2. does anyone have any suggestions for quiet, no frills, no pool, (or at least not one with massive waterslides etc) no entertainment, just clean, quiet, little shop or breadvan and campfires allowed type campsites? the choice on UK campsite is massive, and they all seem to start with 'tranquil, quiet'.. and then mention entertainment and pools!' Also, is it likely we would have to book this late on in the season?

3. we were thinking of doing a week by the sea, a week further inland, maybe an hour or two drive back towards the chunnel, to make the return journey a little better. this may be madness....but we are not used to spending two weeks in one place - every holiday before has been 3 week trips around Asia, Africa etc, moving on every 4 days or so...think i might get very bored in one place. I have to swim in the sea, doesnt matter how cold, and DH prefers inland, apart from that, within walking distance of towns/villages with a bar/restaurant, few nice walks around the area, and we are happy.

Now we just have to hope that we can find a bell tent in stock somewhere, seeing as they went out of stock the day I managed to persuade DH it was a good idea! Soulpad say they hae the zig ones for the end of the month (not even convinced we need this, but DH has not so fond memories of getting wet on trips under canvas) so am settling for buying accessories until then!

Huge list of requests, anyone who can take the time to help, thanks in advance!

It will be getting cooler. The supermarkets will be shutting down, so you might have to go further (they are shutting by the end of August when French schools go back).

If you are using LeShuttle, it will take considerably more than 2 hours to the Vendee.

Don't worry about pools etc. There will be very few people there even if you find a campsite still open in September.

Actually if you haven't got a tent yet, I would enquire at possible camp sites if they have a cottage or chalet. It will be warmer, and probably very cheap at that time of year.

we went in august and it was freezing at night, boiling in the day. they said this was normal. so you won't need mosquito repellant but take lots of bedding and a fleece/jeans. we put the gas fire on one morning

Thanks - so might consider our second option of last week in august, first in september to be on the safe side. I think I reckoned on the journey to the Vendee being about 7-8 hours - the two hour thing is wanting somewhere on the way home possibly for the second week, to make the journey home a bit shorter.

will consider getting a gas fire then! going to need a trailer at this rate!

we did look at chalet etc, but we are very excited about our bell tent, just might have to take more stuff to make it comfortable then.

Any reccomendations for campsites?

we went to la garangeoire - one of best sites we have been to in 15 years of camping in UK and mobiling homing in france. But from your requirements list i think its too commercialised. loads of people go back each year. traffic going down on a sat morning was horrific - but might be Ok when you are going - would travel on a different day