CAmpsite in France ... near beach with decent surfing??

[Iamcountingto3]

Any recommmendations??

Dh wants to play with his midlife crisis surfboard, and I want France rather than (lovely buy somewhat soggy) Cornwall this year ... Dcs will be 5 & 7.

TIA, lovely camping types.

I agree with maryz we go to near Biarritz, here it is about 20mins walk to the beach. We have a great time and make the journey down, from Calais, into part of the holiday. For example we sometimes stop at Futuroscope for a day. The coast around Biarritz is lovely and great surf, but obviously can be quite rough with strong rips.

Oh, thanks guys, that's fab!

Yes, I suspect Biarritz is a bit too far as we will be driving (sorry, should have said). Plus dh is pretty much a beginner - would I be likely to be calling the coast guard every 5 mins?!?

Maryz - we've been to St Jean before & loved it, didn't realise it was surf-able (we were obviously not very observant )

(Your link works for me, btw, Maryz

Cool - sounds ideal. We can save Biaritzz for once he can stay upright . And thanks for the heads up on the campsite - although I can't say we tend towards ultra-fancy campsites!

We went to St Jean, and no waves to speak of, not even enough for body boarding. DD was really disappointed.

We went to beaches near La Tranche sur mer, in the Vendee, which were lovely. Its a bit further south than StGiles and StJean (closer to La Rochelle) The attractions that Maryz mentions not far away. Beaches here were fab for surfing in mid June.

Thanks for that everyone - & thanks Maryz for your input - hadn't even thought that the beach wouldn't be great for the dcs (can you spot that I'm new to all this?!?)

If anyone is still prepared to help out the idiot... How does surfing round Vendee compare to Cornwall? DH is still trying to convince me we need Cornwall...

we went to vendee a couple of years ago (caravan though inland) and drove to bretignolles every day to body board(I think that was what it was called), further south than St Jean. the waves were better than cornwall and the weather was marginally better, the beach was huge and sandy and there are loads of campsites/holiday parks on or near the beach. we said at the time that we'd like to back and camp there.

That's really helpful, thanks thrifty. Another option to add to the list...

If you like Bretignolles, Matthews have a campsite right on the beach (We loved it there).

Matthews also do a site at Lacanou ocean - good surf there

For real surfing, Le Vieux Port in Gascony is fab - direct access to the beach, and the waves are huge. Surfers paradise, but I would take a 2 day drive

Thanks Miliways, those are fab - Bretignolles looks esp promising - dh is a total beginner, so not keen to embaress himself in front of too many uber cool surfers

Now dh just needs to work out if there's anyway he can actually transport his board with all our camping stuff on board

Ile de Re, Interlude Campsite.....see you there

Hello I am married to a surfer and have his surfing Europe Book open on my lap so in the Vendee running north to south it lists:St Gilles Croix de Vie, La Sauzaie, Les Dunes,Sauveterre, L'Aubraie,Ttanchette,Les Conches,Bud Bud,La Terriere, and Le Pointe du Grouin... All worth a google we are staying here this summer www.camping-ecureuils.com/ as I like the look of the campsite area and it can't be all about the surf!!

St Gilles according to the book is popular with beginners. it is about 5 hours drive from Dieppe where we cross I hope that helps.

taczilla - thanks so much - that's really helpful (I have mates who've stayed at that site - and were very positive about it!)

Beachyhead - have heard bad things about traffic on Ile de Re - friends who went said the journey across the island was a 'mare, so have wimped out of that one!