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Original poster

Best campsites in France - on river or lake?

27 replies

tadpolefeet · 11/07/2017 17:22

Hi there,
We are hiring a campervan and heading to France over the summer. We have not booked any campsites, and have no idea how this might work.

Can anyone recommend me any campsites in France that are on a lake or river (ie suitable for swimming and kayaking)?

Also, does anyone know if there is a brilliant app with all French campsites on it? I feel that there should be one...!

Many thanks,
tadpolefeetx

OP posts:
wowsaidtheowl · 11/07/2017 18:19

We haven't been yet but are going to le capeyrou by the dordogne this summer. Lots of very positive reviews.

Bumponhead · 11/07/2017 19:28

en.soleilplage.fr/

The Soleil Plage in the Dordogne is beautiful and we used to go as kids and I can't wait to take my own kids when they are a bit older. I know it's been developed a bit so must have changed but the spot on the river is idyllic 😍
Definitely look at other sites on the Dordogne though as it's all beautiful.

Fourmantent · 11/07/2017 19:45

Also en.labouysse.com/ which is right nextdoor to Soleil Plage.

Try this website for campsite search and reviews:
www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/

There are so many areas to investigate - you will be spoilt for choice... Ardeche, Lake Annecy, Alsace, Loire, Vendee, plus many more...

Milliways · 11/07/2017 21:24

limeuil is lovely, right where the Dordogne meets the Vezere. If you take a kayak it would be perfect but we took a trip where they drove toy upriver and we spend the afternoon floating back down. You can also just jump on an inflatable ring and drift along from the bridge just upstream back to the campsite.

Best campsites in France - on river or lake?
samlovesdilys · 12/07/2017 19:21

Another in the dordogne area is Les Paradis, on the vezere river. In the dordogne Le pin parasol is on lac jaunay about 30 min inland from coast.

TefalTester123 · 12/07/2017 19:49

Came on to say Le Soleil Plage, but I see someone beat me to it. Gets very booked up though. Pitces next to river are fantastic.

jellyshoeswithdiamonds · 12/07/2017 21:56

www.campinglesprades.com/

Gorges du Tarn, not far from Millau.
We camped there two years ago and loved it. Going back this year, booked same pitch as last time, I know very sad.

Might be too late for a riverside pitch for this summer, and although the website isn't the best what drew me to the site was no entertainment Grin. The restaurant did very good meals the desserts were hit and miss.
Its a family run site.

The river is fabulous, all day long kayaks going passed but the site is higher than the river (think floods).

Dordogne and Ardeche are polar opposites kayaking wise, found Ardeche much quicker water, bigger rocks.

Crispmonster1 · 12/07/2017 21:58

Look at cool camping France. Les Ormes there was beautiful. There are loads of tiny campsites all over France. You have a camper van so you will be pretty much self sufficient so you should have your pick really. What a fantastic way to travel. Enjoy.

GraceGrape · 12/07/2017 22:09

I did that sort of trip about ten years ago. We had a guide by Michelin that listed all the campsites and we used to pick one and just turn up. These were mainly out of the most popular tourist areas though. I would have thought they have some sort of online version if not an app?

I haven't camped there, but Lake Annecy is beautiful and there are several campsites dotted around it.

Stillwaitingforsummer · 21/07/2017 17:19

The best site ever Grin la ribeyre

spiderbabymum · 22/07/2017 09:28

Stillwaitkng
That sure looks fab
?? Nearest airport please

FlaviaAlbia · 22/07/2017 09:36

Have a look at the gorges du Verdon for kayaking. They're incredibly beautiful and there are campsites nearby.

profpoopsnagle · 22/07/2017 11:37

Stillwaiting I'm quite interested in ribeyre for next year. Would you recommend 10 days or 2 weeks there? Does it get booked up quite quickly and is it worth booking a pitch near the lake (that would be the feature we'd like most). Any other tips?

spiderbabymum · 22/07/2017 11:46

Prof would u drive there or fly

I'm guessing carcassonne is the nearest airport but not sure

profpoopsnagle · 22/07/2017 12:50

We'd drive, wouldn't be able to fit the trailer tent on a plane! Grin We'd stop on the way down and back up somewhere for a few nights and make it a 3 centre holiday.

Stillwaitingforsummer · 22/07/2017 13:10

We went for 12 nights and there was loads to do. Stopped one night in the way down and in Paris for a couple on the way back. Weather was amazing, not sure if it's usually like that or we were just lucky. You do need a car to make the most of the area.

Stillwaitingforsummer · 22/07/2017 13:13

We didn't have a pitch by the lake because we are unsure what the midges would be like.
We have stayed at other sites with lakes but this was the best for kayaking on. It is a busy full on site. A couple of years ago we stayed at the mumsnet fave les valades and also loved there even though it was a completely different type of site.

Sortingfinances · 27/07/2017 20:44

Stillwaiting.....what are the pros/cons of Les valades and la ribeyre?
I'm between the 2 and can't decide!

Bamboofordinneragain · 28/07/2017 06:44

There are loads of municipal sites which are next to the local 'plan d'eau', which might be a lake or bit of river. We love the one in Vermenton, near Auxerre. Burgundy is wonderful. Municipal sites are great if you are touring, as you don't usually need to book ahead.

Wh0Kn0wsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/07/2017 07:07

We did an overnight at a municipal site about 15 years ago, it was awful, groups outside playing music and motorbikes being ridden around all night, the worst toilets I have ever encountered (hole in the ground type piled high with shit). It kind of put us off.

minmooch · 28/07/2017 07:09

Camping du Letty in Brittany is fab.

Aubeterre-sur-Dronne in Charente area is beautiful, quiet, on the river.

Wh0Kn0wsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/07/2017 07:11

Anyway on a more helpful note we have always liked the Les Castels chain of campsites, all in grounds of chateaux.

Bamboofordinneragain · 28/07/2017 09:44

True about some municipal sites being poor, but in general they have improved hugely, and are great value for money. And if you are moving on, it makes things much more flexible not having to book ahead.
I do remember a municipal site many years ago where my DM shook our hands solemnly in farewell before heading off to the loo blocks...

LovelyBath77 · 28/07/2017 11:47

Les ormes is nice but quite pricy and restaurant gets booked up.

Stillwaitingforsummer · 28/07/2017 20:37

There are simply loads of threads on here about les valades!
LV is small and family run. Lovely lake with inflatables and canoes, and a small pool - think there's a covered one now? It's a fair trek to the pool and lake from some pitches. The restaurant was OK but limited choice. No other facilities as such on site. The area is beautiful but having with tourists.
LR is an all singing all dancing site. Pools are fantastic with slides. Lake had canoes and a larger area than LV. More beach than LV. Takeaway and restaurant on site plus entertainment if that's your thing. It's a much less touristy area which I like but you need to drive to get anywhere.
We have fabulous weather at both places.
Have you got children?