France

[kirinm]

Does anyone have any recommendations for campsites in France? Ideally locations that wouldn't involve much driving once you're off the ferry / tunnel? (I'm nervous about driving abroad).

It would be for May half term so hopefully warmish. Ideally near some water.

Thanks!

There is

portsmouth St Malo
poole Cherbourg
new haven Diepe
or
plymouth Roscoff

these crossings will take you further south

i have been during May bank holiday and half term week A Samur was close enough from Cherbourg for us to drive and inland good weather ( Cherbourg fir one night and still in fleece jackets) Camping Huttopia Saumur

You will need to drive down for weather in May.

Tent camping or caravan camping?

Lots of sites in the Loire and Vendee. Check out Yelloh Village, Huttopia and Eurocamp for ideas, read the reviews and then book direct. If you're not after lots of bells and whistles then municipal sites in France can be a great option - we stopped at a couple of lovely ones on our recent trip back.

There is also the option to sail into Santander or Bilbao, then drive back up the short distance into France.

We've tended to sail to Caen and then drive down to the south for the hotter weather, but that's a good 7hrs non-stop driving and closer to 10 total with the many toilets stops our DCs apparently need...

even in May the ferry cost return Santander Plymouth is going to be around £800+

ive done it one way on two occasions but for much longer trips than a week at half term

Agree, Bilbao is too far for a week - we did it in the summer and the journey is 2 nights and a day. Great option for the summer if you're headed to Spain or south west France though.

If you don’t want to drive too far south, you definitely need an indoor heated pool complex. Have a look at Domaine des Ormes.

Anywhere in France that is not too far from the ferry ports (so, like 4 hours drive or so?) is not guaranteed to have good weather in May. Those areas of France are much like England for weather.

The Il de Re has the mist sunshine of anywhere in France

see how that journey is for you on google maps?

Looks like driving is going to be needed. What are the roads like in France? I've driven in Spain and that felt like driving everywhere on a motorway.

@kirinm I love driving in France. I don't drive on the motorways here, I'll do anything to avoid it but happily drive on the Paeage (toll roads) in France. We have a caravan near La Rochelle it's 12 hours door to door for us.

The weather there is better than here but can still be a bit crap in May. There is a heated covered pool on our site.

If you do do it get a tag for the car for the tolls, you don't have to stop and faff about to pay manually.

We've been twice to La Bien Assise which is literally 20 mins from Calais. I went one time with my very nervous driver friend. Obviously not dissimilar weather to UK but their pool is indoor unless the weather is good in which case they open the roof.
https://www.camping-la-bien-assise.com/en/

Beautiful beaches along La Cote Opale and lots to see in that area too.