Camping in France

[Campingmum123]

Hi all,

We've decided to go camping in france in 2 weeks time (i know this is very last min but here we are) and we're looking for any campsite recommendations. Myself and my partner did it as kids and would love for our little one to experience it too.

Getting the ferry over from dover to calais 17th August coming back on 24th August due to work. We'll be taking our 4 year old with us so must have something to do for her either on site or in the area.

Timescale of when we are traveling is quite ridged due to work and other commitments so dont want to be traveling hundreds of miles from the ferry terminal but are quite happy to travel 2 hours or so. We would have to drive to and from the northwest hence not traveling too far once in france.

Any recommendations greatful as i litrally feel like ive exhausted google.

Yellow campsites are usually good. They are all over france

Are you taking your own camping equipment or looking for a site where you stay in a mobile home or safari style tent?

I agree with PP that the Yelloh village chain are good. 2 hours from Calais isn't very far, but there will be places along the Normandy coast.

I haven't been, but one of my kids visited Le Touquet on a school trip recently and said it was very nice.

Edited to say Normandy coast, not Brittany - I think that's further than you want to go.

Have a look at Eurocamp website, you can filter by region and loads of choice. Most have waterslides, playgrounds etc. My 4 year old has loved all the ones we stayed in.

Also if you're in the West of England (we are too) there are ferries from Portsmouth, they are longer but we found with our 4yo the ferry itself was enjoyable with play equipment, a resturant, entertainment so it was part of the holiday rather than being stuck in the car.

My gut instinct is… this is too last minute! Unless you have the equipment and at least one have you have been camping in the last, oh I don’t know 2/3 decades!

If you have your own tent and camping equipment this site has availability for your dates on a camping pitch that has its own private bathroom!! It's just over an hour from Calais and it has a covered pool which will be good if the weather is a bit dodgy (as it can be in northern France).

https://www.yellohvillage.co.uk/camping/le_ridin/our_camping_pitches#content

We camp regularly as myself and partner are scout leaders so have all equipment ready to go! tbh we're quite flexible but we thought france would be a nice change!

Great family sites are Yelloh and Sandaya. I also recommend Camping Berny Rivere

We have just got back from Yelloh Les Pins in Britianny and compared to our usual Eurocamp I think the standard of facilities was higher.

We have found Huttopia sites very good - stayed in a beautiful site near Clermont-Ferrand a few years ago. No good for you, but this Huttopia Normandy site may be worth a look, although availability may be an issue given high season. Best of luck!
https://europe.huttopia.com/en/site/les-falaises-normandy/

Anywhere that has some pitch vacancies? It is a bit last minute. August is high season here and an awful lot of places close for 2-3 weeks so you'd have to do a bit of research of what is going on in the nearest towns/cities.

A bit weird to miss this out from your OP when you very much give the impression you’re a newbie and haven’t been since a child!

I’m afraid the vast majority of the nice sites in good locations will have been booked up for some time

Yelloh, Sandaya or eurocamp sites are all good. Good shower and washing facilities, great pools, splash parks and flumes, play parks and kids activities. We only ever go to vendee which is probably a bit far from Calais to give recommendations but all those brands we have used and not been disappointed in any.

I literally posted a link earlier to a very nice looking site that still has availability for pitches with private bathrooms for OPs dates. Honestly, why post something so negging? 🙄

http://champdelachapelle.com

Different type of site than yelloh etc… but a simple safe site in the Tronçais forest.

Perfect for children to have a bit of independence and make friends. The site has a pool, trampoline, foot golf, marshmallows on the fire, tractor rides, swings, football goal, table tennis, plenty of space to run free. Plenty of sun and shade and a simple marquee style bar. I’m sure there would be space.

I went on that site you posted

I inserted arrival date for a pitch for a fortnight time, for three people, and this is what came up.

Perhaps you have a special different page of availability

I agree. At a campsite in France I was at last week there were plenty of empty pitches. The whole of France will not be sold out for camping!

Yelloh Domaine de Drancourt: we just got back and it was fabulous. Lovely new pools, bouncy castle, little bar, lots to see in local towns

https://www.lez-eaux.com/en/

This place is lovely

I stayed here a couple of times a few years ago when my boys were little and we all loved it.
https://prunay.fr/

Yelloh or Sandaya although the one we are at now says fully booked for August but check websites!

We also like Huttopia sites. Also look at Castels camping - there is a lovely site near Calais. Depends on how much entertainment you want. But there is a nice pool, bar, games area & beach at Wissant is decent.

We haven’t taken children but went years ago to Domaine de Drancourt. That is also not too far to go from Calais.

https://www.yellohvillage.fr/camping/domaine_de_drancourt

https://www.camping-la-bien-assise.com/en/

we did this a few years ago. Just like you. Last minute. Was awesome. Hired bikes. Ate great food! Chilled out. Fabulous wine too!

Camping Municipal Le Soleil, La Rochelle
It’s close to the harbour. Where there are some great restaurants.

you can hire bikes and explore ile de re and La Rochelle.
really lovely area.

A second for Castel sites, quieter than Yelloh, but always lovely

We had one terrible holiday with Eurocamp, never again, but lots of brilliant holidays with Canvas Holidays. Our favourites were Royan, on the Atlantic coast, and Guilvinec in Brittany.