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Considering jumping on a ferry tomorrow to go to France due to poor weather forecast where we had planned to go (Scottish borders).
Normally, when going to France we bypass the whole of the north (due to past experiences) and go to Jura, then Alps.
But my wife has said she doesn't want to do a long drive.
So...
Is it actually possible for me to enjoy a week in northern France!
Is the coast interesting enough?
Will I be able to find campsites at this late notice?
Scotland was going to be with bikes, but don't trust campsites to store them safely unless someone knows a specific one?
Ta!
If your choice of route is wide open then go plymouth overnight to roscoff and drive however long you want to britanny. Nothing beats waking up and arriving in your destination.
If you have to stay more northern then the base of Normandy would be best, into St Malo. I've had several holidays in Normandy and Brittany and simply the further south you go the better the weather. Most Normandy is a bit bleak and there's lots more for tourists in Briattany.
Also, have you considered the channel islands?
If you go to France there's tons of campsites I doubt you'll have trouble but you might have to pay for plenty of web time finding where they are.
Is it actually possible for me to enjoy a week in northern France!
Yes.
Is the coast interesting enough?
Yes.
Will I be able to find campsites at this late notice?
No idea on that, I'm afraid.
Used to live in Normandy. Love the place!
we had a cracking time here last year:
http://www.lapointesuperbecamping.com/en/home/
may well be busy tho as it's school holidays - but it was lovely. Enough trees around that i could string my hammock up over the brook right next to our tent 😀
was very pleasantly surprised by Brittany - beautiful area 🙂
doris5000 - ha - there's a pic of my tent on that site. Maybe that's me sold 🙂
I just find it hard to be anywhere without hills/mountains
We were there last week although in a motorhome using aires rather than campsites. There are lots of nice places on the coast - I like the area round Le Touquet in particular.
Campsites in France are rarely a problem. I've stayed in this one near Calais a few years back: https://www.camping-castels.co.uk/campsite/bien-assise and we just rocked up there and got in no problem.
If you don't mind driving for a few hours then you could do a stay in my favourite campsite in France, which is just to the east of Paris (and very close to EuroDisney if that's of interest): http://www.caravaning-4vents.fr/campsite-france-seine-et-marne-paris-4-vents.html
If you do go to the latter then please take your time if cycling on the (very quiet) roads nearby as my have my only Strava KOM in France there!
Western Brittany - Montagnes Noir around Huelgoat and also Mur de Bretagne, you'll be fine. The campsites round us aren't that busy. I've got a Brittany Ferries discount code if you want it - PM me 🙂
Breton coast is lovely - like Cornwall/ Scillies, but without so many tourists. Day trip to one of the islands like Oussant or Belle Isle is worth considering too.
We were in Brittany as well - the only campsite we used was this one: https://www.camping-castels.co.uk/campsite/lanniron in Quimper. Very nice site and great location to get into the town and with loads of sporting facilities very close by, although quite an expensive site. We also just rocked up at that site and got in no problem - there was plenty of space.
Thanks all. I can't say the flat field sites with regimented pitches are our kind of thing, but it may well suit us best this time.
I haven't been to Brittany or Normandy with a car but have cycle toured there loads. There are loads of nice Camping a La Ferme type sites. Some are quiet and not flat or regimented.
I know what you mean about hills, mountains and moorland but Brittany has just enough valleys, heathland and quiet rural areas to keep me happy. It's like a French Carmarthenshire really. And some times it rains a s much too.
I live in SW France but travel back to UK regularly so I have spent much time in N France.
The beaches are superb.
The weather can be changeable but suck it up. Enjoy the sun, and the rain never lasts long.
Enjoy the history.
Enjoy the food.
Take your bikes, and enjoy the parcours, the crime rate is very low.
We did a week near Dieppe some years ago.
I don't know why we chose Dieppe, we just ended up there.
Camping La Source, just outside Dieppe, was a nice site.
I quite liked Dieppe, it had a sort of old fashioned feel.
If you can drive a couple of hours further south the weather should start to be noticeably better.
It's pretty much like a British seaside holiday, only French. We were in Pleneuf-Val Andre in May, and it was.. what you'd expect.
I took my road bike but it was a bit crap in cycling terms. One lovely ride around le Cap Frehel and one really dull one inland. Well, I say dull - it's great for TdF style French cycling atmos, but not for actual cycling.
We have stayed at la Pointe very nice for a few days. We had 10 days in Bernodet this year and I had a fab time with the gravel bike and the Garmin with french oSM exploring the various trails for a few hours every morning before the family woke up. Bike theft never occurred to me just put a wire and d lock round the bike rack ( only a new Pinnacle Arkose). St Malo was ok although riding was dull.
Will I be able to find campsites at this late notice?
Yes - most will have space now. Maybe not much space, but this weekend is when things start to empty because people start to head back.
Thanks everyone!
Decided to set off tomorrow to give ourselves a bit of time.
Still trying to persuade the other half to barrel down to the alps, but at least I have some closer options now!
Cheers!
Wicked. What ferry route have you decided on?
Cheapest 🙂
Dover - Dunkirk
Also consider Portsmouth to Santander and into Northern Spain - it's lovely!!
You might well get a sensibly-priced ferry ticket and the ferry is pretty good. 25h crossing, chilling out and seeing the whales.
Rachel
We had 5 days near St Valery Sur Somme a couple of years ago. Had a great time, did a really interesting guided walk across the mud flats/estuary.
Only prices I ever saw were £800+allthegear - MemberAlso consider Portsmouth to Santander and into Northern Spain - it's lovely!!
You might well get a sensibly-priced ferry ticket and the ferry is pretty good. 25h crossing, chilling out and seeing the whales.
Rachel
They don't sail until Tuesday anyway.
Oh - fair enough - I've only ever used it on the motorbike.
We used the Newhaven Dieppe crossing and stayed at a nice rural farm site http://www.normandiealaferme.com/normandie/orne/athis-de-l-orne/ferme/camping-a-la-ferme-de-la-ribardiere/121360
Nice road riding, very quiet, small village cafés and the odd tourist attraction (think river rafting, gorge walks etc)
Oh, and the farm makes its own delicious cider...
We used the Newhaven Dieppe crossing and stayed at a nice rural farm site http://www.normandiealaferme.com/normandie/orne/athis-de-l-orne/ferme/camping-a-la-ferme-de-la-ribardiere/121360
Nice road riding, very quiet, small village cafés and the odd tourist attraction (think river rafting, gorge walks etc)
Oh, and the farm makes its own delicious cider...
We used the Newhaven Dieppe crossing and stayed at a nice rural farm site http://www.normandiealaferme.com/normandie/orne/athis-de-l-orne/ferme/camping-a-la-ferme-de-la-ribardiere/121360
Nice road riding, very quiet, small village cafés and the odd tourist attraction (think river rafting, gorge walks etc)
Oh, and the farm makes its own delicious cider...