Just got back from 2 weeks staying in a chalet in Northern France (basically Mont St Michel) when the weather was good, it was fabulous, but the second week it rained for 4/5 days.
We'd like to go back to France next summer, with another family, but have no idea where to go - however we want a better chance of warm/dry weather than this year)
There will be 9 people (4+5) not fussed if we stay together or in separate chalets/gites.
Camping in tents is out - the mum from the other family is a bit poorly and needs to sleep in a proper bed/ would prefer own bathroom etc.
We want the following -
Self catering chalet/gite - probably prefer it on a site as decent pool is a must (5 kids under 10)
Drivable in a day from Channel Tunnel (300 miles is getting toward the limit with small kids)
Good chance of nice/dry weather (25 degrees and dry everyday would be wonderful)
Nice countryside so me and the other Dad can get out on the road bikes - flat/rolling countryside preferable to Alpine climbs.
Few things to do in local area (zoo/wildlife always a hit with the kids)
Any suggestions?
How's this grab you?
http://www.canvasholidays.co.uk/france/paris-ile-de-france/pp01x/camping-la-croix-du-vieux-pont
We stayed in one of their caravans earlier this year, it was lovely and ticks most of your boxes.
My younger brother, father and other family live in the Dordogne and Lot et Garonne, really beautiful part of France and we normally leave the boat in St Malo about 8.00 am and are down around Bergerac by about 2:30 pm with a short lunch stop for the kids, hundred of Gites in the area most with pools, this is a good place to start looking http://www.cheznous.com/ or i can see what they can offer up from friends.
Charente Maritime area of Western France - around La Rochelle - generally warmer than anywhere apart from the south of France great beaches, flat rolling countryside.
http://www.visit-poitou-charentes.com
About 300 miles from the ferry at Caen or 225 from St Malo.
Loads of campsites and holiday homes
http://www.homeaway.co.uk/lettings/france/charente-maritime/r180
Loire?
Easyish from channel ports, loads of choice of acc'm and loadsa castles some with adventure playgrounds
Gites de France usually gives better value than the other UK cottagers
Biking (road) is good wherever you stay and Voie Vertes up and down the river for family kiddie rides always go down well
We also unexpectedly discovered this place which was ace:
https://www.zoobeauval.com/
+1 for Dordogne and
+1 for the Vendee coast - 3-4 hours drive from St Malo.
Generally (but not always), once you get south of the Loire, the weather gets better. North of the Loire (Brittany/Normandy) the weather is same as Devon & Cornwall.
Cougar.... Just got back from 8 days there. Lovely place... Great campsite. Great riding around (lots of cheeky stuff in woods - no one about anywhere).
2.5 easy hrs from calais, 13 euro on tolls. Kids (5, 3.5) loved it.
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Our family rule of thumb is you have to get to the massive central to get the more reliable weather
Thats harder from Calais as its further North
So when I've done France we have tended to go further west and cross to Le Harve, Caen, Cherbourg etc. This cost more on the boat but I think its worth it
Inland the Dordogne is great
But my top trip for France is the Coast West of Bordeaux. lake swimming is warm and safe or drive, sea beeches are wild with waves. Loads of traffic free cycling. Hot in the day cool at night. Look at the area round Lacanua. I can't do accommodation specifics unless the cabins here would work
http://www.le-tedey.com/campsite-france-gironde.html
Its as good as it looks in the pictures. No pool but I'm not sure what it would add
A friends place, not been, but it looks like it ticks a few of your boxes:
http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/accommodation/p8171151
Thanks guys, much food for thought...
Bordeaux or anywhere along the Garonne... West you have beaches galore, East you have vineyards and mountains, South you have the Pyrenees, North ...erm you have Bergerac country.
HTH's
bookmarking this bugger.
Loire - south enough to dodge the weather, loads to do, not too bad driving, people are great. look at Tours and the area around the Cher river like Montrichard, you can't swim in the Loire but you can swim in the cher, some of the places have little river beaches 🙂 wine makers and castles
Just got back from here...
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We did stop over just south of Paris though on the way from the tunnel and on the way back.
We stayed at somewhere called Lenvos Gites a couple of years back. Ace place but not sure if it isn't south enough for you? Its near a town called Pontivy in Brittany. About an hours drive from the coast (Vannes - HIGHLY reccommended for a day out). The place itself has 5, I think, gites, two fishing ponds, awesome pool as well as a paddling pool, kids playground etc. Also near some great riding - off-road as well. The Lac du Guerladan (sp?!) is close by and there are some proper MTB routes in the woods around the lake I read about - red and black graded stuff IIRC!
It was about 3/4 hours drive from Caen but only about an hour from St Malo (we did Caen overnight ferry as they were more convenient times).
Only downside is that vs other gites we've stayed in its expensive as its Brit owned and pitched towards the Brit market.
Apart from the swimming pool and it being right down in the Lot, the http://moulindelantouy.com/ ticks a load of boxes. Last time we were there it too hot to even sit in the shade... Good job the stream running through the grounds was ice cold to have a dip in! Again, few gites, owned by a sound couple of guys who moved from London but from what I remember, its cheap. 20 minute walk into the local town, some stunning walks and lots of places to visit.