Well we’ve spent over 6 weeks in France so far this year now. Decided that another couple of weeks was in order. Tunnel again for the crossing and a tour round Brittany was the plan, along with first night in France and a long drive on the second day.
That went well, apart from the drive being long, and John the sat nav misleading us again, but didn’t cost us much time this time. First day we drove from home with a 10 to 9 start – early for us – all the way to Folkestone. Good drive apart from the busy A1. Arrived 45 minutes early. Ten to Five crossing had us in France about 6:30 and on a campsite by 7:15 local time. We headed first for an Aire at Wissant which we expected to be full and it was. Next try was a field nearby where there was plenty or room to park with views of fields and distant cliff tops. On a good day you could probably see the UK. Next morning started well when a bread van called and we hit the road for the middle of nowhere. Long drive using motorway peage where necessary, through Rouen and beyond into Normandy. A site had been chosen at Ambriere les Vallees and it turned out to be a nice if quiet site with a lovely riverside pitch and a river walk to the town. We had a pizza when the restaurant opened.
Day 3 should have been a fairly short drive but we spent a lot of the morning visiting Chateau Le Motte Husson which features in Channel 4’s Escape to the Chateau series with Dick and Angel which we enjoy watching. We eventually found it after failing to turn off the dual carriageway soon enough and doubling back on country lanes. Parked down the road and walked back and up the drive, where we were passed by a Dutch couple in a car. We got as far as the moat when we were met by a very pleasant man who explained that potential wedding party were looking at the chateau and we couldn’t go any further, but could take pictures from there. We chatted to the Dutch couple, took some pics and left. No sign of Dick or Angel 🙁
Onwards to our next site at the weirdly named Gueneme Penfaco. This site was a bit desolate and a bit far from the town to have a walk but the site owner suggested a 20 minute walk through woods to a cliff with spectacular views of the countryside. She was right. At this site we had free wi-fi and had a good look at weather prospects and possible routes into Brittany. Nothing was gelling and the weather suggested storms which might only be wind further south so we decided Ile de Re was for us again. In June a couple from Sheffield suggested as site in Danvix, so we looked it up and although it felt a good drive, got us a long way to the Ile de Re. Danvix was worth a visit. Its a pretty village with the cream walls and tiled roof buildings we like. We walked in for a couple of beers and a look see at restaurants and with the campsite only 5 minutes away went back for a relax before dinner. Just before 7 after a heavy rain shower and more rain forecast we set off to the restaurant we had seen and fancied even though it looked finished for the summer. It was open and lovely set in the old school house with lots of French school memorabilia on the walls.
Ile de Re next – a familiar journey and we were looking forward to going over the bridge and seeing this little gem set out before us. We were aiming for La Flotte – a town we had not seen yet. We almost had our very first ACSI disappointment. Reception opened at 2 which was early for France and the site looked very busy, but we waited and made sure we were first inside with a small queue, only to be asked if we had booked. We could only be offered one place near the road for 2 nights and one better place for 1 night. We opted for that. The site had lots to offer including an easy bike ride into La Flotte, but the town was not a walk away. We had a good look round and went back to the site for a swim, then ordered chips from the take-away to go with our meal. Yum. We decided 1 night was good enough and headed for the familiar Camping du Soleil at Ars en Re.
Sandra was quite poorly when we arrived and we started to look at a return journey, but a trip to the beach followed by a walk into Ars and a nice meal perked us up a bit. We were in a good open pitch which is rare on a very sheltered site, but it was near the bins and the dustbin men came at 2:00 am!!! They woke us up!! They were not popular. A long lie in, supermarket trip and a long walk on the beach and a short bike ride for a beach pootle was enough for a Monday. The next day we had a nice bike ride through Ars stopping at the market which we had not seen before and out along the salt flats to St Clement. We felt great so planned another, longer bike ride and lunch out at Phare des Baleines which we did and it felt a good achievement. It rained heavily at one point and we got very wet but didn’t mind and the sun and breeze soon dried us. The last evening we had another lovely meal in Ars. Leaving the Ile behind and thinking Sandra’s health meant we should be heading home we set off for a series of gentle hops home.
First stop was another pretty village just up the river from Danvix in a place called Coulom. The campsite was a bike ride rather than a walk from the town but we had a nice ride in and a good look around La Venise Vert. There was a fabulous aire in the village with lots of electric and you could spread out a bit from neighbours. North next to the Loire valley with 2 possible sites in mind. The sat nav was a bit odd at the end of the journey but we found the first site, had a look, didn’t like, moved on. But the route would work. It turned out we had to go through the designated pretty village and camping cars were not allowed. You could see why, but the road wasn’t busy and we gave it a go. No problem. Then the sat nav didn’t pick up the seconds site and the co-ords didn’t work and we drove 5 miles past before turning round to find it. It turned out to be a nice site in a lovely village with a huge chateau. Time for 2 nights. The campsite was busy with a large group of Danish caravanners. We had a look round and a couple of beers and in the disappointing absence of nice restaurants settled for a take-away pizza from the campsite.
The second day was lovely and we planned a bike ride down the valley and then a visit to the chateau. The bike ride took us down the river bank towards Samur. It quickly became an off road route which Sandra handled very well. We went as far as the track took us and set off back. At a certain point we could go inland and explore a village and some cave dwellings including a cave hotel which appeared closed but very much in use. Back to Heidi for lunch and rest then off to the castle with a plan to have dinner at a creperie. The castle was spectacular for its views and setting but a bit odd inside as it was dedicated to an avantgard sixties pop/art collective and some of their writings. We saw a nice lawn from the top of the castle where they served us beer and we went to look at the creperie which appeared closed at just gone 7. A French family arrived and we similarly disappointed. We had a wander around and eventually ended up at the same place we had bought the beer earlier as they were open by now. We had a lovely meal there.
The journey continued north and after a bit of a damp start we headed past Samaur towards Sille Guilliaume and a forest campsite next to a lake. The journey was a bit long and we went along some very straight roads 15-20 kms long!! We paused for a ‘big shop’ as there was a massive thunderstorm coming our way which had cleared by the time we had browsed round the supermarché. The campsite was very welcoming and we had a cycle ride around the lake. Later we walked for a beer and wondered about stopping for an extra night and a meal. The next day we cycled the opposite way round the lake, had a coffee and set off for Falaise and a campsite below a castle. We pitched up and waited for the office to open to book in. Sandra less well again today. We wandered up hill to the castle but it was shutting so we went into town where everything apart from a few Tabacs was shut (Monday!). Back to the van and a promise of a look round the castle in the morning. It was not to be missed and I dragged a very poorly Sandra round. This was the original home of William the Conqueror and not to be missed. Off then to Honfleur for the second time this year too. We knew the sore hear – park up and eat lunch in the queue waiting for this office to open. The site look to have plenty of room, but very very wet. We were offered some slightly iffy pitches but at least they were dry. Off into Honfleur for a look see and beer. Sandra pissed blood! We visited a pharmacy and she told us about a health clinic which we had to go to in the morning. Booked a taxi using my best French and we went, were seen fairly quick, prescribed antibiotics and took a urine sample to the lab. It all cost £62! Not bad. Rested then Sandra felt well enough to go fro a meal, which we did and it was ok ish.
Final day – drive to tunnel for earlier passage arriving at Cambridge CCC site for the night. Uneventful night and