regency Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Hi there, Hubby and I will be making our first trip to France in our new (well, new to us!) motorhome beginning of April. Ferry from Dover to Calais arriving approx 1pm so would like to drive about 100 - 150 km heading south east on that first day. Any recommendations for a camping site please? We would like to book in advance for the first night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Klyne Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 This is a nice campsite about 120 miles from Calais http://www.davidklyne.co.uk/CampingLeVivierAuxCarpes.htm Not sure you need to book but there is a link to campsite webpage. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 regency - 2010-02-17 5:11 PM Hi there, Hubby and I will be making our first trip to France in our new (well, new to us!) motorhome beginning of April. Ferry from Dover to Calais arriving approx 1pm so would like to drive about 100 - 150 km heading south east on that first day. Any recommendations for a camping site please? We would like to book in advance for the first night. Nice small site we have stayed at a couple of times at Montreuil Sur Mer. Site is right under town walls and makes a pleasant stay for a couple of nights, historic small town and a good supermarket to top up with food just up the road. No need to book at this time of the year, if no one around just find a pitch and go back when office opens. Called La Fontaine des Clercs www. campinglafontainedesclercs.fr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Caravan Europe Vol 1 from the Caravan Club will give you loads of sites and lots of information on caravanning / motorcaravanning in France. I agree that there is no need to book during April (in fact we never book at any time of the year). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike B. Posted February 17, 2010 Share Posted February 17, 2010 Hi There is a lovely free aire at Cleres which is roughly the distance you want to travel and Cleres is worth an overinght if only to see the Chateau and the bird gardens. The pitches are all marked out with privets and electricity is free also. It is just a few km off the motorway and you can be back on it in about 10-15 minutes If you want to know more or see a picture PM me Have fun Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Grumpy Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 We usually stop at Cleres on the way home and Mike is right it's a nice aires and backs onto the sports ground. The free electricity is at the far end and you have to be there early to get connected, many French motorhomers take a multi adapter so there can be 3 or 4 vans connected to the same supply outlet! On the way out we use Brezolles but it is probably too far for a first night if you start driving at 1pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertandjean Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Hi, Yes Cleres is a really nice aire and parking/water are still free but electricity is now charged at 2€ for 6 hours, so not going to break the bank, but might mean less vans inclined to hook-up. (tokens can be purchased at bakers or one of the cafes). Another aire that can be reached in required time scale, and one we often use, is at La Mailleray-sur-Seine. This is set right on the banks of the Seine, with shops etc a short walk away; used to be free but now 5€/24 hours with water 3€ but the situation makes it well worth it. Enjoy your first trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted February 18, 2010 Share Posted February 18, 2010 Ooo La Mailleraye sur Seine - wonderful: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usinmyknaus Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Great photo's Mel, took me right back there. Regency, if you are at all nervous about using an aire for the first time, I think La Mailleray-Sur-Seine is a good one to try the system for yourself. The police station is very close to the entrance and officers patrol regularly. (They quickly detained and questioned some youngsters who were driving round the aire in a car and sent them off with a flea in their ear last time we were there.) There are two good Boulangeries/Patisseries close by and a small supermarket with fuel on the way back to the main road. Be aware that towards the end of the aire, on the left-hand side looking from the entrance, is a small sewage pumping station which can be a bit smelly and genererates some machine noise, the latter of course is more noticeable at night. So park a suitable distance away from it if you can. We used this aire as the first overnight stop on our first trip to France in a new M/H back in 2007. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Just a couple of word of warning when driving to the aire: 1) Don't try to get to La M Sur S by going over one of the little ferries, even though you can legally used them the bl**dy ferrymen won't let you on, so you can only get to it by the big bridge on the main road (D490): MAP 2) Don't let Tom Tom take you down one of the narrow roads - it tried with us and, to be fair, we didn't have a problem, but then we found the main road was just a bit further on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robertandjean Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 The bridge over the Seine that Mel refers to is the Pont de Brotonne. This is indicated on most maps and sat navs as a toll bridge but has infact been toll free for at least 3 years. (When we were at the inauguration evening for the aire at St-Nicholas-de-Bliquetuit, which is very close to the bridge, the mayor told us the toll had been lifted to encourage tourism. The aire itself has great views over the river, even better than La Mal-s-Seine, and is free to stay overnight but is a long way from the village hence prefer La Mal.) Thanks for the photos Mel really can not wait to return; and this is how all the threads should be, people exchanging useful info and ideas in good spirit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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