TOP 10 French campsites
Nobody has fun when the kids get bored on holiday – so make sure they don’t at these fab campsites within easy reach in sunny France
1 AUVERGNE Seven nights
from €598 Get back to nature at Le Monteil Revolution, deep in the valleys of central France. Set on the fringe of the woods, this leafy eight-acre site is home to just two glamping domes, each kitted out with luxury kingsized beds, sofa beds, wood-burning stoves and bathrooms. And there’s an outdoor log-fired bathtub hidden in the woods for relaxing soaks as you enjoy glorious views of the valley through the trees. Rural life abounds, with pigs rooting about, geese waddling around, and a brood of hens guarantees a daily supply of fresh eggs. Take in the country air on walks and cycle rides from the site or lose yourself in the one of the world’s biggest hedge mazes at Labyrinthe Géant park (labyrinthe-geant.fr), a 10-minute drive away. THE DEAL: Seven nights self-catering in August costs from €598 for a family of four with Cool Camping. mirror.co.uk/traveltop10
2 DORDOGNE Seven nights from €510 Set between the Loire Valley and the Pyrenees, the Dordogne is rich in history, cuisine and scenery. Saint Avit Loisirs, one of the country’s premier camping resorts, close to charming market town La Bugue, is a handy base from which to explore the surrounding countryside on walks or by bike. With tennis courts, mini golf, a golf driving range, quad bikes and a well-stocked fishing lake, along with amazing pool complex featuring water slides and a spray park – there’s plenty to do on site. It’s worth a visit to the stunning medieval town of Sarlat or hire canoes for a trip down the Dordogne River. THE DEAL: Seven nights’ self-catering in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom Chalet Palace (sleeping up to six) costs €510 with Firefly Holidays, arriving on August 19.
3 BRITTANY A week from €587 (€97pp) If you’re seeking a little culture for your family break, hop over the Channel to Camping Le Moustoir. This small yet lively campsite is just a five-minute drive from Carnac, famous for the 4,000 prehistoric standing stones that surround this southern Breton village. The kids can enjoy some outdoor action on the zip-wire and cool off in the pool complex. In July and August the site organises activities and entertainment. Brittany’s biggest beach, Grande
Plage, a mile-long stretch of fine white sand, is the nearest beach, just under three miles away. THE DEAL: A week’s selfcatering arriving on July 1, in a two-bedroom Comfort Plus mobile home (sleeping up to six), costs from €97pp with France Break. mirror.co.uk/traveltop10
4 GASCONY Seven nights from €1,498 Drop anchor at Le Vieux Port on the south-west Atlantic coast and discover an immense pine forest Les Landes and an inviting long stretch of sand. Kids can swash their buckle in the fantastic pool complex complete with a pirate boat or there’s lots of sports activities including football, basketball, table tennis and boules. On the five-star site there’s a grill restaurant with a weekly barbecue. For days out, the glamour of seaside town Biarritz is an hour’s drive away, while the Reserve Naturelle du Marais d’orx, 40 minutes away, is a peaceful oasis for bird life (reservenaturelle-marais-orx.fr). THE DEAL: A week self-catering from August 5 starts at €1,498 in a two-bedroom Classic mobile home (sleeps six) with Eurocamp. mirror.co.uk/traveltop10
5 LOIRE Seven nights from €661 In the heart of chateaux country, Domaine de Dugny is the perfect base to see the fairytale former French royal residences – including Blois, Chambord and Chenonceau, with its magnificent art gallery. On site there are heated pools with slides and chutes, multi-sports pitches, playgrounds, three free children’s clubs and free evening entertainment. There’s also a lake for fishing and boating fun, and a minigolf green. Renowned for its fine vineyards producing Sancerre, Muscadet and Anjou, the area has plenty of opportunity for wine-tasting tours and walks. THE DEAL: A seven-night self-catering stay from August 26 costs from €661, for up to six in a two-bedroom mirror.co.uk/traveltop10
6 PICARDY 11 nights from €1,680 Camping la Croix du Vieux Pont is pitched perfectly for taking the kids to Disneyland Paris. There are weekly excursions from the Berny Riviere campsite to the theme park 60 miles away, as well as to Paris. And there’s an array of activities on the site to keep the whole family happy, with three lakes at the heart of the action – for boating, swimming and one for fishing. And at the sports centre you can try archery, the climbing wall or the zip wire. THE DEAL: For July 18 arrival, an 11-night self-catering stay in a three-bedroom mobile home now costs €1,680 (saving €394), Venue Holidays. mirror.co.uk/traveltop10
7 CORSICA Seven nights from €1,114 You’ll be bewitched by the wild charm of this Med island’s rugged mountains and fabulous beaches. Set up camp at Perla di Mare on the edge of sandy Vignale beach on the east coast. Near the town of Ghisonaccia, the five-star site has pools, a spa, a kids’ club and a shop. Eat at the restaurant shaded by pines or grab a pizza at the snack bar. There’s table tennis, fishing, watersports and horseriding. Hire a bike and explore along the cycle paths. And it’s worth a day trip to the ancient fortress town of Bonifacio, perched on cliffs at Corsica’s southern point. THE DEAL: Arriving August 19, Sunêlia Vacances has a week’s self-catering in threebedroom accommodation with a terrace (sleeps six) from ¤1,127. mirror.co.uk/traveltop10
8 THE VENDÉE Seven nights from €717 If you’re in search of a traditional bucketand-spade family break head to this region on France’s west coast – famous for its miles of sandy beaches. The closest beach to Le Bois Masson holiday village is less than two miles away. But you might find it hard to drag the family away – this holiday village is packed full of activities, including a big pool with waterslides, an indoor aqua playstation for kids, sports pitches, tennis courts and boules. Grown-ups can escape to the spa. Free family
entertainment every evening.
THE DEAL: Siblu has seven nights’ self-catering on August 26 from €717 for up to six in a two-bedroom Esprit. mirror.co. uk/traveltop10 9 LANGUEDOC Seven nights from €1,190 There’s so much to see and do you’ll want to linger longer in Languedoc – and the four-star Les Méditerranées Beach Garden in Marseillan next to Bagnas nature reserve makes an ideal base. Culture vultures can visit the Moliere museum in pretty Pézenas and seafood lovers should head to the historic port of Sete (both 30 minutes away), while a trip to the walled city of Carcassonne 70 miles away is a must. On site there’s a range of entertainment and activities including a water slide, multi-sports pitch, a spa, volleyball and petanque.
THE DEAL: A week at four-star Les Méditerranées Beach Garden from July 24, in a two-bedroom Rossini Luxe mobile home (up to six), now costs from €1,190 (saving up to €297) with Al Fresco Holidays. mirror. co.uk/traveltop10
10 PROVENCE Seven nights
from €250 Soak up the glamour of the South of France without the eye-watering prices and pitch your tent at Camping Les Blimouses. Just two miles from the hilltop town of Callas, the site is surrounded by 100 miles of hiking and biking trails. Kids will love the waterpark, table tennis, bowls and zumba. Glitzy St Tropez and Cannes are both an hour’s drive away. THE DEAL: Electric pitches from €250 for seven nights with Pitchup.com. The site has a shower block, launderette and wi-fi. mirror.co.uk/traveltop10