BEST PLACE TO BUY BREAD
ZOE CHAMBERLAIN finds a little piece of England in the heart of France
THE moment you turn into the long, ancient tree lined driveway up to L’Orangerie de Beauregard, you know you’ve arrived somewhere special. British couple Tim and Jane Rocke have created an ‘English Village’ near Tours in the gorgeous Loire Valley countryside.
It’s a campsite extraordinaire, and part of Les Castels group, which is known for its outstanding camping grounds.
Opened in May, following a two-year renovation project, all the original farm buildings have been converted into fun stuff for families.
And, because it’s been customdesigned, everything is superaccessible for wheelchairs and buggies.
The exquisite orangery is now a bar which overlooks the easy access swimming pool and has the family Chateau as a backdrop.
There are bell tents, tree houses and barrels for glamping, plus gites and wooden cabins too.
However, most of the site is used by campers pitching their own tents and mobile homes.
The kids loved the play barn, which featured table football, ping pong, a play tunnel, craft table and snug with a TV.
There’s also a multi-sport pitch for games, a square for boules, an outdoor ping pong table and a wooden adventure playground.
Jane organises lots of activities for families, from a daily kids’ club in a bell tent – which is rounded off with a parachute game and bounce on a bouncy castle – to pony rides and film nights. There’s even wine tasting, where guests can get to sample local Vouvray wines and cheeses. Parfait!
Beautiful handwritten signs guide you to all the amenities on the site, including a shortcut walk into the local town of Villedomer.
The highlight for our boys, aged 11 and nine, was the swimming pool.
It was warm and safe, with a gated fence around it and a ramp into the pool, which meant that little ones could play alongside their parents in the deeper water.
ACCOMMODATION
WE STAYED in a pretty bell tent, which featured a full-sized sleigh bed and two camp beds for the kids.
There was a chest for us to store our clothes, a small fridge, a couple of stools for the kids and a lamp for cosy board games in the evenings.
Outside, there was a large awning porch which offered UV protection and shelter for a picnic table and fold-up chairs.
For cooking, there was a zip-up cupboard complete with china crockery, utensils, pots, pans and coffee pot, a camp stove and large barbecue.
The washing up point was nearby, as was the sanitary block, which featured plenty of hot showers and sinks.
In the evening, we’d barbecue, play games then sit and watch the sunset behind the trees before heading inside our cosy tent.
Popping out to use the bathroom before bed, we’d gaze up at the bounty of stars and listen to the owls hooting in the branches high above us. The tents are vented with mosquito nets so it was comfortable to sleep with a gentle breeze coming in from outside.
And, in the morning, we’d wake to the sound of birds chirping.
WHERE TO EAT
AT the heart of the site is a cobbled courtyard, which has a series of fountains. From here you can access the reception, gites, café, play barn and a restaurant called The Stables, which used to be the old stable block.
Open Tuesday to Saturday evenings, there’s a set menu featuring dishes such as Spanish pork with couscous, Mexican chicken burger and chickpea curry, with desserts including home-made meringue nests and chocolate torte.
Main meals cost around £6 to £7 and there’s a children’s menu too.
THE old pigsty has been converted into a Milk Bar and Shop, where you can sit and drink coffee and pick up supplies brought in daily from the local boulangeries, charcuteries and epiceries.
This is key to the campsite’s success, the fact that the locals have been supportive of the project from the very beginning.
Everything on the site has been restored carefully to ensure it is in keeping with the area. The planting is beautiful too, with large lavender bushes and apple trees.
Fresh bread and croissants can be ordered every afternoon for delivery the next morning.
ALTA BADIA, in the heart of Italy’s Dolomites mountain range, is renowned for its exceptional cuisine and its three Michelinstarred restaurants: The St Hubertus in San Cassiano, La Siriola (run by the youngest Italian chef to have a Michelin star) and the Stüa de Michil, in nearby Corvara, which all offer exceptional and unique dining experiences.
However, a top draw is the
which starts in December and gives guests the opportunity to explore the slopes via a mapped-out network of the best local restaurants for sampling delightful delicacies.
Inghams is offering a sevennight stay on a half-board basis at the three-star Hotel Stores in San Cassiano, Italy, from £899 per person based on two sharing.
Price represents a saving of £140 per person and includes return flights from Manchester to Innsbruck and airport transfers.
The package is valid for travel departing on December 15.
To book, visit inghams.co.uk/ fab5 or call 01483 791 114.
JET2HOLIDAYS offers seven nights in Fuerteventura, staying at the three-star
in Costa Caleta on a self-catering basis.
Departing from Newcastle on November 24, the price is £339 per person based on two sharing and includes a 22kg baggage allowance and return transfers.
To book visit jet2holidays.com, freephone 0800 408 5594 or visit your travel agent.
CHECK out Cyprus on this holiday staying at the three-star
Coral Bay, from £286. Price includes return flights from Leeds Bradford Airport on November 3 and seven nights on a selfcatering basis. Call 0871 474 3000 or see onthebeach.co.uk
Somewhere special: L’Orangerie de Beauregard
which is said to have inspired the Sleeping Beauty story.
Our favourite was Chenonceau, a stunning chateau built across the River Cher. It boasts manicured gardens, a maze, a donkey park, a 16th century farm and Medieval castle keep.
Once inside, you can take an audio tour to learn about the history of the place, which involves wives and mistresses, King Louis XIV – known as the Sun King – and the woman who saved the chateau during the French Revolution.
During the war, the Great Hall which stretches across the river was used as a hospital with beds lined up to treat wounded soldiers, some of whom were said to have fished from the windows!
The kitchens below were used to feed up to 200 people a day, with