Moderator: g8dhe
July isn't too bad, August is very busy because so many French take the whole month off, We have often gone to a Campsite in Ste Aulaye, near Ste Foy la Grande and you can swim or canoe in the Dordogne which is 50 yards away. We went last year with the Bongo and loved it. great for cycling or walking too, mostly flat and very little traffic on the back roadsclummzie wrote:Hi,
Our little boy starts school this year so no more out of season 3 week trips in September
We like to be flexible and not book anything (campsites that is not ferries!) but are aware that July/August are the busiest periods.
Any suggestions or experience as to areas that might not be too busy in peak times - ideally looking for nice weather and water (lakes or sea) and possibly even mountainous.
I guess the Mediterranean is completely out?
At one time French sites used to have to have x number of pitches for overnight stops but may no longer be the case. I've never failed to find anywhere either.dvisor wrote:We travelled through Spain and France during August last year(including Pyrenees, French South coast, Dordogne and Loire), staying at a different campsite almost every night. Didn't have any problems at all getting into sites without booking. But, we chose the last 2 weeks of August.
Sounds great, our main aim is to avoid the crowds!umbongocat wrote:A very beautiful region with lakes and forests and hills is the Limousin... We go there every year as my mother has a house there. Very few English people around and not touristy at all. Lovely lakes to swim in. The weather is variable as it's in the middle of France. Personally, I prefer it to the South in the summer as the South is crammed with people and beaches cost to go on etc..
La-Creuse is a beautiful spot in the Limousin
Oh it's you we bought it off... we've not used it yet, in fact, it's still sitting in the lounge as I type.. .clummzie wrote:Sounds great, our main aim is to avoid the crowds!umbongocat wrote:A very beautiful region with lakes and forests and hills is the Limousin... We go there every year as my mother has a house there. Very few English people around and not touristy at all. Lovely lakes to swim in. The weather is variable as it's in the middle of France. Personally, I prefer it to the South in the summer as the South is crammed with people and beaches cost to go on etc..
La-Creuse is a beautiful spot in the Limousin
Hope the...ahem..cough..toilet was OK?!
Meant to be for meets without facilities 
Or for the festivals and when we have the little ones with us We're definitely having a number 1 only rule tho and 
number twos! Hehe, bit cold yet to have used it yet I guess! Just wanted to make sure you were happy with it.umbongocat wrote:Oh it's you we bought it off... we've not used it yet, in fact, it's still sitting in the lounge as I type.. .clummzie wrote:Sounds great, our main aim is to avoid the crowds!umbongocat wrote:A very beautiful region with lakes and forests and hills is the Limousin... We go there every year as my mother has a house there. Very few English people around and not touristy at all. Lovely lakes to swim in. The weather is variable as it's in the middle of France. Personally, I prefer it to the South in the summer as the South is crammed with people and beaches cost to go on etc..
La-Creuse is a beautiful spot in the Limousin
Hope the...ahem..cough..toilet was OK?!
Well, if you're looking to avoid crowds I would definitely look into La-Creuse region of the Limousin.. it's still unspoilt and fairly unknown to the English. Are you looking to camp in the bongo?
Also know of a beautiful campsite in the Ardeche up on the hills away from the touristy bits. Lovely rivers to swim in. Not sure if it's still going as Jean Pierre the owner was talking of retiring this year.
There's lots of lovely spots if you know the country. PM if you want more info
No, never too cold..clummzie wrote:
Hehe, bit cold yet to have used it yet I guess! Just wanted to make sure you were happy with it.
Will check out the Limousin region, never even heard of it that's how much I know about France in general!!
Yep, definitely looking at a Bongo holiday again this year but just don't fancy driving all the way to Spain, our preferred destination as I speak a little Spanish.
Love the sound (and the pics) of the Ardeche but always assumed it was tourist hotspot in summer.
Thanks again but may well bend you ear in the near future as we get closer to ferry bookings and the holiday bug bites.
We camped only last week in North Wales... true there was Ice in the morning and I did think the loo would have come in handy... 
)
