For many, a camping and caravanning holiday is not a holiday unless a beach is involved. And none more so than a French camping holiday.
The archetypal beach holiday in France includes the obvious sun, sea and sand for most; for others, it’s dramatic, blustery seascapes and clattering pebble beaches, perhaps with a few secluded little coves for good measure.
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Here is the Alan Rogers suggested itinerary down the Atlantic coast, with campsite recommendations and ideas for stop-off places of interest. We start in Finistère in western Brittany and head south.
Famed for its seafood and Celtic traditions, some parts of Brittany remain resolutely untouched and wonderfully old fashioned, especially on the beautiful southern coast. This stretch of Brittany coastline is gentler than the rugged cliffs and jagged inlets of the north: here you’ll discover long sandy beaches and winding estuaries. As you run along the coast roads, explore the little fishing villages with their harbours and jaunty fishing boats.
The Huttopia group is renowned for its ‘natural’ campsites. Huttopia Douarnenez has an attractive forest setting just 400 m. from the superb Plage des Sables Blancs. There are 124 pitches here, of which 86 are reserved for touring, some with excellent views across the vast sweep of the Bay of Douarnenez. They are well shaded and grassy, and all have 13A electricity. There are also a number of fully equipped safari-style tents (some with wood burning stoves) for hire as well as a handful of Romany-style caravans. An impressive range of amenities includes a swimming pool and bar/restaurant, and a large safari tent with a wood fire for communal entertainment.
An ancient walled port with great restaurants, surrounded by wonderful safe sandy beaches. Bénodet and Beg Meil are popular with beach lovers and sailing types too.
Fun Fact: Concarneau is the birthplace of Michel Desjoyeaux, the only sailor to win the Vendée Globe race twice, first in 2000/01 and again in 2008/09.
This site is unusual in that it is located in the heart of a village, yet is only 250 metres from a sandy cove. The entrance, with its code operated barrier and wonderful floral displays, is the first indication that this is a well tended and well organised site, and the owners have won numerous regional and national awards for its superb presentation. The 176 pitches (100 occupied by mobile homes) are separated by trees, shrubs and bushes, and most have electricity (16A, Europlug), water and drainage. A dedicated area has been created for motorhomes at a special rate. On-site facilities include a heated swimming pool, a circular paddling pool, a water play pool and a wellness centre with sauna and massage facilities.
The timeless standing stones of Carnac are incredible, especially as the sun turns golden and gently sets over the alignments. A drive down the sub-tropical Quibéron peninsula is lovely – all white sails and blue sea.
Fun Fact: Three fields of standing stones – Ménec, Kermario and Kerlescan – contain around 3,000 megaliths, which are around 6000 years old.
Camping la Ferme de Lann-Hoëdic is an attractively landscaped site with many flowering shrubs and trees. The 108 touring pitches, all with 10A electricity, are large and mostly level with mature trees which offer some shade. The 20 pitches with mobile homes are in a separate area. The working farm produces cereal crops and the summer months are an exciting time for children to see the harvest in progress. The owners go out of their way to make this a welcoming and happy place to stay. Located in the countryside on the Rhuys Peninsula, Golfe du Morbihan, it is an ideal base for cycling, walking and water-based activities.
Sunêlia Le Fief is in a wonderful setting just 900 metres from a vast sandy beach in the Loire Atlantique region. The beautiful seaside resort of Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins is on the doorstep, making this an excellent choice for a family beach holiday with young children or lively teenagers. Le Fief is a well-established site, long a favourite for its magnificent aquapark with outdoor and covered swimming pools, paddling pools, slides, river rapids, fountains, jets and more. There's plenty of space for sun lounging, and the bar/restaurant terrace overlooks the whole complex. It's all very well thought through and run.
From south of Nantes, down to the Gironde, runs a flat, sparsely populated region that attracts more holidaymakers than anywhere else on the west coast of France. The fine sandy beaches explain why the Vendée and Charentes are such holiday hotspots. Picturesque little fishing ports, historic towns and sleepy white-washed villages all make up a fantastic holiday experience. With a sunshine record that’s on a par with the French Riviera, it’s not hard to understand why holidaymakers have long flocked here for their hols.
The traditional bucket and spade is the must-have accessory for every youngster here – and with good reason. From St Jean-de-Monts to Royan the coast is virtually unbroken with fragrant pine forests leading down to gently shelving sandy beaches.
Les Sirènes is a large campsite located in the forest behind the popular resort of Saint Jean-de-Monts. The nearest beach, just 700 m. away, is long and sandy, shelving very gradually into the sea. The 291 touring pitches vary considerably in size and level; some, ideal for tents, are among the tall pine trees, whilst others are on flat ground but still have shade provided by a variety of younger trees (192 have 6-10A electrical connections - long leads required on some - and water taps nearby). A number of equipped tents and mobile homes (including specially adapted models with accessible facilities) are available to rent.
Les Sables d’Olonne was once a whaling port but today offers all kinds of watersports and superb beaches. Seafood fans stop here for oysters, mussels and succulent lobster, and the salt marsh lamb from the Marais is a local delicacy.
Fun Fact: The town is the starting point and finish line for the Vendée Globe yacht race, which takes place every four years.
Le Petit Rocher has a seaside location (150 m. from the beach) set in a pine forest, with an air of peace and tranquillity. Although the area is undulating, the 132 good sized touring pitches are flat and arranged in terraces throughout the wooded area. Electricity hook-ups are available (10A Euro plugs) and there are adequate water points. A grassy play area for children is thoughtfully situated in a hollow, but has limited equipment. Various accommodation types are available to rent.
La Rochelle is an ancient port dating from the 13th century. The harbour quayside buzzes, the locals browse the market and restaurants vie for customers along the bustling walkways. It’s a gorgeous setting, with an atmospheric ambience drawn from centuries of slowly weathering stone buildings.
If you can find time to visit the Ile de Ré don’t miss it – cross the bridge north of La Rochelle and discover white-sand beaches, oyster beds and little villages with traditional houses, hollyhocks and cycle paths.
This southern stretch of the Atlantic coast is vast. It’s an epic sweep of endless sandy beach, backed by huge shady pine forests, running 110 km down all the way from the Gironde to the Pyrenees and the chic resort of Biarritz.
Wherever you get the chance take bikes and explore the network of forest paths and trails running through the Landes forest. This is where many Parisians go for their holidays, and with huge lakes, delicious oysters and sensational beaches, it’s easy to see why.
Camping de la Côte d’Argent is a large, well-equipped site set back a short walk from the sandy beach, part of a long ribbon of golden sand running from the Gironde to the Spanish border. The beach is just magnificent, with lots of water sports available too. The huge Landes pine forest encloses the site, so walkers and cyclists can explore over 100 km of trails and cycle paths. Hourtin-Plage itself is a pleasant little resort with a few shops and restaurants.
Near Arcachon stop off for sunset views at the Dune du Pyla – the highest sand dune in Europe.
Clamber to the top and watch the sunset over the Atlantic ocean while behind you the sprawling Landes forest stretches into infinity. It’s all very other-worldly.
Camping Sandaya Maguide is in an exceptional natural setting in the heart of the Landes forest, only 4km from the ocean. Choose from water sports, relaxation or the cycle paths in the forest which backs onto the site. The site has direct access to the sandy beach on the freshwater Lake Biscarosse and its own bar/restaurant with amazing lake views. There are 48 touring pitches some with 10amp electric hook-up points, several on the lakeshore. There are also 112 mobile homes to hire.
Camping Club International Eurosol is an attractive, friendly and well-maintained site deep in the Landes pine forests of Aquitaine. The fabulous golden sandy beach is just a few minutes walk away (700m), with supervised swimming (high season) and a range of watersports. Several cycle trails lead from the site through the vast forests, and a riding centre is located just 500 metres away. To the south, the Basque country and Biarritz are within easy access.
Yelloh! Village le Sylvamar is just a kilometre from the endless sandy beach, just north of Bayonne on the southern edge of the Landes. There are around 700 pitches, of which 242 are for tourers, all level, numbered, and separated mainly by low hedges. Several newer pitches are less shaded. All have electricity (10A), water and drainage; some have private sanitary facilities, and premium pitches with pergolas are available.
The fashionable resort of Biarritz sprang up in the Victorian era, attracting monarchs, stars and aristocrats.
Today it is something of a 'grande dame' who still cuts the mustard, with the elegant seafront and pounding waves a perennial attraction for surfers from around the world.
Camping Larrouleta is an all year site located at the heart of the Basque country. The site has been developed around a 2.5 hectare lake which has a sandy beach and is ideal for fishing. On-site amenities include a swimming pool, covered in low season. There is also a bar/restaurant specialised in local cuisine and where occasional Basque folk evenings are held in high season. The 327 touring pitches are of a good size. Choose between the standard (80m²) with electricity (5A), or a number of ‘Grand Confort’ pitches are available (about 100m²) with 10A electricity, water and drainage.
If making a decision on which stretch of coastline in France to head to, why not be radical and try a selection? The vast sweep of the Bay of Biscay - the Atlantic coast of France – will give a taste of everything.
