If you have a couple of weeks to spare and don't fancy the long trek down to Provence, the Dordogne or the Côte d'Azur,, why not take a motorhome holiday and explore Northern France? It's closer to home, and with your own wheels, you can see the sights at your own pace, stopping for a roadside pique-nique of baguette and fromage whenever you like.
In this blog post, we'll outline a two-week itinerary that includes stays at four different campsites: Camping la Bien-Assise, just outside Calais; Camping l'Ile des Trois Rois, on the banks of the Seine; Château de Lez Eaux on the Normandy coast; Camping Le Champ Neuf in the Baie de Somme; and finally, Château du Gandspette, which we used as an overnight stop before our ferry home. We'll also suggest some activities and attractions for you to check out during your trip.
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Getting There: Irish Ferries from Dover
We start our journey by taking an Irish Ferry from Dover to Calais. The crossing takes around 90 minutes, and as one of the newest crossing options, it is an enjoyable experience.
We travelled on The Isle of Inishmore, which had a complete renovation in 2021 and offered a range of dining options, so we arrived in France well-fed and ready to pitch up after a short, 25-minute drive to Camping la Bien-Assise.
Guînes - Pas-de-Calais - Nord
Day 1-3 : Camping la Bien-Assise
Camping la Bien-Assise
The first campsite we visited was Camping la Bien-Assise, located near the town of Guînes. The campsite is in a peaceful parkland setting in the grounds of a country house dating back over 500 years. It's a great place to relax and unwind after your ferry journey, with plenty of trees and greenery between the pitches.
The excellent on-site restaurant, La Ferme Gourmande, is good value and offers a range of traditional dishes. It can get busy, especially in the high season, so it's worth reserving a table. We visited on the second night of our stay, and the pavé de boeuf was particularly good.
Les Castels Camping de La Bien-Assise is a mature and well-developed campsite on the grounds of a country house dating back to the 1500s. There are around 200 grassy pitches here, including 4 with hardstanding; pitches are large, between 90m2 & 190m2 level and divided by well-manicured hedges. All have 10 amp E.H.U., but you have a choice of pitch upgrades: Simple, Drainage, or Premium. They're connected by surfaced and gravel roads and are of a good size (up to 300 sq.m), with well-maintained shrubs and hedging dividing most of the pitches.
During your stay at Camping la Bien-Assise, you can visit the nearby town of Calais, a historic port town that serves as a key entry point to France from the UK.
While there, you can visit the iconic Calais Lighthouse. This 51-meter-tall lighthouse towers over the old town. The tower is open every day from June to September and on Wednesdays and weekends in the low season.
Also in Calais, Le Musée des beaux-arts is worth a visit, featuring works by Auguste Rodin, including a cast of his famous sculpture, Monument of the Burghers of Calais. The original statues can be found outside Calais Town Hall, while another cast is located in Victoria Tower Gardens in Westminster, London.
Did you know? French law limits the casting of Rodin’s works to twelve dated examples of each size.
Fortress of Mimoyecques
Just a 10-minute drive from Camping la Bien-Assise, you’ll find Fortress of Mimoyecques, a fascinating historical site built by the Germans during World War II as a base for their V-3 cannon.
Today, visitors can explore the fortress and learn about its role in the war. The site is open to the public from April to November, and when closed for winter, it becomes home to over 300 bats.
After exploring the fascinating wartime history of Mimoyecques, it’s time to move inland towards our next stop in the Seine Valley.
Les Andelys - Eure - Normandy
Camping l’Ile des Trois Rois
Day 4-6 : Camping l’Ile des Trois Rois
Next, head to Camping l'Ile des Trois Rois, located near the attractive market town of Les Andelys. This campsite is situated on an island on one of the many meanders of the Seine River, giving the grounds a tranquil atmosphere.
The site boasts a range of facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool, a children's playground, and a multi-sports field. There’s also a small bar, a restaurant, and a grocery store, making it easy for guests to pick up essentials.
One hour from Paris, on the banks of the Seine and overlooked by the impressive remains of Château Gaillard (Richard Coeur de Lion), this attractive and spacious ten-hectare site will appeal to couples and young families. The site offers mobile units to rent and touring pitches in separate areas. These are either riverside or in a large central triangle, all very close to the Seine; all pitches are divided by low hedging, and some offer a degree of shade.
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The picturesque town of Les Andelys is home to the impressive Château Gaillard, built by Richard the Lionheart in the 12th century. The château is considered an architectural masterpiece and was built between 1196 and 1198. Despite its impressive defences, it was captured by the French in 1203 during the reign of King Philip II. Today, Château Gaillard is open to visitors for exploration.
Alternatively, Claude Monet's Gardens in Giverny, located about 30 minutes away, offer a stunning display of flowers and the famous water lily pond that inspired many of Monet’s paintings.
Central Paris can be reached in a little over an hour from the station at nearby Gare de Gaillon - Aubevoye, a ten-minute drive from the campsite.
Saint Aubin des Préaux - Manche - Normandy
Château de Lez Eaux
Day 7-9 : Château de Lez Eaux
Our third stop, Château de Lez Eaux, is a beautiful campsite situated on the grounds of an 18th-century château, adding a touch of luxury to the camping experience. The site, near Saint-Pair-sur-Mer in Normandy, is surrounded by lush greenery, manicured gardens, and trees.
The campsite offers a heated indoor water park with slides, a playground, and a restaurant serving fresh, local cuisine.
Set in the grounds of a château, Castel Camping le Château de Lez Eaux lies in a rural situation just off the main route south, under two hours from Cherbourg. Of the 122 touring pitches, all with electricity (10A, Europlug) and 87 with water and drainage. Most of the pitches are good-sized, partly separated by trees and shrubs on flat or slightly sloping, grassy ground overlooking Normandy farmland and a small fishing lake.
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Nearby, the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a must-visit. The abbey, dating back to the 11th century, features Gothic and Romanesque architecture and offers breathtaking coastal views.
For a unique experience, Alligator Bay, a reptile park featuring over 700 exotic animals, is just a short drive from Mont Saint-Michel. Visitors can see crocodiles, alligators, and turtles up close, as well as enjoy interactive experiences like feeding sessions.
During the French Revolution, the Mont-Saint Michel abbey was used as a prison for political prisoners. At one point, there were over 600 prisoners held there. The prison was eventually closed in the 1860s.
Saint Quentin-en-Tourmont - Picardy
Camping Le Champ Neuf
Day 10-11: Camping Le Champ Neuf
For the final leg before heading back towards Calais, we stopped at Camping Le Champ Neuf in the Baie de Somme, an area rich in wildlife and coastal charm.
This well-equipped campsite is perfect for nature lovers, offering a heated indoor swimming pool, wellness area, and playground.
Le Champ Neuf is located in Saint Quentin-en-Tourmont on the Bay of the Somme. It is a quiet site, 900 m. from the ornithological reserve of Marquenterre, the favourite stop for thousands of migratory birds; birdwatchers will appreciate the dawn chorus and varied species. This eight-hectare site has 197 pitches, 79 for touring, on level grass with 6/10A electricity.
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A highlight of this stop is the Parc du Marquenterre, a haven for birdwatchers with over 300 species of birds. Alternatively, take a bike ride along the Baie de Somme or board the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme, a charming steam train offering fantastic views.
Nearby, Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is a medieval town with cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, and great seafood restaurants. History buffs will appreciate its connection to William the Conqueror, who set sail from here in 1066.
Eperlecques - Pas-de-Calais
Château du Gandspette
Day 12 : Château du Gandspette
Our final stop before heading home was Château du Gandspette, in the town of Éperlecques. While we used it as an overnight stop, those with extra time can visit Blockhaus d'Éperlecques, a massive WWII bunker built by the Germans for launching V-2 rockets.
This excellent and spacious, family-run site is set on the grounds of a 19th-century château. It is a great campsite when you’re travelling via Calais as it is quite close to the Channel ports and tunnel, providing overnight accommodation and a range of facilities for more extended stays.
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The bunker is one of the largest structures built by the Germans during the war, measuring over 200 meters long, 100 meters wide and constructed with over 50,000 cubic meters of reinforced concrete.
Today, the bunker is open to the public as a museum and tourist attraction, offering visitors a chance to explore the underground tunnels and learn about the history of the site and the V-2 rockets.
Attractions and Campsites of Northern France
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Final Thoughts
Whether you're interested in history, nature, or simply relaxing in scenic surroundings, this itinerary offers a perfect mix of experiences for an unforgettable road trip.
We hired a motorhome for this trip via Experience Freedom by The Caravan and Motorhome Club. Of course, if you have your own motorhome or caravan, you can follow in our footsteps (or should that tracks?) and enjoy the best Northern France offers. Or, if you prefer, all the sites featured in this article provide a range of alternative accommodation options, including chalets and mobile homes.
Other crossing options are available from The Caravan and Motorhome Club, including Eurotunnel, P&O and DFDS. So why not start planning your trip today?
Author
Rob Fearn
Editor - Alan Rogers Guides
Rob has been involved in the leisure industry since completing a BTEC in Travel & Tourism in 1993. Previous roles have included the promotion of tourism in Yorkshire and running a motorcycle touring company in the Australian Outback.
He is the General Manager at Alan Rogers Travel Group, responsible for the ongoing development of the Alan Rogers website and the publication of the Alan Rogers Guides and 'Destinations' magazine.
Rob has owned several caravans, and he regularly travels with his wife and young daughter in their VW Transporter, complete with a Tentbox roof tent. A keen cycling fan, Rob can often be found in a field in Belgium during the 'Spring Classics' season.
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