Boat Launch Campsites

Situated in the Meinweg National Park, this large site with facilities on a holiday camp scale caters well for families with children of all ages. Of the 800 grassed pitches (averaging 90 sq.m) 400 are for touring units. They are level, separated into enclosures of various sizes by hedges and most have 10A electricity. There is ample tree shade over the site, grassed places to sunbathe and a wealth of activities to keep children busy. Beside reception, the main building houses a restaurant/bar with terrace on the first floor, a supermarket and other eating and drinking establishments.

Set in a secluded south-facing bay fringed by mountains, TAIGA Costa Cálida is a fairly large  site enjoying magnificent views and with direct access to a small sand and pebble beach. This part of Spain enjoys almost all-year-round sunshine.

A beautiful setting in the grounds of a French Chateaux just 6 km from the main beach in Saint-Malo, and the bus stops just 400m from the site gates; you are also just 2 km from the sea if you fancy a dip. The site is also just a short drive from the ferry terminal, so it could be used as an initial overnight upon arrival in France, although most guests seemed to be staying much longer. The location is ideal for exploring Brittany as you are on the Emerald Coast close to Mont St Michael and Cancale. The site facilities are of an excellent standard, having been recently refurbished.

At Camping Porte des Vosges you are assured of a very warm welcome from the owner, Sylvie Drode. This spacious, clean and very well cared for site is situated in Lorraine, on the outskirts of the historic town of Bulgnéville and is just off the E21/A31 making it an ideal stopover as well as for longer holidays. The sloping site has trees and bushes which shade around 100 spacious touring pitches (70-150 sq.m) that are on gravel or grass and there are two equipped tents and a vintage caravan to rent. All the pitches have access to electricity (6A, Europlug) and water points are distributed throughout the site.

A pleasant tree-lined approach road gives way to avenues of palms as you arrive at Torre del Sol. This large, well-designed site occupies a good position in southern Catalunya with direct access to a 800m. long soft sand beach.

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.

Sportcamp Woferlgut, a family-run site, is one of the best in Austria. It lies in the village of Bruck at the northern end of the Großglocknerstrasse mountain road in the Hohe Tauern National Park, near the Zeller See. The level grass pitches are marked out by shrubs, and each has 16A metered electricity, water, drainage, cable TV socket and a gas point.

Benidorm is increasingly popular for winter stays and Villasol is a genuinely good, purpose built modern site. Many of the 448 well separated pitches are arranged on wide terraces which afford views of the mountains surrounding Benidorm. All pitches (80-85 sq.m) have electricity and satellite TV connections, with 163 with full services for seasonal use. Shade is mainly artificial. Reservations are only accepted for winter stays of over three months (from 1 October). There is a small indoor pool, heated for winter use, and a very attractive, large outdoor pool complex (summer only) overlooked by the bar/restaurant and attractive, elevated restaurant terrace.

Yelloh! Village le Sérignan-Plage is a lively and vibrant Mediterranean site with direct access to a superb 600-metre sandy beach (including a naturist section). When you arrive at this site, the reception is very modern and efficient, and a map is printed to show you and direct you to your pitch. This is one of the largest sites I have visited, but as it is spread over such a large area, it does not feel like you are on a large commercial site. Touring pitches, number 293, are separated from an even larger area of mobile homes for rental. Pitches are generous and divided by low hedging and have direct access to the beach. There are approximately 571 mobile homes and chalets for rental, plus some privately owned units and a good number of tour operator pitches. 

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.

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.

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.

Set amongst grapevines and fir trees, Camping l’Océan is only 600 metres from a beautiful sandy beach, while the village centre is also within walking distance. A warm welcome awaits you at the modern reception area which is well stocked with local information. Of the 532 pitches, 140 are for touring, all with 10A electric connections (Europlug) reasonably close, of a good size, separated by bushes (and in some cases vines) and with some mature trees providing shade. They are located in two main sections and you are largely unaware of the many mobile homes and tents, mostly for hire, on either side.

Situated across the yacht harbour from the Canet-Plage resort, Yelloh! Village Le Brasilia is an impressive, well-managed family site directly beside the beach. There's much to praise here, from the state-of-the-art reception to the sensational water park, excellent spa and park-like grounds. Although large, it is attractive and well kept with a remarkable range of facilities – with good reason, it's always a popular choice.

Camping Roche is situated in a pine forest near white sandy beaches in the lovely region of Andalucia. It is a clean, tidy and welcoming site. English is spoken but it's a good place to try out your Spanish, German or French as the staff are very helpful. A family site, it offers a variety of facilities including a sports area and swimming pools. The restaurant has good food and a pleasant outlook over the pool. Games are organised for children. An extension provides further pitches, a modern toilet block and a tennis court. There are 300 pitches which include 104 bungalows to rent. The touring pitches all have electricity (10A) and 76 also have water and wastewater. There is free WiFi across the site, but the connection can be unreliable. There are pleasant paths in the area for mountain biking and this is an ideal base for visiting the cities of Seville and Cádiz.

This site is in a rural location and great for the beach which is just across the road, 3km down the road is the town of Blanes with its shops, supermarkets and nightlife. There are 100 well-spaced pitches, these are not separated to any degree, but there are trees offering shade on most pitches; there are also a further 80 mobile homes/glamping units and tents available for rental. The site shop was well stocked, and the standard of food served in the restaurant was excellent, offering a lovely view over the modern pool complex.

Camping Ribamar lies to the north of Alcossebre, tucked away within the National Park of the Sierra de Irta, a magnificent landscape of intense colours. Alcossebre is a delightful resort town which has retained its Spanish identity, unlike some of the larger resorts to the north, and offers three Blue Flag beaches and a wealth of cafés and restaurants. Although a little over two hours drive south of Barcelona, this is a very underpopulated region with excellent long-distance footpaths and cycle paths.

This attractive, high quality site, ideal for families with young children, is in a rural setting and well situated for exploring the less well known eastern part of the Loire Valley. Two lakes (one for boating, one for fishing) and a pool complex have been attractively landscaped in 18 hectares of former farmland, blending old and new with natural wooded areas and more open grassland with rural views. There are 245 large, level grass pitches with 120 for touring units. All have at least 10A electricity, 15 have water, waste water and 16A electricity, and some 30 have hardstanding. Eight have individual en-suite sanitary units beside the pitch.

Domaine du Colombier is located between Cannes and Saint Tropez, alongside the main road 2 km. from the centre of Fréjus and 4.5 km. from the fine sandy beaches of Fréjus and Saint Raphaël. There are 18 touring pitches, ranging in size from 80-100 sq.m. and all with 16A electricity and 302 units of rental accommodation. Over recent years there has been much ongoing investment in high-quality facilities. An attractive heated pool complex (3,600 sq.m) includes a long river, paddling pool, waterslides, lagoon and whirlpool, all surrounded by sun loungers. Plenty of activities and excursions are arranged all season and the site caters principally for families.

Camping Kikopark Playa is a smart site nestling behind protective dunes alongside a Blue Flag beach. There are sets of attractively tiled steps over the dunes or a long boardwalk near the beach bar (suitable for prams and wheelchairs) to take you to the fine white sandy beach and the sea. From the central reception point (where good English is spoken), flat, fine gravel pitches and access roads are divided to the left and right.