Boat Launch Campsites

Le Paradis is an excellent, well-maintained riverside site, halfway between Les Eyzies and Montignac in the Valley of the Vézère. The site is landscaped with a variety of mature shrubs and trees. The gardens are beautiful, which gives a wonderful sense of tranquillity. It is very easy to relax on this ecologically friendly site. Systems of reed filters enhance the efficient natural drainage.

Sites et Paysages Camping Au Clos de la Chaume is a pleasant site within walking distance of the town, on level ground with a small stream. The friendly family owners, who are British and French, live on-site and do their best to ensure campers have an enjoyable, relaxing stay. The grassy pitches are level, of varying sizes and with varying amounts of sun and shade. All touring pitches have electricity hook-ups (6/10A), and some are divided by shrubs and trees.

Yelloh! Village Camping Les Mouettes is a sheltered site on the edge of an attractive bay, with access to the sea at the front of the site. In a wooded setting with many attractive trees and shrubs, the 457 pitches include 63 for touring units, all with electricity, water, drainage, and private sanitary facilities.. The remainder are taken by tour operators and by 406 mobile homes and chalets to rent.

Camping L’Orangerie de Lanniron is a beautiful and peaceful family site set in ten acres of a 17th-century, 38-hectare country estate on the banks of the Odet River, formerly the home of the Bishops of Quimper.

In the Bay of Roses, south of Empuriabrava and beside the Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de l’Empordà, this is a high quality site of particular interest to nature lovers (especially birdwatchers) and families. A large site, there are 1,110 well kept, large, numbered pitches, all with electricity and on flat, sandy ground. Beautifully laid out, it is arranged around the river and waterways, so will suit those who like to be close to water or who enjoy watersports and boating. It is also a superb beachside site, and there is also accommodation for rental.

Its fine location overlooking a large man-made lake (Bort les Orgues) makes this site a good choice for waters-based activities. The 10 ha. site is steeply terraced and spacious (not ideal for those with walking difficulties). Of the 220 slightly sloping, medium sized, grassy pitches, 172 are available for camping with 140 having access to electricity (10A long leads required). Tall, mainly coniferous hedges and a variety of trees give good shade, with some having views over the lake. A chalet village, separate but part of the site, has attrative wooden cabins to rent. This is a good value for money site.

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.

Located close to the Morbihan gulf, Yelloh! Village Mané Guernehué is a smart, modern site with excellent amenities, including an equestrian centre and a variety of pitches. Some are terraced beneath pine trees, others in a former orchard with delightful views of the surrounding countryside.

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.

This site is now part of the Yelloh Village group, and standards on their sites are consistently high - Camping La Plage du Dramont is no exception. Check-in was efficient, and English was spoken; there is a large waiting area, and once you pass through the initial barrier, you will then be given directions to your pitch. There are 113 touring pitches, which have electric hook-up points available. These are generally open plan, under tree shade, but very dry and dusty due to the Mediterranean climate. 

Alpenblick is an all-year site in a stunning setting, located at the heart of the Bernese Oberland just 100 metres from the beautiful Lake Thun. A Swiss chalet-style building houses the reception, shop and bar/restaurant that is very popular with campers and locals alike (try the ‘schnitzelbrot’ and dine on the terrace in good weather). There are around 100 touring pitches and a further 80 residential pitches. The touring pitches are mostly grassy and level, with moderate shade, and all have 10/16A electrical connections. Some good hardstanding pitches are available for motorhomes.

Formerly known as Camping Nature de Ste Marie de Ré, Huttopia Côte Sauvage is just 20 m. from the beach and 1.5 km. from the centre of Sainte-Marie-de-Ré, this peaceful site is in a wonderful location for a family beach holiday. There is direct access to the Basse Banaie beach, but there are several others to enjoy, whether you want to swim, surf or collect shellfish. There are 152 level, grass and sand pitches, a few with views over the Atlantic Ocean.

Camping des Familles is a friendly, family site located in the countryside and offers a relaxed atmosphere. It lies on the promontory of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde Estuary, the largest river estuary in Europe. There are 100 pitches with 46 on level grass for touring, all with 6-10A electricity, neatly hedged and with small trees giving some shade. Mobile homes are also available to rent. It is in the Médoc region just north of Bordeaux, an area famous for its vineyards, woods, sandy beaches, rolling dunes, marshes and châteaux.

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.

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.

This campsite is situated on the beach in the small fishing village of L’Ampolla, famous for its gastronomy, peaceful beaches and coves. The site offers 87 large grass shady touring pitches with electric hook up connections available a and fully equipped bungalows for rent. Ideal for couples, families and anybody who wants lots of activities including fishing, excursions (walking, cycling, horseriding, boats), watersports (windsurfing, kite-surfing, kayaking and waterskiing), as well as good food and relaxation.

Camping Nature Parc l’Ardéchois is a very high-quality, family-run site within walking distance of the amenities of Vallon-Pont-d’Arc. It borders the River Ardèche, and hugely popular canoe trips are run directly from the site. The campsite is just 4 km from the famous Pont-d’Arc, a huge limestone arch spanning the river, and its river beach. A drive along the gorge is a must, with spectacular viewpoints.

Michelle, Josep and their daughter run this spacious, friendly site, which is always a popular destination. It is spotlessly clean and well-maintained, and the owners operate the site in an environmentally friendly way. Eight hundred seventy-two level grass pitches (720 for touring units) are laid out in a grid system, all with 10A electricity.

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.

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.