Riding Campsites

Camping Pégomas is a well-organised, family-run site and is open for a long season. It is located on the edge of the beautiful Provençal town of Saint Rémy-de-Provence, probably best known for its Roman remains and its links with Van Gogh. There are 110 flat and well-shaded pitches here, mostly with 6A electricity. Several mobile homes are available to rent. Onsite amenities include a swimming pool, a bar and a small shop. There is a good range of shops in Saint Rémy, which is just five minutes away on foot. Gas and electric barbecues are allowed on site, and there is also a stone fireplace available for use by all.

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.

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.

Situated in the heart of Andalusia, Huttopia Parque de Doñana is the perfect base for exploring the region amid the Andalusian provinces of Huelva, Seville and Cadiz, nestled in the heart of the Doñana National Park (the largest protected natural site in Europe and a UNESCO biosphere reserve). Nature is everywhere here, and with 200 touring pitches on this site, it is the preferred place to explore the surrounding region.

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.

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.

Situated on the west coast of the island of Ile d’Oléron, les Gros Joncs is owned and run by the Cavel family who work hard to keep the site up to date and of high quality. There are 50 or so touring pitches of a good size (some extra large) with tall pine trees providing a choice between full sun and varying degrees of shade. All have water and 10A electricity to hand. The main building not only houses a light and airy reception, but also a modern, beautifully presented bar and restaurant, a fully stocked and competitively priced shop, an attractive indoor swimming pool and a magnificent spa.

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.

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.

Lanmary, the first Huttopia forest camp, opened in 2013 has been carefully integrated into the landscape of the Lanmary National Forest. Some of the access routes in the campsite are quite rough and steep. Cars are only allowed on arrival and departure days. There are several designs of pre-erected tents and chalets, some on substantial stilts. Two chalets are adapted for those with reduced mobility (car access permitted). The touring tents can be pitched in defined areas and have plenty of space around each pitch, while other units must use the level pitches by the entrance. These are served by a large sanitary block, while three smaller blocks serve the tented areas.

This attractive five hectare site is a member of the Huttopia group. It can be found close to the popular seaside resort of Saint Trojan-les-Bains on the south side of the island. There are 163 pitches (56 for touring), which vary in size, most of which have electrical connections (10A French type). Huttopia Oléron Les Pins is situated in a lightly wooded setting on undulating, sandy terrain, just 1 km. from the nearest sandy beach. A number of specially designed wood and canvas safari-style tents are available for hire; the latest range are equipped with a shower, WC and sink. Large units should telephone ahead to ensure suitable pitch availability.

Saint-Disdille is situated 300 m. from the beautiful Lake Geneva and the famous spa towns of Thonon-les-Bains, which can be reached on a bus that passes the site, and Evian-les-Bains. There are 297 large, level touring pitches on stone and rough grass (rock pegs are essential). Large trees give some shade. Those reserved for touring have 10A electricity and are scattered amongst mobile homes and permanent weekender caravans and can be some distance from the facilities situated by the entrance. The site is ideally placed for the large range of watersports in the area, and Switzerland is easily accessible by car, bus, train or boat.

In the region that the Kings of France chose to build their most beautiful residences, this pleasant, shaded site has been developed in the surroundings of an old 800-hectare forest, just 1 km. from the banks of the Loire river. For those seeking a relaxing holiday, it provides 169 pitches, including 111 for touring units, all with 10A electricity (119 Europlugs) and 58 with full services. The friendly family owners continue to develop the site with a multisports court and an attractive swimming pool complex. During July and August, they organise a programme of trips including canoeing and riding excursions, as well as twice weekly concerts and shows.

Just forty minutes from Florence and an hour from Pisa, this site is beautifully situated high in the Tuscan hills, close to the fascinating town of Pistoia. Part of an old walled estate, there are impressive views of the surrounding countryside.

The Huttopia group acquired camping Calvados-Normandie just before the 2017 season, and significant investment took place in 2018. The site is situated in the grounds of a Normandy château; however, there is no longer any access to the château itself. Huttopia have added chalets, cabins and tents for rent as well as 178 pitches which are dedicated to touring, most with electricity connections. They are large and marked out by trees at the corners, but with no dividing hedges. Reception is in a restored building, and the staff are efficient and friendly.

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.

A friendly welcome is assured from the owners of this spacious site situated in quiet, flat countryside near the pleasant small town of Pont-de-Vaux. The 2.5 hectare (six-acre) site has 54 large (100-400 sq.m), level, grassy pitches, all of which are available to tourers. Almost all are separated by hedges and most are shaded by trees. All but three have electrical connections (10A) and water. Because of its friendly and tranquil atmosphere, the site is popular with English and Dutch visitors alike, who choose to break their journey here for several days to or from the South of France.

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.

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.

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.