West coast of France recommendations please

[CYCLOPATH]

We are sailing to roscoff, and want to wander down the west coast of France. I know middle France, and the mountains well, but not the west coast.
We are both around 60,and enjoy cycling and hiking and swimming, French food and hospitality, the architecture and the people. I have France Passion, and Park4night for stopovers.
We were going to start heading to Pont Aven, gulf of Morbihan and île de rey. But after that....any suggestions.....we will end up in the Pyrenees, then sail back from Bilbao a month later.

 

[BillyCasper]

We are sailing to roscoff, and want to wander down the west coast of France. I know middle France, and the mountains well, but not the west coast.
We are both around 60,and enjoy cycling and hiking and swimming, French food and hospitality, the architecture and the people. I have France Passion, and Park4night for stopovers.
We were going to start heading to Pont Aven, gulf of Morbihan and île de rey. But after that....any suggestions.....we will end up in the Pyrenees, then sail back from Bilbao a month later.

A bit inland:

Marais-Poitevan around Arcais
Charente river, for example around Jarnac

Coast

Foret de la Coubre


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sad]

We stayed on camping cormoran on Ile de re:

https://www.camping-ile-de-re-cormoran.com/campsite-france-re-island.html

Lovely site, great facilities, easy walk/cycle to Ars.

Like the rest of the island, gets busy in the holidays...

 

[CYCLOPATH]

A bit inland:

Marais-Poitevan around Arcais
Charente river, for example around Jarnac

Coast

Foret de la Coubre


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks...just looked at them on the map, they look interesting. Also the canal .

 

[Alibee]

We've just booked a week in August at this site near Lorient:

http://www.campingdelalande.fr/

Looks great from what I can see. Enjoyed Pornic last year too, lots to like around there.

 

[CYCLOPATH]

We stayed on camping cormoran on Ile de re:

https://www.camping-ile-de-re-cormoran.com/campsite-france-re-island.html

Lovely site, great facilities, easy walk/cycle to Ars.

Like the rest of the island, gets busy in the holidays...

Thanks, minimums stay is a week there,

We've just booked a week in August at this site near Lorient:

http://www.campingdelalande.fr/

Looks great from what I can see. Enjoyed Pornic last year too, lots to like around there.

that one looks good, and a 10euro campervan pitch, which would suit us

 

[Trebor]

This is a fantastic site on the beach at Arzon at the entrance to the Morbihan . Great new facilities and we paid 14 € last year and lots to do in the area .

https://www.camping-arzon.fr/en/

 

[s2bear]

Hi, if you’re going to Pont Aven you’re not far from here: https://www.campinglesaintnicolas.com/en/.

I’m not sure if you’re going in your Cali or a yacht but this is easily accessible for both.

Port Manech has a beautiful little beach and harbour , there you can buy your Langoustine fresh of the fishing boat on the harbour wall. There is also a nice ‘cote sauvage’ walk up past the lighthouse where you can still see the WWII Atlantic Wall fortifications (if that’s of interest) or cycle west round the headland to Rospico or Raguenes Plages.

Assuming you’re not on a War-bore-tour (mrs S2bear loves those...NOT), the coastline is beautiful here.

From Port Manech there are plenty of places to visit, such as the medieval fortified coastal town of Concarneau which is a short drive north and a good day trip.

I spent quite a few summer holidays staying with locals in Port Manech as a teenager - It’s a special place and worth a visit. I went back a few years ago staying at Camping St Nicholas (in a tent) - loved it.

Have fun.
S2

P.s. I should add that I see the camping has added a small ‘waterpark’, when I stayed last time it was before I had children & we were in a secluded pitch in the forest which was v peaceful but also still had WiFi, Hookup and water on the pitch. The owners were very nice and drove us round on a golf trolley to let us choose our pitch. Just mentioning so you know you don’t have to be next to a water slide with screaming nutters all day.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[owen_h]

I’m booked into this place http://www.camping-saintcado.com/gb/index.php
Between Lorient and the Gulf de Morbian on another estuary/ river.
Going in July to watch leTour and also do some kayaking, swimming and cycling. Can report back on how the site is after the trip but looks from the website as if it should suit.

 

[Andy Graham]

La Tranche sur Mer, above La Rochelle, is our favourite and we have been going for years. Nice town with campsites nearby and it is a water sports heaven with fabulous selection of windsurfing and sailing schools.

Popular with the French so it must be good!

 

[BALLANGER Fred]

Hello, I am French, and live in Charente-Maritime. You can visit, Ile de Ré, La Rochelle, ile d’oleron, Talmont near Royan. Further south, you have the Arcachon Basin and the Pyla Dune. It's very pretty but also very touristy depending on the period where you go ... Finally, you have the Basque country in the south of France, there you have sea and mountains, it's beautiful.
A bientôt !!!

 

[CYCLOPATH]

Hello, I am French, and live in Charente-Maritime. You can visit, Ile de Ré, La Rochelle, ile d’oleron, Talmont near Royan. Further south, you have the Arcachon Basin and the Pyla Dune. It's very pretty but also very touristy depending on the period where you go ... Finally, you have the Basque country in the south of France, there you have sea and mountains, it's beautiful.
A bientôt !!!

Merci Fred,
I’ve looked those places up, they look great.
They are now circled on the map
À bientôt

 

[Actionwave]

A bit further down , there is a ferry at Royan to cross the Gironde, its about an hour to Lac Hourtin, a huge lake with beaches campsites in the forest etc, very nice and then a bit further down you have the Archachon basin a beautiful little town with fresh oysters from the basin, there is great camping a couple of miles outside on the coast right next to the Dune De Pyla in the forest http://www.petitnice.com/ we done the Hourtin a few years ago but Petiti Nice was around 25.... not done this in My California though... was slumming it in a tent..

 

[Actionwave]

Merci Fred,
I’ve looked those places up, they look great.
They are now circled on the map
À bientôt

Just read your reply seems I have re quoted you........nice place though

 

[B J G]

Area around Rochelle is worth a visit. Coastal walk/cycling is well catered for. Can be hot with little shade if walking.
South of there it's as well to go to straight down as you plan.
We had a run down that middle area last summer, first for nearly 10 years and was disappointed to find so much development and village updating that seems to have taken the traditional 'French' character out.
Some old favorits were nearly unrecognisable. Just an old guy's opinion.

 

[Kevthegas]

La Tranche sur Mer, above La Rochelle, is our favourite and we have been going for years. Nice town with campsites nearby and it is a water sports heaven with fabulous selection of windsurfing and sailing schools.

Popular with the French so it must be good!
View attachment 33805

We have just got back from a week there, probably been there 14 times over the last 9 years.

Absolutely love it there.

 

[PudnBob]

Also watching this thread, great tips. We are hoping to go that way in Sept as we are hoping to cycle some of the iconic climbs in the Pyrenees

 

[Frankyworthy]

We are sailing to roscoff, and want to wander down the west coast of France. I know middle France, and the mountains well, but not the west coast.
We are both around 60,and enjoy cycling and hiking and swimming, French food and hospitality, the architecture and the people. I have France Passion, and Park4night for stopovers.
We were going to start heading to Pont Aven, gulf of Morbihan and île de rey. But after that....any suggestions.....we will end up in the Pyrenees, then sail back from Bilbao a month later.

Check out isle de Noirmoutier. Much nicer than Ille de Re and Olerons. There are a range of campsites, cycling everywhere, nice villages and great restos and fresh produce shops. Not as elitist as Ile de Re. You can forage you’re own cockles each evening.

 

[fozzybear]

Check out isle de Noirmoutier. Much nicer than Ille de Re and Olerons. There are a range of campsites, cycling everywhere, nice villages and great restos and fresh produce shops. Not as elitist as Ile de Re. You can forage you’re own cockles each evening.

Sounds ideal as we add this one into the itineiry - can you recommend a site?

 

[altvic]

On Ile De Re as I write. Most of the ACSI campsites on south of island booked up when we arrived mid week but found a lovely site v close to Ars en Re town on north end of the island called Camp du Soleil. Large shady areas for VW camper and half occupied since we set up. Lovely, lovely site. Walk into a beautiful town in 10 mins.
But I’d not venture anywhere near this island July/August.
Full cost per night is 28€ and a bargain 17€ with ACSI card until end june.

Edit
If you want a plot without electricity (and wooden picnic table (sic)) price is 12€ Per night without ACSI card until high season. Pretty good deal imo.

 

[WelshGas]

On Ile De Re as I write. Most of the ACSI campsites on south of island booked up when we arrived mid week but found a lovely site v close to Ars en Re town on north end of the island called Camp du Soleil. Large shady areas for VW camper and half occupied since we set up. Lovely, lovely site. Walk into a beautiful town in 10 mins.
But I’d not venture anywhere near this island July/August.
Full cost per night is 28€ and a bargain 17€ with ACSI card until end if June

Know it well.

 

[Frankyworthy]

Sounds ideal as we add this one into the itineiry - can you recommend a site?

There is a Huttopia site (Indigo) just outside Isle de Noirmoutier village. The walk, cycle ride is along a 1 km board walk separating salt flats from the estuary. Fantastic bird life, unforgettable sunsets and an oyster bar waiting for you at the end of the barrier. There are 2 sites outside the village, more on the east side and a nice one at the top of the island, L’Herbaudiere, a busy living port with two of the finest restaurants in all of France there. We’ve camped all over Europe but we’re on Noirmoutier now as my favourite place of all to celebrate my 60th! Ticks all the boxes.

 

[CYCLOPATH]

Also watching this thread, great tips. We are hoping to go that way in Sept as we are hoping to cycle some of the iconic climbs in the Pyrenees

We are here now, having an amazing time. After the West coast, which was ok. Great cycling around Quiberon, parked by almost deserted beaches, but we are not really beach folk, so now in the Pyrenees. Argelles was a sort of center. Cycled and camped on the Tourmalet. Now next to col du aubisque. Your passing here stage 17 this year. Iconic climbs all around.

 

[PudnBob]

We are here now, having an amazing time. After the West coast, which was ok. Great cycling around Quiberon, parked by almost deserted beaches, but we are not really beach folk, so now in the Pyrenees. Argelles was a sort of center. Cycled and camped on the Tourmalet. Now next to col du aubisque. Your passing here stage 17 this year. Iconic climbs all around.

Wow, thanks for posting this

 

[KiwiTiki]

We've just booked a week in August at this site near Lorient:

http://www.campingdelalande.fr/

Looks great from what I can see. Enjoyed Pornic last year too, lots to like around there.

Hi Alibee, can I ask your experience of Camping de la Lande please? Trying to plan a west coast trip for summer this year. Cheers