The French Atlantic coast ?

killalanerr

We were toying with the idea of staying in Ireland this year,but after the weekend that was I bottled it and instructed Mrs k to book the ferry which she did without any objection.

So I was thinking of revisiting the Atlantic coast with a nice slow spin down as far as Royan (we will have 18 days),It was along the Atlantic where we got the camping bug when we did our first fly drive in the Le Mathes area.We have visited most parts on the way to some where els over the years but never done the trip from Quimper to Royan sticking to the coast,the plan would be to then make our way back up heading inland a bit.

So I was hoping for some pointers as to the must see and do things along that route again we plan to use a mix of aires and sites, I would like to find one or two really nice true 4 star sites for a couple of nights as a treat

Any suggestions guys ?
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Camping+Airotel+l'Océan/Roscoff,+France/@46.7779343,-2.0507587,6z/data=!4m39!4m38!1m30!1m1!1s0x0:0xdbcc349ad65ea2a3!2m2!1d-1.192402!2d45.008521!3m4!1m2!1d-1.061007!2d45.627059!3s0x480177a24dc1f1fd:0x26525f2300e512b7!3m4!1m2!1d-1.1090204!2d46.2101606!3s0x4806ad568a7c57cf:0xede599b314a3ea53!3m4!1m2!1d-1.8005334!2d46.8238859!3s0x4805ad44583b947d:0xd6f18be75d23ba10!3m4!1m2!1d-2.131098!2d47.2426571!3s0x48057037e7d6f91d:0x6db4967659a364c0!3m4!1m2!1d-3.6792811!2d47.917958!3s0x4810e440d62d8743:0x28b543c94854fe36!1m5!1m1!1s0x4813e1457ead5c67:0x7edaeff9d05b4845!2m2!1d-3.985325!2d48.726199!3e0?hl=en-US

*Kol*

There is so much choice along that route, Quimper, Carnac, Penistin, Pornic, Ile De Re, Ile D'Oleron, La Rochelle, Royan. Spoilt for choice.

piuswal

As Kol said, spoilt for choice, including numerous places all along the coast from Noirmoutier - some nice sites there - down to La Rochelle

moodrater

We just did the area between Vannes and St. Nazaire last year for 20 days and still only got a to see a fraction of it. Highlights for me were:

Chateau de Suscino and the beach nearby.
Penestin - there are a ton of beautiful beaches around here, the market is great and the tourist office were really good for advice.
Guerande - instact medieval walled town wall stunning too make sure to get some of the salted caramel when you're in the area
Piriac-sur-mer - I normally don't like touristy places but this place is beautiful like a cleaner, prettier, more upmarket kinsale people were really nice there too.
Roche Bernard - the municipal campsite was a little smelly but the town is amazing and the nightlife was great its a real melting pot with all nationalities sailing in there definitely worth a saying a night in. we parked up by the bridge on the far side the next day it was stunning.
La Baule - looks like benidorm seems full of midlife crisis folks but the beach was amazing and the market has incredible range of local artisan food.

niloc1951

We did Cherbourg-Brest-Carnac hugging the coast during March/April, and spent two and a half weeks on the route. Then spent a week heading back to Cherbourg via Le Mans.

FWIW, just decide your route, don't forger to put some flexibility into the mix, and head off, do as much or as little as you feel like each day and when you feel like you've gone far enough start back for the ferry.
When you want one there will always be a campsite available to tick your boxes.

Here's a couple of useful links
http://www.brittanytourism.com/
http://www.paysdelaloire.fr/politiques-regionales/tourisme/

The only must see/do should be the ferry each way

sunshinereggae

May not be relevant as just a little bit below Royan but - Dune de Pyla or Pilat (not sure of spelling - its very near Arcachon) massive sand dune, steps built up it to top and fantastic views over forests and ocean (you are actually over the tops of the trees), we got ferry across from Royan a couple of years ago or you can drive around by Bordeaux, if you are near its really worth a visit, it was pay parking but cheap at the time for camper

Dexter Bip

sunshinereggae wrote: »

May not be relevant as just a little bit below Royan but - Dune de Pyla or Pilat (not sure of spelling - its very near Arcachon) massive sand dune, steps built up it to top and fantastic views over forests and ocean (you are actually over the tops of the trees), we got ferry across from Royan a couple of years ago or you can drive around by Bordeaux, if you are near its really worth a visit, it was pay parking but cheap at the time for camper

Lots of camping at at Pyla.
If you're going that far south there's a fantastic Aire 15 mins away at Biscarosse Plage. It's in a pine forest next to a beach. Has it all. Beach. Forest walks and cycles. Beach bar and restaurant. Campsite alongside for entertainment and facilities if needed. Nice seaside town five minutes by bike. Sail and surf school on the beach. Has the feel of wild camping all the same and is great for kids. Gotten a bit pricey in the last few years since it went private though. €15 per night last summer. Locals make it a destination in itself. We spend a few days there every year.

http://goo.gl/maps/2IMWi
If you do a street view here it is pictured in spring or winter. Recommended for anybody looking for a stopover on the way south.

killalanerr

Thank you for the replies some good pointers
As has been pointed out I know his route includes arguable some of the best camping in Europe its just a matter of teasing out the rely good ones,it can be a bit hit and miss with regards to the weather along this route there were a few times in the past we were driven further south than we planed because of inclement weather so we will have a plan B should the weather not play ball

A few years back we tried to get on to the aires in Biscarosse Plage but it was full I'm hopping we don't get that far south to be honest,while the the dune is worth a visit I have found that area just south of Bordeaux rather uninspiring
So without over planing and with the some of the suggestions from above we have picked a ruff route, if you guys think of anything else plase add them to the thread,
This of course may all change again before august, isn't that why we love motorhomeing !

killalanerr

So just noticed that the tour of spain will be in Andorra during my trip , any one any idea what the cost of tolls would be from Roscoff to Andorra ?

niloc1951

killalanerr wrote: »

So just noticed that the tour of spain will be in Andorra during my trip , any one any idea what the cost of tolls would be from Roscoff to Andorra ?

€45.00 or €89.10 depending on route, SEE HERE

Car with trailer is Class 2 toll, same as motorhome

bogman

Came up through the Pyrenees and the west coast of France in the last week on my motorcycle, hugged the coast in France, its camper frenzy once you reach half way between Bordeaux and La-Rochelle, continues until Roscoff, my advice is to go off the beaten track slightly, some of the marshlands near the coast are nice, if it was me, and I have a camper, id take it to the Spanish side of the Pyrenees on the A-136 near Sallent de Gallego, then again that's me, don't like wall to wall campers, TV's blaring and all that lark