Camping RSS

On our way back to Calais, we planned a stop to visit some World War I sites in Northern France. We found a campsite in the town of Albert, which served as a convenient base for trips to the Thiepval Museum and the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial. The museum is filled with fascinating information and relics, and the walk around the vast memorial of names of soldiers lost at the Somme is haunting. At the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, we were welcomed by a guide on an exchange from Canada, who gave us an insightful tour of the trenches we found really...

We arrived at Camping Espace Vital in La Grande-Verrière late afternoon, just as the light was starting to soften. We were greated by Paul, the friendly owner, who guided us through the gates and over the grass to find our pitch. He showed us the options and even lent us a longer electric hook-up cable so we could set up with the best view. There was only one other tent in the field, tucked up at the top, so it felt wonderfully peaceful. Paul helped us get the van level using the on-site chocks, then left us to get sorted....

We have always wanted to stay at La Grave. So passing through late in the afternoon on the way back from Provence, the light was low with wonderful warm shadows over the town and surrounding villages, it was just too tempting. There are two campsites either end of the town. Both had good reviews. We drove down to the first one. The little reception office was bursting with colourful geranium hanging baskets and hanging baskets and the view up to the mountains above was breathtaking. We checked in. We had a huge choice of pitches. The site is green and grassy...

Our next stop after Cassis was the Gorges du Verdon. We’d heard great things about it, but had never visited ourselves. I’d been following the adventures of Early Retirement Wanderlust during their time in Chamonix, and when I saw they were staying near the Gorges du Verdon, I asked them for a campsite recommendation. They were based in the nearby town of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and suggested a lovely, quiet spot called Camping St Jean. After setting up our pitch, we headed off on foot to explore the town. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is a beautiful village set dramatically between two limestone cliffs at the gateway...

Early September in Cassis, South of France, was wonderful. Four nights camping in our van at a busy but well-kept campsite, Camping Les Cigales, soaking in the warm Mediterranean vibe. Cassis is a small coast town in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, about 12 miles east of Marseille. Cassis is famous for its dramatic calanques. Breathtaking rocky inlets with turquoise waters. We were able to walk straight from the campsite, via a bit of a loop around the town, but it wasn't difficult. The hikes on the other hand were quite exhausting, especially in the heat. The mosquitoes seemed to enjoy our first...