Return to Ile D'Oleron

Another return to France. 

At the end of May we went to two islands Ile de Re and Noirmoutier . Now a return to the Ile D' Oleron was calling!

We first visited a few years ago and really enjoyed the ambience and the campsite. Knowing we were travelling in August we did book all the sites on the way down and 16 nights at Les Lauriers, to the North of Ile D'Oleron in the village of St Denis D'Oleron, a five minute stroll to the beach.

As it was August and in the middle of a heat wave, we decided to have a road trip to get there, travelling no more than 3 hours or so. As we were going "Le Shuttle", a nasty drive along the A303, which we knew would take longer than it should. We had booked a night at Broadhembury just outside Ashford. A nice site with a pub along the back lane, where we had stayed earlier in the year.

Our first stop once we had negotiated Le Shuttle was our old haunt. Les Erables at Escalles, a one nighter. We were pleased we had booked this one as the site was "Complet". 

A nice meal in one of our favourite restaurants Les Falaise, a table booked on-line. Again, very busy so we were pleased the on-line booking worked!

The next day, an uneventful drive for a two night stop at Camping St Nicolas in Le Bec Hellouin. We we arrived around 1pm, got a lovely pitch in the sun and booked a table in the restaurant. It was HOT. Actually although August we could have winged this one. If you arrive before 2pm, you just site the van and there were loads of spaces. Later it was a bit busier, but still room.

The following day off to Camping Neuville near Le Mans, which we discovered on our last trip.

Just as nice as we remembered and the swimming pool was open. The river sadly had succumbed to the dreaded blue algae, notices posted, so no swimming there. 

We had booked but there were loads of spaces. We enjoyed two quiet nights and very hot days. Happily, we were able to catch up on shopping in the very nice local supermarket around the corner and clothes washing!

Our final two night stop on the way, was at Camping de Saint Du Lac de Saint-Cyr.

This was I admit, rather a disappointing stop. We had hoped we could try the paddleboard out here. Sadly the lake had blue algea, so no swimming. Apparently there had been no swimming for over 3 years. Shame that wasn't mentioned on the web site , although it was on the booking form in tiny print. It was a lovely spot and in its hey day had obviously been very popular. The lake was huge and around the corner was a massive sailing complex. There was still sailing on the lake and pedaloes but no swimming.

The campsite was pretty empty and to make it worse all the BBQ areas were also out of bounds due to the heat wave. We wondered how badly tourism in the lake areas had been impacted by the weather. There was also a large lakeside swimming pool complex with sliders which was boarded up and  neglected because of the no swimming ban. Huge parking areas were deserted, all in all a bit depressing really! Still, we had a peaceful two nights sleep, a walk around the lake and a reasonable meal in the site restaurant. The views were beautiful.

So off to Oleron and Les Lauriers. A small site in the village with only a few touring pitches. We were pleased we had booked as the site was full for most of the time. This site is all about location.

We had a great pitch with loads of shade which we really needed. 

We managed walks on the beach.

Loads of meals out in the port.

Bike rides around the island and up to the lighthouse.

Loads of very nice Oleron wine at 5E a bottle.

A lovely quiet break. We really liked the island. Very uncommercialised in the north and we thought the cycling was better, as fewer people on the tracks. The restaurants and bars were busy but we always managed to get a table. Always something going on to watch, either on the sea or in the town. There was a festival while we were there and a road race which was very well attended.

The beaches were busy with families and the sea was shallow and safe. 

We are definitely going back next year as there is loads more we want to explore.

Our journey home was pretty uneventful. We decided to do one night stops and pretty much backtracked our downwards journey. We re-routed the journey home slightly and stopped at Cholet on a new to us site, called Camping La Nuit Lac Du Verdon.

Very much like the St Cyr site it was by a lake. No swimming, algae again, but fishing allowed. We presumed the fish were not for eating!!

The site was very quirky a mixture of chalets, tents and animals. There were resident chickens and sheep, which wandered around. We had a huge pitch.

There was also an outside bar and restaurant. Open when weather permitted. Heavily used by locals we had a great burger and wine and the atmosphere was lovely and friendly. Strange how loads of people suddenly turned up, they were mostly locals we thought.

A beautiful spot with brilliant sunsets. 

One more stop at Les Erables and we were finally homeward bound. Dover just across the water!

Croft Farm Water Park. Back Again!

 Back again to one of our favourite places. Croft Farm Water Park near Tewkesbury in Gloucershire.

We have been visiting here for many years with so many changes. However , the essence of the place remains the same. Relative tranquillity, intermittent road noise but only when the wind blows in a certain direction! Rural charm, loads of wild life geese and ducks to name but a few. Water, loads of it clean and swim friendly. A handy pub up the road, quirky but friendly, another one down the river depending on your individual SUP skills. Café and gym also on site. Toilet and facilities, basic but clean and tidy. Can be busy on the water especially at weekends but worth it.

 A lake side pitch, so not far to carry the board.

Croft Farm is a water park that also caters for school groups. Camping in tents in the bottom field and in huts for the kids. Loads of water activities which have been well developed over the years. Actually it was great watching the young people enjoying themselves in the water.

Raft building looked like fun!

We took our paddleboard to make friends with it, before our next French trip.

Den had definitely improved his technique and actually managed to stand up.

I held the towel and issued advice!😊😊😊

We were super lucky with the weather but the "heatwave" helped the feeling of being somewhere other than murky Gloucestershire.

Three nights certainly felt like a week. A return visit is on the cards possibly September!!!

A lakeside pitch at £45 a night, not the cheapest, although we could have gone in the meadow field off grid for £25. Not too bad for July.

Review Ile De Re France

 Our first visit back to the Ile De Re in France for around 40+ years. The last time we went the children were small and we used our trailer tent. Our lasting memories were being pushed out of the sand dunes on the campsite where our trailer tent got stuck.

So, 40 years on and we were ready to find a few changes. We picked our site pretty much at random on the North of the island a stones throw from Le Blois Plage. Unfortunately our chosen site was not the best Le Varennes, a largish site but now predominately chalets and lodges. The camping area was a small space for around 35 units, pretty much squashed in and resembling an aire. The only plus point was the toilet and shower facilities were clean and used by fewer people.

Our pitch fortunately was one of the larger ones under the pine trees.

As it was during the heat wave with temperatures peeking at 39C, we were pleased with the shade. Our windbreaker came in handy!

The site had a touring area rather squashed in.

There was also an indoor and outdoor pool. The bar was not a restaurant, but did do burgers and pizzas when open. There was a shop for morning bread but only open for 2 hours in the morning. The village nearby had a supermarket and restaurants a 10 minute walk.

We must admit to feeling slightly short changed by the facilities. Clean but the hot water in the showers took ages to come through It would also have been better to have a bar that was open in the afternoon and a better stocked camp shop.

The beach was a short walk away over the dunes and the town had a daily busy market. The Ile De Re has a huge bridge to get across and a lovely charge of 40 Euros. The island is criss-crossed with cycle paths, which can get very busy. Not too bad in June but I can imagine they would be crammed in high season.

The surf school on the beach.

We rode the cycle path to St Martin en Re. The harbour was very busy and full of tourists.

Picturesque but incredibly busy.

We enjoyed our stay here but would probably not return as the place was far too busy for us.

All too soon, time to make the journey homeward. We spent 5 days travelling home stopping at La Fleche, Camping La Route D'Or for two days.

A lovely shady pitch, we needed it!

A Michelin star restaurant right in the middle of the town.

Hotel De Ville

While we were there, a commemoration ceremony for the WW1 & 2.

Attended by youngsters from the military academy in the town and old soldiers

La Fleche is a great town to wander around in and we will stop there again.

A final stop on our way home, back to St Nicolas at Le Bec Hellouin.

Incidentally, love my new sunshades.

Back to France in August. Ile D'Oleron this time.

 

Spring Trip. Vendee. Noirmoutier

 Our first trip to Ile de Noirmoutier and we haven't been disappointed. A real mixture of weather. Heat wave, temperatures up in the 30's, rain, winds, everything really, just like at home.You get to the island via a bridge, or if you are relly brave a tidal causeway.

The campsite Les Roussieres is at the north end of the island, which is much quieter and less touristy. A really handy spot just a short walk to the large beach across an interesting plastic floating bridge.

When we arrived we were given a few pitches to look at. As it was very hot we went for part shade, under a few trees but very private.

We loved the spot. The pigeons loved pooing on the van!! We persevered for a week, Den fought pigeon poo, we then  moved to a more open pitch.

The beach is unspoilt, goes out a long way and is pretty uncrowded.

Not bad for the second week in June.

The campsite was not busy and although we had booked in advance there was no need at this time of the year. There is a small bread shop open until 11am and a bar restaurant open evenings Wednesday to Sunday. The toilet facilities are immaculate and very clean with loads of hot water.

A 40 minute amble takes you to the main town Noirmoutier. Loads of shops bars and restaurants. 30 minutes in the opposite direction, takes you to the village of La Vielle where there is a supermarket, bar and small tabac. 

Noirmoutier is a haven for cyclists and there are bike paths everywhere around the island. A thirty minute walks takes about 6 mins on the bike so well worth taking them.

We did a few rides, one to the top end of the island to the port of L'Herbaudiere. A small interesting port. We did a few more on the very empty back lanes on some very hot days, till the wind set in..... no we weren't really lost!!

Of course, this area is famed for shell fish so fish shops are everywhere. We didn't try mussels here because apparently you should only eat them July to September! ( You live and learn) If we were French, we may have gone digging for them. If the shell fish are under a certain size you have to put them back. A whole page devoted to "Peche a Pied" ( Fishing on foot) in the campsite info.

Loads of holiday homes on the island. I guess in July and August it will be quite busy.

The port at L'Herbaudiere.

All in all, we have whiled away almost two weeks here. Noirmoutier is somewhere we will definitely return to. 

Time to move on soon and our next stop Ile de Re. Should make a great contrast!