Brittany is still the ideal camping holiday, writes Andy Kelly
Brittany shows the French still lead the way in campsites writes Andy Kelly
When it comes to campsites, the French have long been the masters.
While many in this country still resembled farmers’ fields (or actually were farmers’ fields!) the French were making theirs the most comfortable and enjoyable in Europe.
The UK is catching up of course but our latest trip to Brittany served only to reinforce the superiority of our friends across the Channel.
Soaking up the sun around the outdoor pool at our campsite in early July, one thought kept entering my head – “Why didn’t they have these when I was a kid?”
There can’t be too many better places for youngsters on a summer’s day than Chateau des Ormes, an easy two hour drive from the channel port of Cherbourg. Swimming pools? They’ve got three, one indoors with a wave machine and a couple of slides too.
A bit of football? Try the full size Astroturf pitch where you’ll find enough players for a mini-World Cup and from just as many nations as well.
There are beach volleyball courts, an equestrian centre to hire ponies for trekking and pedalos to join the ducks and geese on a trip round the lake.
If it’s golf they love, try the driving range or the pitch and putt course (there’s a full size parkland course for the adults too). There’s open air table tennis and archery too, though probably best to avoid any mention of Agincourt!
The older kids can try their luck on the indoor arcade or catch up with their friends on the internet at the Cy-Bar.
For the toddlers – including our own two-and-a-half year old Caitlin – there are two outdoor play parks, both sand floored and complete with all the usual swings, slides and roundabouts. For Caitlin a new slide is just about the most exciting thing she can imagine, unless Peppa Pig turned up for tea!
After an exhausting day playing, you need somewhere comfortable to recharge the batteries and our accommodation was spot on.
We travelled with Thomson Al Fresco and stayed in a three bedroom Vivaldi (Luxe) mobile home complete with kitchen, bathroom and separate toilet.
It comes equipped with everything you’ll need for a self-catering holiday.
Outside there’s a covered decking area with sun loungers and a table and chairs, perfect for open-air meals or a late night drink when Jnr is safely tucked up in bed, dreaming of slides no doubt.
Although there were literally hundreds of families on the site, it never felt crowded and in the evenings, we could hear nothing but crickets and the odd owl as we shared a glass and planned the next day.
The campsite’s main block includes a bar, restaurant and a takeaway pizzeria while the onsite supermarket has its own bakery for fresh croissants and baguettes in the morning.
Chateau des Ormes is situated between the small towns of Dol-de-Bretagne and Combourg, and it’s a quick five minute drive to either.
Combourg is a designated town of historic interest thanks to its famous chateau, with its fairytale like turrets, and has a bustling market on a Monday. Dol is quaint with lovely little patisseries – if you can walk past them you’ve a stronger will than my wife Rachael or I!
Chateau des Ormes is around a 25 minute drive inland and we spent two days of our week-long stay on trips to the French coast.
Perhaps my favourite day of the whole trip was spent at Dinard, a beautiful little beach resort which seems far more English than French. The sands are lined with traditional little blue and white huts and it’s no surprise to find Dinard was a haven for the English aristocracy in the late 19th century when it was known as the “Cannes of the North”.
Here we built sandcastles and munched ice-creams under a lovely blue sky before a stroll along the prom past the traditional-style fairground rides.
Our other day out was to the spectacular Mont-St-Michel, one of France’s national treasures. A Benedictine abbey sat atop a rocky island outcrop, it is a truly amazing sight on the approach and as such attracts huge crowds. This was the main problem for us as it became a virtual assault course as we tried to walk to the top with a pram, past the plethora of tourist shops and restaurants, and we bailed out long before the top.
It was a rare disappointment on a trip which delivered the lovely family break we had hoped. All too soon, we were back in the car heading to the ferry, the high-speed Normandie Express, which delivered us back to Portsmouth in four hours.
On the drive back north to Liverpool I couldn’t help wishing I was a kid again.
Travel Facts
ANDY KELLY and family travelled to Chateau des Ormes with Thomson Al Fresco who offer mobile home accommodation on some of the best parcs in Europe.
Prices are from £614 for six people staying in a Rossini mobile home at Chateau Des Ormes during May 2012.
All Thomson Al Fresco accommodation has air conditioning and outdoor decking areas as standard.
There are daily ferry sailings from Portsmouth to Cherbourg. For more information or to book, visit www.thomsonalfresco.co.uk or call 0871 971 0600.