Camping in France

This is the obvious place to start but there have been so many more. France is such a fantastic Country but it is very seasonal which is the only thing that lets it down! Each region is so different and I love them all. I am not fluent in French but can get by. Its embarasing though when Brits dont even try. As long as you "have a go" the french are generally lovely people. Their health care is second to none  as is their cleanliness. Unfortunately due to the euro its not as cheap as it used to be and peages can be very expensive.
We first started camping when our children were young and to be honest we could not afford anything else. Dave and I had camped all our lives but always around the UK. The first big adventure came around 1989 when we had saved all our leave up and did a grand Tour of Scotland. Our son was about 12 and decided that he wanted to find his family roots which are in Arbroath. We set off in a lovely old Conway Trailer Tent. It took us about 4 hours to errect and about 4 hours to put everything away again but boy was it a beauty when it was up. Ww got to Scotland and all it did was rain rain and more rain.... Everywhere we went a local would appear "Thats a pound please!" We were parking at the most remote locations but Im sure we were being followed! After two weeks we had never seen so much rain and had managed to spend one thousand pounds trying to keep three young kids entertained. Eventually we picked up a caravan club magazine and there was a temporary holiday meet in a farmers field in Scarborough. We headed down to it. We were welcomed with open arms. We played rounders and cricket, we flew kites. We had a marveloous time. The cost of camping in the field?/....50p a night!
The kids kept a diary and Im sure you can guess which they preferred as did we.
Occassionally for weekend treats we would take the kids to Haven Blue Dolphin campsite and around this time we noticed that they owned a campsite in Brittany France....hmmm we could never afford that.
One day whilst Dave was at work. I telephoned Haven.....hmmm "You want to take a windsurfing board? Your car is a nine seater Izusu Trooper? You are pulling a Penine folding Camper? You want the Caen crossing?" "yES! "I m really sorry but the cheapest I  can get you all there for with all the extras for three weeks is 640 pounds!" What?!! "Do you take Switch?!" I rang Dave hurridly at work and told him to put some money in my account-we are going to France!
The campsite was Domanine De Kerlann near Pont Aven and what a holiday. I have to say I think it was probably the best holiday that we have ever had. We have been to some glamarous places in the world since but this holiday was just perfect. I had only been to France once before and that was on a french exchange. The family that I stayed with were so horrible as was the little town that I stayed in I had vowed that I would never go back! I went to Asda and I spent 86 pounds on tinned food! How that Pennine ever moved is beyond me. I dont think that I thought that the french ate!  I had half of Asda in my Pennine- but theres another story for later....
The language mainly spoken on the site was english. It was commercial but not too hi dI hi. The kids loved the Tiger Club and we enjoyed the peace and quiet! The beaches in that area were just simply stunning and when we could drag the kids from the site spent many happy hours on the beach The currency was still the franc and there were 10 to the pound. Everything was so cheap! I had taken Travellers cheques as everyone did then that turned out to be a damned nuisance -nowadays its just use your switch card!
We went there  for several years after that but like most things with Haven -well its now known as Siblu, they turn these things into static caravan parks and the touring pitches were very few and far between and given the worst places on site. It was a great place to start and from there we went on and on and on........ These sites have not been inspected by me for puposes of the Caravan Club but simply the ones that I like!
Haven at Biscarrosse
La Baume Frejus
Probably now my idea of hell but great as starters and people with young families but when I was at Royan 2 years ago I went back down memory lane and the Siblu camp as its now called was 75 euros a night! ERRR No! I will stick to my little minicipals!
I could not begin to list all the sites that I have been to in France but here is a go at some of the more memorable ones!
Domaine des Matheivies in the Dordogne. This was one that I stumbled across by accident and promptly fell in love with it and signed it up for the Caravan Club =fantastic!
La Bien Assise  This is part of the Castels group and is fantastic but ideally sitauated for the ferries. The facilities here are spotless.
Chateau de Drancourt Another of the Castels Group. Only 70 miles or so from Calais but is ideal for young families and is quite action packed but as always with Castels beautifully clean
Caravaning Des 4 Vents Lovely family owned campsite in quiet location yet very commutable to Disney Paris etc  Clean and plenty of facilites
Chanteloup Camping in the grounds of a chateau that is family owned and again part of the Castels group. Great faciliteis. Handy for Le Mans but has a short season. Ideal stop over going to the Vendee region
Le Manoir de Bezolle This site is very remote and in the middle of nowhere. If its peace and quiet and views then this site is great. English owned and very welcoming. Old but spotless facilites. Lovely restaurant.
Ooooo I nearly forgot..talking of the middle of nowhere.....
Gorges du Chambon  Beautiful with a river running at the parimeter. Lovely restaurant bar on site. I think its part of the Castels group again but watching the hawks, owls and wildlife was just amazing
La Vielle Ferme  This is ideally situated for one of my favourite cities in the world Antibes. Everyone rushes  off to St Tropez and other well known places but they overlook Antibes! There is a train line that runs into Nice as well. You can get into Monocco and Italy using this line.
The municipal site at Cozes is great in summer. Its about 13 euros a night and well commutable to Royan and its beaches. It also has the lovely towns outdoor swimming pool next door! Basic but all you need and 13 euros?!
I have stayed at so many sites but these ones stand out in my mind as having happy memories and if they werent clean I would not have been there!
WORST SITES
Admittedly this was many years ago but I will NEVER go back! The municipal site at Calais! Avoid! The stink from the toilets that were soooo dirty! The ferries kept you awake all night.....nooooo go to La Bien Assise! I think this was the worst site ANYWHERE and there have been a few ropey ones!