Aire Du Baie de la Somme - MH parking closed

[HKF]

Why are motorway aires seen as so bad? This is a genuine question from a new MHer. I know some are very run down and I wouldn't want to stay there but some look real nice, are well kept and even have CCTV. What's the difference between those and, for example, a Camping-Car site. We stayed on a Camping-Car site, which was lovely, but there was nothing to stop someone entering from the road on foot to break into a van. They wouldn't have been seen and could've stolen anything. Is it just a barrier that makes people feel safe?

 

[pelican]

We've had a rest stop before at Baie de Somme services before, its a pleasant enough place but our go to place for an overnight transit stop is a free car park at Nouvion, a few kms northeast of there just off the A16 on Rue de la Mairie.
Nice little car park next to the community hall and a Carrefour express and Boulangerie just around the corner.
50.21123 1.78027

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Pete

Does Officer Crabtree still do security there.

 

[cyberyacht]

With some motorhomers, you can be sure of some good moaning.

 

[maison]

With some motorhomers, you can be sure of some good moaning.

Luv it!

 

[15edward]

We occasionally use motorway Aires. Only problem weve ever had was a guy approaching us at Strensham Services M5 fir 50p fir a phone call….

we don’t stop close to big conurbations on the basis that casual thieves won’t be travelling miles of motorway on the off chance.
we’ve had some excellent stops and agree some town Aires don’t feel as safe so we drive on

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[Camdoon]

Why are motorway aires seen as so bad? This is a genuine question from a new MHer. I know some are very run down and I wouldn't want to stay there but some look real nice, are well kept and even have CCTV. What's the difference between those and, for example, a Camping-Car site. We stayed on a Camping-Car site, which was lovely, but there was nothing to stop someone entering from the road on foot to break into a van. They wouldn't have been seen and could've stolen anything. Is it just a barrier that makes people feel safe?

Does anyone sell books or apps telling you which French motorway service stations to stop at compared to those selling aires, campsite discounts, pubs, 'passion' sites etc?

 

[jongood]

Why are motorway aires seen as so bad? This is a genuine question from a new MHer. I know some are very run down and I wouldn't want to stay there but some look real nice, are well kept and even have CCTV. What's the difference between those and, for example, a Camping-Car site. We stayed on a Camping-Car site, which was lovely, but there was nothing to stop someone entering from the road on foot to break into a van. They wouldn't have been seen and could've stolen anything. Is it just a barrier that makes people feel safe?

Security. There have been lots and lots of threads and stories over the years of robberies, Its seems that the motorway services are too easy for the opportunist, cruise down the motorway, see a camper, do the business and away. Where a car cruising around a small French town in the small hours would draw attention a car on the motorway is insignificant. Of course there are no guarantees wherever you stay but you can choose to improve your odds.

Its only a couple of years ago we were having similar discussions about overnighting at Cite Europe and that finally got so bad the Gendarmes shut it down.

 

[Camdoon]

Security. There have been lots and lots of threads and stories over the years of robberies, Its seems that the motorway services are too easy for the opportunist, cruise down the motorway, see a camper, do the business and away. Where a car cruising around a small French town in the small hours would draw attention a car on the motorway is insignificant. Of course there are no guarantees wherever you stay but you can choose to improve your odds.

Its only a couple of years ago we were having similar discussions about overnighting at Cite Europe and that finally got so bad the Gendarmes shut it down.

Yes. Gassing has only ever happens at Motorway stops.

 

[DDJC]

Yes. Gassing has only ever happens at Motorway stops.

Oh god.
Someone has mentioned gassing in an Aire thread.

(Has anyone actually ever been gassed and robbed? And I mean it has actually happened to them, not the usual bolox about "I knew this bloke who's brother's mate's son was gassed in a five star guarded campsite and they nicked his Rolex and pet parakeet"?)

 

[HKF]

Oh god.
Someone has mentioned gassing in an Aire thread.

(Has anyone actually ever been gassed and robbed? And I mean it has actually happened to them, not the usual bolox about "I knew this bloke who's brother's mate's son was gassed in a five star guarded campsite and they nicked his Rolex and pet parakeet"?)

OK, I'm game to ask.....what do you mean by gassing?

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[DDJC]

OK, I'm game to ask.....what do you mean by gassing?

Gassing is a mythical paranoia, whereby wilding stops, isolated car parks and other such places are dangerous, because groups of robbers, pump gas into motorhomes or caravans until the occupants are knocked out. Then the robbers enter and steal anything that they can carry away.

The peculiar aspects include, no one has ever experienced it directly, despite people claiming they know someone. Also, there are no 'knockout gases' that could be used without a really high chance of killing someone. Most gases displace oxygen, and are actually asphyxiants.

Basically think, Loch Ness Monster or Alien Abduction Anal Probing.

 

[HKF]

Gassing is a mythical paranoia, whereby wilding stops, isolated car parks and other such places are dangerous, because groups of robbers, pump gas into motorhomes or caravans until the occupants are knocked out. Then the robbers enter and steal anything that they can carry away.

The peculiar aspects include, no one has ever experienced it directly, despite people claiming they know someone. Also, there are no 'knockout gases' that could be used without a really high chance of killing someone. Most gases displace oxygen, and are actually asphyxiants.

Basically think, Loch Ness Monster or Alien Abduction Anal Probing.

Haha, I see. Thanks for the explanation I'll try not to panic too much about it, then

 

[coopc]

Ok Just read all the thread - Now a tad concerned as on Monday we get off the boat just before 10pm @ Calais and were going to do an hrs drive down the A16 to park up for the night at this aire (getting there circa 11/11:30 pm)
Now Im wondering have I planned it all wrong !!!

 

[15edward]

We stopped there end of May. The work they were doing looked just about finished. Parking was still closed but plenty of space outside main area for motorhomes and another area for caravans. If we were off Monday we’d be assuming it was open

 

[HKF]

We stopped there end of May. The work they were doing looked just about finished. Parking was still closed but plenty of space outside main area for motorhomes and another area for caravans. If we were off Monday we’d be assuming it was open

It's open again, see this thread

Baie de Somme parking open again

I know there are mixed views about staying overnight at motorway service areas in France. We normally avoid them, with the exception of Baie de Somme, an hour south of Calais. There is a lovely spot well away from the main terminal in an almost park-like setting, which we've used frequently in...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

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[MisterB]

we stayed at the aire de somme once, never again, noisy, lots of traffic in and out - they did have security guards roaming around, but they seemed to take great delight in talking loudly and shining their torches into vehicle windows, which even though we had blinds, still allowed the light in!

 

[emjaiuk]

we stayed at the aire de somme once, never again, noisy, lots of traffic in and out - they did have security guards roaming around, but they seemed to take great delight in talking loudly and shining their torches into vehicle windows, which even though we had blinds, still allowed the light in!

You couldn’t have stayed In the official caravan/camper area then

 

[bilM]

Yes. Gassing has only ever happens at Motorway stops.

Well not to Hammond

'Horror story': Richard Hammond 'gassed by burglars' in Saint Tropez​

 

[MisterB]

You couldn’t have stayed In the official caravan/camper area then

Why do you doubt someone who has responded with their experience. There also happened to be caravans in and out, which were creating most of the noise.

 

[gerry mcg]

Does Officer Crabtree still do security there.

For those not familiar, Nouvion is located at the Baie of the Somme and is where "Alloa Allo" was set
We chuckle every time we see the signs

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[gerry mcg]

We tend to stay at a cracking aire at Quand Plage before heading to the Tunnel
Belle dune pisicine

https://goo.gl/maps/3eHj2nuEESkYJtZr9

 

[Speve]

We stopped at Baie De Somme a while back and the black waste dump points were both not working but you could get water at another tap. We parked in the area circled a lovely quiet spot

 

[Jenka]

We always get into a proper site, and always one that has decent rating on ACSI or Alan Rogers. Rarely use Aires, and definitely never use any sort of unauthorised stopping place or lorry park. Wilding is not for us. Rather pay 30 euro and feel safe.

No guarantee on paid site ,our friends got robbed recently and paid 34euros for privilege.

 

[emjaiuk]

Why do you doubt someone who has responded with their experience. There also happened to be caravans in and out, which were creating most of the noise.

Because I’ve based my experience on stopping there several times ayear for many years. I find it very difficult to understand your comments if you had in fact stayed in the designated area. How do caravans pulling up and stopping generate high levels of noise. Apart from the very occasional police car driving slowly around the loop,I’ve never seen security guards in that area either

 

[Speve]

Why do you doubt someone who has responded with their experience. There also happened to be caravans in and out, which were creating most of the noise.

Did you stay in the area circled in my post#52 or the parking area up by the resturaunt?

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[MisterB]

Because I’ve based my experience on stopping there several times ayear for many years. I find it very difficult to understand your comments if you had in fact stayed in the designated area. How do caravans pulling up and stopping generate high levels of noise. Apart from the very occasional police car driving slowly around the loop,I’ve never seen security guards in that area either

I don't doubt your experiences there .... I had a different one ...
This is becoming tedious - I stayed in the correct area (Aire) NOT in the parking for the Services area ....I had a different experience ....

 

[emjaiuk]

Agree enough is enough. I was only posting so that those with less experience could have an alternative view, and also because your experience is so vastly different to most other peoples.
I hope you have a better experience on future trips