Aires no camping activity

[chaser]

Are you using the word 'awning' to describe a wind-out canopy or a tent-style erection with walls? Both have been used on MH forums.

Both

 

[Rachelc]

thanks for all of the pictures, I must admit I'd rather assume they'd all be like the car park one!

 

[chaser]

thanks for all of the pictures, I must admit I'd rather assume they'd all be like the car park one!

The car park one is very rare , especially in country areas.

 

[Shrimp]

We follow the French, if they are sitting out we do.
The French will squeeze between two vans with a table & chairs regardless of rules or space!
Nearly all Aires have a green space and picnic benches.

 

[mikebeaches]

I think it's probably all been said.

Just chill, relax and go with the flow...

Have a great trip!

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[FIDGET]

Hi Rachel,
Sorry I personally cant help with aires in the area you are traveling too, but I'm sure somebody will know off some good ones ,
I haven't done Normandy (other than to drive through) except D day landing beaches etc , we usually go to Brittany or Loire oe middle France although have on the odd occasion done the south.

 

[peterc10]

There are these sort of aires:-
View attachment 406102View attachment 406103View attachment 406104View attachment 406105

Then there are these sort of aires:-

View attachment 406106

As always do what the Romans French do and you won't go far wrong.

Have a great trip.

Richard.

Recognise the first photo. But where is second one?

 

[Reallyretired]

Some, like the one at Moulins are an ex municipal site with loads of space. People act just like a campsite.

 

[PeteH]

Only ever used them as overnight stops, and to be fair mostly in winter (going out) or spring (coming back) from Spain. But the really crowded "car park" type ones look like a potential hazard? (To Me).

 

[FIDGET]

Hi peterc10
Second photo , I think is Sanctions site by disused canal

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[Clarky]

Recognise the first photo. But where is second one?

Sancoins, right in the centre of France.

Video here, together with videos for the other aires in the photos apart from the 'carpark' at Carro which I haven't got round to editing and posting.



Richard.

 

[FIDGET]

Clarky , great video , never seen it that empty , in all the times weve been ,

 

[Littlewheels]

Is there any way of finding out in advance the more camping friendly aires?

They are all friendly! You simply have to adhere to the protocol of each one if you require serious camping activity a campsite is the place for it.
In the event you are taking up space on any Aire and space is needed for the parking of another Motorhome you would without doubt have to give way.Not all are spacious in fact most have no more than a Metre between each other.

 

[Rachelc]

Thanks for all the comments, can anyone please recommend an aire between Calais and Rouen?

 

[FIDGET]

I use Montreuil sur mer, free but can get busy , 7 places plus a car / bus park which is used as overflow , nice town wall walk just up the road nice town . Water payable

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[Rachelc]

I use Montreuil sur mer, free but can get busy , 7 places plus a car / bus park which is used as overflow , nice town wall walk just up the road nice town . Water payable

Realistically how early would we need to arrive to have a reasonable chance of finding a space? I am about to book the Chunnel so can still factor timings in accordingly.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Realistically how early would we need to arrive to have a reasonable chance of finding a space? I am about to book the Chunnel so can still factor timings in accordingly.

We've stayed a few times at Stella Plage, quite near there, I'll see if I have a pic...

 

[bigtwin]

Thanks for all the comments, can anyone please recommend an aire between Calais and Rouen?

Sainte Claire Aire Camping Car,

100 miles south of Calais.

Campervan Parking
76270 Neufchâtel-en-Bray, France
+33 2 35 93 03 93

Campervan Parking

★★★★★ · Caravan Park · 76270 Neufchâtel-en-Bray

goo.gl

Ian

 

[Richard n Ann]

We were the only ones there on this occasion but it does get full in mid season.

Stella Plage

 

[orridge]

thanks, next week we are off to Normandy via the channel tunnel, will have a dog and 2 kids. We are planning to visit WWII sites, so near points of interest / beaches/ dog walks would be great in that region!

If you go and visit the Batteries at Longues sur Mer you can park on the clifftop but it can be quiet noisy with traffic however talk to the people at the visitors kiosk and they will let you stay in the field behind the kiosk which is later and more sheltered from the wind.

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[Manic]

Regarding awnings -roll out type- your not supposed to put awn leg on the ground, so that’s when the wall bracket are handy if you want a bit of shade but you’ve always got to be ready to wind it in.
This Aire at Lanfains had free water and dump and you would have a problem having chairs out.

 

[DBK]

Thanks for all the comments, can anyone please recommend an aire between Calais and Rouen?

While recommendations are great you need to have alternatives in case the site you want is full. Looking on CamperContact or one of the other apps can leave you overwhelmed with choice. If you use the filters you can restrict what you are shown to something manageable. For example this screenshot show aires which are graded 7 or above and have the basic water and waste services. You could also add in whether they are free.

 

[Clarky]

Thanks for all the comments, can anyone please recommend an aire between Calais and Rouen?

Theres a very smart aire beside the campsite at Neufchatel-en-Bray, just north of Rouen and five minutes off the A28. It's barrier controlled, pay by CC, and entrance is a bit tight for anything over 8m. It's got loos, shower and hookup all in the price of €12 (I think). More like a mini campsite but perhaps an easy intro to aires.
Closer to Calais is the popular Montreuil, about an hours drive. Video to help find it is below. Not many spaces but there is a large overflow next to it where the old aire used to be and the waste dump is now.



Richard.

 

[FIDGET]

Hi Rachel , as to getting a place on the seven hedged pitches it's really pot luck , weve always been lucky but usually turn up about 2pm , but once they were full , I waited and noticed one getting ready to leave so got ready & moved in when he moved off. but theres a large car park which is always got several motorhomes in .
or you could use Forges les Eaux paid aire large car park with ehu & water
or Mesnieres en bray free aire with free water.

 

[LesW]

Realistically how early would we need to arrive to have a reasonable chance of finding a space? I am about to book the Chunnel so can still factor timings in accordingly.

I like to arrive at my chosen aire about 1-2pm, it's a personal thing some arrive a lot later.

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[Richard n Ann]

We don't arrive usually until 6 of 7pm so that's why they are often full or nearly full. Depends on the time of year though, in November on the way home they're all virtually empty

 

[Rachelc]

While recommendations are great you need to have alternatives in case the site you want is full. Looking on CamperContact or one of the other apps can leave you overwhelmed with choice. If you use the filters you can restrict what you are shown to something manageable. For example this screenshot show aires which are graded 7 or above and have the basic water and waste services. You could also add in whether they are free.

View attachment 406365

I've just registered for Campercontact, thanks for the heads up on narrowing down the search criteria.

 

[DBK]

I've just registered for Campercontact, thanks for the heads up on narrowing down the search criteria.

To use the filters you need to select Show all locations from the home screen, or if you are only interested in aires select Motorhome parkings. Then adjust the map so it shows the area you are interested in.

In the top left you can see the Filters button. Click on this.

To use the filters you do each criteria in turn and clicking on Back after each one. For example if you click on Ratings it takes you to this screen.

In this example I've checked 7 or higher. Now click back and select Price.

And I've selected Free. You could click Back again and select another filter, such as water and waste dumping but if we stop here and click on the orange bar at the bottom, which says Show all 3963 locations it displays the map.

Which is all the free aires rated 7 or higher.

You'll probably find the free aires busy especially at this time of year but best of luck and enjoy the trip.

If you plan to explore a bit of northern France this trip we did last year might give you some ideas. Hope you have better weather than we did towards the end.

Two Potter Around Northern France

After our trip to Corsica earlier this year I felt our next excursion should involve less distance and fewer sheer drops on the side of the road. Corsica was a delight and the scenery stunning but something less demanding will go down nicely over the next couple of months. And so yesterday we...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[SHABBINS]

Free aire Canault alongside the Loire river just west of Saumar. Hot and sunny at the moment.