Where in france

Herbenny

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As we only have a week to spend in france I thought I would just pick a place that caught my eye and head towards that direction. I had no idea how big france was and I don't even know where to start ..
I'm sat here with a map and google and every time I see something I then see something even better !!
talk about spoilt for choice 😜
 
For a week you need to get a wiggle on day 1 to get anywhere half decent really. Brittany is a good suggestion but its further than you think but doable in a day. Normandy however and the Normandy peninsula is worth an explore and there is all the WW2 stuff there. Nice long sandy beaches, one or two good wild spots and aires and depending on where you are going back to in the UK there is a super fast Normandie Express from Cherbourg that is powerboat speed and has you back in the UK in three and a bit hours.

The Loire around Samuer is ok for a week and if your going soon you probably have a better chance of half decent weather there otherwise its a longer hop over to somewhere like Jura or the Alsace. All of these you need to get your foot down day one and the last day though. Northern France otherwise IMO is pretty dull.
 
France has a lot of great places but you can easily spend your week getting there and back.

Your ferry choice makes a big difference to where.

Calais, we like le Crotoy on the Bay of the Somme.

Cherbourg you have the D-day beaches on one side with the 75th invasion anniversary celebration and Carteret on the other.

Le harve you have At Malo and bay of St Micheal.

Rod off the whole of Brittany.

Enjoy your trip

Rod
 
With only a week I immediately thought Normandy. History. Beaches. Cider. Camembert. I worked myway along on Soupe de Poison.
 
Thanks all ... I'm thinking Brittany as mark first suggested. I don't want to venture to as it's such a short time but I have found a couple of places that look quite good ..
July should be hot enough for my liking.
Will plan Better next time with more time off work but this will do for now 😊
 
Have a look at Honfleur Jac, not free but we always enjoy a few days there. This year we are going to explore Dinan which is also in Brittany.
 
I remember it hitting 120degrees in June one year (80’s I think). We were at Le Mans for the French bike GP and it was a killer. More folks sheltering under the stands and any shade they could find rather than in the stands watching the race.

July should be fine :)
 
RoaminRog said:
Have a look at Honfleur Jac, not free but we always enjoy a few days there. This year we are going to explore Dinan which is also in Brittany.
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Dinan is a lovely place but you might need big ramps :lol-053:
Dinan.jpg


It has lovely old buildings similar to York but on a grand scale
maxresdefault.jpg
there are a few aires

Dinan_(France),_viaduc_over_Rance_river.jpg

https://www.******************/en/france/bretagne-22-29-35-56/dinan/2153/parking
 
Herbenny said:
Thanks all ... I'm thinking Brittany as mark first suggested. I don't want to venture to as it's such a short time but I have found a couple of places that look quite good ..
July should be hot enough for my liking.
Will plan Better next time with more time off work but this will do for now 😊
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July should be nice in Brittany. Weather is similar to south of UK, maybe a bit warmer. Be warned though if your using aires in Brittany get there in good time as its popular. There are more than any other region though so plenty of places.
 
The Vosges

Is very nice and not too far
Same applies to Burgundy and or Champagne
 
As others have said, Brittany is ideal if you only have a week. Try stopping overnight at the inland aires, less busy, more likely to be free
 
My husband has travelled lots abroad with work and knows of some nice places however I'm really put off by aires .. I envisage them as overcrowded car parks but I'm sure I must be wrong. We hope to stay a couple of nights at a nice campsite I found .. but listening to others it's best not to make plans as you get distracted by so many nice places
 
Herbenny said:
My husband has travelled lots abroad with work and knows of some nice places however I'm really put off by aires .. I envisage them as overcrowded car parks but I'm sure I must be wrong. We hope to stay a couple of nights at a nice campsite I found .. but listening to others it's best not to make plans as you get distracted by so many nice places
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Well Janns advice above is good. There are some lovely places inland in Brittany and less crowded. However there are some great aires but you need to do a fair bit of research. Popular resorts that have aires will be crowded but then in July so might be the campsites so try and find somewhere just outside the "hot spots" or as I said get there early. Just before or just after lunchtime I find is a good time.
 
if one week is all you have, then depending on your channel travelling method/route, then:
tunnel/Dover ferry... Le Crotoy and St Valery sur somme area.
Le Harve... Honfleur, Fecamp, La Mailleraye sur Seine
Cherbourg...Normandy peninsula
St Malo/Roscoff for Brittany.

Personally, I'd pay the ferry fees and do the overnight out of Portsmouth and land on instant holiday in Brittany, with a zillion things to see and do. and not to mention the fab aires and wild camping with sea views.
 
Herbenny said:
I'm really put off by aires .. I envisage them as overcrowded car parks but I'm sure I must be wrong.
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You are very wrong i`m afraid :rolleyes2:

Over the years we found many, many stunning small aires that would put most of the campsites including the CAMC and C&CC to shame :scared:

Some with beautifully manicured box hedge lined bays along with glorious views and the majority of the time we were the only ones there.

One that immediately springs to mind granted is also a car park but tell me what you think.

Semur-en-Brionnais is an official aire with picnic tables, service point, proper toilet and all free.


Semur en Brionnais France 2015 002.jpgSemur en Brionnais France 2015 003.jpgSemur en Brionnais France 2015 004.jpgSemur en Brionnais France 2015 005.jpgSemur en Brionnais France 2015 006.jpgSemur en Brionnais France 2015 007.jpg


We spent 3 gloriously peaceful and quiet days there completely alone, the town and monastery are wonderful.
 
Yes Wooie is correct

Many Many delightful aires in France

Mostly free or very cheap some with wi-fi
 
Herbenny said:
My husband has travelled lots abroad with work and knows of some nice places however I'm really put off by aires .. I envisage them as overcrowded car parks but I'm sure I must be wrong. We hope to stay a couple of nights at a nice campsite I found .. but listening to others it's best not to make plans as you get distracted by so many nice places
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A few may be on ordinary car parks,but there are plenty that aren't.Try stopping at one in the middle of the day,if you don't like it you can move on.Weve been using them for over 20years very few that we wouldn't return to.
 
I can honestly say that at least 90% of all the aires that we use in France are free :dance: but we are happy to pay when needed :dance:

Our next trip abroad in a month or so we will definitely be having 1 night on the aire at the Château de Chambord 11 euros for 24 hours.

The beauty of that is when we are finished looking around the Chateau and gardens we will probably be knackered and will only have to make our way back to our motorhome on the aire in the grounds of the Chateau before we collapse :scared:

All being well a good nights sleep then off to the next stop wherever that may be ( we`ll know when we get there :idea: ) on the way to the Pyrenees :drive:
 
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