First time France

another one i like is to shoot straight down to Cap d'Agde area,nice day's drive, hang around there for a day or two, maybe pop along to Marseilles, then take a leisurely ,meandering drive back up north, so you end up within easy reach of your ferry port without any stress,and you'll have seen a lot of the interior. always pop into Tourism offices { syndicat d'initiative } to see places in the area ,but also when markets and flea markets are on
 
We took our first trip to France last year. Our only plan was to visit Phill's uncle's grave, he died after parachuting in for the Normandy Landings, Pegasus Bridge & one of the beaches. Everything else off the cuff and we bimbled around. Only paid one toll (a bridge over the Seine). As first-timers we stuck to free aires but did find one good wilding spot. We will be back again in June with even less of a plan this time.

Even in October we were gob-smacked at the number of motorhomes on the road.

Wherever you go you will enjoy it.:wave:
 
Hi
Heading over the water on Sunday night for nearly 6 weeks. We,ve no set plan but may wander down to Antibes to visit old friends, however if we find a few nice spots on the way it,s possible we wont make it. Distance in France can be covered as quickly or slowly as you like. I have left Northumberland early evening on the bike and been in the bar at Antibes by lunch time the next day using the Autoroutes. This time I am in no rush and will not be using toll roads as they cost an extra 50% on your fuel costs and miss all the best bits of the country. Just go with the flow.
Cheers, Tompa.
 
I think it is fair to say whatever your wilding experiences in the UK forget it all and throw it out the window. France is a different proposition, and thankfully in a positive way.

Even the Formule menus in the supermarkets seem better quality than a lot of the shite British pub chains pedal.

Municipal campsites should you choose can be basic, but are safe, reasonably priced and provide a good base for a night with a bit of electricity thrown in. If you prefer your own company then France Passion may be the answer? Invariably farms and vineyards, They provide spectacular overnights whilst self contained ...Often the owners will tempt you with their own produce but two things, you have something to takeaway as a reminder and secondly better value for money. I visited one and ended up cutting grapes and now I have new friends, affectionately known has " Pannier pour le Anglo Saxon "

Btw never cut a vine in my life but know more now than when I arrived.

France is the second largest Camping market after the United States, the mentality towards all forms of camping is different to the Uk. There is no need for stealth or the subversive culture we have here.

You will wonder why you didn't do it years ago. Agendas are very British, Must be here at a certain time etc, Forget that ,go with le flow. You might not end up where you envisaged but you will leave enriched.

Channa
 
But Lidl does the cheapest wine on the planet. I would think that the empty bottle would cost more than some of the stuff they sell. However you do get what you pay for so if you want to make your own vinegar Lidl is the place to go. You can get offers of drinkable stuff for 3 or 4 Euros though

Richard
 
oh, if you like wine keep a few 5l water containers about, and if you see a Cave Cooperative sign,pull up to the pumps and get a cheap fill !
 
n brown said:
oh, if you like wine keep a few 5l water containers about, and if you see a Cave Cooperative sign,pull up to the pumps and get a cheap fill !
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Only a man been there got the shirt would know that Nigel, and when the locals direct you to the cave you know you have new friends !!!

Channa
 
Sharon the Cat said:
We took our first trip to France last year. Our only plan was to visit Phill's uncle's grave, he died after parachuting in for the Normandy Landings, Pegasus Bridge & one of the beaches. Everything else off the cuff and we bimbled around. Only paid one toll (a bridge over the Seine). As first-timers we stuck to free aires but did find one good wilding spot. We will be back again in June with even less of a plan this time.

Even in October we were gob-smacked at the number of motorhomes on the road.

Wherever you go you will enjoy it.:wave:
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You probably know this but some of the best wild camping spots I have found in France have been from CAMPINGCAR-INFOS. There are thousands on there usually signified by a P sign with a moon on it. In the summer I have found the best spots are up in the Mountains of the Pyrenees or the Alps. Often Ski resorts which are not really used much in the Summer have some fantastic areas to wild camp which of course unless otherwise specified is perfectly legal and accepted in France.

As for Lidl. I agree with Wint and Intermarche etc is much better. However Lidl do a massive Campagne 1KG bread for €2 which the French would probably turn their noses up but I love it. Lasts well as well.
 
talking of bread-i buy the larger baguettes,and cut them on the diagonal to make sandwiches,lovely when fresh, but if you wrap them tight in a plastic bag,they turn into a different bread,chewier,but quite
acceptable ,and they last ages like that,so if you're going remote for a while,wrap a few up
 
Lidl by Lidl

Tbear said:
But Lidl does the cheapest wine on the planet. I would think that the empty bottle would cost more than some of the stuff they sell. However you do get what you pay for so if you want to make your own vinegar Lidl is the place to go. You can get offers of drinkable stuff for 3 or 4 Euros though

Richard
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We are having a wine bonanza, here on the Algarve . vast new vineyards with big modern wineries have been set up in the Alentajo region, since the land was flooded by a huge system of dams. This was partly financed by Chinese and Russian money and means that a lot of cheap,modern, good quality wine is produced to supply their growing markets.

Then came the anti-corruption curbs in China and the embargo from Russia. There is much more wine around than the Portuguese can drink.... They try and we do our bit to help them. The 2013 wines will soon be released , France and Spain can't,or won't help out.

The outcome is that we are buying quality wines, that are best drunk young, at less than half price at Lidl.

I beg and beseech you all to come down and help us out.
 
Thanks all for the replies and taking the time out to tell me more about routes, locations etc in France.
After spending days and days on line and reading peoples advice I kinda got an idea of what I ,or should I say we, would like to do.
As I have a feeling I going to catch the ' French bug' we have decided to do the coastal route in the late spring next year...we are both going to try and allocate more holiday time for that trip if we can
as we really want to see a lot of Normandy and spend a lot of time in Brittany.

This time I think we may do what Mark has suggested and do one long hit down to Limousin and venture to 'Castallane' which has caught my eye ....not sure yet which way heading back yet or other places to see, but hubbys european maps are coming home at the weekend to plan a more of a loose route...but at least I can now see a destination. Although I dont like or try not to plan too much if I can help it ...I just needed somewhere to head to ...maybe once I have been a few times I will realise that its actually best just to 'wander' as a lot of you seem to enjoy about France.

I take it the number one top tip is to 'avoid Paris' though ??:scared:

Thanks for all your photos its much appreciated.
 
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We are heading to Limousin during the last week in July, but we are going to visit Oradour sur Glane, but I doubt that's your cup of tea. The whole village has been left as a war memorial, so not exactly a fun place to be. We will be travelling during the school holidays, which is very stupid, but the reason for being over there is Number 2 Son is getting married and the date was nothing to do with us. We always catch an early evening ferry from Dover and then get a good nights sleep at Cite Europe (very controversial on here) so that we can be up early the next day and 'crack on'.
You probably will catch 'the bug' but it's a good thing to have, which is why I suggested that you make time to smell the roses. I'm sure that however familiar Paul is with France, he will welcome the opportunity to relax and enjoy instead of chasing deadlines.
Bon chance et bon voyage!
BW Rog.
 
Herbenny said:
Thanks all for the replies and taking the time out to tell me more about routes, locations etc in France.
After spending days and days on line and reading peoples advice I kinda got an idea of what I ,or should I say we, would like to do.
As I have a feeling I going to catch the ' French bug' we have decided to do the coastal route in the late spring next year...we are both going to try and allocate more holiday time for that trip if we can
as we really want to see a lot of Normandy and spend a lot of time in Brittany.

This time I think we may do what Mark has suggested and do one long hit down to Limousin and venture to 'Castallane' which has caught my eye ....not sure yet which way heading back yet or other places to see, but hubbys european maps are coming home at the weekend to plan a more of a loose route...but at least I can now see a destination. Although I dont like or try not to plan too much if I can help it ...I just needed somewhere to head to ...maybe once I have been a few times I will realise that its actually best just to 'wander' as a lot of you seem to enjoy about France.

I take it the number one top tip is to 'avoid Paris' though ??:scared:

Thanks for all your photos its much appreciated.
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Castellane is in Provence which is way down south east between the Verdon Gorges and Lac St Croix unless there is another one I dont know about in Limousin. Or did you mean a long quick drive down to Castellane area? If you are heading to that area of Provence its fantastic. Verdon Gorges and Lac St Croix are superb but its a long way. Apologies if I have this wrong.

As for planning ahead. I am firmly in the camp that plans a lot! I spend weeks sussing out places to visit and nice Aires or wild spots to stay on nearby. All part of the fun. Not sure I would ever want to just head off and see where I end up but thats just me.
 
barryd said:
Castellane is in Provence which is way down south east between the Verdon Gorges and Lac St Croix unless there is another one I dont know about in Limousin. Or did you mean a long quick drive down to Castellane area? If you are heading to that area of Provence its fantastic. Verdon Gorges and Lac St Croix are superb but its a long way. Apologies if I have this wrong.

As for planning ahead. I am firmly in the camp that plans a lot! I spend weeks sussing out places to visit and nice Aires or wild spots to stay on nearby. All part of the fun. Not sure I would ever want to just head off and see where I end up but thats just me.
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No its probably me thats got it wrong :lol-053:....but without having maps in front of me its kind of guesswork for me at the moment and I dont think I really have a clue on the size of France, but the more I am looking into it the more I am starting to learn :scared:

Maybe I need to hit the drawing board again .....or just put some nearer locations in a hat :lol-053:
 
mark61 said:
Provence is gorgeous, but it is a long way, especially if you are meandering around on the route down.

This site is good for routes minimising toll roads.

Driving in France - Tips and latest information
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Mark I stupidly thought Limousin was down the road from Castallane ......
Oh good grief I should of paid more attentintion in my geography lessons....:idea-007:

I can now see its a good 8/9 hours away ........errrrrrr I think I needs to think again
 
Herbenny said:
Mark I stupidly thought Limousin was down the road from Castallane ......
Oh good grief I should of paid more attentintion in my geography lessons....:idea-007:

I can now see its a good 8/9 hours away ........errrrrrr I think I needs to think again
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Well, Castellane is down the road, it's just a fairly long road. ;)

Don't forget 8/9 hours on a route planner is probably more like 12 hours in reality, well thats if you like stopping for a brew like I do. lol

I take it you meant this Castellane?

http://goo.gl/maps/YoKMn
 
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