Hit me with some ideas please

[Jo001]

We normally get away for a good few weeks at a time but other commitments got in the way this spring. But we've managed to sneak in a three week break to Europe - that length of trip would have seemed like a dream come true when we worked full time, so we thought, why not.

The last week, however, will likely have to be mainly in one place because it's Easter and I reckon everywhere will be rammed, so if we get something on the Thursday we'll be staying put. We are aiming for that to be Honfleur, because the aire is big, we have a chance of getting electric, there's enough to amuse us for five nights and we can see the vet before we leave for the dog's worming and passport.

So two weeks to meander from Amsterdam (where we arrive) to Honfleur.

We are happy to take a circuitous route rather than direct. Possibly to the Ardennes region, but we've never really spent much time there. Any recommendations? Must‐see attractions? We prefer villages and outdoors to cities and museums.

Any suggestions will be gratefully welcomed.

 

[jacquigem]

We enjoyed Montherme , quietist place on the river Meuse and a nice town with everything you need. There is an aire in town and a cheap campsite on the edge. Both good.

 

[TJBi]

5 nights in one place because of Easter sounds like an over-reaction, particularly if you like villages and outdoors. I would have suggested the WildCamping Location App to find overnighting spots, but it looks as though the database may be suffering from corruption, with at least one CR not being a rural car park but an AC in an urban area and an OR not being Other Rural but a car park in the city of Reims! You might try https://www.campingcar-infos.com/view.php at least as a cross-check.

 

[Jo001]

We've been abroad before at a religious festival time - it was actually Ascension - but we didn't know. We arrived at one of the Aires in Dieppe at around 10.30. (because we'd been nearby) and it was full. We moved on to le Tréport, both aires full. We thought le Crotoy might be okay because it's big, but no. People were parked on grass verges at the roadside, it was crazy. So we want to be settled if we can. We will use the app but we'd quite like to have a base for a few days if we need it.

 

[TJBi]

We've been abroad before at a religious festival time - it was actually Ascension - but we didn't know. We arrived at one of the Aires in Dieppe at around 10.30. (because we'd been nearby) and it was full. We moved on to le Tréport, both aires full. We thought le Crotoy might be okay because it's big, but no. People were parked on grass verges at the roadside, it was crazy. So we want to be settled if we can. We will use the app but we'd quite like to have a base for a few days if we need it.

So have I, and never had a problem, but then I'm generally looking at small village aires, not big aires in towns/cities. But if you're happier settling into a large aire for several days, that's certainly an option.

 

[jacquigem]

Whilst I think on Bergues , just inland from Dunkirk. Just a car park , no facilities, but a lovely old walled town. Facilities a short drive inland at Ekelsbeke , which in itself is a nice small town to stop off at.

 

[barryd]

Or you could get a wiggle on and either get south of the Loire for a chance of some half decent weather or go south East to Jura or even the Alps. Good cheese country Jura and lovely scenery.

 

[Moonraker 2]

In north east France near the Belgium border you have two national parks. Should be good there.
I once followed the Somme river to the bay of the somme, bit like morecambe.
Between Rouen and honfleur you have another national park along the Seine river. A lovely area. I know it wasn't Easter but I have never found any problems in small village Aires or car parks. Normally you can't go wrong by a river or canal as there are usually footpaths to walk or cycle.
I am thinking the coastal Aires will be busy.

 

[jagmanx]

We have driven from Calais to and from the Vosges/Jura many times
Many nice routes with minimal traffic! And nice Aires. Goncourt near the source of the Meuse a favourite.

 

[britcoms]

Honfleur is lovely, but the Aire is an enormous dusty place and likely to be rammed over Easter with hundreds, yes hundreds, of motorhomes. As Moonraker 2 writes the banks of the Seine inland are marvellous and much quieter. While you will have to pay a toll to cross the Pont de Normandie to visit Honfleur, a few miles upstream is the toll-free Pont de Brotonne and in that area there are a number of Aires, some free, either directly on the banks of the river or in the forests and farmland of the national park of Boucles de la Seine Normandie.

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[1807truckman]

La Roche-en-Atrdenne has good places to eat and a Medievel Chateau with birds of prey, there's a good camp site just outside town Camping Le Vieux Moulin wich is easy walking distance into town, plenty of walks from town.