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Hi
I know this has been done before but I remember some good suggestions.
Looking at a holiday in France the first 2 weeks of August.
Driving down.
May be a stop half way?
Destination? Open to suggestions.
Mainly a riding holiday.
Accommodation needs to be good to keep the Mrs happy.
Also my 2 boys 11 and 9 both good riders.
If anyone knows of accommodation and has done this holiday please pass comments. All info will be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
The Ardeche? My parents live down there and it's a beautiful part of the country. Lots of activities like cycling, canoeing and rock climbing. 10 hours from Calais. They rent the top part of their house out as a gite in the summer ( http://www.cheznous.com/235928/la-crotte-ardeche.aspx) and I'm a bit gutted because it used to be my default summer holiday destination when they were still doing it up!
Many thanks I will take a look.
Anymore??
Ardeche will be roasting (if you head for the rivers in the south)
Somewhere around Gap/Embrun/Briançon should be good for a range of riding, prettiness, towns and castles and a bit cooler. It'll be busy though.
Or the Jura - could be wetter but it's a bit quieter, and closer to Calais
Good point about the heat in August - it's a bit toasty.
Although my first ever experience of mountain biking was from my parents' house with a borrowed MTB in August. We set out exploring in the woods behind the house at 7am, had breakfast at 11am by a river, then continued riding for so long that the bread shop had closed by the time I got back to the village (1pm) and my parents had almost sent a search party out for us. It was warm, but they are right on the edge of the Cevennes so it's a bit cooler under the shade of the trees.
They aren't near any formal MTB trails in the Cevennes unfortunately, it's a bit more "exploring" the local terrain and seeing what you find.
Just go to Morzine. Fantastic riding. Lots of other stuff to do (walking, ice skating, swimming, climbing, paragliding, etc). Some great quality chalets. Easy drive down.
Dordogne ......rolling hills, interesting towns Sarlet and Lascaux..
Vosages....especially Kayersburg ride through vineyards and down from the mountains on some great paths
Jura....pretty splendid
Morzine has been mentioned.
Any chalet recommendations?
I wouldn't recommend Morzine for family MTB holiday, too many big boys on big bikes hooning down the trails (guilty)
I've taken kids on mtbs to Verbier, Les Arcs, La Clusaz, Val D'Allos (this year Les Arcs & Pra Loup)
La Clusaz is good: quiet trails, good lifts & child friendly
Les Arcs have great lift system, nice blue & green trails & fire roads that you can enjoy riding from mountain top to valley. Kids rode here at 7 & 9 yrs old
We camp but there are cheap chalets & log cabins (esp at Les Arcs)
I always thought the log cabins at Campings La Cascade right at the foot of Alpe D'Huez looked like a good place to stay with the family. Pool too.
Thanks chaps
Tignes is one of the best places for family holidays in the Alps, there is plenty of activities and a lot are Free including the lifts for the bike park and hiking.
http://www.tignes.net/en/summer-sports-7.html
Everyone has the favourites, but I have been going to les Deux Alpes for a number of summers and winters for 8 years. Got 2 girls now 16 and 18 and they still wont go anywhere else.
skiing, biking, ice skating, pool, lake Go ape and lots of walks. briancon and its fortification only 30 miles away. bourg down the mountain for shopping and chiling. all family have rode there at some point.
Opening up a few more Enduro trails to what they had when i first started going 7 summers ago, will be there 1st 2 months of August.
skied Tignes/Val a few times and stayed in Chatel/Morzine for the first week a couple of years ago, kids couldn't wait to get to LDA for the second week as there is alot more happening in the town, restaurants and pubs are often looking after Skiers coming of Glacier at noon and the bikers come down for lunch.
My day normally consists of leaving family at pool or beech, go of riding then come down to meet up for lunch then go of again. Ride every ither day then do some walking and adventuring the other.
Hi
extremnik, where do you stay? do you take the bikes on the car or hire?
any links?
thanks
Another vote for la Clusaz / Lake Annecy. East to drive down in a day assuming you get off the tunnel/ferry sometime before noon. Lots of different activities including the lake to play on. Road and MTB riding. Good mountain restaurants. Close to places like Samoens/Morzine/Les Gets and indeed Chamonix for a day trip if you wish.
http://www.2alpes-bikepark.com Is the biking website, will give you the riding maps.
Always take bikes, getting out the Tunnel at 8.30 sat morning can get you in resort at 5pm with strict toilet breaks. Bike hire is about 45 euros a day.
Holiday letting and owners direct is best for accomadation. Also Sas or Strong Apartment services, Tory Strong is key holder for most english owned letting in resort anyway and is very friendly.
Any more questions just ask.