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Thinking of driving to France for next year's Summer holiday.
We like the beach and we like activites, surfing, body boarding, SUP, kayaking etc. Teenage kids (16 and 13) so beach and places to eat nearby is also good but will have the car so can drive around. Would also consider visiting some of the war memorials and sites if practical.
Think we'll Air b&b accommodation etc and are thinking north west France.
Anyone recommend anywhere or have experiences they can share?
Cheers.
we are doing the same next summer, with our clan.
3 x kids and 4 x grandkids.
we have booked a gite just outside Carnac.
beaches are fantastic in the area, from quiet still coves to a great surfing beach on the Atlantic side of the Quiberon peninsula.
we are going via St Malo. but have driven via the Normandy beaches in the past.
We stayed in a glamping place over near Douarnenez. Has all the waves (huge on the peninsula) and calm bays for sups etc. Along with lovely cycling.
Edit. Did Bayeux on the way there for war stuff.
I like Les Landes. The coast roughly west of Bordeaux.
120 km beach with great surfing
Just inland are a few huge fresh water lakes with warm water. Great for swimming, sailing and SUP
Massive wood, across the whole area, with good cycling infrastructure
Good climate, warm days not crazy hot nights
Down sides
Not much history or culture. Further to drive than Brittany etc.
Southern edge of Brittany northern Loire Atlantic.
There’s lots of cycle paths. Wooded areas. Historic towns. Beaches.
Generally French rather then international tourists.
I’m currently on hols in France. For surfing and body boarding you’ll need the beach. But for the other things you can get that inland. France has beaches on lakes and reservoirs which are excellent. Clean, quiet and easy to access. We’re currently not far from Limoges, heading up to near Nantes for a week. Paddle boarding, cycling and walking, although can’t do too much because it’s been 35 degrees for the last few days. Been in the swimming pool every day though
Have a look at Gites-de-france.
Would beaches on rivers work?
The Massif Central / Auvergne region holiday we did was the best family holiday we did in 20 years.
We canoe and so vaguely warm rivers in 25*c every day was lush. Lots of beaches and places local folk were sunbathing and swimming the day away. You can hire canoes.
There were also some great lakes, all seemed to have a sandy beach....
Great for cycling and walking, some lovely little towns and historic places.
Far more French there than foreign tourists.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/matt_outandabout/R8655ok964
La rochelle / ille de rey
The morbihan area in south west Brittany is nice. Arzon/ Sarzeau. There’s a few similar threads on this topic on the go. Check those out as well.
we also like the northern western coast of Brittany if the weathers good. It’s proper wild with some amazing beaches and campsites with views of amazing sunsets , lighthouses and direct access to the most beautiful beaches.
Beaches on rivers would suggest Roque Gageac on Dordogne. Plus more food, drink and history culture than you can shake a stick at on a stick shaking holiday. Also quieter than places like Sarlat or Les Eyzies that are close by.
Not I’ll de Re. Took a day trip from where we were staying this year. Plus sides, cycling infrastructure great, never seen so many people on bikes. Downsides… it was absolutely heaving, so, so many people, everywhere! Couldn’t find anywhere quiet. Also seemed to be infected with that peculiar braying toff types too, hoo-har-Henrying it all over the place. The general area is great though. We stopped on the L'Aiguillon-la-Presqu'ile peninsula which was lovely, and had great access to beaches, bike rides etc.
Messanges or Hourtin. Stop at the abbey in Saintes on the way down, cross the Gironde on the ferry the next morning, Easy driving from St Malo even avoiding motorways. Visit a few estates (Poujeaux is my favourite) in Medoc and Puillac. Surf beach breaks from Pin Sec all the way down to the Spanish border. Cycle on the paths through the forest. Supermarkets dotted about if you want to avoid restaurants.
we cycled from the spanish border up to st malo. never more than a mile or 2 from the coast the whole way.
simply fantastic cycling through forests, tiny villages and lovely little towns. the beaches below bordeaux are massive and empty.
Bookmarking this one with interest.
We're looking for ideas for next summer.
Ideally, I'd like somewhere with nice dog walks and some good gravel riding where I can slip off for a couple of hours. Swimming would be a bonus. Something similar to Germany's Black Forest would be ideal.
No 'favourite' feature any more, so replying to bookmark.
@Ton sorry for the thread hijack but was that La Veloyssee? Interested in doing it myself and wondered about accommodation? Did you camp or plan ahead?
Thanks all this is great advice, just need some pictures now........
Been driving to France yearly for the last 7 years, been all over the world but have a massive passion for France so some reason and especially the clean rivers and lakes for swimming. The weather has been a bit hit and miss this summer so I would probably do a couple of days at the memorials etc and then head south west if you want beaches not too much of a drive , anywhere from La Rochelle down would be good, it is the Atlantic though so is great for body boarding etc. There are many inland lakes and rivers for paddle boarding where ever you go. IF you want to venture further then I can highly recommend the below areas although all inland you are never far away from water.
Drome /Isere : Pont en Royans and all around . rugged mountains and cold water
Haute-alpes : We stayed in Rosans but anywhere from Sisteron on up to Gap, very warm - stunning scenery.
Cevennes /Tarn gorges : Like the ardeche but quieter , amazing all round
Lodeve /Herault : Very hot but beautiful, coast not far. amazing lakes and rivers for every need. Lac salagou - Pont du Diable - Cirque du Navacelles etc via ferratta's.
I will say that the cost of food will be an eye opener though it has increased quite a bit over the last few years and is much dearer than UK, just drink more wine 😁, Kent way you can choose the ferry or tunnel, prices for tunnel have increased a bit but I like the ease of it even if it is more driving .
Apologies for the ramble, I do have lots of photos of all but not sure I can share will see.