2026
Our Calais stopover included lighthouse views, WWII fortifications, a painted stone moment, a spitting mechanical dragon in the harbour, and a wander through the town shops. A surprising and entertaining break in a place most people only pass through.
2026
Our Hautot‑sur‑Mer stopover delivered a lakeside pitch with goats and sheep, a beach just a short walk away, and chalk cliffs reminiscent of Dover. A calm, scenic Normandy break with plenty of campervan charm.
2026
Our Alençon stopover mixed medieval streets, a château with WWII SS history, an elderly guide showing us 10th‑century library treasures, and a peaceful park stroll. A surprising blend of lace heritage, wartime drama, and campervan wandering.
2026
Our Angers stopover mixed a scenic cycle ride, medieval streets, cathedral exploring, fortress walls, and the surprising story of Edward III’s involvement in reshaping the city’s defences. A historic, humorous highlight of our France 2026 journey.
2026
Our Pornic stopover delivered nature reserve calm, an estuary boardwalk, medieval charm around the château, harbour views, and the surprise discovery of a lone British red phone box. A scenic, quirky, and memorable coastal wander.
2026
Our La Plaine‑sur‑Mer stopover brought friends, missed‑birthday celebrations, drinks, laughter, a visit to the town’s quirky sea serpent, and dinner on the beach. A lively, memorable Jade Coast meet‑up on our France 2026 campervan journey.
2026
Our Les Sables d’Olonne stopover mixed rugged Atlantic coastline, a long sandy beach, harbour boat‑watching, woodland walks near the airfield, and a relaxing afternoon in a coast‑side bar. A perfect blend of scenery, cycling, and seaside atmosphere.
2026
Our La Rochelle stopover mixed Aytré’s peaceful beach with a scenic cycle into the old town, medieval towers, cathedral visits, port‑side lunch at Le Café du Nord, and a celebratory beer on the ride back. A perfect blend of history, coast, and campervan wandering.
2026
Our campervan stopover in Royan brought ferry crossings, a closed market surprise, beachfront people‑watching, decorative old houses, and a dramatic concrete cathedral. A quirky, charming seaside town full of character and unexpected moments.
to stay in the loop
Our campervan stopover in Hourtin delivered lakeside calm, easy cycling into town, quiet streets, and a café serving fresh waffles that became the highlight of the day. A peaceful pause on our France 2026 journey — with excellent snacks?
We escaped to Biscarrosse and hid in an air‑conditioned cabin to survive a 40‑degree heatwave. With the pool too hot to use, we explored the lake at sunset, listened to campsite karaoke, and even watched a gardener accidentally knock out a cabin window.
Our stop in Urt was meant to be a relaxing poolside break near Bayonne — until a 36‑degree heatwave turned the campervan into a metal oven, cut our bike ride short, and left us living in the swimming pool while plotting an escape to an air‑conditioned cabin.
Our dash across France took us through the quiet medieval village of Rieux‑Volvestre and the historic town of Morlaàs — with one unexpected highlight: getting trapped in a shower block and escaping with a heroic 70s cop‑movie door kick.
Our Carcassonne stopover took us from a riverside walk into the medieval walled city — a maze of ancient towers, restaurants and tourist tat — before wandering into the newer part of town for a glimpse of real local life.
Our Agde stopover had everything: beachfront camping with our own private facilities, a lively bank‑holiday atmosphere, a walk to the harbour, memorial and lighthouse, a surprise black‑sand beach, and a pétanque tournament with a dozen courts in action.
Our Arles stopover had everything: Roman ruins, Van Gogh’s colourful courtyard, tacos and a strawberry milkshake worth writing home about, and Dutch neighbours at the campsite who painted the sights better than our cameras ever could.
Our two‑day hop across France had everything: fast toll‑road miles, a down‑day in La Voulte‑sur‑Rhône interrupted by a dramatic warning siren, a sunny wander around Aramon with a beer at Pub 16, and the unexpected discovery of a French‑style bull ring.
Our Annecy adventure had everything: a nerve‑jangling mountain pass, a sat‑nav that sent us down a dead‑end beside a cycle track, peloton cyclists overtaking us at warp speed, medieval canals, lakeside cycling, and a surprisingly fascinating visit to the Paccard Bell Museum.
Our stop in Dijon delivered lakeside calm, grand architecture, botanical gardens, and a dinner with a twist, with a chaotic cycling tour of three campervan dealerships in search of a water dump valve that apparently doesn’t exist in France.
A peaceful stop in Chouilly turned into a Champagne‑region adventure featuring vineyards, wetlands, beautiful gardens — and a three‑hour battle to free a stuck Thetford toilet cassette using a long‑handled screwdriver and sheer determination.
Our stop in Arras delivered everything: a peaceful riverside Aire, jaw‑dropping Flemish squares, beer with the locals, and a crash course in the city’s surprisingly dramatic history.
