Camping de Guignicourt
14 Rue des Godins
F02190 Guignicourt
Picardy Region
France

Tel: 03 23 79 74 58

E-mail: camping-guignicourt@wanadoo.fr
Web site: www.guignicourt.fr/..

Date of visit, 22nd June 2006
Price €11.5 inclusive of electric and tax.

I used this site solely as an overnight stop en route to Calais.

Guignicourt is about 155 miles from Calais so could be used for a stopover in either direction It is listed in Alan Rogers but did not live up to the description in his guide. However as an overnight stop it is perfectly adequate.

The small town of Guignicaourt is just off the A26, leave at junc 14 and travel 2 mile East. The site, easy to find, is signed as you enter the village with the final right turn next to the Peugeot garage. Then look to the right at T junction for entrance.

The site itself is alongside a small river and is totally flat. There are about 60 pitches and it was only about quarter full so booking may not be necessary.
The pitches aren’t marked out apart from a deeper cut perimeter to the grass. There is an elevated area at one side of the site which is used for tents, again it’s flat.
We were pitched by the warden who helped us unhitch and hook up. 6 amp EHU but reversed polarity. Unfortunately no English was spoken so the water and toilets were pointed out in sign language.

The toilets/showers are clean and adequate with plenty of hot water. There is a mix of English/Turkish loos. At the side of this building are washing up sinks. Unfortunately these had seen better days and a lot were cracked and stained but ok if you use your own bowl.

All in all a good stopover which I would use again.

Harry Burrows, Clic. July 2006

Camping de la Val d’Authie--- Second report below
20, Route de Vercourt
F80120 Villers-sur-Authie
Somme
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 00 33 (0)3 22 29 92 47
Fax: 00 33 (0)3 22 29 92 20

E-mail: camping@valdauthie.fr
Web site: www.valdauthie.fr/gb.html

Val D’Authie is in northern Somme (80) about 10 miles inland, just off the A16, about 45 minutes south of Calais.

This is just back from the coast in the Berck/St Valery area just north of Abbeville. We visited this on a pick from the book basis, and just got in.

However, it’s a very nice campsite. It’s not that big for campers - there’s a fair few mobiles - but what it has is good. There is a small pool with a jacuzzi feature, a play area with a bouncy castle (unusual) and at the top of the site a sports area with tennis courts, football/basketball pitch, rollerblade track etc. I wasn’t sure whether this was part of the site or a village feature.

The site is very clean, and the people who run it are very friendly. I recommend this one and will be returning - it was only spoilt by a torrential downpour on our last night (seems to be a problem for us, happened last year as well !). Probably a good idea to book though.

Paul Robson. CLIC. August 2003

Camping le Val d’Authie
20, Route de Vercourt
F80120 Villers sur Authie
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 00 33 (0)3 22 29 92 47
Fax: 00 33 (0)3 22 29 92 20

E-mail: camping@valdauthie.fr
Web site: www.valdaithie.fr

To Find site:
Beware of sat nav directions without comparing to a map as you are likely to be taken along some narrow roads! Probably best to leave the A16 at junction 24 towards Rue on the D32. On the outskirts of Rue at roundabout take D85 to signed to Val d'Authie and follow signs to campsite in the village.

Val d’Authie has about 230 pitches but only 60 are given over to touring units, the rest being statics although in fairness nicely arranged and screened. The touring pitches are of a good size and many are bordered by hedges. Apparently there are also a few serviced pitches which are also of larger size.
Water points are dotted around the site but if you want to empty grey water you need to take it either to the motorhome service point or the chemical disposal point.
Electrics are 6amp and have Continental 2 pin connections.

The site is well geared up for children with a good playground area and a covered swimming pool. There is also a large room where activities are organised in the main season.
There are several toilet blocks of varying ages with seated loos and toilet paper. Next to the swimming pool is a small bar/restaurant. Near to Reception there is an internet point and a small shop selling basics and bread. In the low season the campsite accepts Camping Cheques. Given the limited number of touring pitches it might be worth ringing ahead to see if they have room, particularly before the end of August.

We used this site as an overnight stop but would certainly be worth a longer stay. The coast is within easy reach as is Amiens.

David Klyne. CLIC. September 2010
For images of this site, and other reports, go to Caravantravels

Camping de la Val de Trie--- Second report below
Bouillancourt sous Miannay
F80870 Moyenneville
Nr. Abbeville
Somme Basin
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 00 33 (0) 3 22 31 48-88
Fax: 00 33 (0) 3 22 31 35 33

E-mail: raphael@camping-levaldetrie.fr
Web site: www.camping-levaldetrie.fr/

Val de Trie is nr Abbeville at the mouth of the Somme (in Somme,80), it’s about 1 hour south of Calais.

This site is handily placed near Abbeville, a few miles from the A16/A28 junction, making it handy for both Normandy and the Loire and further south. It’s about an hour from Calais.

Since we last visited it seems to have grown somewhat, and not necessarily for the better. It has doubled in size but the facilities don’t really seem to have kept up - even though there is an additional shower block and smaller pool. It has a feel of cramming a quart into a pint pot, to coin a phrase.

On the plus side, it is quiet and the owners are pleasant. The site is kept clean, both the pitches and the facilities, though some of the facilities near the entrance were a bit "slung together" - probably a legacy of rapid growth.

Paul Robson. CLIC. August 2003

Camping la Val de Trie--- Third report below
F80870 Moyenneville
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 00 33 (0)3 22 31 48 88
Fax: 00 33 (0)3 22 31 35 33

E-mail: raphael@camping-levaldetrie.fr
Web site: www.camping-levaldetrie.fr

A view of the site click here

To find site:
Leave A28 at junction 2 and take D925 signed for CambronEuLe Treport. At Miannay turn left onto D86 and follow campsite signs to site.

This campsite is situated in a valley surrounded by tall mature trees and the site is also well wooded.

There are 85 touring pitches, some with their own water supply. The pitches are mainly, on compacted soil, there was very little evidence of grass on some pitches during our visit. An attempt has been made to apply gravel to part on some pitches but we found most of the pitches really muddy. Because of the tree cover it is difficult for the sun to penetrate to dry the ground. There had obviously been a lot of rain in the weeks before our visit and more whilst we were there! It is difficult to know what the site management could do other than apply more gravel to the pitches. Although of reasonable size they tend to be oblong in shape so the car has to be parked across the front of the pitch if you want to use an awning.

There are two toilet blocks which are modern and clean. They contain all English style toilets with no seats but there is toilet paper in each cubicle. Chemical disposal is available at the block at the far end of the site, so a long walk for those near to the reception.
At the site entrance is a building housing reception, shop, bar and take away. Alongside this is a very nice open air pool area.

One nice touch is that bread is delivered to your outfit every morning and you pay when you leave.

A short walk from the site there are facilities for course fishing.
The campsite also has about 20 mobile homes for rent.

Camping Cheques are accepted in the low season.

This campsite seems to be something of a black hole as far as mobile reception is concerned, we were not able to get a signal on any of the French networks, however the site does have a payphone for urgent communication.

This campsite is a convenient stopover between Calais (approx 80 miles) and the West of France. Abbeville is not far away for shopping. The Somme Bay and the coast has many attractions and ’Madam’ at reception is happy to point these out.

Date of visit late August 2006.

David Klyne. CLIC. September 2006
For images of this site, and other reports, go to Caravantravels

Camping de la Val de Trie--- Fourth report below
Bouillancourt sous Miannay
F80870 Moyenneville
Nr. Abbeville
Somme Basin
Picardie Region
France

E-mail: raphael@camping-levaldetrie.fr
Web site: www.camping-levaldetrie.fr/

Two friends, my wife and myself were there earlier this year for a week. Whilst it was a little quieter, the ambience of the site was terrific. The owners are extremely friendly and helpful. They do speak more English than we do French but we do like to try.

The food in the small restaurant is top notch and the chatting between the Dutch, English and French guests was happy, friendly and relaxed.

We had a seriouse problem with our car which needed to be in the garage for several days. As I am disabled but can walk a little; getting to the local town was a problem. That was solved quickly and easily by proprietess arranging a taxi; not just to drop our party off, but she also arranged a pick up time. The taxi was prompt and friendly as well as being reasonably priced.

The campsite itself was immaculately clean with lovely flower beds all over the place.
The pool was nice and reasonably warm, the rules for pool ware are stricyly adhered too. I think we were allowed to wear english (bermuda shorts) only as I was disabled, the site was quiete and they felt sorry for us.

We are going again, maybe in about ten days time and I heartilly recomend it to you.

Jim Meehan. Internet. September 2006

Camping La Valde Trie--- Fishing site
Bouillancourt sous Miannay
F80870 Moyenville
Picardie Region
France

We did this site Early May 2007 for two nights

The site is hidden in a valley full of trees, (no mobile phone signal at all) and is easily accessed by following your Sat Nav rather than the directions in the Camping cheques book !!

We found the site unkempt and in poor maintainance despite it having reviews and awards as being eco friendly we though it was simply dirty.
The roadways are quite narrow and I would not like to take a twin axle through there, our van was scrapping the hedges as it is was !

Site details:
Electric. depending on which socket you plug your lead into you can get normal wiring..live earth reverse/neutral /earth reverse so a tester is an absolute must.

The toilet blocks (one in low season, two open in high season) are cleaned twice a day
There are 2 childrens unsupervised play areas. They also advertise farm visits for kids too
There is an open-air pool-which was shut whilst we were there

All rubbish must be separated for recycling (as it now seems to be EVERYWHERE in France)

They have a bar and food, area also a TV lounge with UK/Dutch programs, a shop and games area
You can get bread delivered to your pitch at 8am every morning, if you like a bagette left on your car bonnet without any wrapping ! (unless it’s raining)

Graham Wilson. CLIC. May 2007
...For more fishing sites go to www.madcaravanner.co.uk/

Camping Caravaning de Sorel--- Second report below
24 Rue Saint Claude
F60490 Orvillers Sorel
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 03 44 85 02 74

E-mail: contact@aestiva.fr
Web site: www.aestiva.fr/....

To find site:
South from Roye on the D1017, after the village of Orvillers Sorel watch out for camping signs and turning off to left. Follow signs to campsite.

This is a nice small traditional French campsite. All pitches are on grass and of a good size. Some pitches are on open areas and others are individually hedged.
Electric points are rated at 10 amps and use CEE 17 connectors.
In the more open pitching areas a longer lead might be required. Water points are convenient placed around the campsite and some may allow individual hook ups. There are some permanently sited units onsite. The site facilities are situated around the reception area. The toilet block is of older design and contains both English and Turkish style toilets (in the gents). The toilets are seatless and paper provided. When the site is full they could be under pressure with someone telling me the water was not hot enough for washing up and showers. Therefore it might be best to be prepared to use your own facilities.

There is a Restaurant and takeaway, seemingly at the same prices! Bread can be ordered the day before. WiFi is available via the Passman system and at much lower prices than some campsites.

This site is well worth a stay of a few days or longer but is often used as a stop off site, particularly by the Dutch, so early arrival is recommended to be sure of a good choice of pitches. The site accepts Camping Cheques in the low season.

This site is about 130 miles from Calais so could suit those with a later crossing rather than finding a site nearer the Ports.
Roye, to the north of the site has a good sized supermarket. This area is within the Somme Battlefield area and the information hut has lots of info on places to visit connected with the 1st World War. The town of Compiegne is not far away for a visit.

Date of visit mid June 2009.

David Klyne. CLIC. July 2009
For images of this site, and other reports, go to Caravantravels

Camping Caravanning de Sorel
24 Rue Saint Claude
60490 Orvillers Sorel
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 03 44 85 02 74
Fax: 03 44 42 11 65

Email: contact@aestiva.fr
Website: www.aestiva.fr...

We had decided on this site as a convenient stopover on the way back to the ferry at Zeebrugges.
Camping Orvillers-Sorel is a rural site around 50 miles north of Paris and about 10 minutes off the A1 junction 11. The central area is open pitching and around the perimeter are hedged pitches with more privacy. Some log cabins are being built at the top of the site and some of the perimeter pitches seem to be long term seasonal.
Reception only opens in low season for a couple of hours in the morning and afternoon.
When we arrived, the open central part area was fully occupied with Dutch caravans. There was no difficulty getting a pitch, again with our camping cheques. There is no allocation, but a very relaxed - go anywhere you like.’

The site has good clean ablution facilities and a nice looking bar and restaurant, although we did not use them on this occasion. Bread can be ordered at reception.

The village itself consists of a beautiful chateau and very pretty houses, and a hairdresser. We could not find a shop although there are a couple of bars and tabacs back on the N17 a couple of miles away.

Overall we found Orvillers Sorel a clean well maintained site and a very convenient night halt. Possibly a bit rural for us for a longer stay as everywhere would involve a drive but others may revel in the peace and quiet. I suspect that the site is a weekend site for Parisians’ for exactly this reason.

Directions: Leave A1 at Junction 11 and take D938 west. At junction with D1017 turn right. Site is signed from Orvillers Sorel.

David Cuff. CLIC. August 2009

Camping du Port de Plaisance
Route de Paris
F80200 Peronne
Picardie Region
France

Tél: (33) 03 22 84 19 31
Fax: (33) 03 22 73 36 37

Email: contact@camping-plaisance.com
Web: www.camping-plaisance.com/

Site visited September 2006

Only 100 miles short of the Eurotunnel, Peronne is in the heart of the Somme battlefields.

It is quite a large town with good shopping and restaurants, and bordered by two lakes.
There are some interesting walks, and a museum of the Great War.

The site is on the outskirts of the town, along the banks of a canal.
It is a level site with large grass pitches and excellent toilet block. The pool area though small is nicely laid out, and there is a small shop and bar.

The gates are locked at night and cars have to be left outside the perimeter if you’re not back by 10pm, and the gates are not unlocked till 8am.

James Russle. Dunc n Dots caravan travels. March 2007

Camping Parc des Cygne--- Second report below
111 rue de Montieres
F80080
Amiens
Picardie Region

Tel: 00 33 3 22 43 29 28
Fax: 00 33 3 22 43 59 42

E-mail: camping.amiens@wanadoo.fr
Web site: www.parcdescygnes.com/gb

Lat: N49 92 100 Long: E 2 25 783 (according to Tom Tom)

We arrived at reception and were greeted by the manager, very friendly and with better English than my French!
He provided a map of Amiens and marked the bus stops, and the local Intermarche where the cheapest diesel in the area was sold. As we were here on a C&CC Rally, having explained where the three facilities bocks (another angle) were and collected my CCI in exchange for a security ’fob’ to operate the barrier, and the gate after 10pm, he then directed me to the Rally Steward for a pitch. The club had been allocated a block of pitches, and as a late arrival I had a choice of two. The one that we selected backed onto a park, with a sturdy but unobtrusive fence.

Some other photos of the park
More pitches & mini cabins --- Crazy golf --- Jean showing the low taps --- Mole protected cables ;o)

The site has a spine road with clusters of pitches around tarmac areas off each side.
Reception also incorporates a bar, takeaway (open occasionally), shop (poor) and a TV room.
At the back there are the usual facilites, with a second block midway down the site, and the third at the end of the site.

Non-rally campers/caravanner’s select their own pitches from those which are vacant, and the ones at the end of the site do not have electricity.
The exit gate closes about 6pm, and if you want to go out after that you use the entrance gate. About 10:30pm this also closes, and the only way to get in, by car or on foot, is by use of the "fob" on a detector outside.

Adjacent to the site is a park which has a lake, and fishing is available.

We found the site quiet, and with a bus into the city from the stop opposite the site (fare 1.20 euros) we had no need to use the car, apart from a 2.5 mile round trip for diesel, for the 2 days that we were here.

Mobile signal good (Vodafone and Orange)

Visited 12th - 16th June 2008

John & Jean Hasletine. CLIC. June 2008

Camping Parc des Cygne--- Third report below
111 rue de Montieres
F80080
Amiens
Picardie Region

Tel: 00 33 3 22 43 29 28
Fax: 00 33 3 22 43 59 42

E-mail: camping.amiens@wanadoo.fr
Web site: www.parcdescygnes.com/gb

We stayed at this site on 27th June and 10th July 2009, using it as a stop-over on our way to the Correze area.

The site is easy to find and has the advantage of being only a few minutes away from the Auto route, important as en route you don’t want time consuming detours. Please note that the site is in a road that seems to have three different names - Rue de Montieres, Chemin de Montieres or Avenue Georges Quarante. The last one is listed on Tom Tom. There are good signs for a campsite as soon as you get off the Autoroute so there is no problem. The address quoted in their website pages may be the company’s office but you won’t find the campsite there!

On both these days we had made prior reservations by email from England but in my opinion this was a waste of 12.50 Euros. We arrived mid afternoon and there was plenty of space and we were told to choose our own pitch. There was plenty of space for later arrivals. This may be a reflection of reduced holiday activity in the ’Crise Financial’ or the fact we were not quite in the full season. Unless there is a major festival in Amiens, anyone travelling outside of August should be able to get in without paying a booking fee.

The facilities are clean and modern albeit with a ’Municipal’ feel about them. This is not surprising as the site is in fact owned by the local authority but the operation is contracted out to a private company. Electricity, Water facilities all good, even hot water to rinse the loo cassette. The site is spacious and level so there are no manoeuvring problems.

Isabelle, who greeted us was helpful, charming and spoke good English but politely allowed us to use our awful French without cringing.

Recommended as a good stop over and could be good for a couple of days stay to explore the area.

Ian Heath. Internet. July 2009

Camping Parc des Cygne
111 rue de Montieres
F80080
Amiens
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 00 33 3 22 43 29 28
Fax: 00 33 3 22 43 59 42

E-mail: camping.amiens@wanadoo.fr
Web site: www.parcdescygnes.com/gb

To find site:
Exit A16 at junction 20 onto N1 Rocade towards Amiens and immediately exit at junction 40 and follow signs for Amiens Longpre and then follow signs to campsite.

Camping Parc des Cygnes is a relatively new Municipal campsite on the outskirts of Amiens and is part of a larger leisure complex in a semi urban surroundings.
There are 145 pitches, most of which are for touring units, there are also a few mobile homes. Pitches are set out in groups of about a dozen with quite large hardstanding areas that the pitches face onto. As all pitches are on grass it is feasible to make use of these hard standing areas at the end of the season, when the site is quieter, for parking units on. In fact the campsite ask customers with motorhomes to park one set of wheels on the hardstandings in wet weather.
Pitch size varies but they are mainly quite reasonable. At the furthest end of the site, beyond the final toilet block, the pitches don’t have electric points. Electric points according to the ACSI book are rated at 16 amps but the fuses on the bollards are only rated at 10 amps. Connectors are CEE17. There are water points at the entrance to each pitching areas.

The site has three toilet blocks, one in the reception building and two further stand alone units. They are of modern design and have seated toilets with paper provided.
Reception has a mass of tourist information available and they also sell tickets for the bus into Amiens. Bread can be ordered on a daily basis. Also within the reception building is a Bar that sells snacks, a small shop and TV room. There is an internet terminal for use by campers but this was unfortunately broken during our stay. Speaking to the site manager he is hoping to have a more robust WiFi system in place for next year.

There is limited play equipment for younger children including crazy golf. Older children could make use of the sports/recreation area across the road from the campsite. Parc des Cygnes is open until mid October and again for a month immediately before Christmas to allow visits to the Amiens Christmas Market. During the low season the ACSI Card is accepted.

As well as being a useful late season stop over campsite Parc des Cygnes is also a good base to visit the Somme battlefields. The Edwin Lutyens designed Thiepval Somme Memorial is about 25 miles from the site and is free to visit. Amiens is easy to visit from the site by public transport with bus stops right outside the gates, tickets available from reception. There are a couple of large supermarkets within a few miles of the campsite.

Date of visit early October 2009.

David Klyne. CLIC. October 2009
For images of this site, and other reports, go to Caravantravels

Camping La Croix du Vieux Pont--- Second report below--- Fishing site
Vice sur Ailsle
F02290 La Berny Riviere
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 33 (0)3 23 55 50 02
Fax: 33 (0)3 23 55 05 13

E-mail: Via the web site
Web site: http://www.la-croix-du-vieux-pont.com/

This Northern France site is open all year.
Our visit to this site was in September towards the end of the season.
The site is large having 370 pitches. There is a lake for fishing and boating. There are several tour operators on this site and they seem to have the best pitches around the lake. It is a full facility site and there always seems to be something going on. There are two pools, a restaurant, take away, shop, bar, games room, bikes for hire etc. etc. there are several toilet blocks around the site and all are kept spotless.
Those with children will want to be near the facilities. Others - such as us - will find it more peaceful at the bottom of the site in the garden area next to the river. Beware however if visiting in low season. It can be very quiet down there. At one point we were the only ones there!
An awful lot of Parisians seem to use this as their weekend site as there are many French seasonal caravans pitched here.
Trips are organised regularly to both Paris and Disney all year from the site. Another place well worth a visit is Reims. A visit to a champagne house is also a must. We can recommend the GH Mumm factory. They do an excellent tour and tasting... :o)

Some pitches are very tight to get on. On the occasion of our visit many were in an appalling condition due to the poor weather towards the end of September.

Personally I was disappointed in this site. Perhaps it was too big. Perhaps the pitches were disappointing. It was to me a bit like a holiday camp full of static’s and tents. However for a family it might be more suitable due to the organised activities and facilities which include fishing, riding, tennis.

Directions: The site is sign posted off the N31 at Vice Sur Aisle before you get to Scissions.

More details in CC continental sites guide page 399 [1999 edition]

David Cuff. CLIC. 2000

Camping La Croix du Vieux Pont--- Third report below --- Fishing site
Vice sur Ailsle
F02290 La Bernie Riviera
Picardie Region
France

We stayed at this site in France and what a disappointment.

It is near Reims and lies between the towns of Compeigne and Scissions, the drive from Calias is approx 1.5hrs.

We booked the holiday through Key Camps. we stayed in the most expensive holiday caravan they had and it was lovely and clean but a mere 6ft longer than our own tourer!!
Cooking, heating and hot water was accessible by gas, 1 bottle equivelant to that of a portable house calor fire!! There were 2 bottles connected to the van but only one had gas in it at any one time!!

The park was lovely and clean but other than fishing and swimming there was nothing to do!!
I did have a good look at the touring part of the park where the pitches were nice but only suitable to smaller vans, unless I missed something. There was one van I saw that was situated at what I can only class as the back of the site, close to the back lake.
All the holiday vans surrounded the main lake with archways leading on to the lake.

The rules of the park are to leave your car outside the main park close to the the restraunt after 10.30pm to contain noise for users of the park and allow them peace to sleep until 7.30am but it is ok if you want to set up fishing at 5.30am and shout to the wife to bring out your nets, chair and cup of tea every morning well at least that is what the bloke in the next holday home did every morning, now I like fishing but you can guess where I wanted to put his nets by the 3rd morning!!!

There was lots of berry fields(vineyards) and sleepy villages around us and by golly they were sleepy. Rural France tends to closes down from 12 noon till 2pm so if you want to invade France just do it between 12 and 2 they all off to lunch.

I am sure there are others who love France but sorry it ain`t for us. And to think I gave up 3 weeks in the van in Britain for this holiday!

Oh well I know what I am doing for my holiday next year.... 3 weeks touring our lovely Britain, the Lakes, yorkshire and kent or southampton area for me that for sure!

If the weather holds I may even tour bonnie Scotland but for sure in will be in the UK where ever it is!

Mary Moane. CLIC. October 2004

Camping La Croix du Vieux Pont --- Fishing site
Vice sur Ailsle
F02290 La Bernie Riviera
Picardie Region
France

Tel: +33 (0)3 23 55 50 02
Fax: +33 (0)3 23 55 05 13

E-mail: lacroixduvieuxpont@wanadoo.fr
Web site: http://www.la-croix-du-vieux-pont.com/uk/index.html

To find site:
From N31, Compiegne/Soissons road turn left to Vic-sur-Aisne, follow signs to campsite. Some of the roads through the town are narrow so care is required. If approaching from Soissons an alternative route is via Fontenay from the N31, signed for campsite.

La Croix du Vieux Pont is situated to the north of Paris. It is a very large campsite with in excess of 500 pitches of which 120 are touring pitches the rest being taken up with mainly static caravans belonging to various tour operators. It is more of a holiday centre than a conventional campsite with lots of facilities for children of all ages including boating and fishing lakes.

The hedged touring pitches are really large with individual water and waste points. Electric points have six amp supply.
The unisex toilet blocks are dotted around the site and are to a very good standard with seated toilets and paper is provided but on a large roll outside the cubicles. The large shower cubicles also contain a wash hand basin. Unfortunately the provision of chemical toilet emptying points is limited which means they are a long way from quite a few of the touring pitches.
There is an on site shop and bakery, a good restaurant and a bar where WiFi is available. The campsite has an excellent swimming pool complex, part of which is under cover.
During our stay in early September 2009 the site clientele was predominantly British.

Although some 60 miles north of Euro Disney this does seem to be a popular destination from the campsite. The site also run excursions by coach into Paris. Nearer to the site the Chateau de Pierrefonds which is worth a visit and has recently been used to film the BBC series Merlin. For food shopping there is an Intermarche in Vic-sur-Aisne and larger supermarkets at Soissons.

David Klyne. CLIC. October 2009
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Camping Le Ferme des Aulnes
Fresne sur Authie
F80120
Namport St Martin
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 00 33 322 292 269
Fax: 00 33 322 293 943

E-mail: contact@fermedesaulnes.com
Web site: www.fermedesaulnes.com/

To Find Site:
Leave A16 at junction 25 and follow directions for Arras. Turn right onto N1 (now D901) towards Wailly-Beaucamp. Continue to Namport St Firmin/Namport St Martin. Once almost through Namport St Martin watch out for sign to right for campsite. As you enter Fresne the campsite is on the right in about 200 metres.

Camping Le Ferme des Aulnes is a pleasant campsite situated in a countryside setting. It consists of two pitching areas. The larger one is immediately behind the reception and consists of some touring pitches but mainly well kept static vans. A second area across the road from reception is smaller but only contains touring pitches. All pitches are of a good size and delineated by hedges. Some have a gravel stripe for the caravan or motorhome but, of course, on the continental side. Whilst delineated pitches can give you a degree of privacy it does also mean that it is more likely that the grass will become damaged by the use of groundsheets. During our visit at the end of August virtually all pitches were damaged in this way so if it is wet there will be muddy areas.
The original part of the site contains all the facilities including a restaurant, gym, children’s entertainment area which have been incorporated into the old farm buildings. In the middle is a covered swimming pool which seemed very popular with both adults and children.
The reception building also has a small shop with essentials for sale and bread can be ordered the day before.
All the toilets/shower are of a good standard but they are unisex which some might not favour. However there are some private cubicles on both parts of the site. Toilet emptying facilities are also available on the two pitching areas.

The site has lots of facilities geared towards the entertainment of youngster however I expect the lure of the coast in the Somme Bay area will also have its attractions. For shopping there is a large Carrefour at Berck and numerous other smaller supermarkets in the area which reception will gladly direct you to.
Date of visit late August 2007.

David Klyne. CLIC. September 2007
For images of this site, and other reports, go to Caravantravels

Camping Vivier aux Carpes--- Second report below--- Fishing site
10 Rue Charles Voyeux
F02790 Seraucourt le Grand
Picardie Region
France

Tel: +33 (0)3 23 60 50 10
Fax: +33 (0)3 23 60 51 69

E-mail: camping.du.vivier@wanadoo.fr

Photos available at John Tavener’s web site.

An extremely pleasant site about ten minutes off J11 of A26. Take D1 towards Soissons.

The Site is sign-posted from the first village, Essigny la Grand.
Situated in nice countryside it is laid out around large ponds reputed to be well stocked for fishing. I do not fish but plenty of people there were.
As well as being a convenient overnight stop [110 miles from Calais] it is worthy of a longer stay. There is plenty to see in the area.

Pitches are generous. The facilities are spotless. There is a games room. No restaurant or shop on site but you are in the centre of the village and shops and bars are a 100 metre walk. 6 amp electric included in price.
The owners are keen to attract English visitors and even have a separate telephone number which will be answered in English! Only sixty or so pitches and some are obviously seasonal. But no static or tour operators. We have stayed here overnight now four times and intend to have a longer stop soon.

David Cuff. CLIC. August 1999

Camping Le Vivier Aux Carpes--- Fishing site
10 Rue Charles Voyeux
F02790 Seraucourt-Le-Grand
Picardie Region
France

Tel: +33 (0)3 23 60 50 10
Fax: +33 (0)3 23 60 51 69

E-mail: camping.du.vivier@wanadoo.fr

Some images of Camping Le Vivier Aux Carpes:
Image 1 The fishing lake -- Image 2 Entrance/Reception -- Image 3 The fishing lake -- Image 4 Some of the pitches -- Image 5 Another view of the site

Leave A26 at junction 11 (St Quentin Sud) and head towards Soissons on the D1. After about 4 kms watch out for a right hand slip road into Essigny-le-Grand. As you drive through the village turn right for Seraucourt-le-Grand, continue for about 5 kms across country. In Seraucourt turn right onto main road through village and right again by the church. Campsite is on left in about 100 metres. (The campsite is well signed from Essigny)

Vivier aux Carpes is situated right in the village of Seraucourt le Grand. The site has about 60 pitches and is popular for both overnight and longer stays. This site is popular with both Brits and the Dutch.
All pitches are on grass and are separated by hedges. All are of reasonable size and located around gravel roadways. There are electric points available to all pitches and water points are at the end of the rows.
Like most French campsites there are a few permanent vans. The Reception block also houses the toilets and dish/clothes washing facilities, all of which are of an excellent standard. Behind the block is a motorhome service point.

The name of the site perhaps is a clue to the fact that there is also a fishing lake on site, permits available from reception. This site also offers caravan storage for those that might want to leave their van in France.

In the village there is a small supermarket, although it does not appear to open on Mondays.
The river Somme runs close the village.
There seem to be many War Cemeteries close by.

David Klyne. CLIC. June 2006
For images of this site, and other reports, go to Caravantravels

Chateau de Drancourt
BP22
F80230 St Valery Sur Somme
Picardie Region
France

Tel: 03 22 26 93 45
Fax: 03 22 26 85 87

E-mail: chateau.drancourt@wanadoo.fr
Web site: www.chateau-drancourt.com

Directions:
From A 28 junction 1 take D40 signposted St Valery sur Somme. Then onto the D940 signpost Cayeux sur Mer – at the top of the hill turn left onto the D48 signpost Estreboeuf then immediately left onto minor road follow campsite signs. Site up road on left after about 2 miles.

Excellent large site, Castels chain of campsites so you know it’s going to be ok.

Large flat pitches with some small hedges. Good reception and their English is good. Internet access in a gamezone above one of the toilet/shower blocks.

Covered heated pool, outside pool too. Children’s play area, lots of space, volley ball, football pitch, golf driving range.

Nice restaurant - but you have to book, we had an excellent meal. Take away. Bar in the chateau, proper shop.

Site serviced by all the major English camping businesses ie Eurocamp, Haven, Canvas holidays etc.

Lots and lots of static vans and chalets.

We only stayed one night as we were heading up towards Calais, but they allowed us to stay on our pitch until 10pm the evening that we left with no extra charge.

I stayed here over 10 years ago in static caravan with Haven, it is much bigger now, but just as good.

We used touring cheques here.

Carol Hodgson. CLIC. June 2005

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