Visit to Nottingham

Arriving home from a five day sojourn to Nottingham, I feel I ought to commit pen to paper and provide a swift resumee of the holiday. We stayed at the Clumber Park Caravan Club site which never fails to please. A large site set in the middle of Clumber Park, near Worksop, there are excellent opportunities to cycle on predetermined routes as well as those you might make for yourself through the extensive park and woodland. The terrain is generally flat and the scenery splendid. During the week outside the main holiday periods it is always quiet. This can no longer be said for the site which seems increasingly busy and sensibly should be booked in advance. Sadly, gone are the days when you can simply assume that all sites will have available pitches.

The only niggling problem with the site is the complete lack of mobile phone signal. This necessitated having to travel half a mile both to make a phone call and to collect emails on the iPad. Fortunately, the weather has been very kind so this did not prove too much of a hardship.

The five days have been interspersed with cycling and walking around the park and visiting friends and family in Nottingham. Both my wife and I used to work in the city prior to moving to Essex and my brother has lived in Nottingham for many years. For visiting we hired a car from Enterprise. They provide excellent service collecting from the site and returning you at the end of the hire period. For a Ford Ka we paid £57 for two days which seemed reasonable and included an enhanced damage waiver.

The motorhome has behaved itself except for the inexplicable failure of the piezo ignition on the gas fire. Seems like another call on the warranty when we arrive home. For a new vehicle in 2009, I am beginning to feel that there have been too many problems - many minor but no less irritating for that.

The bikes have behaved faultlessly in the first airing of the season. It was good to get them off the rack and the ten mile run around the estate was good fun though both Jan and I are suffering the consequences! 

Saumur and the Route North

Though it took a while to find the road, we managed to park at Saumur next to the Chateau, a most impressive building with panoramic views over the countryside.

View of the Chateau

We enjoyed a walk down to the town and across the Loire to buy bread. Continuing on our journey, we arrived at La Fleche where we found that the site would not open until 4 pm. Since we were not over impressed with the appearance of the site anyway, we drove on to Evron where we booked into an ACSI site, Camp Municipal de la Zone Verte. It was raining for the first time throughout the holiday and this prevented us going far but we enjoyed a walk arond prior to settling down for the night.
We left the site in the rain the following morning and called into a local supermaket prior to heading north. Gradually, the rain eased and we arrived at Les Andelys following a pleasant journey on predictably quiet roads. The site, De L'lle des Trois Rois was a delight positioned on the Seine overlooked by the chateau. We thoroughly enjoyed our walk into the village and back along the bank of the Seine.

Along the River

Our final day involved travelling to Guines where the site, Camping La Belle Peche was far from inspiring, prior to catching the Sea France ferry the following morning.

Another excellent holiday lasting for 16 days from Tuesday 21st September to Wednesday 6th October. Next year, we will leave a little earlier as the days are certainly getting cooler into October.

The Dordogne

Cutting across country, we entered Souillac and then followed the D703 by the side of the Dordogne. The scenery was stunning and, yet again, proved the value of keeping to D and N roads where possible. We turned left outside Calviac-en-Perigord soon reaching Carsac-Aillac. Here we found a recently restored church with lighting arranged so that it came on when entering the building.

The picture fails to do it justice though the outside of the church was equally impressive

Leaving Carsac-Aillac behind we soon entered la Roque-Gageac in its  magnificent location. Often little more than a row of riverside houses squeezed between the Dordogne river in front and sheltered
below the overhanging cliffs behind, it is truly a 'picture postcard' village.

La Rocque-Gageac

With ample parking space along the river we were able to spend some time walking through the narrow streets as they climb through an interesting tropical garden. 

Towards the Tropical Gardens

Apparently, the palm trees and banana plants are possible to grow because the village is south facing and protected from north winds by the cliffs. Of interest are the troglodyte caves set in the cliffs above the village.

Following a very enjoyable lunch, we moved on towards Le Bugue, our next night halt, Les Trois Caupain is a lovely flat site on the outskirts of the town. Again, quiet out of season, we enjoyed a stroll past a farm museum and acquarium to the town centre.

Early the following morning we left and headed north, stopping at Oradour-sur-Glane, a village whose occupants had been massacred by the SS in 1944. It proved a fascinating but moving and harrowing experience. The village has been left as it was after the massacre and it is accessed underground through a museum which carefully describes what had happened.

Late afternoon we arrived at Civray to find the site unmanned and travelled on to Ruffec where we found the perfect farm site, Camping a la Ferme (Peloquin)

Here we met an English couple in a caravan who were very interested in our motorhome. We left the site at about 10am the following morning after chatting again to caravanning friends. It proved a lovely journey notable for the autumn colours. Following shopping at a huge supermarket, we arrived at the next site in Montreuil-Bellay. The site, Camping Les Nobis, was completely empty and was well placed close to the town between the castle and the river.

Following a walk up to the village along a most attractive flight of steps

we walked to the castle

and enjoyed superb views across the valley from the ramparts.

We returned to the motorhome and read prior to a walk up the river before dinner. The next day we were heading for Saumur.

The Lot Valley

We headed south from Rocamadour using D roads until we ran into the D653. Here, we turned left at Vefs and headed up the beautiful Lot valley. High in the hills above the valley we visited St-Cirq-Lapopie, a not to be missed village for anyone travelling in the area. The sun was streaming and it was a magnificent view across the valley

The church proved well worth a visit and we spent a couple of hours walking around the steep streets admiring the houses.

Taking to the road again, we thoroughly enjoyed the route up through the Lot valley turning left at Cajarc. At Figeac we stopped at the supermarket and then moved on to our site at Capdenac-Gare, a town as the name would suggest built around the railway. The site, Camping Municipal Les Rives d'Olt, was positioned on the bank of the Lot with excellent walking along the river to the town. It was here that we saw red squirrel, now so rare a sight in the UK.

The town proved equally attractive, particularly the church in the square which had most attractive staned galss windows.

The following morning we travelled north through Figeac stopping at St Cere - a lovely town with a medieval centre.

We continued on to Bretenaux our next night halt, Camp La Bourgnatelle,  this time on the banks of the River Cere. Again a lovely town which we enjoyed walking around in the late afternoon.

The evening we sat in the sun at the site, enjoying a glass of local wine and reading. The following day, we would explore the Dordogne.

The Grandeur of Rocamadour

We joined the D143 south of Amboise and connected with the A20 at Chateauroux. Though an autoroute, it was toll free so we felt entitled to break our only N roads decision taken when we arrived in Calais. Remaining on the A20 we travelled through Limoges and Brive-la-Gaillarde pior to turning on the D140 for Martel. Some years previously, we had visited Martel and, in a magic moment, we listened to an opera singer practising in the school of music. This time, there was no singing but the town had not lost any of its charm during our 20 years absence. Following a break for a couple of hours, we moved on to Rocamadour. Unbeknown to us, it was the day of their annual balloon festival. This created a problem driving through the town but the added bonus of a superb spectacle. The site in Rocamadour was an Aire Naturelle north of the town.

Balloons in the Background

An open, flat site in a vast field, it was everything we could have asked with the added bonus of being able to see the balloons as lifted into the sky.

That evening we to L'Hospitalet to view the carnival more closely and what a spectacle it was.

The following morning we woke to clear blue skies. We walked to Rocamadour exploring the narrow main street and enjoying a coffee overlooking the vally below.

After a break we felt sufficiently energetic to climb up to the Chateau where we had lunch, Following an extremely pleasant day we strolled back to the motorhome and, with obligatory glass of wine in hand, planned our route for the following day.

France September 2010

Start of the Trip

As usual, we travelled to our Dover CL, Lenacre Court Farm, where Mrs Broadley was as welcoming as ever. This site really provides the ideal start to crossing the channel. Arriving earlier than usual, we thought we would sample the delights of Dover and take advantage of our bus passes. We had forgotten how wild bus drivers can be, or is it a more recent phenomenon? I certainly wouldn't want to clip the kerb as often in the motorhome. Still, arriving safely, we enjoyed our walk up the pier and had a quick tour of the shops. The following morning we caught the 6 am ferry and had a brilliant crossing watching the dawn break. Using entirely N roads we made our way down smoothly to Chartres, arriving at Les Bords de l'Eure at around 3 pm. This is an attractive site set amongst trees located in the south east of the city. A lovely riverside footpath leads from the site through parkland all the way to the Cathedral.
The following morning we spent the day in Chartres. Following the fifteen minute walk into town, we enjoyed visiting the cathdral

and generally taking in the atmosphere of this lovely city.

It has to be said the riverside walk back to the site provided an added bonus to the day's outing.

The following morning we set off for Amboise where we had decided to spend a further two nights. The journey, again along the superb French N roads - why would anyone use the autoroute? - took us through much attractive scenery. First stop was Vendome, a beautiful old town with lovely fire displays depicting the musical tadition sof the town.

Vendome from the Bridge

We arrived at Amboise mid afternoon at a lovely municipal site positioned on I'le D'Or which is also the name of the site. We had a pleasant stroll into the town which was five minutes away across the bridge. The following day we again went into Amboise during the morning and thoroughly enjoyed the tourst walk around and above the chateau.

Following lunch, we returned to the site and cycled around the island. We thoroughly enjoyed watching a youngsters, highly competitive, football match. Impressed with the qulaity of play and obvious enthusiasm we quietly felt our age! We awoke in the morning to the sound of a hot air balloon taking off from the neighbouring field. This must be another photo opportunity.

Slightly later than planned we set off for Martel and Rocamadour.

Heading North and Home

The N7 took us north from Avignon along a most attractive route up the Rhone valley. On the way we stopped in a layby for Jan to buy cherries from a roadside stall manned by a charming, old gentleman. Language was not necessary, gestures quite sufficient. We reached La Galmier, north of St Etienne by mid afternoon where we found an excellent site, Campeole Val de Coise. Small and very friendly the terraced site had views across the river and was within walking distance of the most attractive town with a square filled with market stalls.

We enjoyed a relaxing late afternoon absorbing the atmosphere and taking the odd photograph.

The following morning proved something of a disaster. We had made use of the aire positioned outside the site to empty grey water and refill. Whilst reversing out to drive, on our way I must have tangled the bike rack in the hedge. Some two or three miles up the road, we had a feeling all was not right so we pulled into a layby. The bikes were a sorry sight with the rack frame bent at an impossible angle and the rear wheel of Jan's bike distorted to match the new angle of the frame. Fortunately, we always carry a roll of light rope and were able to bend the rack  tying it back together securely.

However, following this mishap, fortunately the only one on our journey, we enjoyed an excellent journey north using and N and D roads. On the way we stopped at Autun to admire the cathedral with its wonderful tympazeum

We watched children rehearsing for their confirmation in the cathedral and, back in the midday heat, enjoyed an ice cream in the square. We finally arrived at Camping de lEtang de Fouche in Arnay-le-Duc at about 4pm. This flat site is situated by a lake around which provided a very pleasant evening stroll.

Leaving the site mid morning the following day, we headed for Langes. Life is so much easier on the continent in a motorhome. The large car park was virually empty on a Sunday morning and a lift gently glided us up to the town. We have visited Langres before but this time we had the opportunity to walk the walls and enjoy the view.

We arrived at our next site in Bannes late afternooon.Hautoreille is a peaceful site set amongst gently sloing grassy fields and woods. There was, though, rather a steep slope up to connect the power!

Making Hard Work of a Short Climb

After accessing the internet that evening and finding that gales were forecast for the channel three deys hence, we decided to take a long haul towards Calais the following day. Though tired, we arrived at Bien Assise in Guines south of  Calais for our final stop prior to catching the ferry the following morning - luckily it was a reasonably calm crossing.

As the holiday started at our CL in Dover so it ended providing the opportunity to clean the motorhome prior to arriving safely back at Chelmsford. Another memorable trip which, in all, took us about 2,500 miles.

Sur Le Pont D'Avignon

Not disappointed to be leaving Viareggio, we decided to head back into France taking the A12/A10 autoroute all the way round to Cannes. Though quite exensive in tolls there was much compensation both in terms of ease of driving and, more significantly, spectacular views across the med as the road weaved through clear stretches and impressive tunnels. The views improved further as we travelled along the Cote D'Azur looking down on Monaco, Monte Carlo and Nice. We stopped for the night at Le Bar-sur-Loup, 30 km north of Cannes at a delightful site, Les Gorges du Loup, once more in the ACSI site book.

The following morning we avoided the autoroute choosing instead the N7 all the way to Avignon. The French consistently maintain their N roads to a high standard providing a sensible alternative to the toll roads. Perhaps there are some lessons we could learn here! Our TomTom had proved invaluable throughout our travels if a little wayward at times. We had long learned to take advanatge of Jan's excellent map reading skills as a necessary complement to the electronic gadgetry.In Avignon though the SatNav proved quite mailicious. Whilst searching for the site we found ourselves in the middle of the old town where even cars were embarrassed to travel. Eventually, through luck more than good judgement, we found the site. Bagatelle is located close to the old centre and within a seven minute walk of the town across the bridge from the I'lle de la Barthelasse.

That evening we strolled from the site and walked up the river with supberb views of the Papal Palace and, of course, Le Pont D'Avignon.

The following day we spent the day visiting the bridge and touring the Palace. What a wonderful city this is! We would certainly recommend taking the well signposted tour from Bridge to Palace
which meaders through the old town

 and if the mood takes you visiting the commercial sector for a touch of shopping.
Sadly, the following morning we found ourselves once more on the road, gradually travelling homeward bound.