Camping de la Forêt, Jumieges, Seine-Maritime (Calais150 miles)
 I've been an admirer of the River Seine since 2000 when I travelled down it by boat, and 2001, when I travelled up it the same way.
It is a complete contrast to the Thames; from quite close to its outlet to the sea, because the surrounding landscape has hills, trees, cliffs and more than enough delightful little towns and villages to maintain your interest. From the sea right up to Rouen, it also has major ocean-going ships like the one in our picture, just to make a change!
With a week to spare early in September 2006, the journey of just 150 miles from Calais made this site an ideal proposition - and it is the only site in the Caravan Club handbook within easy reach of Rouen.
Camping de la Forêt is a smallish, mixed site - there are some mobile homes, some of which are holiday rentals, and there are some gite-style "huts" rented out by the site owners. The touring camping and caravanning segment probably takes close to 50% of the site.
One of the most notable facets is the turnover of visitors; most stays seem to be two or three nights while people are outbound or homebound, and few - except us - stay much longer. But there are sufficient places to visit nearby, and Rouen itself is a major medieval city worth a good day of exploration. The smaller towns and villages nearby provide good market and shopping opportunities.
The site's facilities were excellent, and kept very clean despite sometimes muddy pathways. The little site shop, which also provided hot food, was
fine, although it didn't open early enough for bread fanciers - but there are two bakers close alongside each other in the village - ten minutes walking, or two minutes on a bike away.
A good stopping off place on a longer journey, with sufficient interest to justify a longer halt. We booked the site and a P & O ferry return through the Caravan Club. The outfit was a Renault Scenic + Gobur Carousel 10/2, and the trip date was September 2006.
There's a short film also available showing this site - here
Chris Gosling; editor |
