Camping Inspiration: 15 Great Campsites In Europe

FRANCE

CHATEAU DE LACOMTE COUNTRY CLUB
Midi-Pyrénées, France
46500 Carlucet, Lot, France
0033 565 387546
chateaulacomte.com
Château de Lacomte is a four-star tranquil hideaway within picturesque, natural surroundings. This British-owned country club is set in an ancient region steeped in rich and colourful history. Days out exploring can include imposing châteaux and picturesque medieval towns and villages. The site also delights nature lovers with the 30-acre estate host to swallowtail butterflies, three species of woodpecker, and in May and June many rare orchids. The site’s pitches are surrounded by flowering shrubs and trees. Facilities include toilets and showers, a laundry room, washing up sinks and facilities for the disabled. For recreation there is an outdoor pool, tennis court and fields for basketball and volleyball. There is also a lounge bar on site and Restaurant Les Etoiles where you can savour culinary delights and dine al-fresco on the terrace.

LE POINT DU JOUR CAMPING
Normandy, France
Route de Cabourg, 14810 Merville Franceville Plage, Calvados, France
0033 231 242334
camping-lepointdujour.com
This four-star campsite has direct access to the sea and a heated covered swimming pool. Camping Le Point du Jour is located in Normandy, on the Côte Fleurie, near Cabourg. The local area is a preserved, natural area close to the bay of Sallenelles.  There are 142 grass pitches on site, bordered by hedges for privacy and with 10-amp electric hook-up if required. There are pitches with a sea view for those who want easy access to the golden sands, or there are more sheltered pitches on site. Facilities include toilets and showers, a laundry, gym, play area, snack bar, bike hire, and even a sauna and Jacuzzi. The site is a great base for those wanting to explore the D-Day beaches and Caen, one of Normandy’s main cities.

CAMPING RIVA BELLA
Normandy, France
1 Rue de la Haie Breton, 14150 Ouistreham, Calvados, Normandy, France
0033 231 971266
vacances-seasonova.com
Riva Bella campsite is located on the Côte de Nacre, known as the Mother of Pearl coast in Normandy, close to the cross-channel car ferry port linking the UK. Thanks to the Orne canal there is easy access to plenty of cycle paths and the campsite offers bike hire if needed. On site there are 312 pitches, with 10-amp electric and defined by hedges. For those wanting a back to nature experience you can pitch your tent among the trees. Facilities include toilets and showers, a laundry, facilities for the disabled, a snack bar, play areas, pentanque court, and a heated covered swimming pool. Nearby attractions include the Pegasus Bridge, which is within cycling distance. The port of Ouistreham has a sandy beach stretching over two kilometres, along with a casino, crazy golf, water sports and equestrian centre.

CAMPING DE COURT VALLÉE
Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
8 Rue de Courte Vallee, Court Vallée 79600, Airvault, France
0033 549 647065
caravanningfrance.com
Camping de Courte Vallée is a British owned and run site in the valley of the River Thouet, within walking distance of the medieval town of Airvault. The site is set in 10 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and offers well-maintained facilities. These include a unisex shower block, a small shop, a laundry, play area, boules and ping-pong. There’s also a heated swimming pool, a bar and bistro, with shaded terrace area. There are 65 pitches with electric. Camping de Court Vallée organises specialty food evenings, barbecues, quiz nights, and frequent wine tastings and vineyard tours so there’s plenty to keep you occupied. The region is steeped in history and, being on the pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostela, there are many fascinating relics and monuments to discover. There are a large number of local restaurants, plenty of birds and wildlife, and walking and cycling routes along quiet country lanes are in abundance.

CASTEL CAMPING CHÂTEAU DU POINSOUZE
Limousin, France
Route De La Châtre, 23600 Boussac-Bourg, Limousin, Creuse
0033 555 650221
camping-de-poinsouze.com
This campsite sits in the amazing setting on the estate of a 15^th Century Renaissance castle surrounded by woods, with a lovely park and pond. Its location is near Boussac in the Creuse, bordered by the Allier, the Indre and Cher regions – the perfect destination for a holiday surrounded by nature. On a sloping hill facing the pond, you can pitch your tent on one of the half-shaded or sunny camping pitches. The pitches are split over three areas with hedging for privacy. In the off-peak season, dogs are welcome. There is a sanitary block offering shower cubicles, toilets, with disabled access, and a laundry, along with a restaurant and takeaway meals, shop, bar and terrace. For water babies there is a water park with infinity pool and water slide, along with pedal boat and canoe hire, and the more traditional, bike hire.

ARDÈCHE CAMPING
Ardèche, France
Chemin du camping, 07000 Privas, France
0033 475 640580
ardechecamping.fr
Ardèche Camping provides four-star camping and touring in Privas, capital of the Ardèche region and a town in the countryside. There are 166 pitches which are 100 metres square or larger, on grass and shaded by trees. Pitches have access to 10-amp electric, grey and black waste water disposal, a fresh water supply, and three toilet/shower blocks. Recreational facilities on the campsite include a covered heated pool and an outdoor pool. There’s a football pitch, playground, boules area and table tennis tables. A small river runs the length of the site and this can fished with a net. For meals and snacks you can take advantage of the restaurant, snack bar or takeaway. The local area is ideal for walking and cycling and there are walking trails around the site. There’s wine tasting within walking distance and a farmers’ market in Privas. Ardèche Camping is close to the Gorges de l’Ardèche – a canyon more than 30 kilometres long, bordered by magnificent limestone cliffs and home to a 60-metre high natural arch known as the Pont d’Arc.

SPAIN

CAMPING LA BELLA VISTA
Costa del Sol, Spain
Crta Nacional 340, Km 142.8 29691, Manilva, Malaga, Spain
0034 952 890020
campinglabellavista.com
A luxury campsite in a stunning beach front location on Spain’s beautiful Costa del Sol, close to some of the country’s finest historic cities including Granada and Seville. The 25,000 square metre site has 150 spacious plots with 26 pitches exclusively for tents, located along the beach front. La Bella Vista’s superior facilities include individual showers, family bathrooms, disabled facilities, laundry. Other facilities include a shop, play area, toilets, showers, family bathrooms, disabled facilities and a laundry. There’s also a swimming pool with children’s pool and beach bar, along with a bar and restaurant. There are 70 golf courses, 23 nature reserves and many leisure activities on offer in the local area, including shopping centres, bars, restaurants, an aquarium, zoos, and amusement parks. Camping La Bella Vista is positioned along a stunning beach line with clean sands and uninterrupted views of the sea. Sunbeds and umbrellas are available for hire on the beach.

CAMPING LAS DUNAS
Catalonia, Spain
Apartat de Correus 23, 17130 L’Escala, Girona, Catalonia
0034 972 521717
campinglasdunas.com
Camping Las Dunas lies about two miles north of L'Escala on the Costa Brava. The campsite is surrounded by peach and apple orchards with its own sandy beach sloping gently into the Mediterranean sea. Pitches on site are available in different categories, all separated by hedges. Some pitches come with electric hook-up while others also have fresh water and drainage connections. There are four toilet and shower blocks across the site so you are never pitched far from the facilities. On site are various bars, an air-conditioned restaurant, a takeaway and supermarket. Sports fans are spoilt for choice with tennis courts, a surf school, small open-air gym and mini golf. A top feature of Camping Las Dunas is the 5000 square-metre Aquapark complete with two pools, a sun terrace, cascades, five water slides, Jacuzzi, and a children’s pool.

CAMPING CALA D’OQUES
Tarragona, Spain
Via Augusta, 43890 l’Hospitalet de l’Infant, Tarragona
0034 977 823254
caladoques.com
Translating as ‘Geese Bay’, Camping Cala D’Oques is located south of Barcelona near the historic Roman city of Tarragona, the tourist resort of Salou and Port Aventura theme park. With over two kilometres of beach and in close proximity of the Catalan mountain range this is a quiet, peaceful location surrounded by nature. The site offers unmarked pitches with plenty of space, serviced by toilets and showers, disabled facilities and private individual showers for hire. There’s an on-site supermarket, play area, football pitch, tennis and basketball courts. In the summer there is a full entertainment programme for adults and children, and the restaurant offers two garden terraces with sea view. There are plenty of things to do in the area including visits to wineries, water sports, local markets and many walking routes. In L’Hospitalet de L’Infant, the local marina village, is a harbour with boat hire.

IRELAND

GLEN OF AHERLOW CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK
Co Tipperary, Ireland
Newtown, Glen of Aherlow, Co Tipperary E34 NH58
00353 62 56555
tipperarycamping.com
This five-acre park is situated in a picturesque valley in Ireland, surrounded by woodland and farmland. With the dramatic Galtee Mountains, Ireland’s highest inland mountain range, to one side, and the wooded slopes of Slievanamuck on the other, this is a very beautiful, natural area. Glen of Aherlow is within 300 metres of a Tourist Information Point, an inn and a pottery shop, and within walking distance of the Aherlow House Hotel. Woodland walks are accessible from the park and it’s a top area for bird watching and walking – a four-mile circular walk begins at the park entrance. Pitches are available for tents with electric if required, and site facilities include toilets and showers, a laundry and games room. Cahir is just 15 miles away, with its castle and Swiss cottage. One of Ireland’s most famous sites, the Rock of Cashel is 30-minutes’ drive away. This prominent green hill with limestone outcrops has a 13th century Gothic cathedral and 12th century Romanesque chapel on top.

MANNIX POINT CAMPING & CARAVAN PARK
Co Kerry, Ireland
Cahirciveen, Ring of Kerry Coast, Ireland
00353 66 9472806
campinginkerry.com
Mannix Point occupies a truly enviable location on the Gulf Stream coast of the Ring of Kerry on the Wild Atlantic Way. Many of the pitches are situated at the edge of the water, facing across the bay to historic islands. There are 42 pitches, most with electric hook-up, serviced by toilets and showers and a laundry. There is also a campers’ kitchen with outdoor dining verandah. The site is well-known for its impromptu music sessions, taking place in the campers’ sitting room on cooler evenings or on the veranda in good weather – musicians of all levels come here annually to join in.  A 15-minute walk from the site leads to the town of Cahersiveen where there are shops, pubs, restaurants, galleries and entertainment. The location of the site offers plenty of outdoor leisure activities, including watersports, mountain and hill walks, blue flag beaches and cycling. Mannix Point is within easy reach of the departure port for the boats to the Skellig islands – a Unesco World Heritage Site.

BELGIUM

CAMPING BLAARMEERSEN
Ghent, Belgium
Stad Gent, Botermarkt 1, 9000 Ghent
0032 9 266 81 60
stad.gent/blaarmeersen/camping-blaarmeersen
Many of Belgium’s most popular places are less than an hour’s drive away from this site. Camping Blaarmeersen has a lakeside setting, in a sports and recreation centre on the outskirts of Ghent. Pitches are a minimum size of 80 square metres with 10-amp electric and set in paddocks of 10. There are four toilet and shower blocks on site to service the pitches and there is also a laundry, shop and restaurant. With the site being spread around the city of Ghent’s leisure complex you have easy access to a swimming lake, a lakeside beach, fishing, watersports, play areas, a multi-sports court and cycle hire. There are also bars, restaurants and cafés nearby, along with a shop and restaurant on site. Ghent’s historical centre is five kilometres away and easily accessible by bike or public transport. The city’s pedestrianised centre is known for its medieval architecture, most notably the 12^th Century Gravensteen castle.

ITALY

CAMPING SIENA COLLEVERDE
Tuscany, Italy
Strada di Scacciapensieri 47, 53100 - Siena
0039 577 332545
sienacamping.com
Camping Siena Colleverde lies close to the Tuscan city of Palio with the hills of Chianti behind. Pitches have panoramic countryside and hill views and come with electric hook-up. For campers’ convenience there are fresh water points, along with toilets and showers, a laundry, shop and dedicated dog exercise area. Other facilities include a shop, restaurant, pizzeria and takeaway. The onsite bar is open from Easter until the end of October, and the outdoor seasonal swimming pool is beautifully surrounded by trees. For exploring the area there is a handy bus service from the site gates and the train station is only 1.5 kilometres away. With the beautiful city of Siena just 2.5 kilometres away, it’s easy to explore the historic centre that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will find a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral and a Gothic style town hall and dominating tower.

SWITZERLAND

CAMPING JUNGFRAU
Bern, Switzerland
CH-3822 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
0041 33 856 20 10
campingberneroberland.ch
Located at the feet of some of the Swiss Alps’ giant mountains and in the valley of the 72 waterfalls, Camping Jungfrau is a stunning campsite that offers different things in both summer and winter. There is stunning scenic walking all year round, with skiing popular in the winter months. Mountain bike and bicycle routes are easily accessible and the site offers bike hire. The site has pitches with electric, with trees providing shade in the summer period. There are toilets and showers, a laundry, and a restaurant and takeaway all on site. In the summer months the heated outdoor pool at Lauterbrunnen is open, only 10-minutes’ walk away. And in the colder months, on a chilly winter evening, you can stay warm and snug on site in the Snow Bar with your favourite tipple.

GERMANY

CAMPSITE SCHWARZWÄLDER HOF
Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Tretenhofstraße 76, 77960, Seelbach, Germany
0049 782 3960950
spacamping.de
Campsite Schwarzwälder Hof is a campsite just south of the village of Seelbach, in the Black Forest. The site is located beside a river in a wooded valley. The pitches are terraced and can be selected with or without shade. Site facilities include toilets, showers, a family room, a laundry, a bar and restaurant. Fresh bread can be ordered and basic groceries are available. For recreation there is both an indoor and outdoor pool, plus a playground for children and a sports ground. There are cycle routes and footpaths from the site, or if you’d prefer to relax then head to the sauna and beauty centre. Within day-trip distance is the lovely old town of Freiberg, and for thrillseekers, Europa Park, Germany’s biggest theme park.