Independent Campsite Reviews

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We used this site as a stop over for a few days on our way further south. Lots of other people seemed to be doing the same.

We booked with Carefree so the Camping and Caravanning Club sorted all that out beforehand.

The welcome was friendly if a bit long due to new staff being 'shown the ropes'.

Many of the pitches were in a wooded area and so very shady. Fortunately ours wasn't, so when the sun did shine, we had a fair bit to warm us up. The weather was mixed and not overly hot.

The pitch was on a busy footpath/road leading straight to one of the washblocks which did make it a bit noisey at night and a mole keep us amused by popping up in different places each night.

The outside pool was clean but very cold. The inside pool also clean but much warmer. Wash blocks were ok, but not amazing.

Tabletennis was free and my children all enjoyed using them. The lake although quite small contained hundreds of little fish which basked in the shallow water near the 'beach'. There were lots of bats of various sizes which flew around our heads when we went for walks at dusk around the site.

On our last day, a group of children arrived with leaders and camped opposite us. This increased the noise levels significantly and made for a less peaceful day time. Noise with teenagers/young adults was an occasional problem (but by no means what we experienced from adults, who should have known better at a completely different site later in the holiday).

A short car ride from the site is Gien, a pretty town which was very badly bombed in WW2.

Cycling in the area is ok if you don't mind going on roads.

I was happy with the site and would probably use it again for a stop over, but wouldn't recommend it for a stay longer than 3 or 4 days.

The campsite is indeed very large, and everything is extra (mini-golf, wi-fi,…)

The restaurant, which is inside the site, has a very helpful staff. The take-away is quite affordable, but take care when you order, or you'll have a wait.

Reception: The manager is very serious, so don't expect service with a smile!

The rules are respected, and there's hardly any noise at night.

No separation between the tent and caravan pitches. The size of the pitches is not adjusted to the size of unit, so you could find yourself with a large caravan on a pitch more suited to a small tent.

We’ve been here for three years. It’s great for the children, with various clubs, free activities, and equipment on loan. The indoor pools are well heated, with a Jacuzzi. The grounds are very well maintained, with flowers everywhere. No time to get bored, even for adults, with a show or other free activity every evening. Even in July, we did not feel that the site was overfull, given its size and the number of activities available. If any problem arose, the management intervened immediately, and took the necessary steps. We’ll be returning this year.

Have just got back from a wonderful 6 nights at this campsite. We booked through the caravanning club (we have our own caravan) and requested an extra large pitch which was delightful. The shower block is a bit confusing as both men and women seem to go anywhere but the showers are fantastic - really hot and not at all crowded (although we were there at the end of May which is not high season). Seven Euros bought our family of five the right to a day's activities which included tennis (they lend you racquets and balls), football, canoeing on the small lake, crazy golf, petanque, plus use of the indoor pool. This indoor pool is free after 6pm. The outdoor pool was delightful - my only criticism was that it didn't open till 12 and there were no sun loungers - only bar type chairs and hard concrete. The restaurant and bar were closed for three of the nights we were there. We didn't go to the restaurant as we couldn't afford it! I think it's a great site with friendly staff, lovely facilities and a good mix of nationalities. However, I think 5 or 6 days was enough as getting around the area from the campsite was not particularly easy.

Only stayed for one night, but that was enough to assess what the campsite had to offer.

Arrived at 6.30 and were ordered to move our car to outside the reception window so they could see inside. Then reception spent 20 minutes trying to establish what a 3 year old child should be charged, in the end settling on just over 4 Euros. By then, the staff were concerned that they should close down and get away by 7pm. Shown to 'choice' of 3 pitches, but staff only had time to show us one. OK, it was only one night, but this gives the impression of a site run for the benefit of the staff, not its customers.

The free indoor pool period was from 6 till 8, so we got 15 minutes in it. Very small pool, although OK. You have to go through the cafe in trunks to get to it. The outdoor pool was small, unheated and uninviting. The lake appeared to be covered in green slime.

Sorry, would like to be more positive, but I can't recommend this site. The set up caters mainly for people in fixed mobiles/huts/chalets, rather than tents or touring caravans. It's quite a way off the main route, so if you're heading south, it's not worth the detour.

Visited April 30th 2008. Own motorhome with friends in theirs. Unfortunately it was raining and very drippy/muddy under trees. Staff helpful, takeaway not wonderful. To far from town to cycle and in wet weather not much on site for older people, the pool was small and full of children. Weather can't be helped but found the shower/toilet blocks very gloomy, old fashioned, not particularly clean and above all showers were COLD, we decided to move on after one night as found the whole place gloomy and were badly in need of a hot shower.

Arrived at this site for 2 weeks booked direct with Sunelia in their own mobiles. The van was well maintained and very clean- no complaints at all. The staff are very hard working and extremely polite.

The site is full of open spaces that could so easily be crammed with mobile homes to make a good profit but thankfully it is not. Parking is in areas, and not on the pitch, but that was ok as they are all really close by. The fishing lake was enjoyed by my husband and 13 year old son who spent hours there catching lots of fish, the site operates a no kill so they were put back in straight away. The wristband was worth the 48 euros as the activities on offer were so good. The kids' indoor pool area is free to use and came in handy on those wet and cloudy days, it looks pretty new and was very bright and colourful.

We had a look at the camping facilities and they all look like they have been upgraded recently, nice new toilet cubicles and showers etc, all looked very clean.

The indoor pool area was to be used with wrist bands but again came in handy on dull days, beware the smell of chlorine is so strong that it really makes your eyes stream!. The gym was small and some of the equipment was out of use- not really worth the effort. The site shop, we found to be quite reasonable and had good stock..

We visited the Briare canal and went on a cruiser, this lasts for one and a half hours but could have been easily over with in half that time! Disneyland Paris is between one and a half and 2 hours away.

Gien is a great shopping centre and is only around 3 miles away. There is an Auchan that sells GPL and a Lidl just past that.

And finally the weather, cloudy, wet, windy, sunny, sweltering and on the final day- fog!!. Very unreliable.

Stopped off at this site for only three days. Shown to our pitch by a helpful chap on a golf buggy, but the pitch we were offered was far to small for our outfit. At least he was in radio communication with the reception so the problem was soon sorted. The lake was pleasant and we tried out canoeing which was great fun for me, my husband and the kids. There was all sorts of fun available and good entertainment in the evening. Inside and outside pools great for children and adults. Restaurant has view of pond and very peaceful at all times. Weather was not very reliable though.

I am currently 17 years old, and since my most tender years, several times every year I have come to this campsite, as my aunt and her husband have a plot of land with their own mobile home, and I can honestly recommend it, as there is a very good atmosphere between the campers and the entertainers, and several of the personnel.

I have to admit that, like all sites, there are some small faults: it's not a good place for putting on a picture show when you get back, but instead of this at least you will have a super holiday. Me, I adore it.

Stayed there in our own van when we went to the French grand prix last year, neat and tidy site with lovely pitches.

Only criticism was the steam clouds that come from the nuclear power stations along the Loire, even though the nearest one must be 5 to 10 miles away it still blocks the sun at times (suppose Dave would have welcomed that in last years heat!)

Great site.

We stayed in a mobile home for a week on this site which we booked quite late via Alan Rogers.

Found site (good directions from Alan Rogers) tucked away in isolated woodland over an hours walk (fifteen minutes by car) from Gien across the main bridge over the Loire River from the town. Nicely laid out, woodland site with plenty of shade. All buildings made attractive with hanging baskets etc. Friendly and helpful, English speaking staff. Escorted by cyclist to locate mobile home which was clean and tidy if possibly a little too close to neighbours if you like to sit outside and chat over wine in the evening! I complained about the rusty barbeque which was replaced within an hour with brand new one.

The amenities were good with a reasonable takeaway, bar prices were quite expensive but the basic entertainment was free and okay. Main features of site were a very crowded outdoor fun pool with a Jacuzzi and also a quieter indoor pool with a poorly equipped fitness room (not worth the effort really). There was also a smaller outdoor (quieter?) pool which was used by smaller children. The site has a lake for fishing in the morning and hiring canoes, swimming etc in afternoon. A small 'beach' had been made by the lake which was good for sunbathing and had a small water slide into the lake.

There did not appear to be many fish being caught especially by my teenage son! The field by the lake was used for organised sport-volleyball, football etc. All amenities appeared to be well supervised by staff including craft activities for small children in the mornings.

A reasonably priced wrist band gave access to all sports equipment etc. but bike hire required an additional hourly charge which was in my opinion a bit excessive.

The large hypermarket was a short drive away in Gien which is obviously cheaper than the on site shop. Nice little town which is worth a brief visit and the canoe ride on the Loire booked via reception was good fun.

A word of warning, during our stay the heat wave gave temperatures well above forty degrees Celsius and it was worth going shopping just for the air conditioning alone! Mobile home temperatures were unbearable so a suitable fan may be a good thing to take along. The canoe trip was an endurance trip in the heat and hats are (quite rightly) compulsory. The heat had (I think) made the lake water turn a bit green which may be off putting for some people but did not deter children playing in it.

All in all worth its four star rating. A well-kept and very tidy camping site. A good mix of nationalities with mobile homes and tents blended together in the woodland. Not really overcrowded apart from the fun pool in the afternoons. Friendly staff made this an enjoyable break with plenty to do for kids if they can muster any energy in the heat!!!