Caravanning opens up a whole new world of adventure. The freedom and flexibility to roam as you please, taking in new sights and waking up to different views means you can really tailor your holiday to your exact requirements. If you’ve never travelled to Europe with a caravan, then there’s never been a better time to take a P&O ferry across the Channel and discover something new. Easy to get to, but a great way to ‘get away from it all’, here are some of the best places for friends and family camping in Europe.
Camping in France
The perfect European destination to give you your first taste of caravanning, France’s ample coastline covers sandy shores, hidden coves and quaint fishing ports where you can often sample the delectable catch of the day along the shoreline. This also means that there is plenty to explore for the whole family, and everyone can enjoy being in the great outdoors.
Housed on a terraced hillside, Normandy’s Anse du Brick campsite has direct access to a family-friendly beach that’s particularly great for little ones, while the site’s surrounding area is perfect for walking and trekking. If you don’t feel like cooking, you can make use of one of two restaurants – both with panoramic seaside views. In fact, the views are so beautiful that you could simply sit in the sun and admire them all day.
Further afield, inland France offers up lush countryside, alpine resorts and small, unspoilt villages that are perfect to navigate by road. Set in the French Alps, Huttopia Bourg-Saint-Maurice is ideal for sports and nature lovers, situated as it is along the road to Les Arcs, near the prestigious mountain passes of the Haute-Tarentaise. The whole family will love the fantastic range of activities on offer, such as rafting, mountain biking, rock climbing, paragliding, and hiking, and you’ll love relaxing in the pool with mountain views at the end of the day.
Holiday parks in the Netherlands
With beautiful countryside, unspoilt beaches, and vibrant cityscapes, much of the Netherlands’ splendour is outdoors – making it the perfect caravanning escape. Picture yourself cycling past tulip fields and windmills before breaking for lunch in the city, or waking to the calming seaside surf before breakfasting along the shore. With such a flat landscape, you can navigate this country with ease, so you’ll be free to explore to your heart’s content.
Duinrell is a fantastic campsite for all ages, and particularly good for those with children. Offering relaxation and adventure in equal measure, you can take a calming walk amongst sand dunes and forestry before heading to the site’s nearby amusement park. When you stay at this family camping site, you’ll have free access the amusement park’s 40 attractions for the duration of your stay. With a games room, playgrounds, mini-bowling, and table tennis to keep the kids occupied too, you might even find that you can have a moment to yourself!
Recreatiepark Duinhoeve in North Brabant is another family camping favourite due to its natural environment and friendly atmosphere. Kids will love the paddling pool complete with sprinklers and slides, and the heated outdoor is perfect for taking a dip whatever the weather. There are loads of walking and cycling routes to explore too, and if you don’t bring your bikes on the ferry with you there is the opportunity to hire some at the site. In fact, you can also hire miniature cars and tractors for young children too, so everyone will be happy! This is the perfect base for travelling to the popular Efteling theme park too as it is located just 15 minutes away by car.
Holiday parks in Belgium
Taking a caravan holiday in Belgium means you can fill your days meandering through historical towns, exploring picturesque castles or simply sitting back with a locally-produced Belgian beer, all at your own pace. Campsites in Belgium are often based in close proximity to the country’s main cities, while still retaining some natural landscapes, so you’ll be able to balance your holiday perfectly to suit all tastes.
Kompas Camping Nieuwpoort is a spacious site along the Belgian coast – close to Ypres and Bruges. Perfect for a family camping holiday, you’ll find plenty of landscaped areas ideal for outdoor games, a small farm, as well as a supervised pool complete with water slide. Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of the nearby reservoir for windsurfing and canoeing before making the most of the onsite amenities, which include a bakery, restaurant and supermarket.
Anyone with a great sense of adventure will love camping at the Campsite Le Val de l’Aisne in Liège. With amazing forest walks, plenty of fun games for children, and the chance to try out everything from rock climbing and abseiling to potholing and kayaking, you’ll have the best time here no matter how old you are! Visit exciting nearby attractions, such as the Coo Waterfalls and the Han Caves, or hire an electric bicycle which will enable you to discover the surrounding area with ease.
Ready to hit the road on a friends and family camping trip in Europe? Book a P&O Ferry from Dover to Calais or Hull to Rotterdam and start planning a holiday to remember.
