Published by Lyn on 2 April 2019
A quick blog about a network of campsites that we've found to be friendly and fun in France.
* See also Eurocamp for fixed base camping holidays
We get asked a lot about campsites in France – I have an introductory page here. I've started adding campsites to our Where to Stay section and I'll keep adding them as and when time permits. See here for the list so far.
In the meantime, I'm doing a short blog here about the Flower Campings network, which is a great place to start if you're looking for independently owned and run campsites with top-notch facilities. They are also great bases for family cycling holidays.
The network's ethos is centred on family and eco-friendly values, and all member sites have fewer than 300 pitches, so they still feel quite cosy even in busy times.
They offer camping and camping car pitches, as well as (depending on the individual site) permanent tents, self-catering mobile homes, cabins and bungalows. Some even have tipees and treehouses.
Some – but but no means all – of their campsites have registered for the accueil velo scheme. You can see the list here. I expect it to continue to grow.
Even so, we've stayed at Flower Camping sites that are not yet on that bikey list (or ones that don't qualify as they are too far from an 'official' bike route or sites that are in areas deemed 'too hilly' by the scheme's evaluators) and they have been more than adquate for our purposes.
Most sites are 3-star and as with nearly all independent campsites in France they usually come complete with pools, bar areas and wifi zones.
Most sites either have their own fleet of hire bikes or an arrangement with a local bike hire firm.
In busy periods you should book well ahead. Some sites may prefer bookings to be for more than one night during peak periods, but it's always worth checking the website or phoning if you're arriving at the last minute in case they have spare pitches.
The official website is here – it's well worth checking out if you're cycle camping in France.
