Recommended activities to do near French hiking trail campsites
Find out about the activities you can do at a campsite close to a hiking trail so you can start planning your trip.
Go hiking!
You’re here to hike, after all! Check out a hiking trail close to your campsite, such as the Goëlo coast route in Brittany – a spectacular way to introduce your family to this rugged coastline. Bring plasters as you’ll be on your feet most of the day.
Act like royalty for the day
Visit a château, such as Château de Saumur, for the day and make your family feel like royalty. With châteaux dotted across the country, you won’t have to travel far before you locate one. Remember your camera as these make for great photo opportunities.
Make a splash in a river
Visit a lovely river close to your campsite and go swimming the way nature intended – guaranteed to be a highlight of your trip. Check out a beautiful swimming spot, such as Pont d’Arch in Ardèche and enjoy a range of watersports and activities. Don’t forget sun cream as you’ll want to spend a while enjoying the water.
Take in some local history
Leave the campsite for the day and take your family to learn about the local history close by. Visit La Rochelle, for example, where you can visit a bunker used by German troops during World War Two, which unless you’re looking for it, you’d probably have no idea existed. This is a fun, educational day for the whole family.
Go for a family cycle ride
Take your bike along a French cycle route, many of which pass through campsites near hiking trails, and enjoy a great family day out. The Tour de Gironde is a great family-friendly route that takes in beautiful landmarks close to Bordeaux. Fill up your water bottles, because once you start, it’ll be hard to stop.
Enjoy some great food
Enjoy local cuisine close to your campsite and make your taste buds tingle. Enjoy cassoulet from the Midi-Pyrenées region in France, or madeleines from the Lorraine region, and taste some great locally-made foods in the very areas that created the dish. Don’t forget to ask for the local specialties as there is normally more than one.
Have a family day out at the beach
France has a vast coastline with great beaches, so take a day trip to one from your campsite and let your whole family enjoy some time together by the sea. Build sandcastles, fly a kite and go for a swim on one of France’s many family-friendly beaches. Check out some Trégastel beaches in Brittany, where your family can play under the watchful eye of a lifeguard. Bring a parasol as the sun can be deceptively hot.
Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site
France has many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so you’ll never have to travel far from your campsite to find one. Visit Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy or Grande Île in Strasbourg and enjoy a great family day out. These make for picture-perfect moments, so it could be a great time for that family photo.
Benefits of staying at hiking trail campsites
Find out about the benefits you and your family will enjoy by going to a campsite close to a hiking trail.
Spend time with those that matter the most
Enjoy time away from normality, where you often don’t get the time you want to spend with those that matter most. At a campsite close to a hiking trail, you can spend some valuable time together with your family and strengthen your relationship with memories that will be looked back on fondly.
Relax in a safe and secure setting
Enjoy the calming environment a campsite provides for you and your family. Let your kids go off and play, safe in the knowledge that there are staff who can keep an eye on them. Or go for a swim, where you’ll find professional lifeguards on duty so you have nothing to worry about.
Enjoy the physical and mental benefits of the great outdoors
A campsite near a hiking trail not only offers great opportunities for you to get fit and improve your physical health, but it also provides a chance for you to clear your mind and improve your mental well-being. You’ll return from your camping/hiking trip feeling both physically and mentally refreshed and raring to go.
Enjoy group activities with your children
Choose between a range of group activities, such as watersports and volleyball, which provide a great chance for you and your family to enjoy quality time together. Something you will look back on for years to come and treasure forever.
Make friends with like-minded individuals
Not only are French campsites near hiking trails great for family bonding, but you can also meet many like-minded people too. It’s also a great place for your children to meet other kids who have a love of Mother Nature as well.
