Camping Ile d'Offard
Website: www.cvtloisirs.com
The campsite is part of the Airotel chain, which offers a high standard of camping accommodation throughout France. Camping Ile d'Offard is on an island in the middle of the River Loire (pictured, right) overlooking the attractive town of Saumur with its château which towers over the city. Local attractions include the unusual troglodyte settlements which have been carved from the rock face.
The staff at site reception are friendly, helpful and pleasant. The office is open from 8.30am until 12.30pm and from 2pm up to 8pm daily. Here, you will find plenty of information about the surrounding area. Security barriers provide an added sense of protection and are operated by a PIN, allocated to you on arrival at the site. The barriers are closed from 11pm until 7am, ensuring you a worry-free night's rest.
The pitches are fairly level. Some are located on gravel hardstanding, while grass pitches wind around the campsite in rows along well-lit pathways. The clearly numbered, hedged, hardstanding pitches are serviced by water taps and electricity points, and are shaded by small trees. The pitches come in a variety of sizes, but exceptionally large vehicles may find the hardstanding pitches a little small. The grass pitches are closer to the river and much larger, but sit on lower ground.
Some train noise is audible at night when trains cross the nearby bridge.
On-site facilities in the integral washblock include showers, toilets, wash basins, kitchen sinks, baby bathroom, washing machines and tumble dryers.
Leisure activities include tennis, mini golf, volleyball and a kiddies' play area. There's also a bar, restaurant and shop, so you're catered for whether you want to eat out or back at the 'van.
An indoor, heated swimming pool is available for campers to use and free tickets are available from reception.
Off site, there are riverside walks, fishing and boating opportunities nearby. Also, there is a huge outdoor pool adjacent to the campsite with diving boards and a toddlers' pool, but
it is only open in the high season.
The town centre of Saumur lies a short walk from site, just across the bridge, which helps make this a popular campsite for motorcaravanners without another form of transport.
Further afield, there are many sightseeing opportunities in the Loire Valley, such as caves and wine-tasting tours, along with the Parc Miniature Pierre et Lumiere – detailed limestone sculptures of towns in miniature.
With so much to see and do the opportunities for exploration and adventure are manifold.
• Attractions
The gorgeous 14th-century Château de Saumur is visible from the campsite and worth a visit for the authentic charm of the Loire Valley (tel 0033 02 41 40 24 40, website www.saumur-tourisme.net).
Also, ten miles from Saumur
is the troglodyte village of Rochemenier, open from April
to November. It consists of two ancient farms with dwellings and out-buildings cut into the rock face.
Web www.troglodyte.info. Tel 0033 02 41 59 18 15.
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