Imagine your perfect camping island. Lost,
perhaps, in a pearly blue sea with the sun basking down, coconut-rich palm
trees and a yacht pulled up in the soft white sand. Alas, Camping Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne is a
rather more modern take on this dreamy fantasy but what it lacks in Caribbean
mystique it makes up for with the typically charming surroundings of central
France – rich in history, dotted with châteaux and sound-tracked by the
uncorking of lip-smacking local vino. No, there may not be palm trees, but the
surrounding waters of the Dordogne are as inviting as any ocean. If you want an
island paradise on a shoestring, this campsite might just be it.
Beneath the medieval town of
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, this seven-hectare campsite has a host of camping and
glamping pitches, ranging from shrub-surrounded spots for tiny tents, to
pre-pitched wood and canvas homes with everything you could need. There’s an
informative reception area – where you can order fresh croissants and pick your
way through local leaflets – a snack bar, a sun terrace, a heated outdoor
swimming pool and a playground. It’s certainly geared at the family friendly
audience but hop across the bridge into the town itself and it’s easy to find
quieter couples hideaways. Typically French cafés speckle every street and tiny
alleyways wind their way to and from the waterfront.
Down in the campsite itself there’s plenty
to keep you busy and, though facilities like the swimming pool, table tennis
and boules court, are designed to keep campers happy, it’s the river that’s the
main attraction. Canoes and kayaks can be hired from the campsite and you can
quite easily drift downstream for several hours without getting bored of it.
Half days and full days are available and it’s a highly recommended way to
enjoy lounging around on the river. After all, desert island or river island,
whichever you dream of, soaking up the sunshine is always going to be included.