Camping La Grande Veyière
Europe France Aquitaine Dordogne
Surely, few areas sum up the appeal of France better than the charming Périgord. The River Dordogne carves this fabled region in two, its banks lined with picturesque villages, high bridges and dozens of illustrious castles – the scene of centuries of combat and conquests. Today the clanking of sword and armour has given way to that of tent poles and fold-up chairs, in what is one of France's most popular camping destinations.
Chief amongst the region's most popular sites, La Grand Veyière is arguably the Dordogne’s best family-friendly campsite, a secluded, bucolic bolthole that makes for an ideal tranquil retreat. Overseen lovingly by the warm and hospitable Griet and Philippe, La Grand Veyière’s 11 acres cater to campers of all persuasions, with space for tents, caravans and even a scattering of mobile homes and glamping abodes.
Quiet and intimate on the one hand, the site can also be a hive of activity, with an array of games, creative workshops and even the odd spot of live music in the evenings. Kids will certainly not be bored. The lagoon-shaped swimming pool is the focal point of all manner of shenanigans, and an all-round air of bonhomie prevails; you'll likely leave with more than a few extra contacts in your address book.
Beyond the campsite grounds, this château-studded land can be visited all year round, but in truth the summer months are something special. Take a stroll in the countryside and marvel at the countless species of wild flowers. The diverse landscape is truly a camper’s dream, with shaded streams that are perfect for canoeing, five-star mountain-biking trails, prehistoric caves ripe for discovery, not to mention rock climbing and horseriding. With this sort of heart-stirring countryside, and delectable regional food, it’s very easy to see why the region is a particular favourite of re-locating Brits. So why not join them? Even if it is only for a day or two.
Gallery
Details
Facilities
Communal facilities include 8 showers, 8 toilets, family bathroom and laundry facilities. Small shop, bar (with 2 spacious terraces), table football, pool table, board games and a 150m lagoon-shaped swimming pool.Suitable For
Tents, caravans, campervans and dogs – yes. Large groups – no.
Nearby
Sarlat is a charming labyrinth of passageways, sandstone buildings, and secluded squares. Showcasing some of Europe’s best-preserved medieval architecture, unsurprisingly Sarlat has become a tourist trap, so you may find it hard to enjoy the town’s beauty amongst the sharp elbows of sightseers during the busy summer months. Whichever alley you decide to amble down, sooner or later you'll reach the cathedral. Originally built in the 1100s, the abbey was redeveloped in the early 1500s and refurbished again in the 1700s, so it's a real mix of architectural styles. The western side and the belfry are the oldest parts of the building. Another delightful day-trip is to the sweet village of Monpazier; a proud member of the Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (The most beautiful villages of France.) Steeped in history, Monpazier was founded in 1284 by King Edward I of England, but it was only during the reign of King Charles V of France (1366-1380) that the Monpazier became French. Don’t leave without checking out the Place des Cornière; a square surrounded by homes whose ground floor form the arches of an arcade. Also, the thirteenth century St Dominique’s Church (built on a little island separated from the market square) is well worth a look.
Food & Drink
There’s a small shop onsite offering fresh bread every morning. The bar also offers take-away snacks. Head to the Restaurant de l’Abbaye in Cadouin (0033 553 634 093) for an experience in pure French gastronomy. This gourmet eatery (with cosy terrace) offers fresh food that is always beautifully presented. Follow the river east to Beynac (40 mins) for the romantic restaurant La Petite Tournelle (0033 553 299 518). Once you’ve navigated the higgledy-piggledy street, try the grilled duck and sumptuous chocolate cake. Dishes start from €16. For some fresh local produce, head to Sarlat for its twice-weekly market. Since this is the Dordogne (aka "land of the duck"), you can be sure to find plenty of pâté and foie gras at the many market butchers. Other local specialties include goose, cheese (of course!), cherries, walnuts, and truffles.
Open
April–October.
Accommodation
45 pitches arranged in well-shaded rows (most with electrical hook-ups), and 8 mobile-homes with private bathroom. 7 fully equipped tents for rent (2 models: Canada or Sahara).
Grass Pitch
Canada Lodge Classic
Sahara Tent 'Duo'
Sahara Tent - Family
Canada Lodge Comfort
Mobile Home
Location
Contact Camping La Grande Veyière, Camping La Grande Veyière, 24480 Molières, Dordogne, France
Getting There
Coming from Perigueux (via Le Bugue) or Brive (via Sarlat) cross the railway in Le Buisson and follow the D25 to Cadouin. Continue towards Beaumont and after 3kms turn right on to the D27 (to Molières) and follow the signs. Coming from Bergerac, take the D660 to Sarlat. In Port de Couze turn right, following the D660 towards Cahors (passing through Bayac) and after 3kms turn left onto the D27 towards Cadouin; pass the Molières crossroad and and follow the road for a further 500 meters. Access to the campsite is on the right. Please be aware there are several villages in France called Molières, so be sure to head for the Molières with the zip code 24480.
Flybe (0871 700 2000), Jet2.com (0113 238 7444), and Ryanair (0871 246 0000) all fly regularly to Bergerac Roumanière airport (30 km drive to La Grande Veyiere.) Lalinde and Le Buisson train stations are located 10 km away; both stations are located on the Bergerac - Sarlat line; Le Buisson is also on the Paris - Limoges - Agen line.
Reviews
Add Your ReviewRated ★★★★★ over 13 reviews
Great family campsite
Beautiful, quiet, well-run, friendly and accommodating, lots to do and see nearby.
Cracking Little Campsite Off The Grid
Response from Camping La Grande Veyière
Beautiful little campsite in stunning surroundings
Quiet beauty and a warm welcome
Beautiful site in an interesting area.
Lovely friendly and relaxing campsite
Beautiful, well thought out, shady campsite
Nice green shaded campsite in the woods
Fantastic relaxed family friendly camping!
A delightful family campsite
Amazing Campsite
Absolutely agree with Mr Skinner above, who coincidentally is an old work mate from 10 years ago, the internet is a small place…
This is the best campsite I've every stayed at, brilliant facilities, kids absolutely loved it. We saw several campsites down by the river with tents and campers pretty much packed in like sardines, this place is the complete idyllic opposite, brilliantly terraced plots arranged around a lovely wood with many pitches including ours having lovely views across a wildflower meadow, this is really did add to the experience of feeling like you were camping out in the wild yet having warm showers, BBQ, washing machines, pool etc all on easy access.
Glad I got in contact with my old mate who advised me you could hire a fridge which saved me lugging one all the way down there.
I’m sure we will be back, such lovely hosts with a fab, fab campsite.
Fantastic campsite – exactly what we wanted :)
We booked our 2 week family summer break here well in advance in order to secure a peak-season (mid Aug) slot and a fridge… It’s always a bit of a risk booking somewhere that is going to be such an integral part of your happiness for such a long and important break based on just a website. Thankfully we needn’t have worried and looking back we are SO chuffed with every aspect of the site and our holiday in the area.
The pitches were fantastically situated around the beautifully wooded site. Ours had ample room for 2 tents, our family table, hammocks, badminton pitch and a parachute canopy – and looked out south over stunning woodland and a wildflower meadow, which was just gorgeous to watch the sun rise and set over.
Only slight niggle was the slightly sloping ground which made keeping beds and tables in one place slightly awkward - however I was able to raid the contents of their wood store which allowed me to prop things up a treat!
The facilities were great – focussed on a collection of lovely old farm building that have been thoughtfully re-purposed for campers. Showers were always hot, toilets always clean, washing up a breeze and there were even free hairdryers, a freezer and a microwave if needed.
Being a little way from the nearest town (Cadouin), we made daily use of the delicious bread/croissants ordering service (order by 11pm for
collection in the morning). We also loved the bar (top pression), pool & ping pong tables, and took advantage of the communal BBQ area and weekly Paella event (nom nom)! The pool was fab (cold obviously, but great on a hot day) as was the play area and woodland walks that let you explore the sprawling site and local footpaths.
Although the site is pretty much in the middle of nowhere (indescribably quiet at night), it’s well situated to use as a base for exploring the surrounding area. We had great days out at various local towns, chateaus and caves, and of course fell in love with the majestic Dordogne river. We highly recommend hiring a canoe (Aquafun were great), taking a packed lunch and pulling up on a beautiful beach only accessible from the river. Next best was the beach at Sors which was the most beautiful spot (complete with a very French
snack bar).
All in all we can’t recommend this place enough. Feel free to check out our pictures of the place here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/danskinner/sets/72157647234693637/
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