Life looks good from this perch on a Pyrénéan mountainside. Even those pitches snuggled among the thickest trees still reveal splintered views across the valley. The vistas make a postcard-worthy picture and the general routine for campers at the site is: arrive, check in, plonk the tent down and begin to take some photos. Summer or winter, the mountains here look fabulous.
Though large – there are 122 pitches spread across the 17-acre area – Huttopia Font-Romeu is a sensitively created site. Camping spots are well spread around, with some, specifically designated for hikers, tucked in a vehicle-free area of the site, while the glamping options are subtly designed. The wood and canvas structures fit smartly within the landscape – a far nicer creation than static mobile homes – and feature proper beds, a living space and a compact kitchen area.
For everyone else, the central lodge is their go-to warm up shelter. As well as the reception, information point and a small grocery shop, it has a toasty wood-fired chimney in the centre that heats the main lounge. On cooler days you can relax at a sofa with one of their family board games.
In summer it’s the swimming pool that soaks up much of your time, though really the type of campers drawn to this campsite are those who spend the majority of their time elsewhere anyway. At an altitude of 1,800 meters, Huttopia Font-Romeu is a place designed for mountain lovers and is ready made for active fun. After all, why bother with the swimming pool when you can dip in a crystal clear, Pyrénéan pond formed from glacial waters?
Several footpaths lead away from the campsite entrance and the Way of St James passes directly through Font-Romeu village – a long distance pilgrimage route that draws hikers to the area. Mountain bike hire is available 300 meters down the road and there’s ample information available in reception (and from staff) on the best spots to roam. Make sure there’s some space left on your camera if you plan to take more photos. The views from the campsite may be special, but from the top they’re all the better.