UKC

Hi

Does anyone have any good suggestions for destinations for a family holiday in France in late July to early August where there's good climbing and sun?

The party would be me, my parents in their early 70s, my wife and 6 year old son.

I'm the only climber and would hope to grab a few days, mornings and evenings of sport climbing in the 6s and perhaps some bouldering (I prefer routes) hooking up with friendly locals/visitors.

It'd be great to have somewhere that has good scenery, some cycling paths, perhaps some easy mountain biking, perhaps some easy climbing/scrambling/via ferrate which I can do with my son etc.

Many thanks

C

In reply to Cusco:
Clecy - Normandy.

Multi and single pitch sport climbing
250m Via Ferrata
400m Zip Wire
Canoeing
Scenic country walking
Friendly river side campsite
Headtorch adventure walk through an abandoned railway tunnel
Riverside restaurants
Cider, calvados and cheese available to purchase from local farms
Model railway
Pegasus Bridge and D Day beaches within an hour's drive
Quiet country lanes for cycling
Overnight car ferries from Portsmouth to Le Havre and Caen

A perfect family holiday destination.

In reply to Cusco:

the Ecrin's around Briancon, this is a great area for family fun, the area boasts 300 days of sunshine a year, not sure this is that 100% correct but we do get our weather up from the med, and it's normally very settled and warm in summer.

for climbing there are over 3300 routes over five rock types and grade's to suit every level, some great kid crags, there are 24 Via Ferrata's again set to different levels so one for kids and family to more alpine feeling ones, lots of mountain biking from relaxing runs along some of the alpine rivers to some full on down hill crash fests, also the best rivers in france means great white water rafting and kayaking, and some flat water stuff to.

also some very nice walking a great one with kids is up to the glacier blanc, not hard and very rewarding, also there are some very nice lakes that are set up for swimming and relaxing, and spread down the valley some old forts worth a look round, and best of all a place you can feed marmots which is always a favourite,

I live in the Vallouise valley just as it joins the Durance and happy to help if people would like information about the area, travel option, accommodation, activities or just where is good to climb.

drop me a line if you would like some more info rob@dream-trails.com

In reply to Cusco:

The Ecrins sounds a great destination but you might want to consider the Pyrenees. Less intensively commercialised than the Alps in general, very wild and very beautiful. We holidayed as a family in Lauterbrunnen a couple of years back and last summer near Gavarnie. They are probably the two must spectacular valleys in Europe but the greater sense of wilderness (yet easily accessible) of the latter and its environs really charmed the whole family.

In reply to Cusco:

We've had great family climbing, MTB biking, river holidays (two young lads, now 6 & 8) in:

- Ecrins (all sides, on 4 visits)
- Gorge du Tarn
- Verdon
- Vercour (not much climbing)
- Corsica
- Mercantour (not much climbing)

The Ecrins (and hinterland) and Corsica are both hard to beat for the breadth of things to do and variety of landscape.

In reply to Cusco:
Ardeche, great river and good climbing, lots of fun messing about in the river. Some easy climbing, some bouldering, not sure about via Ferrata though. Take an inflatable canoe. Lots of places to explore.

Mazet

In reply to Cusco:

And

Chaulet

In reply to Trangia:

Hi, how good is Clecy? It always looks a bit scrappy in photos which has put me off.

In reply to David Coley:

The rock is superb and the climbs are long. Many are two pitch. The easier routes can get congested with school groups but away from them there is a lot of choice.

The situation is very reminiscent of Wye Valley.

In reply to Trangia:

Thanks

In reply to all:

Thanks for all those great suggestions. Time to start planning - and dreaming of the sun!

C

In reply to Cusco:

If you're 'dreaming of the sun' you might want to go a bit further south than Clecy which has a climate much like southern England rather than Provence

In reply to Trangia:


Is that meant to be a positive trait, lol

(I've climbed in the Wye a lot in the past)