Arcachon, France, been there or nearby?

[Stay Frosty]

Looking to go to Arcachon area and see the Dune de Pilat, Arcachon and Bordeaux ie. roughly central or within walking distance of say Arcachon.
Bordeaux would be a train journey in to avoid head exploding while city driving.
Hoping some of you kind people may have experience of sites in Gironde or Landes regions as we've not been there since Eurocamp holidays 20 odd yrs ago and that was a carefree car drive to your delightfully located static caravan job.
I'm only asking as SWMBO has gone a bit militant at the prospect of holidaying outside of Blighty, apparently I rarely actually organise any of these bloddy adventures!

 

[Mick]

Looking to go to Arcachon area and see the Dune de Pilat, Arcachon and Bordeaux ie. roughly central or within walking distance of say Arcachon.
Bordeaux would be a train journey in to avoid head exploding while city driving.
Hoping some of you kind people may have experience of sites in Gironde or Landes regions as we've not been there since Eurocamp holidays 20 odd yrs ago and that was a carefree car drive to your delightfully located static caravan job.
I'm only asking as SWMBO has gone a bit militant at the prospect of holidaying outside of Blighty, apparently I rarely actually organise any of these bloddy adventures!

I stayed here about 3 years ago and it was OK. large site it can get busy but it is well placed for walking and biking. Close by the beach and within walking distance of the local town. Cheap as well.

Camping Municipal Les Pastourelles ***

Details for Camping Municipal Les Pastourelles *** a Independent Campsite Lège-Cap-Ferret, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, 33950

www.searchforsites.co.uk

 

[Nige_g]

I have only stayed in hotels in Bordeaux which is one of my favourite cities. As for the Gironde region, we stayed in Saint-Emilion not far from Bordeaux. Rather than recommend a site I'll give you a place to avoid, should you be travelling around the Gironde region and come across this on your searches. I see it is now no longer featured on pitchup. Welcome to the 4 star campsite, Le Pressoir, near Bordeaux - Camping Le Pressoir We turned up here after booking for a few nights. We turned around and left as it is used as an immigrant camp for workers working the vineyards. It looked awful and the receptionist even suggested we might not want to stay as several people had left! We ended up in a B&B instead.

 

[Stay Frosty]

Thanks for the heads up lads and @Nige_g just the sort of thing for a memorable holiday!

 

[DXX]

I have only stayed in hotels in Bordeaux which is one of my favourite cities. As for the Gironde region, we stayed in Saint-Emilion not far from Bordeaux. Rather than recommend a site I'll give you a place to avoid, should you be travelling around the Gironde region and come across this on your searches. I see it is now no longer featured on pitchup. Welcome to the 4 star campsite, Le Pressoir, near Bordeaux - Camping Le Pressoir We turned up here after booking for a few nights. We turned around and left as it is used as an immigrant camp for workers working the vineyards. It looked awful and the receptionist even suggested we might not want to stay as several people had left! We ended up in a B&B instead.

The name Le Pressoir is a bit of a giveaway.
Nothing wrong with agricultural workers either, without them there wouldn’t be anybody to produce the wine. We’re lucky that they have the motivation to do manual agricultural work, something generally lacking in the UK.

 

[Nige_g]

The name Le Pressoir is a bit of a giveaway.
Nothing wrong with agricultural workers either, without them there wouldn’t be anybody to produce the wine. We’re lucky that they have the motivation to do manual agricultural work, something generally lacking in the UK.

Oh I agree, we need it in the UK but Brexit buggered that up for us. But believe me, if you’d seen the place and listened to what the receptionist said, I doubt many would have stayed there. To be told that the workers work hard and play hard into the night and that there had been complaints by campers and staff, is not what I wanted to hear when arriving on holiday. Housing the workers, of which I agree is needed as the French are also reluctant to do it, hence the migrant workers. I agree with the receptionist at the site, that it should have been closed to holiday makers. That is what was requested by the staff but refused by the owners. That was according to the lady on reception.

As for pressoir, I know what it is. The site was described as being on a former site nestled in the vineyards. It sounded lovely. Unfortunately the image on arrival was not that. I wouldn't want a campsite that is very full and noisy into the night, and too many people needing to use the facilities etc no matter the reason.