CAMPING is going BIG for 2024 – with water parks, theme parks, chateaux and vine-yards all on offer.
It means belt-tightening Brits need not go long-haul to find the spectacular — it’s now just a short family car trip across the Channel.
Leading the way with this new raft of “mega” campsites is Eurocamp, which has bolstered its offering for 2024 with an extra 250 parks and there are now more than 400 parks to choose from across 11 countries.
To sample this new dawn of ultimate glamping we headed to Domaine des Ormes, near St Malo in Brittany, to see if we could find the limits of this flagship campsite.
And boy, did we have fun trying to get close.
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Crossing from Poole to Cherbourg with Brittany Ferries, an efficient sailing experience gave our children, aged ten, six and one, the perfect appetiser for the fun ahead — as well as a child-friendly arrival time.
Set in 400 acres of wooded parkland in the grounds of the Chateau des Ormes, this family-run park is the perfect French camping experience.
The stunning castle views, beautifully kept pitches, lakes, fairytale-like hidden lodges and boulangerie lend Des Ormes all the authenticity a Brit could ever dream of having “en France”.
Private helicopter
On a practical level, it has a shop, takeaway and family-friendly diner as well as two much swankier restaurants — and even an English-style pub, with vast sun terrace for summer — and a huge open fire for autumn and winter.
Throw into the mix the mystique of a Bond villain
Throw into the mix the mystique of a Bond villain, with its superb owner — beloved by staff and clients alike — flying in and out each day in his private helicopter, and it’s hard not to be lured in by its magic.
The action, however, is where this site really excels, with plenty to keep all ages happy, from teens to toddlers.
As its centrepiece Des Ormes has a vast aquadome.
The wave machine is great fun, while the five slides, lazy river, outdoor pool and rope swing all lean more towards family-friendly, providing a safe space for kids to explore alone.
The ambient 30C temperature indoors means aqua fun is weather-proofed year-round against the Atlantic squalls that lash this part of the French coast.
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For sunnier times, there is an (adult-only) pool at the chateau for quieter moments and a huge lagoon-style outdoor pool with yet more toboggans.
The water fun isn’t just limited to pool-time.
Our eldest two got their adrenalin pumping on the machine winch that tows water skiers and inflatables across the lake.
The instructor has no problem cranking the speed up to send riders skimming across the water in a way you just wouldn’t see in the UK these days. Safe? Yes, but still hair-raising.
All but our youngest family member got harnessed up and took to the trees to clamber around the myriad of high-ropes courses.
You may think you have done high ropes already, but until you take on the 500-yard ziplines, you haven’t pushed it.
Again, the professionalism and safety around all the activities is apparent.
What struck us in particular was how reasonably priced the activities were.
Two runs on the terror-inducing zipline were just €5 (£4.28), while being yanked around on the water ski started at just €6 (£5.14).
By day three, all activitied out, we had the novel idea of “going for a walk”.
With so much organised fun at your fingertips through Des Ormes’ excellent activity-booker app, it’s easy to forget you are away to see another corner of the world.
Tracks around the campsite into neighbouring villages offer beautiful scenery, family-safe cycling and a wonderful lunch pit-stop at a pub in the loop.
Similarly, all the fun of Des Ormes could make it easy to forget just how close to the spectacular coast of Brittany you are.
We jumped in the car to sample the delights of St Malo — a walled medieval port that revels in its pirating past.
The city walls offer superb vantage points to get your bearings.
Climb through the ramparts and you’re straight on to some of the finest beaches in northern Europe.
Day fishing trips and boat rides to islands are on offer, while everything from grab-and-go street food to fine dining is available.
Nearby Dinan and Dinard both offer historic escapes, while the aquarium is perfect for rainy days.
But the place to head to for seafood is Cancale, just round the headland from St Malo
But the place to head to for seafood is Cancale, just round the headland from St Malo.
Its seafront is bustling with shops and cafes — and the lunchtime set menus are best washed down with cold Muscadet.
A hop across to Normandy one day led us to the stunning islet of Mont St Michel — a real Disney castle to blow the kids’ minds, but also a delight for adults, with its cobbled streets, bustling cafes, restaurants and souvenir shops.
Back at Des Ormes we were hugely comfortable in our three-bed mobile home with covered terrace.
There’s a great range of choice and prices, from safari tents to modern lodges with air-con and classy outdoor furniture
We somehow managed to squeeze in a round at the 18-hole championship golf course and an afternoon at the riding school, which caters for all abilities, from toddler to equine expert, in fantastic facilities.
We tried the pedalos, the games room and the craft tent in quieter moments.
But the best thing about Des Ormes is when the kids finally head to bed after an action-packed day and you can enjoy a tranquil glass of wine or barbecue among the trees. Bliss.
