Languedoc Worldrover

Worldrover TRAVEL MAGAZINE. January 2002

ALLAN ROGERS PITCHES A TENT AMID THE PINE TREES

CAMPING in
Languedoc Rousillon

The thunder, lightening and rainstorms that seemed to bewilder even the locals were, we hoped, behind us we had reached the Mediterranean and the temperature soared.

To venture bare foot on the sand was like walking on a bed of red hot coals and constant cooling dips in the sea seemed essential. It was lovely to lay floating in the buoyant Mediterranean looking up at the mountains of the Pyrenees. On one peak there were still some traces of snow.

Closer to hand the only other cooling to be had was in the air conditioned supermarkets well stocked with inexpensive wine and ready for the holiday business.

Behind the beach a gentle breeze that wafted through the pine trees that shaded the better campsites.

You quickly realised how important it was for anyone camping or caravanning to make sure that the choose a site with some shade.

A publication like Michelin Camping and Caravanning Guide or The Alan Rogers Camping Guide is a good investment. Both list sites that have been examined by independent inspectors.

In the Michelin Guide they are graded from “quite comfortable" to “ideally equipped” In the later category we found “Cala Gogo” at St Cyprian and happily erected our holiday home amid scented pines and took up residence with the Swallows, Magpies and butterflies.

On the human side we had international neighbours and down at the swimming pool we 'ear-wigged' struggling to pick out which language was being spoken

One of the more exotic accents to hit our ears turned out to be Irish.

There was enough to keep you happy at the excellent pool or the adjacent beach. The was a restaurant, a take away, well stocked shops and even organised entertainment in the evenings.

If you craved variety and were ready to face driving in the car again. You could visit the adjacent town at Argeles, or explore the picturesque village of Collioure, or the little bays that lay before the Spanish border and the challenging road that corkscrewed south along the cliffs.