Feedback from a family with two children aged 7 and 11 at the Actinidias campsite in Ardèche.
For our vacations, we like natural destinations with a real camping spirit. Especially not camping clubs. In the course of our research, we came across the Actinidias campsite in Ardèche, on the edge of the Cévennes. It met many of our selection criteria:
- An exceptional setting, facing the river, both calm and wild.
- My wife and I are both amateur climbers, and the region is a veritable climbing paradise, with climbing sites within easy walking distance. For all levels, from bouldering to route climbing. Ideal for sharing this passion with our children. The nearest climbing spot is just 200 metres from the campsite!
- The region is bursting with nature activities, from canoeing on the Chassezac to hiking in the Païolive woods and cycling along the many trails. Everything we love!
- We lived our vacations at our own pace, with some quiet moments to rest and others much more active.
We were immediately won over by the campsite. Nestled in a cocoon of nature at the end of a road, it was as if cut off from the world. We immediately felt serene and reassured for our children: no nuisance, no passing cars, etc. The ideal place to relax. The ideal place to relax. The campsite is on the banks of a river with a beach facing a small cliff. A wild and natural environment. How could you fail to fall under its spell?
Les Actinidias has very few mobile homes. It has remained mainly a “traditional campsite” with tents and caravans. That’s what we’re looking for in a campsite, and unfortunately it’s becoming increasingly rare. The fact that there are so many more campers is reflected in human relations. People who camp are much friendlier.
The couple who run the campsite, Boris and Julie, welcomed us as if we’d known each other for years. They were never stingy with advice for our visits or activities.
Since climbing was one of the reasons we chose the Actinidias campsite, every day, or almost every day, we spent some time with our children on the rocks just a stone’s throw from the campsite. There really is something for everyone, from the most experienced to beginners, from level 3 to level 8. Amateurs will understand! We had a great time! Our children stayed on level 3 and 4 routes. However, our big boy was keen to try a boulder at a higher level. So we rented a crash pad from the campsite. It’s the first time we’ve stayed at a campsite that rents crash pads! We also went a little further afield, to the Bois de Païolive. It’s halfway between hiking and climbing, a loop of about an hour and a half, accessible on foot directly from the campsite. The Bois de Païolive is actually just across the river.
In the late afternoon, as we relaxed by the river, the children alternated between swimming and continuing their introduction to climbing on the campsite’s climbing playground. Camping les Actinidias is truly a paradise for climbing enthusiasts like us!
But we didn’t limit ourselves to climbing. We also went canoeing as a family. Luckily, the minimum age was 7, so all 4 of us were able to go. We opted for a 10 km run on the Chassezac. There are far fewer people than on the Ardèche. This route usually takes 3 hours, but between the swimming breaks and the picnic, it took us 5 hours. The children were able to jump off rocks into the river. This canoe trip was definitely one of the highlights of our vacation!
Sometimes vacations are about simple things. Our children’s end-of-meal ritual consisted in going to the compost (organized by the campsite) and sorting out what could be fed to the animals in the campsite’s mini-farm. Given that we live in the city and don’t have any animals, it was a real pleasure to see the children marvelling at the chickens, rabbits and ducks. Sometimes they stayed for an hour.
Among our visits, we really enjoyed the pretty village of Les Vans. We went there on Saturday mornings for the market, which features many local producers. On the way back, we stopped off at Naves, a car-free village classified as a “Village de Caractère”. It’s a place full of charm. Luckily, Julie at the campsite had pointed it out to us, otherwise we would have missed it. Although we appreciated the fact that Les Vans is less touristy than Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, you really shouldn’t miss the Pont d’Arc at the entrance to the Gorges de l’Ardèche. It really is a spectacular site! And for lovers of traditional markets, the one in Joyeuse (16 km from the campsite) on Wednesday mornings is well worth a visit.
For the rest of our stay, we alternated between sporting activities such as bike rides on the Via Ardèche greenway or volleyball tournaments on the campsite, and relaxing in the shade by the river. All topped off with a barbecue evening at the campsite restaurant. In short, an authentic vacation. With the kids, we didn’t have time to try mountain biking in the area around the campsite, but we’ll be sure to do so during our next stay in the region.
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