This is Plymouth -- THE 'millipede' snaked the length of the village, bringing traffic to a halt and enthralling tourists and the few residents not involved in carrying it through the narrow streets. Made up of scores of duvets, blankets and sheets knotted together and stuffed with newspapers and plastic bags, the project had clearly been a labour of love. From the number of children involved, along with their teachers, the local primary school looked like it had been kept busy for months preparing for the big day. So too had virtually every household, judging from the amount and colourful array of sheeting carefully tied together to make up the slow-moving 'insect'. And now, with the millipede's head – a carefully-constructed papier mache creation supported on an old-fashioned pram – being pushed along, dozens of helpers followed on behind; each carrying a section of the colourful creature's body as it snaked through tiny St Trojan to mark the beginning of a carnival day of fun. Welcome to the delights of France, where community spirit is clearly alive and well, bringing together young and old residents of a pretty, charming village tucked away on an island at the heart of one of the country's prime tourist areas, Charente Maritime. This vibrant region, on the welcoming west coast, is massively popular with families from all over Europe, as well as with the French themselves. It's not surprising, given its fascinating mix of wonderful beaches, cooling pine forests, bustling towns and cities and quiet rural backwaters. Best of all, it boasts its own 'micro climate' where summer temperatures and rainfall levels are on a par with those of the Mediterranean coast – but are so much more within reach for British visitors. From Charron and the busy port of La Rochelle in the north, the holiday hotspots of Bonne Anse, La Palmyre and St Palais-sur-Mer in the centre to the chic city of Royan and the tiny, historic villages of Talmont and Mortagne at the mouth of the mighty Gironde river in the south, Charente Maritime is a wonderful place to visit and explore. My party stayed at the delightful Bonne Anse Plage holiday parc run by mobile home holiday specialists Siblu; a safe, family-friendly site ideally placed to explore the region and get a real taste of fabulous France. Just a short drive from La Palmyre, which boasts one of Europe's best zoos, the easy-to-get-to parc backs on to safe, sheltered beaches in a fascinating tidal bay rich in wildlife and protected by a sand bar from the pounding breakers so beloved by surfers which race ashore on the so-called 'Savage Coast' just around the corner. Busy Bonne Anse Plage is packed with facilities which will keep everyone amused, from tiny tots, teenagers, mums and dads to older visitors. But it is also a quiet site, with mobile homes tucked away among the pine trees dotted throughout the complex which provide handy climbing frames and food for the red squirrels and birdlife which regard them as home. Our holiday base was a modern, spacious mobile home, boasting three bedrooms – one with en suite shower and toilet – a separate loo, hot and cold running water, fridge-freezer, microwave, cooker and CD radio. It was packed with cutlery, crockery, glasses – even a choice of corkscrews – meaning all you have to bring from home is yourself. Throw in the bedding and towel packs which are available to hire, and this is holidaying abroad made easy. Outside, our plot boasted a clean and efficient gas barbecue, along with table, chairs, parasol and loungers. Bonne Anse Plage boasts a brilliant outdoor swimming pool complex, complete with kiddies' pool; two bigger pools, one with lanes coned off for serious swimmers; three flumes – yes I tried them all, several times – and water-based activities such as pool aerobics, all under the watchful eyes of vigilant lifeguards. Entry is monitored, so that only people staying on the site – easily identified by their leisure wristbands which are handed out on arrival – are allowed in. Sports passes, which can be bought from the helpful reception staff, provide access to a wide range of other activities, such as the climbing wall, crazy golf, archery and trampolining. For younger visitors, Siblu runs kids' clubs aimed at three age groups: one to four; five to nine; and 10 to 14. Throw in a range of on-site facilities and activities including boules, table tennis, beach volley ball, bike hire, basketball and football and the seriously active are more than catered for. But there is much more to the site than that. The restaurant overlooking the entertainment stage produces high quality food at reasonable prices – I enjoyed a generous steak and chips platter while my wife sampled a delicious lamb shank and cous cous dish for less than the price of a typical pub meal back home. Also, looking out onto the stage, which in high season provides entertainment aimed at youngsters and adults every night, is the bar where families can cool down with a relaxing drink. Throw in a well stocked shop, selling everything from newspapers to fresh croissants, laundrette, fitness suite and boules pitches and there is hardly need to leave the site. But that would be a shame, because this area has so much to offer, all within easy driving distance. Explore the tiny village of Talmont and its charming 12th century church. This hamlet of 83 inhabitants attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year who throng its narrow streets, bars and restaurants in shady courtyards. Or drive over the impressive, toll-free, viaduct to the island of Ile d'Oleron, home to St Trojan and so much more – including the chateau where free entry allows visitors to roam its historic ramparts. Don't miss the buzzing weekly market at nearby La Tremblade which transforms this pleasant small town into a hive of activity; or check out the big towns of Rochefort and Saintes, boasting historic buildings, swish shops, eateries and bars. Check out the charming coastal resorts of St Palais-sur-Mer, with its golden beach, souvenir shops and picturesque huts on stilts, from which giant langoustine nets are lowered into the sea to catch their ocean-fresh prey. No visit would be complete with a day at La Palmyre Zoo, home to 1,600 creatures from around the world housed in modern, spacious conditions and some creative and entertaining enclosures. You can spend a whole day wandering around exploring – brilliant value at 15 Euros per adult and 11 Euros per child. But don't take my word for it. Why not hop across the Channel, book a Siblu break and discover this charming region for yourself? You'll find there is more to France than you ever thought. A SEVEN-night stay at Siblu's Bonne Anse Plage holiday village in Charente Maritime from June 29 for up to eight people staying in a three-bedroom Excellence holiday home (the biggest available) starts from £658. Visit www.siblu.com or call 0871 911 7777 to book. Siblu owns 15 holiday villages across France in locations from Normandy to the Cote d'Azur and has sold holidays to France for more than 30 years. Brittany Ferries operates routes from Plymouth, Portsmouth and Poole to western France. Travel overnight in the comfort of your own cabin with en-suite facilities, or be whisked across the channel in as little as three hours. Mike travelled from Portsmouth to Caen and back, where June fares start at £318 return for a car plus two. Book online at www.brittanyferries.com or call 0871 244 1400.
Reported by This is 7 hours ago.
This is Plymouth -- THE 'millipede' snaked the length of the village, bringing traffic to a halt and enthralling tourists and the few residents not involved in carrying it through the narrow streets. Made up of scores of duvets, blankets and sheets knotted together and stuffed with newspapers and plastic bags, the project had clearly been a labour of love. From the number of children involved, along with their teachers, the local primary school looked like it had been kept busy for months preparing for the big day. So too had virtually every household, judging from the amount and colourful array of sheeting carefully tied together to make up the slow-moving 'insect'. And now, with the millipede's head – a carefully-constructed papier mache creation supported on an old-fashioned pram – being pushed along, dozens of helpers followed on behind; each carrying a section of the colourful creature's body as it snaked through tiny St Trojan to mark the beginning of a carnival day of fun. Welcome to the delights of France, where community spirit is clearly alive and well, bringing together young and old residents of a pretty, charming village tucked away on an island at the heart of one of the country's prime tourist areas, Charente Maritime. This vibrant region, on the welcoming west coast, is massively popular with families from all over Europe, as well as with the French themselves. It's not surprising, given its fascinating mix of wonderful beaches, cooling pine forests, bustling towns and cities and quiet rural backwaters. Best of all, it boasts its own 'micro climate' where summer temperatures and rainfall levels are on a par with those of the Mediterranean coast – but are so much more within reach for British visitors. From Charron and the busy port of La Rochelle in the north, the holiday hotspots of Bonne Anse, La Palmyre and St Palais-sur-Mer in the centre to the chic city of Royan and the tiny, historic villages of Talmont and Mortagne at the mouth of the mighty Gironde river in the south, Charente Maritime is a wonderful place to visit and explore. My party stayed at the delightful Bonne Anse Plage holiday parc run by mobile home holiday specialists Siblu; a safe, family-friendly site ideally placed to explore the region and get a real taste of fabulous France. Just a short drive from La Palmyre, which boasts one of Europe's best zoos, the easy-to-get-to parc backs on to safe, sheltered beaches in a fascinating tidal bay rich in wildlife and protected by a sand bar from the pounding breakers so beloved by surfers which race ashore on the so-called 'Savage Coast' just around the corner. Busy Bonne Anse Plage is packed with facilities which will keep everyone amused, from tiny tots, teenagers, mums and dads to older visitors. But it is also a quiet site, with mobile homes tucked away among the pine trees dotted throughout the complex which provide handy climbing frames and food for the red squirrels and birdlife which regard them as home. Our holiday base was a modern, spacious mobile home, boasting three bedrooms – one with en suite shower and toilet – a separate loo, hot and cold running water, fridge-freezer, microwave, cooker and CD radio. It was packed with cutlery, crockery, glasses – even a choice of corkscrews – meaning all you have to bring from home is yourself. Throw in the bedding and towel packs which are available to hire, and this is holidaying abroad made easy. Outside, our plot boasted a clean and efficient gas barbecue, along with table, chairs, parasol and loungers. Bonne Anse Plage boasts a brilliant outdoor swimming pool complex, complete with kiddies' pool; two bigger pools, one with lanes coned off for serious swimmers; three flumes – yes I tried them all, several times – and water-based activities such as pool aerobics, all under the watchful eyes of vigilant lifeguards. Entry is monitored, so that only people staying on the site – easily identified by their leisure wristbands which are handed out on arrival – are allowed in. Sports passes, which can be bought from the helpful reception staff, provide access to a wide range of other activities, such as the climbing wall, crazy golf, archery and trampolining. For younger visitors, Siblu runs kids' clubs aimed at three age groups: one to four; five to nine; and 10 to 14. Throw in a range of on-site facilities and activities including boules, table tennis, beach volley ball, bike hire, basketball and football and the seriously active are more than catered for. But there is much more to the site than that. The restaurant overlooking the entertainment stage produces high quality food at reasonable prices – I enjoyed a generous steak and chips platter while my wife sampled a delicious lamb shank and cous cous dish for less than the price of a typical pub meal back home. Also, looking out onto the stage, which in high season provides entertainment aimed at youngsters and adults every night, is the bar where families can cool down with a relaxing drink. Throw in a well stocked shop, selling everything from newspapers to fresh croissants, laundrette, fitness suite and boules pitches and there is hardly need to leave the site. But that would be a shame, because this area has so much to offer, all within easy driving distance. Explore the tiny village of Talmont and its charming 12th century church. This hamlet of 83 inhabitants attracts more than 500,000 visitors each year who throng its narrow streets, bars and restaurants in shady courtyards. Or drive over the impressive, toll-free, viaduct to the island of Ile d'Oleron, home to St Trojan and so much more – including the chateau where free entry allows visitors to roam its historic ramparts. Don't miss the buzzing weekly market at nearby La Tremblade which transforms this pleasant small town into a hive of activity; or check out the big towns of Rochefort and Saintes, boasting historic buildings, swish shops, eateries and bars. Check out the charming coastal resorts of St Palais-sur-Mer, with its golden beach, souvenir shops and picturesque huts on stilts, from which giant langoustine nets are lowered into the sea to catch their ocean-fresh prey. No visit would be complete with a day at La Palmyre Zoo, home to 1,600 creatures from around the world housed in modern, spacious conditions and some creative and entertaining enclosures. You can spend a whole day wandering around exploring – brilliant value at 15 Euros per adult and 11 Euros per child. But don't take my word for it. Why not hop across the Channel, book a Siblu break and discover this charming region for yourself? You'll find there is more to France than you ever thought. A SEVEN-night stay at Siblu's Bonne Anse Plage holiday village in Charente Maritime from June 29 for up to eight people staying in a three-bedroom Excellence holiday home (the biggest available) starts from £658. Visit www.siblu.com or call 0871 911 7777 to book. Siblu owns 15 holiday villages across France in locations from Normandy to the Cote d'Azur and has sold holidays to France for more than 30 years. Brittany Ferries operates routes from Plymouth, Portsmouth and Poole to western France. Travel overnight in the comfort of your own cabin with en-suite facilities, or be whisked across the channel in as little as three hours. Mike travelled from Portsmouth to Caen and back, where June fares start at £318 return for a car plus two. Book online at www.brittanyferries.com or call 0871 244 1400.
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