Camping Le Valserine

We spent ten days here and barely used the car, getting around on foot and by bike instead. There are plenty of trails starting in Chézery and nearby villages, and we had a great time exploring them. For a big panorama, Crêt du Chalam is worth the effort: you can hike there from the campsite if you're fit, or take the easier route from Site de la Borne de Lion, where parking is easy. The view reaches across the region to Mont Blanc. We also spotted people of all ages at the top, including a school class and families with young children. Nearby villages have ski lifts up into the mountains, though we hiked to the top ourselves, and with small kids that may not work as well. Back at camp, the staff were friendly and helpful, with service in the morning and again from late afternoon into early evening. They run the bar and small shop too. You can order bread for the next day, get a drink or snack, and, depending on the day, have pizza or sausage and fries. There are board games and mostly French books at the bar, with more in the outdoor sharing cabinets. The toilets, showers and dishwashing and laundry areas were kept pretty clean in an environmentally friendly way. It's a lovely, quiet spot by the Valserine river, with great views. You can spend the day hiking or cycling, or just sit in the sun with a book, your feet in the water and some local cheese. Say hello to the goats, and take the short walk into the village for its bakery and small supermarket/bar. The Fromagerie next door has cheese, honey, local wine and beer, and I even bought a hat there. We missed out on having lunch at the village hotel because of car trouble and an unrelated illness, so hopefully we can do that next time. We really enjoyed our stay and would happily come back. There's still lots to explore, or you can simply sit around with a book.

The river was the best place to cool off during our stay, when temperatures were between 32 and 38 degrees. Our children also enjoyed the small pool. The staff were friendly and very helpful, and the campsite has a clear eco mindset. The area itself is lovely, with nature, walks and waterfalls, and small supermarkets 15-20 minutes away. Facilities need attention when the site is full. There aren't enough toilets and showers at busy times, and their mixed layout on both sides of the block means you end up walking around looking for a free one or waiting. There are no separate hand basins for brushing your teeth, just the dishwashing sinks. Everything was spotless when we arrived, but cleanliness had slipped by the middle of the week. I saw that a larger pool facility was planned for that winter, which is great, but rethinking the number and arrangement of showers and toilets would help too. Some pitches are spacious, shaded by large trees and well separated from neighbours. Others sit in full sun most of the day, which felt unbearable in that heat. The extreme weather wasn't the campsite's fault, and they have planted bushes and trees, but the surviving plants will take years to provide shade. I'd paid for a large pitch but was given narrow standard pitch 66, with four neighbours close by and little separation. The ground there was very stony and baked hard, so even heavy-duty pegs were difficult to get in. A second groundsheet is essential. With the heat, we also often got a strong sewage smell from the treatment plant just down the river. I wanted to like the campsite, and a few changes could make it fantastic.

The walks nearby are fantastic, though strenuous, and after one, the cold Valserine flowing alongside the campsite was a welcome relief for sore feet. The village is close and has everything you need. We stayed in July in our campervan, and the staff were very friendly and helpful, with plenty of local information available. The facilities were clean and the grounds beautifully looked after. There was a nice shop and bar, and one evening they held a barbecue for guests. When we arrived at Camping le Valserine, we got a lovely welcome and could choose from the available pitches. I liked being able to pick the spot that suited us. Highly recommended, but bring rock pegs.

Such a peaceful place with a stunning view. The people are kind and helpful too.