Camping Le Viginet

A quiet spot with modern facilities and good-sized pitches, whether you prefer sun or shade. The village is walkable, though getting there means tackling a pretty steep climb. That shouldn't put you off.

There's a small pool with loungers, though nowhere shaded around it, and one of the toilet blocks is being modernized while the other is new. Staff were helpful and pleasant. The campsite itself has both woodland and open grassy areas with trees, and it's wonderfully quiet, with lots of birds. Town is about a 2 km walk along a rough path or the road, with a small supermarket, plenty of pubs and restaurants, and a remarkable church.

We stayed in the same chalet as four years ago, and it was still in tiptop shape with no sign of wear. It's well equipped, with a kitchen, Senseo and regular filter coffee makers, kettle, fridge-freezer, cooker, utensils, and enough dishes and cutlery. Towels and bed linen aren't provided, so we brought our own. Odile and Thomas run the campsite and were very friendly, replying quickly whenever we had a question. We've stayed here twice now and expect we'll be back again soon. Saint-Nectaire is about a 5-10 minute walk away for shops and restaurants, while the larger Intermarche is a 12-minute drive in the next village. There are plenty of pleasant, not-too-strenuous walks from the campsite or within a 10-15 minute drive. The Puy de Sancy area takes good boots and stamina, but the views are magnificent, and you can also get there by cable car.

We really enjoyed our stay here as Germans, even though most visitors seemed to be French or Dutch. It's a cosy, pleasant site on the edge of Saint-Nectaire, with the basics covered: clean washrooms, washing machines, a little pool, and assorted sports gear.