Windsurf road trip - calais to leucate

[Nicko]

Bonjour! Sorry for writing in English - i have managed to register reading french commands but until i get to France I won't improve - desole!<br /><br />
I would like to ask some advice from you (i can always help with UK windsurf spots!)<br /><br />
I am taking campervan with windsurf kit and bikes from Calais to Leucate area for August.<br /><br />
Could you recommend some nice lakes en route that maybe windy in August and pretty?<br /><br />
Also places we can cycle with the dogs and the trailer so quite flat.<br /><br />
Merci!<br /><br />
Emma

[Nausicaä]

On France, during the summer, it may be difficult to find windy spots except to Leucate ... If you've got big sails & boards on your gear, maybe some lakes could be "ridables"... With wind speed beetween 8 to 20 knots.


Maybe some people here can give you better advices than me.

[nericneric]

Lac du Salagou, not the windiest spot but nice at the end of the road close to Montpellier if you'ride down by the A75

https://www.google.fr/maps/place/Lac+du+Salagou/@43.656486,3.364142,9z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x12b166c5ae368dd7:0xca64867ccfb2e973

[Cath]

Lac de Monteynard : about 40km south of Grenoble (dam on the river Drac). There is a thermal wind (8-14 knots) that can be interesting if you've got big sails. The wind can sometimes be higher if there is north wind in the Rhone valley. But not flat at all around if you want to bike.

[vince30]

Serre-Ponçon lake (Hautes Alpes) : windy (around 15 knots), very nice view, great also for mountain biking ... a very nice place.

[vince30]

Merci! I will look at all your suggestions and see if i can plan them into the trip. Thank you so much!


Emma

[vince30]

Just for making you want to go there ... (I have some doubt about my sentence ...)

[KOUBY]

Just after the spanich border, there is a town called Rosas. You can find there thermal winds specially when there is no Tramontane

[KOUBY]

Thank you Vince!


Serre Poncon looks lovely and would be a great place to spend some time so i would like to plan that in to my route. Your picture made me want to go ;-)


Would you recommend anywhere to take my small motorhome or is it more for wild camping? I leave England on 6 August.


Thanks


Emma

[KOUBY]

Kouby,


Thank you for suggesting Rosas - that is our final destination and where we will spend one week or maybe two if we like it!

[vince30]

hello emma,


At Serre Ponçon you have many camping area. I recommend the camping "la garenne" at the location "les crots". (web site : http://www.lagarenne-crots.com/)

This camping is well located : you have a direct to the lake, and the Wind is always stronger at this location. But dont forget a big size sail cause thermal Wind may be light.

I just come back today from this place. I have spent one week, with many sessions with 7.8 et 6.6 sq.

You can check the Wind here : http://www.winds-up.com/spot-lac-de-serre-poncon-plage-du-boscodon-windsurf-kitesurf-47-observations-releves-vent.html


have a nice trip !

[vince30]

Perfect - that was just the information i needed! I did try a campsite already and he said he is full but the one you recommend has space and thanks to you, an ideal windsurf spot.


I hope you had a lovely time there, thanks again!

[Tibi]

Earlier in your trip, there is also the "lac du Der" near Troyes and "Miribel Jonage" near Lyon.

Those lakes are usually not windy in August, but in case it blows they would make a nice stop on your road.

[utestit]

Emma R @ 07/07/2015 - 22h36 a dit:

I am taking campervan with windsurf kit and bikes from Calais to Leucate area for August.


Could you recommend some nice lakes en route that maybe windy in August and pretty?


Also places we can cycle with the dogs and the trailer so quite flat.

Hi Emma,


do you really prefer lakes ?


If you are todo that trip, highways along the coast may not be much longer, and until at least Vendee, you d run into multiple great spots !


Starting from Wissant (possibly North ofFrance best of wind), or flatter Sangatte, Wimereux, Boulogne, Crotoy, Sain Aubin, Ouistreham, etc, etc...

basically every 30kms, you are going to run into great places to windsurf (i put emphasis on 'flatter spots', but many more down Normandy, then Britany & Vendée...)


Stoked may be your best friend all along (even now exists as app)


Enjoy !

[utestit]

Thanks Utestit - update as i am now two weeks in to the trip!


The lac d'orient east of paris was not a good windsurf place really and a bit smellyl but lots of good cycle tracks.


Stopped off at leucate and sat on the beach at port leucate - no wind...


Have been at golf de roses on the costa brava now for 10 days and the wind is for biiig sails so only one session on my 5.7 and 100 litre. Lovely place with really good bike rides and stunning landscape.


Have just booked to go to Ile de Re on Sunday for a few nights staying at la couarde - i hope the forecast of wind is correct! West going south looks ok.