My morning really did dawn bright and early. The early light soon gave way to a pale blue sky, dotted with tiny cotton wool clouds, and after the obligatory ablutions, breakfast and a walk with Maggie I was on my way heading further south-east towards the Cévennes. The drive was uneventful but very scenic and the joy of going cross-country meant that there was very little in the way of traffic.

For me there comes a point when the topography changes, the sky takes on a different hue of blue; deeper and richer, and the vegetation looks and smells more Mediterranean. I have been to various parts of the Cévennes on a number of occasions, and I always get a thrill once I pass the signs for the National Park. It has a welcoming feeling, like coming home, even though I have never lived in this region. It embraces you and pulls you into its charms.

Arriving at the campsite was, as always, exciting, an element of intrepidation, (especially after the night before), and a large degree of pleasure at having arrived safe and sound. Like the proverbial chalk and cheese this site turned out to be absolutely stunning and almost perfect. (Sigh of relief)! Stretching out over a 30 hectare hilly estate and embraced by two rivers, the site was so well organised and the facilities excellent. With a choice of pitches on three levels (plain, terraces or hills) and in a natural setting, anyone would be spoiled for choice. I had opted for the hill but nothing would have prepared me for the magnificence of my pitch.

View from my pitch with the River Gardon d’Anduze and the Cévennes mountains

Honestly, could anyone want for anywhere better to be staying for 7 nights? Food for the mind and soul! The way that the site is tiered, the hill pitches are all individual and really amongst nature yet close to all the amenities. I couldn’t have been happier.

My spot!

The river flows through the site and is one of the many tributaries of the River Gard or Gardon, rising in the Cévennes that gives its name to the Gard département.

Maggie seemed very pleased with the set-up and soon made herself comfortable, finding plenty of new smells and sounds, and just loving the new walks. With 30c heat, blazing sun and having eaten, she was more than happy to ‘assume the position’! Give her a moment or two and the head will drop, she’ll roll onto her side, the eyes will close, and before long she’ll be snoring! It’s a dog’s life!

A Bientot!