La Paillote

From €20 For 1 night, 4 adults 8.5 31 reviews
Spacious pitches (added by manager 18 Aug 2023)

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Spacious pitches (added by manager 18 aug 2023)
1/8
1/20
Favourite
Our nice plot. (added by kathleen_s240720 04 sep 2023)
Really well maintained. (added by robert_k128134 09 oct 2023)
Peaceful and private pitch (added by robert_k128134 09 oct 2023)

  • Family-friendly site with grass pitches a 25-minute drive from Calais
  • Cap Blanc-Nez half an hour’s drive; Boulogne-sur-Mer 35 minutes
  • Brasserie/bar with live music and beer garden; pétanque on site
An excellent base for exploring the northern French department of Pas-de-Calais, La Paillote is in the village of Balinghem, about five minutes by car from the medieval market town of Ardres. And if that doesn't help you place exactly where this small well-maintained site is, it might help to know that Calais and the beaches of the Opal Coast are a 25-minute drive to the north. As well as level grass pitches and a ‘dogs are welcome’ policy, La Paillote also has an on-site brasserie/bar that serves simple meals (think croque monsieur sandwiches, that sort of thing) and local beers. The bar often comes alive with live music, and the entertainment might also spill outside into the beer garden, where there’s no shortage of picnic tables for alfresco dining and drinking. A pétanque court is available for those who want a bit of traditional outdoor competition. Keen anglers might be grateful for the proximity to the Etang d’Ardres lake (five minutes’ drive), with its stocks of carp, while hikers and birdwatchers should make a beeline to the Marais de Guînes (10 minutes), a wetland area inhabited by marsh harriers and cuckoos. If you prefer your walks with a dash of sea salt, you can head to the cliffs at Cap Blanc-Nez (half an hour) and walk the coastal trail while taking in views across the Channel to the White Cliffs of Dover (weather permitting). In addition to the toilets in the brasserie, there is an on-site toilet block, showers and a washing-up area, plus a launderette.

Site type

Motorhome pitches 15
Tent pitches 15
Touring caravan pitches 15
Opens 1 May

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • The site does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.

Languages spoken

English

French

Open from Wed, 1 May to

Reviews

8.5

Overall rating based on 31 reviews View breakdown

Budget/backpacker

Voted 53% of visitors View breakdown

84%

would recommend this site to a friend

87%

would stay here again

  • 54%
    10
  • 0%
    9
  • 29%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 6%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 6%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 3%
    2
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    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Quiet good pitches…

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 6
Christopher D. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: Quiet good pitches

Disliked: Nothing

Recommend to friends Visit again

Good proximity for the Euro tunnel, really friendly welcome, very good vibe,…

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 8
Victoria B. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: Good proximity for the Euro tunnel, really friendly welcome, very good vibe, clean and tidy pitch. The onsite bar and takeaway food was a real bonus after a long day of driving. Has everything you need all be it a bit basic, however for the price spot on.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Convenient old style French campsite close to Tunnel. Friendly staff. Cosy bar.…

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Philip H. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: Convenient old style French campsite close to Tunnel. Friendly staff. Cosy bar.

Disliked: good pitch though a little way from showers etcAll you need for a stopover

Recommend to friends Visit again

A great little site, Level grassy pitch’s with really friendly hosts

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 4
Robert K. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: A really nice site, so quiet and peaceful especially at night. Like many sites a mixture of holiday homes and pitches. It’s located 10 or so miles from Calais, not too far but far enough. It’s in a great location for stopovers if using the Ferry’s. Or in my case it was a great location to use as a base whilst sightseeing in the area for several days. Access to the site is more or less 24/7 with the barrier codes. The Host was a great guy who could not do enough to ensure my stay was enjoyable. I was made to feel really welcome. There is a quiet pub as part of the complex near the entrance, mainly used by the locals and visitors. As well as a beer, food is available, especially useful for those just using the site as a stop over. The pitches are very private with each having a surrounding of hedges, shrubs etc. I found the facilities, showers toilets etc to be adequate for my needs. All in all it was a great stay for me and I will definitely be returning even if only for a stop over.

Disliked: No real dislikes for me. Maybe the Wi-Fi can only be used near the reception area, if the Wi-Fi could have a bigger coverage.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Definitely stay again

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
Michelle F. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: Very friendly Facilities very clean and modern Easy to deal with

Recommend to friends Visit again

ericking10@gmail.com

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 10
eric k. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: GOOD SIZED PITCHES AND ABLE TO PLACE TENT PEGS INTO GROUND AS ALOT OF PITCHED I HAVE STRUGGLES DUE TO HARDCARE INSTAEAD OF SOFT TURF. HOST WAS VERY ACCOMMODATING.

Recommend to friends Visit again

A good over night stay, after late arrival at Calais 15…

Overall 6/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 4
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: A good over night stay, after late arrival at Calais 15 mins from Le Shuttle

Disliked: Facility’s a little dated ,

Recommend to friends Visit again

Perfect overnight stop.

Overall 10/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 6
Steffan M. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: Very easy, nice staff, good beer.

Disliked: Nothing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

We verbleven voor 1 nachtje als tussenstop. Het was heerlijk rustig en…

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 6
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 6
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 4
Mariska V. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: We verbleven voor 1 nachtje als tussenstop. Het was heerlijk rustig en donker ‘s nachts, we konden zelfs de sterren zien. Schone douches en toiletten en zeer vriendelijke camping eigenaar.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great value site.

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Kathleen S. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Electric optional grass and earth pitch

Liked: Good location to port of Calais. Ideal for stopover. The owner is very helpful and freindly, and runs a nice peaceful site. The toilets and showers were functional. The secluded hedged plots were level and kept nice. Great value. Would stay again. We visited end of August.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Features

Portable toilet

Dogs allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

Pétanque

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Gastronomic delight

Peaceful

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Type

Small (11-25 pitches)

Location

La Paillote

2219

Rue du Camp du Drap d’Or

Balinghem

Pas-de-Calais

France

62610

Directions

Timezone

Europe/Paris CEST (GMT+02:00)

GPS

50.86254°N
1.94783°W

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Saint Joseph Village (10 minutes’ drive) is an open-air museum/theme park where you can learn what life was like in this region at the start of the 20th century. Reconstructed buildings include a school and old-fashioned stores such a haberdasher’s and a vintage bakery. At Calais you can relax on the sandy beach while watching the ferries shuttle across the Channel; climb to the top of the lighthouse to see if you can make out the English coast; or visit the Musée des Beaux-Arts, with its collection of works by the sculptor Auguste Rodin. One of Rodin’s famed sculptures, The Burghers of Calais, sits in front of the town hall. Boulogne-sur-Mer (35 minutes) is known for Nausicaá - Centre national de la Mer, a vast aquarium housing sharks, manta rays and tropical fish, plus penguins and turtles. The aquarium sits at the western end of the sandy beach, which is flanked by a long jetty and the Phare Rouge lighthouse.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Calais Centre Plage 8.5 mi Sea Good Good Good N/A
Marck La Huchette 8.6 mi Sea Excellent Excellent Good Excellent
Sangatte Bleriot Plage 8.8 mi Sea Good Good Good Good
Oye-Plage Les Hemmes 9.4 mi Sea Good Excellent Excellent Excellent
Sangatte Centre Plage 10.1 mi Sea Good Good Good Good

Data source: European Environment Agency

  • Does La Paillote have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is La Paillote dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near La Paillote? Saint Joseph Village (10 minutes’ drive) is an open-air museum/theme park where you can learn what life was like in this region at the start of the 20th century. Reconstructed buildings include … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of La Paillote?
    Camping and touring
    Arrive:  9 a.m. –  10 p.m.
    Depart by:  11 a.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at La Paillote? From £17.13 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.