La Paillote

View prices & book 7.2 116 reviews
Spacious pitches
Spacious pitches
Barbecue area
Shaded picnic tables
Inside the restaurant
Entrance to the site
Outdoor seating
View of calais, 25 minutes' drive away
A nearby beach
1/12
Barbecue area
Shaded picnic tables
Inside the restaurant

  • 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
Open now
Opens 15 April

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • At least one of the party members must be aged 18 or over.
  • 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.

Languages spoken

English

French

Open from Wed 15 Apr to

No availability here for your search criteria

Reviews

7.2

Overall rating from 116 Pitchup.com customers

  • 31%
    10
  • 4%
    9
  • 25%
    8
  • 6%
    7
  • 10%
    6
  • 2%
    5
  • 7%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 6%
    2
  • 6%
    1
Location
 8
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 7
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 5
Budget/backpacker

68% would recommend this site to a friend

69% would stay here again

What customers say

This campsite offers a convenient location for overnight stays before ferry crossings to Calais. Visitors praise the friendly and helpful staff, pleasant bar and restaurant, and good value for money. Pitches are generally spacious and private. Some guests have noted that facilities, particularly the shower and toilet blocks, are dated and could benefit from an upgrade. Noise from the bar can be an issue for some.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews. Last updated 23/06/2026

Filter by topic

Reviews page 1 of 12
Arrival date (latest first)

Easy to find. ,pitch was fine…

Overall

4 out of 10
Location
 4
Value for money
 5
Facilities / Activities
 3
Customer service
 4
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 3
Wifi
 No rating
John T. 28 reviews

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Easy to find. ,pitch was fine

Disliked Toilets and showers outdated , bar closed at 2pm Sunday and did not open Monday ,there are no shops within the area ,did manage to locate a bread outlet about 1 km from camp

Recommend to friends Visit again

Convenient location for 1 night before…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
Anonymous

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Convenient location for 1 night before channel crossing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Loved it…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Robert B. 1 review

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Loved it

Recommend to friends Visit again

Cheap and cheerful.. Great host.. decent…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
michael p. 1 review

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Cheap and cheerful.. Great host.. decent food if you have no cooking facilities. Close to Calais. Quiet area.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Easy to book last minute and…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 No rating
Value for money
 No rating
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 No rating
Wifi
 No rating
James S. 1 review

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Easy to book last minute and friendly people

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great for a overnight stay before…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 9
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 1
 Samuel D. 1 review

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Great for a overnight stay before catching a ferry from Calais

Recommend to friends Visit again

Our second stay here as close…

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 No rating
Louise M. 17 reviews

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Our second stay here as close to Calais. Really friendly welcome again, great bar and they serve more food now. Really good place for a Calais stop. The showers are very powerful.

Recommend to friends Visit again

War alles Super!…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Facilities / Activities
 10
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 10
 Franz-Josef D. 1 review

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked War alles Super!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Small sight and was ok for night stopover

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 8
Wifi
 9
 Karen P. 2 reviews

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Friendly gentleman checked us in and showed us to our pitch for the night.
Bar area looked cosy and friendly but didn’t use ourselves.

Disliked Wasn’t shown where showers/toilets were.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Bijzonder vriendelijk personeel

Overall

8 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 8
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 No rating
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 1
Wifi
 1
Anonymous

Electric optional grass pitch

Liked Fijne ruime plek

Disliked De hygiëne van het sanitair gebouw

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 Composting toilet 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°E

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 2020201920182017
Calais Centre Plage 8.5 mi Sea GoodGoodGoodN/A
Marck La Huchette 8.6 mi Sea ExcellentExcellentGoodExcellent
Sangatte Bleriot Plage 8.8 mi Sea GoodGoodGoodGood
Oye-Plage Les Hemmes 9.4 mi Sea GoodExcellentExcellentExcellent
Sangatte Centre Plage 10.1 mi Sea GoodGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Frequently asked questions

  • 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:  4 p.m. –  10 p.m.
    Depart by:  12 p.m.
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at La Paillote? From £18.01 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.