La Paillote

View prices & book 7.5 105 reviews
Spacious pitches
Spacious pitches
Our nice plot.
Really well maintained.
Peaceful and private pitch
Great little pitch
Space was fine for van and 2 tents
Barbecue area
Shaded picnic tables
1/23
Our nice plot.
Really well maintained.
Peaceful and private pitch

  • 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.

Campground type

RV & Motorhome sites 22
Tent sites 22
Caravan sites 22
Open now
Opens 15 April

Tourist board rating

Please note
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. 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 Tue, 15 Apr to

Reviews

7.5

Overall rating from 105 Pitchup.com customers

  • 36%
    10
  • 2%
    9
  • 25%
    8
  • 2%
    7
  • 12%
    6
  • 1%
    5
  • 9%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 5%
    2
  • 1%
    1
Location
 8
Value for money
 8
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 8
Child friendliness
 8
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 5
Budget/backpacker

70% would recommend this campground to a friend

72% would stay here again

What customers say

Good spot for ferry/tunnel crossings. Friendly staff & good vibes. Patios are private & decent. Bar/eats are popular, some live music. Toilets/showers are old & basic (bring your own TP). Some bar noise.

Summary AI-generated from Pitchup.com customer reviews

Reviews page 1 of 11
Arrival date (latest first)

Level pitch with electricity. Very close to Calais port.…

Overall

4 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 3
Accommodation
 5
Facilities / Activities
 5
Customer service
 4
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 2
Wifi
 No rating
Yvonne S.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked Level pitch with electricity. Very close to Calais port.

Disliked Toilets and showers were grotty, below the standard of other places I visited in France

Recommend to friends Visit again

In the end we stayed for 4/5 hours and left to catch an earlier ferry

Overall

1 out of 10
Location
 6
Value for money
 1
Accommodation
 1
Facilities / Activities
 1
Customer service
 4
Child friendliness
 2
Cleanliness
 1
Wifi
 1
Mat H.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked It was near Calais Port

Disliked I don’t like leaving negative reviews but I have to call this out.
1) Pitch had shattered car glass all over it.
2) The showers…. Used ear buds on the floor, sanitary towel on floor, locks on the outside, not clean.
3) The one urinal was blocked.
4) Power did not work.
5) Seemed more like budget housing than a campsite.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site, we would definitely stay again.

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 6
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Jaime P.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked Overall this was a good site. We stayed three nights and would definitely stay again. The customer service was fantastic, the bar on Saturday night was lovely and welcoming. The food from the cafe was excellent with enormous portions. My partner and I could have shared one sandwich and the fries between us. Very close to the ferry crossing and it was nice to not have to drive far to camp after a long travel day from London.

Disliked Not really a dislike but as many have said bring your own toilet paper to the restroom. This is pretty standard across France in my experience.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Günstig freundlich ruhig…

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 6
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 7
Wifi
 1
Norbert H.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked Günstig freundlich ruhig

Disliked Alles ein wenig alt
Aber funktioniert alles

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would only use for one night stopover before ferry

Overall

4 out of 10
Location
 5
Value for money
 6
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 6
Customer service
 4
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 4
Wifi
 No rating
Jane P.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked Showers were good and hot. Best we had all holiday - although somewhat dated.

Disliked People having a party until after 3am, not respectful of guests to the site who were trying to sleep

Recommend to friends Visit again

Site could use a little tlc

Overall

5 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 4
Accommodation
 3
Facilities / Activities
 No rating
Customer service
 6
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 1
Wifi
 6
Sarah M.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked The food at the bar

Disliked The cleanliness in the toilet and shower block was not very good

Recommend to friends Visit again

Friendly and helpful people.…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 9
Value for money
 9
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 9
Child friendliness
 9
Cleanliness
 9
Wifi
 5
Anonymous

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked Friendly and helpful people.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Location ease of check in…

Overall

10 out of 10
Location
 10
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 10
Facilities / Activities
 8
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 10
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 No rating
Alistair A.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked Location ease of check in

Disliked Na

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great stay, perfect location for ferry terminal. Friendly staff.

Overall

7 out of 10
Location
 7
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 7
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 6
Wifi
 No rating
Kathryn C.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked Nice size private pitches. Great atmosphere.
Lovely staff.
Great showes, could do with an update.

Disliked Shower/toilet blocks could do with an update.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very little to dislike about this place. Great welcome, open bar, pizza…

Overall

9 out of 10
Location
 8
Value for money
 10
Accommodation
 9
Facilities / Activities
 7
Customer service
 10
Child friendliness
 No rating
Cleanliness
 10
Wifi
 1
Louise M.

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked Very little to dislike about this place. Great welcome, open bar, pizza (Monday & Wednesday). Hosts very amenable and friendly, shame we missed live music night. Showers punching above their weight. In all would recommend this place highly

Disliked No lights or toilet roll in toilets...

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 site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry 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 Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Small (11-25 sites)

Location

La Paillote

2219

Rue du Camp du Drap d’Or

Balinghem

Pas-de-Calais

France

62610

Directions

Timezone

Europe/Paris +0200 (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 13.7 km Sea GoodGoodGoodN/A
Marck La Huchette 13.9 km Sea ExcellentExcellentGoodExcellent
Sangatte Bleriot Plage 14.2 km Sea GoodGoodGoodGood
Oye-Plage Les Hemmes 15.1 km Sea GoodExcellentExcellentExcellent
Sangatte Centre Plage 16.2 km Sea GoodGoodGoodGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

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 caravan
    Arrive:  4 p.m. –  10 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    On-site accommodation
    Arrive:  4 p.m. –  10 p.m.
    Depart by:  noon
    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at La Paillote? From $37.30 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.