En France! Manoir de l'Abbaye at Martragny near Bayeux

Manoir de l'Abbaye at Martragny 

I'd like to start this post with a big thank you to the weather for deciding to have its storm the day before our cross channel sailing! The sea for our crossing was practically flat and I hardly felt poorly at all. I even managed to drink coffee and eat a delicious salmon salad. If only all sailings could be as smooth!

Our first stop was Manoir de l'Abbaye campsite at Martragny, just outside Bayeux. The ACSI registered site is open all year, but as we pulled up the single track lane to the camping field entrance we spotted a barrier across it and our hearts sank. It's ok said Madame, waving from behind us. You can park in the courtyard. Just reverse back down this narrow curving lane. Reverse? We don't DO reverse! Fortunately Dave panicked less than I did and took the wheel. He managed to slowly but surely trundle our caravan back and then in through a huge stone gateway to the Manoir courtyard. Phew! Other than just clipping one corner, our worst caravanning nightmare was averted!

Manoir de l'Abbaye is €21 a night (ACSI price €18 for 3 or more nights) including electricity and free wifi and they only take cash. There is a little shower block in the courtyard, but the chemical toilet point is across the neighbouring camping field. If you stay here in winter too, don't wait until your toilet is full. It's a long traipse! We were glad of the protection provided by thick stone walls and an overhanging barn roof though. Monday night was pretty windy.

The Manoir was apparently built in the 17th century and the main house is a beautiful building. I loved that the barn where we hooked up our electricity was full of random broken furniture, old agricultural implements and a pretty new mini tractor. The three-foot-long door knocker is impressive too! Manoir de l'Abbaye is excellently situated for Bayeux so if you want to see the famous tapestry, this is the campsite to choose. The town is probably even within cycling distance for fitter souls. Just make sure to pull over and ask where you need to pitch up. Don't go zooming up the lane - whatever the signs say!