Camping Sandaya Le Col Vert REVIEW: lakeside campsites in SW France

It had been five years since we last went camping in France, and with the addition of an extra little person in that time and extortionate summer holiday prices for a family of five, it was apparent that if we wanted a summer getaway this year, it was time to dig out our camping gear again. Not that we were totally averse to this kind of holidaying – both my husband and I spent most of our childhood holidays camping and fondly remember the lifestyle and freedom that comes with living under canvas. So how did we end up at Camping Sandaya le Col Vert?

I’ll explain how I came to book this brilliant lake campsite in southwest France, what we thought of the site and all the fantastic activities on offer for families in the area.

Choosing a French campsite 

With the weather in the UK being particularly dismal this year, picking a destination with guaranteed sunshine was high on my camping wish list. From my experience, France has THE best campsites in Europe and is easily reachable by car.

Plus I can speak the language (albeit VERY rusty these days), so that became our chosen destination. On our last camping trip to France and Spain, we stayed at three different campsites in our Berghaus inflatable tent (in the Dordogne, at Hourtin Plage and in San Sebastian), which proved a bit too many moves for us, in terms of packing down and setting up a tent. This time, we decided to limit ourselves to just two destinations.

With so many great campsites to choose from, I began my search as usual by browsing the Eurocamp website for options in the south of France, where the weather is likely to be hotter. We’ve stayed in many Eurocamp mobiles homes – Les Prairies de la Mer, La Croix du Vieux Pont, Le Brasilia and Parc Albatros but the company no longer offers camping pitches, so once I spotted a campsite I liked, I then had to find each campsite’s main site to check availability.

I made sure to do this early in the year, when many places offer a discount for early bookings. I also like to check out recommendations from Travelynn family. Her and I are blogger pals with similar taste in French campsites, so her seal of approval is always a massive bonus.

I was also eager to find a campsite that offered pitches with their own private sanitation facilities—having three kids, it seemed like a surefire way to make camping life a bit easier.

Lakeside campsite – Le Col Vert Camping

After much research, we settled on our first campsite of the trip: Le Col Vert Campsite, a four-star Sandaya site in South West France, on the shores of Lake Léon. Close to Capbreton and Hossegor, the site is a long way south, yes, but with our plan to take the 22-hour Plymouth-Santander ferry, the campsite would be only be a 3.5-hour drive from the ferry port – absolutely worth the travel.

Located in Vielle-Saint-Girons in Les Landes, the region is renowned for its vast natural landscapes dominated by the largest pine forest in Europe, and its Atlantic coastline. And oh my goodness that pine tree smell is addictive! The area felt very similar to a campsite we stayed at previously, further north – Hourtin Plage.

It was our first time at a Sandaya site, but it had a very similar vibe to Eurocamp and plenty of activities for families. Along with water sports like paddleboarding, kayaking, and pedal boating right on the doorstep, traffic-free cycle paths wind through the pine trees from the campsite to beautiful sandy beaches and excellent surf. Onsite, there’s also a swimming pool, water splash park, large playground, sports pitches and a bike pump track for kids. Having easy access to this kind of easy entertainment for kids is a huge part of why we love camping.

Our pitch

One of the reasons I chose Le Col Vert was for the private wash blocks offered on certain pitches, which include a shower, toilet and washing-up sink. However, when it came to booking, I went back and forth for ages between one of these or a lakeside pitch. Envisaging sitting at our camping table with a G&T in hand while the kids frolicked in the lake at the foot of our pitch, I ultimately opted for the lakeside pitch. 

On arrival though, I immediately regretted our decision. The lakeside pitches at Le Col Vert vary greatly in how much of the lake you can actually see. Some have stunning open vistas at the end of the pitch, others have foliage so thick, you can’t see anything. While we were only a few metres from the shoreline, dense trees between us and the water meant we had virtually no better view of the lake than some (cheaper) pitches set further back.

The sheer number of trees surrounding our pitch meant we also barely ever felt the sunshine and it always felt a bit dark. We’d think it to be a gloomy day, only to head off to the shop and realise it was actually brilliant sunshine! While I appreciate shade is important when camping in the heat, this was a bit too far the other way for my liking. I’d have preferred to sit in the evening sun with my drink a bit more. In hindsight, for the convenience of not having to trek to shower blocks, I’d definitely opt for the private wash block option if I had the choice again.

That said, on the mornings when the kids slept in (until 9.45am (!) some days thanks to the late nights and outdoor lifestyle) and I woke up early, I’d grab the paddleboard, carry it to the lake and head out across the still waters of the lake soaking up the temporary quiet. Mist slowly rising off the surface, sun slowly rising behind the trees, the sound of ducks quacking and the scent of freshly-baked croissants in the air. Heaven. I’m not sure if I’d have done this if we’d been too far away.

Book early enough and you can choose which pitch you’d like.

The lake, Étang de Léon

Camping Sandaya le Col Vert is located right on Lac Léon, near the village of Léon. Surrounded by pine forests, its calm waters make it ideal for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. The campsite has a couple of sandy beaches, one of which is monitored by a lifeguard, and has a designated swimming area. The lake waters remain shallow for quite a distance, and the lake bed is sandy and squishy underfoot, making it a great place for little ones to wild swim.

Pedalos, kayaks, electric boats and water scooters are available to rent at the campsite – make sure you book these in advance (and bring cash) as they do tend to book up quickly during the peak summer holiday season. Campers can also get involved with fishing sessions.

The swimming pool

Camping Sandaya Le Col Vert has a large outdoor pool surrounded by sun loungers and a heated undercover pool (although this is a bit on the tired and stinky side), with lifeguards on duty. There’s also a dedicated splash zone with small water slides, water features and sprinklers, which our kids loved and was particularly perfect for our three year old. Go early or on a cloudier day to have this place to yourself! 

The swimming pool could get very busy at times, particularly on a hot afternoon and we definitely didn’t spend as much time there as we have done at other pools, but our children thoroughly enjoyed it.

Although signs around the pool and on the campsite website state that men should wear swimming trunks (as is common in many French campsites), there were plenty of people wearing standard board shorts without issue, and nobody was asked to change. If you prefer to be on the safe side, be sure to pack some swimming trunks before you go.

The playground

The playground, situated near the evening entertainment stage, bike pump ramp and sports pitches is enormous and sandy underfoot. There are tables and a bar right next to the play area, allowing adults to grab and drink while their children ping around on the play equipment, or even watch a show and let energetic offspring race around the park.

Kids Club

Sandaya le Col Vert offers several kids’ clubs based on age groups (5-7, 8-12 and 13-17 years), all of which are completely free and can be booked through the Sandaya app. I had great hopes of sending our two girls off to these at the beginning of our holiday, partly for a bit of a break this far into the school holidays, but also so they could make friends on the campsite.

I got the impression there were a lot of French and Spanish kids attending the clubs (the campsite definitely swings this way, rather than British). However, our children weren’t very enthusiastic about going, and we were often busy with other activities anyway, so we didn’t actually take advantage of the kids’ clubs (to my disappointment!)

Onsite entertainment

The campsite puts on daily entertainment, which you can check out on the timetable on the app. Activities range from yoga and ‘colour runs’ to music and dance shows. Most of the entertainment is free, although there are some paid options, such as a circus (which was very average).

Games room

There is a small games room at Camping Sandaya Le Col Vert which offers a bit of fun for kids and adults, especially on rainy days. Table football, arcade games are a must on holiday! 

Wifi

Each device gets 30 minutes free WIFI at Le Col Vert and then after that you can choose a package, starting at €5 per day. We just used our mobile data, but ended up having to buy a whole load more for our phones after blasting through that during the week.

Campsite shop

The onsite shop at Camping Sandaya Le Col Vert is a convenient spot for campers to pick up daily essentials. It is really well-stocked and offers a variety of items including fresh bread and pastries every morning, camping supplies, snacks, drinks, and toiletries, plus swimming floats, bracelets and games. 

The shop never ran out of bread and pastries (although it did occasionally run out of fresh milk) and there was never a queue. Given its proximity to our pitch and the general feel of the campsite, we felt comfortable letting the girls go off cycling around the site and to pick up supplies for us from the shop themselves using our phones to pay. Very handy!

For our big shops, we went to the Carrefour Market in Leon.

Dining at Le Col Vert

On our first day, we arrived around 8 o’clock in the evening, after a long day of travel. It was a lifesaver to have the ‘Snack’ on the campsite; I was able to order two pizzas via the Sandaya app, which we picked up and devoured back at our tent.

There’s also a reasonably priced restaurant, ‘Les Terrasses du Lac’ overlooking the lake and a free bouncy castle across the way, by the water’s edge. It offers both indoor and outdoor seating, although I preferred the al fresco tables, which sit under fairy lights and have pretty views. 

During the summer, the restaurant hosts themed evenings such as ‘moules frites’. there was a veggie nugget option for our daughter, which does not seem to be hugely common for the area (although this wasn’t available on the themed night). Kids who get antsy waiting for their food to arrive can bounce within view while waiting for their meals.

Market evenings on the campsite will bring small food vans – one night we had Thai street food while the girls had their hair braided. Another night there was fresh oysters.

Across the road from the campsite entrance, you’ll find another pizza restaurant (Le Nenuphar), which we attempted to visit, but were immediately put off by their slightly difficult attitude towards seating us . We weren’t allowed to chose a table in the sun despite the place being completely empty, and couldn’t pull up a chair to the table to make five seats instead of four…. yada yada yada.

You’ll find more restaurants in nearby Léon and at St Girons Plage.

Wellness space

Le Col Vert has an onsite spa with whirlpool baths, a hammam and various treatments available. Unfortunately, we never got around to using any of these facilities! We were too busy entertaining children or making the most of the sun when it appeared. Perhaps if we’d been camping with friends, we might have had time for this adult treat.

Sandaya toilet blocks

Our nearby washblock was not too far away from our pitch and had everything we needed: showers, washing-up sinks and toilets. The cubicles were spacious, and there was never a queue, although I couldn’t get hot water during the middle of the day (it was fine in the evenings).

The toilet block could probably do with a renovation, although there was a newer one a bit further away. We used that for all our clothes washing and drying as it the machines there took card (we didn’t have many coins on us).

Cycle tracks from Le Col Vert

The cycle paths in this region of France are exceptional. Leading from the campsite, they snake for miles through the pine trees, are brilliantly signposted, mostly traffic-free and lead to stunning beaches and charming French towns. They are a joy to pedal, particularly with children in tow.

We only brought the girls’ bikes from the UK, but were able to hire bikes on the campsite (go early if you want a child seat on the back). One cloudy day, we cycled all the way to St Girons Plage for lunch. Though the route does include a few hills, it was very manageable for our 8 and 10 year olds – it’s around 20km there and back. Unfortunately, we were caught in a massive rain storm on the way back, but it made for memorable adventure! 

You can also cycle to Plage de la Lette Blanche (8km away, with no amenities), or head off in the opposite direction to go to Leon (5.5km).

Beaches near Camping le Col Vert

The beaches in this part of France are spectacular, with miles of dunes and perfect sand (sit anywhere for ideal sandcastle textures!). On a blue sky day, the colours of sea, sky and sand are breathtaking. These beaches are very popular with surfers and bodyboarders, and the surfy vibe is one of the things I love about the area.

Do be aware, the waves and the current are strong. St Girons and Moliets Plage are lifeguarded, with a very small swimming area that is regularly adjusted throughout the day as the tide changes. The tide comes in quickly, which makes for very fun sandcastle flooding play and water fleeing, but does mean you need to keep an eye on your belongings and make sure you’re far enough up the beach from the water (or move regularly). Totally mesmerising though.

We spent most of our time at the beach at St Girons Plage as there were shops, restaurants, snack shops, ice cream parlours, bars, toilets and free parking. As well as incredible waves, the beach has a wonderful way of morphing into different things, so sometimes the outgoing tide might have formed a shallow lagoon – perfect for little ones.

We also visited Moliets Plage, which was heaving with people and also has free parking, restaurants (with V expensive salads) and shops.

The nearest beach to the campsite is Plage de La Lette Blanche, which has no facilities like snack bars, so you need to take everything you need.

Things to do near the campsite

• Have a go at horse riding at Centre Equestre les Centaures. Located right next to the campsite, this riding centre offers rides and hikes for different abilities from beginners to advanced, including ponies for little ones. Trot on the beach, at the lake or in the forest.
• Pop across the road from the campsite to play mini golf. 
• The campsite is handily located within walking distance of an entertainment ground (aire d’animation) – during our stay there was a Monster truck show (which our toddler was desperate to see).
• Head to Parc Accrobranche Là Haut Aventure Park for treetop adventures if your little monkeys like climbing, or simply need to burn off some energy.
• For an unforgettable day out, head to San Sebastian, across the Spanish border. Just an hour and 20 minutes from the campsite, this coastal city is a must for its vintage theme park, Monte Igueldo, beautiful beach, incredible pintxos and general Basque vibes.
• Hire a surfboard or book a surfing lesson at Saint Girons Plage and take on the Atlantic waves.

Final thoughts on Camping Le Col Vert

With so many activities for families both onsite and nearby, I feel like we barely scratched the surface of this Sandaya campsite. The location is excellent, and although we had a few days of cloudy, cooler and rainier weather, the majority of our time was spent in hot sunshine. If we were to return, we’d still have loads to explore.

We’ve stayed in the area before, at La Cote D’argent at Hourtin Plage, and like that campsite, I love having the option of beach or lake to choose from (although I think the pitches at Le Col Vert are better). For those who enjoy activities like cycling and paddleboarding, it’s fantastic to have everything right there. Surfers will also love being so close to world-class waves.

For kids, the campsite is brilliant and our older two loved the independence of roaming around on their bikes by themselves.

If I was going to pick a downside, I’d say, the pine needles getting EVERYWHERE is a tad annoying, but that’s just camping and you can’t have that gorgeous smell without them, so…

It will definitely go down as one of our favourite campsites in France.

After we’d packed up, it was time to head north to our next campsite in the Dordogne, Domaine de Soleil Plage.