La Paillote

View prices & book 7.8 91 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
1/22
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

7.8

Overall rating based on 91 reviews View breakdown

Budget/backpacker

Voted 53% of visitors View breakdown

74%

would recommend this campground to a friend

75%

would stay here again

  • 40%
    10
  • 0%
    9
  • 29%
    8
  • 0%
    7
  • 14%
    6
  • 0%
    5
  • 8%
    4
  • 0%
    3
  • 6%
    2
  • 0%
    1

Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Very friendly place to stop ,made to feel welcome by everyone.will definitely…

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

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Very friendly place to stop ,made to feel welcome by everyone.will definitely be using the site next year. Wishing everyone at La Paillote a merry Christmas and happy new year. Tony and Diane.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Shabby

Overall 6/10
Location 6
Value for money 6
Accommodation 4
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 4
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Handy for the tunnel

Disliked: This place is a very run-down trailer park with a few camping pitches. The bar/reception area looked very tatty and there was a handwritten sign informing arrivals that reception was closed between 2 and 5:30 (not mentioned in the email). Toilet facilities were grotty. I was given stern looks by one of the static caravan residents as I made my 7am delivery. Beware of the bridge on the route with 2m height restriction, not apparent until you are nearly upon it

Recommend to friends Visit again

Remove from Pitch up website.

Overall 2/10
Location 6
Value for money 2
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: I am sorry but it was awful. 25 mins from ferry was the only good thing.

Disliked: Campsite is in the middle of the suburbs but there’s nothing about. Do not come on a Monday as you will just be sitting outside waiting for someone to turn up as the bar that acts as reception is closed.
The pitches are behind a bar in random gaps between permanent static homes.
The shower block is the worst I have ever been to. Metal doors with no signage, no lighting and so grim and run down it was embarrassing.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Would not stay again

Overall 2/10
Location 4
Value for money 4
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 4
Wifi 2
Peter C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Nothing

Disliked: Was closed on our arrival with note saying closed between 2pm and 5pm
Toilet block needed total renovation.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Needs improvement to sanitary block

Overall 2/10
Location 2
Value for money 4
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness 2
Cleanliness 4
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Grass pitch

Disliked: No reception staff present, no lights in sanitary block, no bins, pizzeria and bar shut- nowhere near for alternative dining

Recommend to friends Visit again

Was good for a stop over from Calais before heading south.

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 8
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 4
Customer service 4
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Eman C. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Hedges around the plot giving some privacy.

Very quiet.

Disliked: Not clear where to go when checking in. Toilets and other facilities were very basic. Not a lot facilities nearby. Not great for walking our dogs.

If coming from Calais and in a Motorhome be aware that Google Maps wants to take you a route with a bridge which has a 2m height restriction.

Site was fine but just really for us.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Rough

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 4
Accommodation 4
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 4
Child friendliness 2
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Close to ferry port.

Disliked: Not overly friendly reception, being stared down a lot by the regulars, we were in bed around 10 and heard a group of people walk past loudly talking about l’ étrangers.
There are no showers or basic camping facilities only toilets. This is basically a trailer park with a few grass pitches. With a bar/resto and a garden bar on site it will be quite rowdy and noisy when the local rough crowd is in.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very basic, but convinient campsite close to ferry.

Overall 6/10
Location 6
Value for money 10
Accommodation 4
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness 4
Cleanliness 4
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Large pitch . Reasonably good value for money. Close to Calais for Ferry crossing.

Disliked: Cool reception- no explanation where anything was or how the electronic gate worked. No showers. Outside toilets without toilet paper. Loud music and noise from the bar past 11pm.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Excellent site with clean facilities

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

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Very friendly owner. He made us feel very welcome.
The facilities were not modern but were scrupulously clean.
The evening was rainy and we were in the bar with a young family, we were made to feel welcome and at home

Recommend to friends Visit again

Quick stop over for ferry

Overall 4/10
Location 6
Value for money 4
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 4
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Power optional grass and earth site

Liked: Food in restaurant was great.

Disliked: Only 2 showers available and 1 shower wasn't working at all.

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°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 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

Offers

Conditions apply - see site type section for details

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 $36.98 (for 1 night, 4 people) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.