French connections
Following in his grandparents’ wheel tracks, Cameron Burns takes his vintage caravan on a ferry to France
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In the days before mass-market international travel, one of the greatest holiday adventures was to take your caravan to the Continent. The idea was so revered that one of the main caravan magazines in the 1950s launched the ‘Les Amis D’Outre Manche’ (‘Our friends across the Channel’) car badge scheme. The hardiest of caravanners who’d ventured abroad could purchase and proudly display such a badge on their towing vehicle so that other tourers could ask them about how they planned such an audacious trip. The kudos was such that badges were only issued after caravanners had submitted copies of their ferry crossing booking as proof that they’d actually been! At the time, boarding most vessels involved loading the car and caravan by crane, while crossing borders was a long and laborious process.
By the late 1970s, the Caravan Club had taken much of the strain out of continental touring by launching its Red Pennant Travel Service. This offered a complete package – a helpline for booking Channel crossings, details of recommended campsites, travel insurance and even a complimentary ‘GB’ sticker, along with a neat wallet in which to keep all those necessary travel documents. The UK had joined the EEC by this point, and getting to Europe became much easier due to relaxed borders and new, modern, roll-on-roll-off ferries.
It was against this background that my grandparents first ventured to France with their little 1966 Sprite 400 caravan – it was a trip that would change our family holidays forever more.
So freeing was the idea of touring on the Continent with two young children and all the comforts of home in tow, that my grandparents fell in love with European caravanning breaks. Fast-forward more than half a century, and we still have that same little Sprite 400. It was time to celebrate its 60th birthday with another trip to France.
As much as things change, some things stay the same: the Club handled the ferry crossing booking for us, gave us up-to-date advice about legal requirements when travelling abroad and recommended a beautiful little campsite in Brittany – Le Domaine de la Ville Huchet. We also took out the recently refreshed Red Pennant travel insurance (see camc.com/redpennant to find out more). This was all done with the tap of a few buttons within the Club app. Suffice it to say that, with a bit of preparation, and the back-up of the Club behind you, there is no reason to feel daunted by the prospect of a jaunt across the Channel.
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Still spritely
We gave the Sprite 400 a thorough check over before the big trip, not that its flawless 60-year record of service gave us any doubts about its ability to complete such a long journey. Funnily enough, I found that it was exempt from new legislation under which owners must register a caravan for travel in most European countries. As it is under 750kg fully laden, it counts as a small trailer – it’s a shame as I was quite looking forward to submitting a copy of the original bill of sale as proof of ownership!
The Sprite 400 was designed to be towed by the original BMC Mini, so has a maximum weight of only 572kg, an impossibly small figure to comprehend for a caravan nowadays. Its very simple construction, two-burner hob/grill, gas lamp, water foot pump and couple of retrofitted 12V lights really keep the weight down. But what it lacks in specification, it more than makes up for in character.
We received plenty of smiles as we pulled through the check-in area at the Brittany Ferries terminal at Portsmouth. Boarding the ferry was really easy; there were plenty of stewards pointing out clearly where to go and assist with parking. With a small overnight bag packed, we climbed to the upper decks to our assigned cabin, stopping for a little nightcap at the bar. We find it preferable to take an overnight ferry, as it means that we’re well rested for what is always a very full day in France. The crossing was so smooth that we slept through our alarm to get up early for breakfast!
Once the ship had docked, we cleared passport control within minutes and were soon out on the spacious open roads of France. Contrary to popular belief, it’s surprisingly easy to drive on the other side of the road, and the fact that the roads on the Continent are generally less congested than ours certainly helps. We only saw two sets of roadworks and not so much as a hint of a traffic jam throughout our entire trip.
From the port of Ouistreham in Normandy, it was around a three-hour drive westwards to the Domaine de la Ville Huchet campsite near Saint-Malo (Club ref: B32). This site is part
of the Les Castels group, a network of high quality campsites that claimed the overall prize in the Club’s recent overseas awards (see pages 66-67 of the May/June 2026 issue). Today, the restored château stands tall as a proud centrepiece of this characterfully French campsite. Pulling up to the main entrance with its tall stone columns, modern reception on the left and outdoor pool area on the right, first impressions are superb.
A taste of France
Our hedged pitch was huge, the Sprite 400 looking a little lost on such a big patch of grass. Once set up, we ventured to the local supermarket, a convenient five-minute drive away. Unfortunately, we cannot be trusted to show any form of restraint when faced with such a delicious selection of fresh food, and bought way more than our retro camping fridge could accommodate!
The campsite is popular with motorhome owners, as a regular bus runs past the end of the road, while Saint-Malo is a sprawling city consisting of three distinct areas – the modern town, the harbour, and the historic, fortified town. Each part is worthy of at least a full day’s exploration. It’s also worth venturing just a little farther afield to see the tidal island of Mont-Saint-Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The iconic silhouette of the Benedictine abbey, with its distinctive peak, slowly reveals itself as you venture along the coastal road. The mount is accessible nowadays via a shuttle bus service which is included with your mainland car park fee.
Leisure vehicles may have changed over the years, but an adventure travelling through France remains as exciting as ever. Caravanning is an extremely cost-effective way of enjoying a holiday overseas, and the Club is, as ever, on hand to help you book the ideal campsites and offer friendly advice – see camc.com/overseas. I’m pleased to report that our Sprite 400 completed the trip without a hint of trouble – it was the perfect little home from home on the Continent, just as it was all those years ago.
■ Look out for video of Cameron’s adventure in the Digital Magazine over the coming weeks. You can download the magazine app from Google Play and the App Store – just search for ‘CAMC Magazine’.
Top tips for overseas trips
- Check your passport and driving licence validity dates
- Remember to take your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) which gives you access to state healthcare in the EU, as well as your travel insurance policy details.
- Take your V5C document, vehicle insurance details and proof of MOT (if applicable).
- Consider investing in an Emovis tag, which allows automatic toll payments on French, Spanish and Portuguese motorways. For more information and details of a €10 saving on the application fee visit camc.com/emovis.
- Check you have packed kit such as a warning triangle, high-visibility vests for all passengers, fire extinguisher and first aid kit. You can find more information about country-specific requirements at camc.com/overseas-holidays/useful-information
- Taking your pet? Speak to your vet about an Animal Health Certificate three months before travel. Many campsites will have information about tapeworm treatment before returning to the UK.
- Wanting to stay longer? British passport holders are permitted to stay ‘visa free’ in the EU for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. If you intend to stay for longer than this you may need a visa or permit.
