Du Vivier aux Carpes
close panel
Log in to write a review
Having used Carpes for several years as both a handy stopover and short stay, we have always found it to be a pleasant visit. However, our last two visits were somewhat disappointing due to the frosty reception we received on arrival. The first time we didn't take it to heart as anyone can have an off day, but to be treated so unpleasantly after a 500 mile drive is unacceptable, another couple in front of us were subject to the same treatment.
Our return stopover on the way back to the ferry, the owner's attitude was once again unacceptable and rude. We will not stay at Carpes again.
Very enjoyable stay
Stayed here for four nights on our way back to Calais. Very warm welcome from the owner. Our pitch was a decent size and backed on to one of the smaller lakes. It was a little overgrown in places, but this was not a problem. The covered pool was smallish but nicely heated. Nice clean facilities, and we made use of the games room in the toilet block.
Plenty to see and do in the area. This was our first visit to the Somme region and it was very interesting, and moving, to visit the places of rememberance. We also visited the Armistice train carriage in Compiegne. There is a small shop within walking distance, and plenty of supermarkets and other shopping 15 minutes drive away.
All in all this is an excellent site. Handy for a stop on your way to or from Calais, but also worth a few nights or more in it's own right. Very helpful and friendly owner. We were allowed to stay on our pitch for a couple of extra hours which was very convenient for our ferry time. Would definitely stay here again. Incidentally, listen out for the "laughing" duck. We were greatly amused.
Stato
Reviewed on 10/10/2022 11:38
Almost perfect
I had to think long and hard before doing this review
We were on this campsite for two weeks in 2016 - pitch no39 alongside the big fishing pond. Heavenly.
Back again August 2022. Pitch no 49 alongside a smaller pond. In our T5 van with a drive away awning. Being in our 70s setting up on a sunny afternoon was exhausting, but worth it when lazing in the sun. To our horror, a large rat came into our awning ran to the back and out under the van.
We did not go and complain right away, as the thought of moving was not on in the heat. We chilled out and later sat in the awning having our dinner - just baguette and pate as we had not shopped or set up our kitchen stuff. A nice glass of wine, fab. To our shock a rat ran between us and again to the back of the awning and under the van to escape. We also saw a rat on the adjacent pitch. The following morning we spoke to Alexandra and she gave us a choice of pitches. We moved to pitch 8 beside the duck pond and the remainder of our 9 day holiday was wonderful. Great size pitches, bread van in the morning, good shop nearby, good restaurant on site, friendly staff, great toilet/shower block.
I feel bad mentioning the problem, but worry about anyone with a baby or toddlers staying on that pitch. Lots of folk with young families were on the campsite and everyone seemed happy - so maybe we were just very unlucky.
Lak7
Reviewed on 05/08/2022 21:39
Excellent Site, great for overnight stops or longer stays
Medium site (65 pitches, 20 of which at static / seasonal pitches) with The Somme running behind. Great site for a stopover, only a few miles from the A26 at Saint Quentin. Good sized pitches all with electric. Good quality, clean sanitary facilities, toilets have seats and paper in the cubicles. Quite a few Brits on seasonal pitches. The owner works hard to make you feel welcome, even if only staying one night. Mobile baker visits daily, around 9.00am. Great base for the Great War battlefields. There is a British war cemetery in walking distance.
Since our last visit on 2017 the entrance has been moved 100m further along the road, with the former entrance now exit only. There is a new reception area and restaurant.
bread van visits each morning at 9:00am.
Lovely site with good size private pitches
We used this site as a stop over on our way south from the ferry and I was not expecting much, but it was lovely. We have two boys (10 and 12) and they loved it! We all had a swim in the clean pool and then walked around the lake. The boys were allowed to fish for free. There were chickens all around the site and donkeys and goats on the far side of the site. The loos and showers were clean and there was boule, badminton, ping pong and a pool table all for free. There was also a good play area.
Owner was welcoming and friendly and spoke v good English. There were fighter planes flying over which the boys loved and they stopped early evening so no bother even the beautiful church bells seemed to stop over night!
Bakery van was handy and fun for kids to get breakfast. The local shop was very convenient but limited.
The WW1 graves are very close by and worth a look.
Great site for a stopover
This is a lovely little site, set around some fishing lakes. We stayed for two nights at the end of June as we were heading home after a 3-week trip. We had a very warm welcome from the owner who was friendly and enthusiastic. There’s a small swimming pool on site but we didn’t try it out. The toilets/showers were all clean and looked like they had been recently refurbished. The pitches were surrounded by hedging or bushes/flowers which provided privacy. A bread van comes daily about 9 a.m. and the restaurant was open 4 evenings a week, with takeaway pizza available on the other 3 evenings. Just a couple of choices on the menu but the food was good and reasonably-priced. There’s a small supermarket very close by open 7 days a week. On the Sunday we had a rather tortuous bike ride (our fault, we didn’t follow the map properly) but were pleased to be able to visit the British WW1 cemetery located about 400m from the campsite. All in all a great site to stop at on our journey back to Calais, I'm sure we will return.
'Fishponds with carp'
... is the literal translation of the caravan site name! Says it all - lower part of site surrounds an attractive large pond/small lake and attracts mostly fishing folk. And us - non-fisherfolk. Main reception building and washrooms are close to the site entrance, which means it's a long way if your pitch is around the more picturesque lower end of the site. Next time, we'll pitch our caravan in the main, upper part of the site I think. Washroom facilities were excellent, v clean and shower cubicles positively spacious. Site was quite full for low season (2nd week Sept) I thought, so it seems a popular place. Outside cafeteria cabin had closed by now though; no children's area so more geared to adults (or v young families), and fisherfolk. Handy mini market in the village (Seraucourt-le-Grand) and you can buy fresh bread/croissants from a van which calls at 8am daily. Don't get that in UK! Good location for exploring Somme battlefields etc. Would recommend WW1 museum at Peronne, about 15km NW of the campsite. Campsite is in a quiet, rural part of Picardy. Nearest town is St Quentin (supermarkets etc). Would happily return.
A cracking touring site
This was our third visit , usually the night before the tunnel, this time the first night of our hols. A clean site with hedges around the main site, we were overlooking the lake, lovely. The War Cemetery is just a ten minute walk from the site. Another ten min walk in the other direction is a nice little bar that overlooks fishing lakes.
What a touring site should be?
We stayed here at the start and end of a campervan trip around France, in June 2019.
And....we loved it.
It has a good range of reasonably sized pitches with 'privacy hedging' to most, and some of the cleanest/best toilet and shower facilities we've so far encountered.
It's a pretty village with a useful shop and nearby bar, plus the on site cafe did a mean roast chicken and chips one night - at good value.
The local war cemetary is a moving place - and surely can't do other than make all ponder the folly of nations pulling apart, rather than co-operating together?
The nearby canal provides a good cycle ride into St Quentin.
But perhaps the star attraction here is the lady who runs the site, Alexandra, who particularly helped us (nervous first time dog abroad travellers) arrange a vet for the trip home worm pills and pet passport stamp - booking an appointment for us, in advance, with easy campervan parking outside. Unless the vet had come to us, it could hardly have been easier!
Will definitely use site again.
Well Recommended.
On the 3rd April 2019 our first location on our first trip across the Channel in our Camper Car (correct title for overseas eh!).
Made very welcome on arrival. Very helpful in allowing us to change pitch from grass to hard standing. It was early in the season and the site was not busy. The site is compact and family run, probably 50 pitches maximum. Noticed a few pitches were permanently occupied by caravans from the UK. From a new persons viewpoint a good sign people keep coming back.
Facilities were very clean and well kept.
Easy walk into the village where there is a small shop. You can get basic grocery supplies and some frozen foods here (wonderful baguettes). Supermarkets in a couple of locations are not far away if you want more and are easily accessible (our camper car is 7.5m).
A great experience. Well recommended and a thank you to our hosts.