A little about the Île d'Oléron in the Charente-Maritime region of western France, how to get there and the camping resources in that area.

The Île d'Oléron is France's largest island after Corsica and is situated just below Rochefort and above Royan which are both on the mainland. The island is a favourite of day-trippers and families in the summer months because of the beautiful sandy beaches there, so when the sun shines (lots of it here) then you will find plenty of French nationals on the beaches as well as British tourists.

The Île d'Oléron is flatter and more wooded than the Île de Ré with masses of greenery, and the large pine-studded Forêt des Saumonards in the northeast of the island where here you can see a dazzling view of the surrounding parcs à huitres and the mighty Fort Boyard stranded in the midst of the sea between Oléron and the Île d'Aix to the northeast.

Fishing and tourism are the main industries on the island, with camping being at the forefront of the tourist trade and oyster catching featuring at the top of the agenda for fishermen.

How to get there? Not too difficult if you follow our directions which should get you from your ferry port to the Île d'Oléron without the need to consult a map - or at least we will get you near to your camping resort there.

From Calais it certainly appears that going via the Paris circular - Le Boulevard périphérique as it is laughingly called - is by far the quickest route but we have been lost there so many times it's untrue so we do not feel qualified to give directions that way.

We much prefer to go this way: Take the A16 out of Calais to Abbeyville and carry on to Rouen. From Roen follow signs for Evreux, Dreux and Chartres, cutting across country on the N10 to Chateaudun, Vendome and Tours. Get onto (and stay on) the A10 from Tours to Saintes where you get onto the D728 to the Île d'Oléron.

From Caen head for Argentan, Le Mans and Tours. From Tours the same route as above applies.

From Cherbourg and St Malo head for Rennes and Nantes where you pick up the Nantes peripherique (ring road) and head Ouest (west) to follow signs for Bordeaux. Exit the peripherique at junction 48 onto the E3 A83 for about 1km, then turn off onto the D937 to la Roche sur Yon. After skirting around la Roche you head for Lucon on the D746, and from there Rochefort and Île d'Oléron are signed.