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places to visit => abroad => Topic started by: fatdoc on April 04, 2010, 01:22:17 pm

Title: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatdoc on April 04, 2010, 01:22:17 pm
OK,

I havent been for years. I will be going next week en famille.

No doubt there have been some renovations  to some of the kids circuits, what's in best nick? which are the best ones?

May I also ask for any favourite areas any may know of re: walk in times, the best places for the little uns to clamber about on etc...

so far I have: the elephant... coz they'll like to look at it, Sabots I hear has a good kids circuit.., Guichot coz of the minimal walk in and flatness, up past the sea of sand... to the weird shapes..... that's it!

just lookin for some knowledge, cheers.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Dr T on April 04, 2010, 01:39:34 pm
next week as in tomorrow or a week tomorrow??
we're out with the nipper week after next - no knowledge of kids circuits yet as he's only 1...
might see you out there..

last time out the boy liked Istatis just for the wandering around and yes Elephant was a hit too
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 04, 2010, 09:50:18 pm
Canche aux Merciers is good fun for the kids. Some very small boulders to warm up on, flat landings, easy walk in.

The kids circuit at Sabots is great. Well spaced boulders, flat landings and no adults falling (all the boulders are easy/low)

Rocher des Potets doesn't have a marked kids circuit, but lots of low easy stuff and usually very quiet. Bit of a walk, but a fun place to spend all day; take a hammock and chill out while they catch lizards.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: marty on April 04, 2010, 10:39:14 pm
OK,

I havent been for years. I will be going next week en famille.

No doubt there have been some renovations  to some of the kids circuits, what's in best nick? which are the best ones?

May I also ask for any favourite areas any may know of re: walk in times, the best places for the little uns to clamber about on etc...

so far I have: the elephant... coz they'll like to look at it, Sabots I hear has a good kids circuit.., Guichot coz of the minimal walk in and flatness, up past the sea of sand... to the weird shapes..... that's it!

just lookin for some knowledge, cheers.

Second Lagers suggestions of canche and sabots... canche particularly good

Some pics here http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,11690.msg201452.html#msg201452 (http://ukbouldering.com/board/index.php/topic,11690.msg201452.html#msg201452)

Enjoy yourself!
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Paul B on April 04, 2010, 11:32:22 pm
they catch lizards.

They manage to catch them? I'm amazed.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatdoc on April 05, 2010, 09:57:43 am
cheers for the info
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 05, 2010, 09:57:55 am
they catch lizards.

They manage to catch them? I'm amazed.

Got some video of the oldest monster pretending to be "Steve Irwin, back from the dead" catching them with her bare hands - probably a bit dark/sick for public viewing...
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatdoc on April 05, 2010, 09:58:41 am
next week as in tomorrow or a week tomorrow??
we're out with the nipper week after next - no knowledge of kids circuits yet as he's only 1...
might see you out there..

last time out the boy liked Istatis just for the wandering around and yes Elephant was a hit too

I'll be there 10 till 17th..
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Dr T on April 05, 2010, 11:44:35 am
next week as in tomorrow or a week tomorrow??
we're out with the nipper week after next - no knowledge of kids circuits yet as he's only 1...
might see you out there..

last time out the boy liked Istatis just for the wandering around and yes Elephant was a hit too

I'll be there 10 till 17th..

us too - maybe see you -you staying at Maisonbleau??
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatdoc on April 05, 2010, 11:54:29 am
yep
 ;D
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Dr T on April 05, 2010, 12:15:23 pm
yep
 ;D

cool beans  :beer2:
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatdoc on April 05, 2010, 08:44:00 pm
gonna be good!
 8)


Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: a dense loner on April 06, 2010, 12:35:52 am
guichot for a kids circuit? glad i've not got kids. merciers is good, nothing above 4b there, unless u want to jump backwards
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: neil h on April 06, 2010, 08:27:30 am
guichot for a kids circuit? glad i've not got kids. merciers is good, nothing above 4b there, unless u want to jump backwards

theres nowt wrong with jumping backwards  :P
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Jim on April 07, 2010, 03:19:44 pm
which is the best kids circuit for a 2.5 year old?
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: lagerstarfish on April 07, 2010, 03:49:18 pm
The first few problems on Crunch The Merciless white circuit are on boulders only a couple of feet high and have flat landings. A 2.5 year old will also be able to grasp the starting holds on the 8a backwards jump thing.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: shark on April 07, 2010, 07:39:17 pm
I'll be there 10 till 17th..

Us too at Recloses with Rob Barker, Mark Hundleby and John Welford + womenfolk and 8 kids in total I think...
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Richie Crouch on April 07, 2010, 08:31:35 pm
The scouse contingent are also out and about in font from 11th till 16th, so if you are psyched for a session at recloses trying Opium let me know!  :-*
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatdoc on April 07, 2010, 10:15:37 pm
I'll send some PMs wiv my moblie..

it's like Buoux 20 yrs ago.. but with kids !!
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatdoc on April 08, 2010, 09:46:30 pm
OK,

got some info..

I have a basic itinerary.. which is very provisional..

merciers / sabot / potala / dame J / buthiers / elephant (even if just to look - but the kids circuit apparently better recently)

no doubt this will change but seems like a perfect en famille based tour with the option of the odd 7 for me along the way..

sweeet.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Eifeler on April 08, 2010, 10:09:35 pm
No personal experience with children, but our Alsation used to have a ball on the Blanc E circuit at Sabots, albeit Chatterton style. Grimporama has a more or less updated list of Font circuits with age recommendations for 'Blanc E' circuits:

http://www.grimporama.com/francais/bleau/bl_pistee.htm (http://www.grimporama.com/francais/bleau/bl_pistee.htm)
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatdoc on April 08, 2010, 10:12:29 pm
cheers

will look into that.

Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: GCW on July 04, 2010, 11:09:09 am
Slightly off topic, but what's Parc Asterix like for kids?  Specifically a 3 year old and a 5 year old- is it worth bothering with.

And does anyone know any decent swimming pools around.  Staying at Maisonbleau, but I've never seen the one at Buthiers open.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on July 04, 2010, 01:42:11 pm
Do modern kids even know who Asterix is? Will they be asking why there are pictures of Kurt Albert everywhere?
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: bobkatebob on July 05, 2010, 07:50:09 am
GCW, It depends when you come as to if the open air swimming pool is open

Looking at http://www.base-de-buthiers.com/ (http://www.base-de-buthiers.com/)  , the pool is open 5th June to 29th August from 10:30 am to 7:00pm

Do note that as with all French pools, no swim shorts.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on July 05, 2010, 09:46:12 am
Does it really only open 2 months of the year?

Even the outdoor (heated saltwater of all things) pool in Stonehaven is open for longer than that!
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: bobkatebob on July 06, 2010, 08:04:06 am
I think last year due to it being so hot at the end of the summer that they extended the opening for an extra week.

It is designed more as a leasure pool rather than for hard core would swim in any weather sort of swimmers pool. Though they could have possably opened it up this winter as an ice rink rather than spend loads of money on the artificial plastic ice rink which isn't exactly brilliant.

There are indoor pools in Malsherbes and Milly that I know of, though I don't know their opening hours.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: GCW on July 06, 2010, 08:26:17 am
Thanks peeps.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: GCW on August 05, 2010, 09:03:54 pm
Parc Asterix was excelletn today.  Much cheaper than the other place and had a great fun atmosphere.  Plenty of rides if you're over 90cm tall, and a couple of good adult rides.  I'd recommend it over Disney anytime.

BKB- is the swimming at Buthiers only available as part of entry to minigolf etc etc?
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on October 05, 2012, 08:31:29 am
So how big is EuroDisney and is there enough to keep two kids of 10 and early teens entertained for more than a day, or is one day enough? Got family over from Oz and they want to stop over in Paris for a couple of days en route to the Alps and go to EuroDisney.

Thanks
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: GCW on October 05, 2012, 08:43:23 am
It's a decent size, and you could spend a couple of days there (queuing).  Sell a kidney before you go  ;)
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: lagerstarfish on October 05, 2012, 08:52:04 am
bigger than B&Q

with the studio park next door, a couple of days would be OK - more time allows you to see the stage shows as well as doing the rides

I once went there on a silly (BOGOF and free for kids) Febuary bargain with a 6yr old and an 11yr old; for 4 days - they did not consider it too many*




*Slaine quote to be used/paraphrased whenever possible at work today - up to 6 now, but that's easy when writing about people's drinking habits
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on October 05, 2012, 09:24:08 am
Nothing wrong with a Slainism or 6. I'm trying to convince them that 1 day is probably enough, especially as it will be June and wall to wall, then they should head down to the Les Gets to meet up with us and spend more time where there is much more fun can be had.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: grumpycrumpy on October 05, 2012, 09:25:34 am
I used to spend a lot of time in 'Mouschwitz' when it was popular with the conference crowd and the best tip I can give is to take your own food ....... And alcohol if you're staying there overnight .........   
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: GCW on October 05, 2012, 09:33:02 am
I'm trying to convince them that 1 day is probably enough

It was more than enough for me personally, but the kids loved it.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: andy_e on October 05, 2012, 10:08:12 am
take your own food ....... And alcohol to make the day go quicker .........
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: RopeBoy on October 06, 2012, 03:52:04 pm
next week as in tomorrow or a week tomorrow??
we're out with the nipper week after next - no knowledge of kids circuits yet as he's only 1...
might see you out there..

last time out the boy liked Istatis just for the wandering around and yes Elephant was a hit too

I'll be there 10 till 17th..

us too - maybe see you -you staying at Maisonbleau??

We arrive maisonbleau on the 15th!

J :-)
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on October 06, 2012, 09:49:58 pm
That post is 2 years old?
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: RopeBoy on October 06, 2012, 10:03:11 pm
Lol, yeah, a mate of mine pointed that out to me! I hadn't realised the thread was that old, Doh!  :slap:
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: cowboyhat on May 17, 2013, 01:14:48 pm
Has anyone bought that Jingo wobble 'Fun Bloc' guide with the kids circuits in?

Is it any good?

I haven't seen it in a shop to browse but it is available on the resource.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Jaspersharpe on May 17, 2013, 01:51:14 pm
Lagers has got it. It's full of Dave Jones usual nonsense but underneath it all is pretty good.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fried on May 17, 2013, 04:06:20 pm
Lagers has got it. It's full of Dave Jones usual nonsense but underneath it all is pretty good.

You mean it reads like it was written by the 'Office joker' character in the Fast Show.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: lagerstarfish on May 17, 2013, 08:24:23 pm
Lagers has got it. It's full of Dave Jones usual nonsense but underneath it all is pretty good.

no, I've got the "Magique" "guide"

not my choice - I had a nice blue guidebook by some British punter, but some people who borrowed it lost it and I said I'd accept the Wonky Jism book seeing as I had The Sexy French Purple Book already
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on May 20, 2013, 09:52:48 am
Lagers has got it. It's full of Dave Jones usual nonsense but underneath it all is pretty good.

You mean it reads like it was written by the 'Office joker' character in the Fast Show.

Colin Hunt?

A friend has it, I had a quicky shufty, looks good, but never tried it out in anger.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: roddersm on July 16, 2013, 09:55:15 am
Hi all,

Does anyone have any advice about good locations in Font to take a 3 month old? Heading out there for 3 weeks in September.

Also family friendly rest day suggestions around font would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: cowboyhat on August 19, 2013, 03:24:04 pm
So, the jingo wobble 'Fun Bloc' is very useful, a great guide for the kids circuits.

The kids circuits are as easy to find and navigate relating to the other circuits, red, blue etc. The picture of the first problems helps a great deal.

As with any guide a bit of license has been used with the map arrows and 'Parking 300m'. I didn't use it for driving directions.

The boy (5) and a couple of friends had an amazing time and he demanded we climb every day. I saw Font in another new light, there really is np place like it.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Herbert on July 19, 2019, 09:00:50 am
Some goodDadvice needed please. Off to font next week with our 4 and 2 year old. It looks like it's going to be roasting!

Camping at La Mus, mainly for swimming pool access, any top tips on other water based activities nearby to keep the kids cool please? Or indeed general tips on camping with kids when it's 30 degrees plus...
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: T_B on July 19, 2019, 10:31:18 am
Shade is at a premium but water splash around park thing and man made lake with sand at Ile de Loisirs de Bois-le-Roi, Rue de Tournezy, 77590 Bois-le-Roi, France
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Hugh on July 19, 2019, 10:53:31 am
Some goodDadvice needed please. Off to font next week with our 4 and 2 year old. It looks like it's going to be roasting!

Camping at La Mus, mainly for swimming pool access, any top tips on other water based activities nearby to keep the kids cool please? Or indeed general tips on camping with kids when it's 30 degrees plus...

As T_B says, Ile de Loisirs is good although was pretty heaving in July last year. Good swimming in the river at Grez near the campsite (pretty shallow so ok with our 5 year old).

Climbing wise, Petit Bois was great for everyone - easy access, lots of shade and wide range of problems.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Herbert on July 19, 2019, 05:42:47 pm
Thanks both, good tips.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fried on July 20, 2019, 09:51:14 am
Not sure if you have seen the heatwave warning. My weather app is giving me max temps of 35° Monday, 39° Tuesday and 41° for Wednesday and Thursday. Meteofrance says a little lower, one thing for sure...it will be hot.

In addition to other suggestions, Buthiers base des loisirs has a pool. Further down the Loing towards Moret sur loing are swimming spots under shady trees , usually with an ice-cream van nearby.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: i.munro on July 20, 2019, 02:08:13 pm
French govt is in full-on "don't panic" mode. Tv ads & everything! https://www.gouvernement.fr/risques/canicule
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Offwidth on July 21, 2019, 11:12:58 am
The best kids area I know by far is Feuillardiere  (Canche/ Telegraphe area) where there is a really good kids white and a ditto for the toddlers purple heart circuit, both with nothing high. There is also a good newish Yellow circuit which is yellow (ie mostly below f3). The white circuit is p.183 in the new Jingo Wobbly Fun guide (but you won't need any guidebook). Parking is on the big area on the left when heading west (towards Milly) on the D409, 500m after crossing the A6. The approach track heads south from the parking  with no navigation complications and is buggy and 'are we nearly there yet'  friendly being about a 300m flat walk.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Herbert on July 21, 2019, 07:22:15 pm
Thanks all for the tips. Yes, spotted that 30 degrees is now looking like 40 degrees....we’re due to arrive on friday when it will hopefully have cooled slightly.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Offwidth on July 22, 2019, 02:39:53 pm
If its that hot, Beauvais has some of the deepest shade.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatneck on February 24, 2020, 08:51:56 am
Hive Mind - Font at Easter for the first time with wife and 11 year old (wife and I have been before sans enfant). 11 year old not overly psyched on climbing and we have planned alternative activities but we would like to do some walking. In my head there should be plenty of walking guides as there are plenty of marked walking routes (25 bosses etc) but my googling says no... So, would the Tourist info in Milly have walking guides? Has anyone got a walking guide French is fine? Any other recommendations or do I just do what I normally do and plot routes on Strava?

Cheers,

Si
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: nai on February 24, 2020, 09:13:49 am
Print some of these pages?

https://www.visorando.com/en/walk-77-seine-et-marne.html
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: sidewinder on February 24, 2020, 09:17:57 am
I believe the ign map also shows some other smaller routes that have markings.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on February 24, 2020, 09:25:57 am
The IGN Map has all the walking routes marked IIRC, i can check tonight. I think some of the routes are good for MTB too, if you can hire one.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Ballsofcottonwool on February 24, 2020, 10:39:14 am
We found the following route marked on the IGN 1:25000 map, We parked at Elephant and stopped for a picnic halfway around on the top of the Dame Jouanne outcrop which offers stunning views.

https://www.unmondedaventures.fr/randonnee-montagne-de-la-dame-jouanne-a-larchant/
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatneck on February 24, 2020, 01:29:09 pm
Print some of these pages?

https://www.visorando.com/en/walk-77-seine-et-marne.html

How bizarre - I have an account that page but for some reason last night it was trying to charge me to download the routes which is what prompted me to ask the question in the first place - all seems to working now,.

Thanks for the input guys!!
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on January 13, 2022, 12:44:47 pm
Does anybody have any beta on how to break up the drive from Calais - specifically for a 2.5 and nearly-turned-5 year old (and a partner who is catastrophising everything [the drive is too long, the ferry will be really rough, an asteroid will probably fall on us]). I'm not sure that a service station will cut the mustard unless it has a good outdoor play area.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: crzylgs on January 13, 2022, 12:56:13 pm
Arras:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arras

and Senlis:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senlis

Are both very attractive towns which shouldn't be too much of a detour and could make for a more substantial break? You could have a little mooch around the town centres, soak up some history, grab a bite to eat or coffee. Am sure they both have decent park areas for the kiddo to wander around.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Ged on January 13, 2022, 02:42:23 pm
Does anybody have any beta on how to break up the drive from Calais - specifically for a 2.5 and nearly-turned-5 year old (and a partner who is catastrophising everything [the drive is too long, the ferry will be really rough, an asteroid will probably fall on us]). I'm not sure that a service station will cut the mustard unless it has a good outdoor play area.

Portsmouth to le havre to reduce drive time?
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: roddersm on January 13, 2022, 02:55:02 pm
It's been a couple of years but I recall there are a couple of larger service stations to kill an hour or so, I think they are at Assevillers and Arras....
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on January 13, 2022, 03:14:45 pm
Does anybody have any beta on how to break up the drive from Calais - specifically for a 2.5 and nearly-turned-5 year old (and a partner who is catastrophising everything [the drive is too long, the ferry will be really rough, an asteroid will probably fall on us]). I'm not sure that a service station will cut the mustard unless it has a good outdoor play area.

Portsmouth to le havre to reduce drive time?

That's a good idea but I think we're breaking leg 1 with an overnight stop with relatives in Southend, so Dover/Folkestone makes most sense.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: sxrxg on January 13, 2022, 03:39:45 pm
When we did this a couple of years ago we got the kids bathed and in PJ's then drove to a service station hotel (Days Inn) near Dover. This was easy as the kids and wife fell asleep and it meant the drive could be done in one hit, also being late on a Friday evening the traffic was ok. We arrived early hours of the morning and just crashed for a few hours.

We then got a morning ferry, drove a couple of hours (timing it with the little ones morning nap). I think we stopped somewhere around Compiengne for a lazy lunch then continued via Meuex and Melun on the minor roads not the motorway. This does add half an hour to the journey (according to Google maps) however i find it way less stressful as it totally aviods Paris. It also means that you can stop in one of the villages/forests if you feel like it and it is generally less boring than the French motorways.

Overall doing it this way the journey was nowhere near as bad as i expected it to be! In fact i think i managed to grab an hour to do an easy circuit, as it was going dark, on the Saturday after checking in to the accomodation!
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: lagerstarfish on January 13, 2022, 04:44:41 pm
Saint Omer is an interesting town - there's a good sized public gardens to run around
not very far along your route though
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Ballsofcottonwool on January 13, 2022, 04:48:41 pm
We drove from Aberdeen to Font twice with my kids pre-covid. We did it in 2 days stopping overnight at my parents in Bedfordshire. The drive through England was by far the worst part of the journey. The drive from Calais to Font was a breeze, the aires have plenty of space for kids to run around, better playparks and often short walking circuits. The closer you get to Paris the more likely they'll get to  something exciting like the car in front getting pulled over by the gendarmes and getting searched at gunpoint.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: highrepute on January 13, 2022, 06:28:01 pm
Taking the Chunnel knocks at least 1hr 30 off the journey no? often more because you can just drive straight on to the next train.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Bradders on January 13, 2022, 06:29:37 pm
the ferry will be really rough

Last couple of times I've taken the channel tunnel and won't be going back to the ferry! So much quicker, tends to be pretty quiet on a later crossing, obviously no issue with rough seas (not that the channel is ever that rough but still), etc. I think it was more expensive but not prohibitively so and easily worth it for the time saving.

I've never thought of the French side of the journey as being difficult at all tbh, although maybe that's because by that point your psyched to get there and climb! Empty motorways and higher speed limits, easy! Just make sure your route doesn't go too close to Paris.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on January 13, 2022, 06:59:01 pm
Ah, yes, but the ferry is an exciting diversion for the kids in its own right isn't it? In the tunnel you're trapped, seated, in a metal box inside another metal box.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: duncan on January 13, 2022, 07:02:02 pm
We usually stop and get the jetboil out at the Aire de Couer des Hautes France on the A1 just south of Assevillers. It’s about 2 hours from Calais, 2.15 hours to Font.

Eurotunnel is civilised and a little quicker than the ferry. The lad enjoyed going on the ferry  from 3-9 years old.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Hugh on January 13, 2022, 07:59:31 pm
Last time we went with our two (3 months and 6 at the time), ferry was an absolute winner. Older one loved zooming round on deck and everyone got a decent break from driving.

Stopped (I think) at the same aire Duncan suggests for some grub, pretty straightforward drive otherwise (bar the wailing for the last 20 mins :blink:).
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on January 14, 2022, 08:21:41 am
Just make sure your route doesn't go too close to Paris.

I made that mistake, first time driving on the wrong side, on my tod in my old Bedford van on the peripherique at 5pm on Friday. Took years off my life.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SamT on January 14, 2022, 08:21:59 am
Breezed it with the kids a few times when they were younger.

Used the ferry normally as I like to stretch out my back/legs and the kids like to run around a bit.  Tend to stop over in a cheap Premier in on the Friday night near dover, ferry first thing and you can be in Font for lunch time.  Though could easily be done in a oner.

We've always gone A16 and stopped at any old Aire just north of Paris.  Then coughed up some dough for the Duplex A86 tunnel round the West side of Paris, AKA - the crazy tunnel of craziness.  Its like something out of  Wipeout 2097.

Its a breeze though and yet another point of interest for the kids along the way to help pass the time.



Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Bradders on January 14, 2022, 08:40:14 am
Reminds me of the recent The Grand Tour episode Carnage A Trois. Highly recommended, there's a particular section in the middle about how the French treat their cars which rang many bells from various experiences of driving over there  :lol:
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: tommytwotone on January 14, 2022, 09:34:19 am
One year on the Peripherique we had a guy come up alongside us with a totally smashed windscreen, which he dealt with by just sticking his head out of the open driver's side window!
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Evil on January 14, 2022, 02:43:54 pm
The N104 is the road you need to get on to get around Paris without suffering the Peripherique, but it's not like the M25 in that it seems to be comprised of sections of other roads so you do a lot of leaving and re-joining, but are apparently still on the 'same' road. Google maps is ok at it (although sometimes goes crazy and thinks there is a shorter route you should be on going down the Champs Elise or something and starts trying to send you a different way...so you need to pay close attention).

I've done it a lot of times with my son who is now almost 7. I think he's used to long drives though as we started taking him to Spain on 2.5 day long drives to see family from when he was 6 months old, so Font doesn't seem too bad comparatively. I don't like making stops as I feel like it just drags it out and makes it more tiring, so we just go and stop when it's nighttime (on the longer journeys). Download some episodes of stuff they like on a tablet (I think Netflix and Prime etc allow downloads) so they don't want to stream using your phone as a hotspot and rinse your data (especially since we are back to data roaming days).
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on April 11, 2022, 02:13:54 pm
The trip is nearly upon us. It looks like it's going to be hot!

Our eldest is nearly 5, hasn't done masses of outdoor climbing, and isn't very brave. She's really good at looking at her feet and heading up a slab but hasn't really done much that involves using her arms to pull. I need recommendations for kid's circuits suitable for her (lowball, easy), and her little brother will no doubt follow wherever she goes. If these circuits can be near to good, shaded climbing between 6C and 7B for me then even better.

From looking through past threads I have the following:

Rocher du Telegraphe (pink heart circuit aimed at 3 year olds with a slightly harder white option if she smashes that)
Canche aux Merciers (is this one suitable?)
Beavais Nainville (the pics of the white circuit on Bleau.info look nice and steady)
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: dunnyg on April 11, 2022, 02:16:07 pm
Can always take 15m or rope and a harness and body belay up stuff
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: sidewinder on April 11, 2022, 02:27:16 pm
Walked here
https://bleau.info/telegraphe2
With sleeping child in pushchair from canche aux Mercier a couple of weeks ago and thought the kids circuit looked great
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on April 11, 2022, 02:31:36 pm
Canche is basically a kids playpark. Loads for them to play on in and under, a lot not marked as being on a circuit, doubt either of them will be after ticking the whole thing. Can get busy with a lot of famile avec les enfants though.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on April 11, 2022, 02:36:57 pm
Can always take 15m or rope and a harness and body belay up stuff

From experience, I don't think that would help. She doesn't like the idea of slipping and doesn't really have trust in the rope. You're better off having an adult at the bottom/following her up who can put a supportive hand on her and prevent her falling in the case of a slip, or help her effect a retreat if she's not up to it.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: dunnyg on April 11, 2022, 02:40:31 pm
Fair does.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on April 11, 2022, 02:52:09 pm
Can always take 15m or rope and a harness and body belay up stuff

From experience, I don't think that would help. She doesn't like the idea of slipping and doesn't really have trust in the rope. You're better off having an adult at the bottom/following her up who can put a supportive hand on her and prevent her falling in the case of a slip, or help her effect a retreat if she's not up to it.

Found the same. Daughter was always happier to boulder up far higher than she will climbing with a rope.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on April 11, 2022, 04:32:13 pm
I forgot that Roche aux Sabots has a kid's circuit though can't remember whether it looked suitable for proper younglings. And unless I want to go cranking on little pockets I think I've done everything I want to do at Sabots and the surrounding crags get lots and lots of sun don't they?
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: roddersm on April 11, 2022, 05:29:16 pm
Apremont Bizons has a kids circuit, Roche Aux Sabots should be fine for a 5 year old....
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: bolehillbilly on April 11, 2022, 06:47:39 pm
Beauvais Nainville has a couple of kids circuits leading up from either end of the car park. From memory the one on the right/north has some slightly bigger lines up some slabs. There's plenty of shade in the main area at the top of the hill.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Ballsofcottonwool on April 12, 2022, 11:27:27 am

Rocher du Telegraphe (pink heart circuit aimed at 3 year olds with a slightly harder white option if she smashes that)
Canche aux Merciers (is this one suitable?)

If your youngest can walk or even crawl they will enjoy the pink heart circuit (its rate age 3+) at La Feuillardière  (Telegraphe) The white circuit is excellent fun with some "through" routes my kids loved
Links to Topos https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KUHs_knZ524gD2BQU8cjLjm8gCDNfNG9/view
link to photos https://www.cosiroc.fr/index.php/actualites/134-news-des-circuits/406-la-feuillardiere


Make sure you are on the right white kids circuit at Canche, one is rated E1 (age 7-9)   most problem are slabby  with sloping holds and some of the problems at the start of the circuit were very polished when I was last there in Spring 2019 Further around the  circuit  the rock is better and less polished. The other white cicuit is graded E3 (age 9-14) and is much higher and harder.

Further south near Nemours this  kids circuit looked good but it started raining, so we had a nice walk over the ridge instead
https://www.cosiroc.fr/index.php/fiches-circuits/249-nouvelles-du-site-2

Apremont Bizons is rated E3(age 9-12) probably too high and hard for a 5 yr old, but in a lovely open spot.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hqEFtcnTexJHw3RI4yi4pBTqNQh5oPvC/view
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatneck on April 27, 2022, 12:00:12 pm
Fresh back from a very relaxed trip with two of mine who barely climb but who climbed every day bar one (cue very impressed and proud father) I can highly recommend;

Rocher Du General - lovely quiet setting, excellent yellow circuit, recently re-painted and with a good accompanying blue and red circuit for moderately harder climbing for parents.

La Segognole - not as quiet as I'd hoped but decent yellow and orange circuits.

Apremont - kids circuit was excellent and I must have walked passed it numerous times before without even seeing it. Also went to Bizons but was a bit complex for the fam and yellow circuit wasn't very good. Newish blue circuit was excellent for me though.

Rocher de Duc - parts of this were rather worn but the kids white and turquoise circuits were excellent and the yellow circuit the other side of the hill (left from the car park) was lovely.

Not recommended - Rocher de Cathedral seemed ok on paper but was a bit spread out and overgrown and we ended up at Potala which was busy and a bit tired looking. Also disappointing in the flesh was Diplodocus. On paper a great venue with loads of yellow circuit problems, in reality everything was so polished we didn't bother donning shoes.

Allez!
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on April 27, 2022, 12:13:02 pm
For my 4, nearly 5, year old.

Beavais Nainville (I think this is also known as Rocher du Duc). Good white circuit. She did the first 15 with some close spotting and dad-dabs before we stopped for lunch and thereafter got distracted. For younger kids the circuit starts from the left hand (looking in from the road) end of the parking.

Rocher du Telegraphe (note, this is a different crag to Beavais Telegraphe if you're searching bleau.info). As expected this was a big win. She completed the Pink Heart circuit with very little help and could probably have done much of the white circuit with some help. There's not so much there for the grown ups but just uphill from the kid's bit there's a very cool looking 7C called Telex and a better-looking-than-it-looks-in-photos 6C with a 6C+ sit (masquerading as a 7A/7A+ in the book) called Coup de Tonerre. Wanted to do Le Cadeaux but didn't have time as it is further from the kids bit.

Roche aux Oiseaux didn't have a circuit but there were lots of unmarked boulders that she enjoyed padding up.

Canche aux Merciers. Kids' circuit was a bit much for her (she's not great at pulling on holds and the footholds are very polished) but she found plenty to scamper up. Problems for the adults somewhat limited but by this point in the trip skin was on its knees.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: SA Chris on April 27, 2022, 12:44:47 pm
Your skin has knees, my knees have skin. Funny old world.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: fatneck on April 27, 2022, 02:21:02 pm
Nice one Will. Amazed we didn't bump into each other!

In fact we were walking out of Apremont and saw a tall lad with family in tow including a kid in a pad and thought for a second it might have been you guys but it wasn't...
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on April 27, 2022, 02:36:07 pm
Considering just how many Brits were out there at the time it's amazing I didn't really bump into anyone I knew or recognised but for one day.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Tom de Gay on April 27, 2022, 03:32:28 pm
Thanks all for the recommendations on here. +1 for Telegraphe. Some of the whites looked really good and I wished I was 3 foot tall again. The easy circuits there are a nice distraction for frazzled parents. The orange was well-marked and good fun to wander through with no guidebook.
Title: Re: Font with the Kids
Post by: Will Hunt on April 27, 2022, 03:58:08 pm
Roche aux Oiseaux didn't have a circuit but there were lots of unmarked boulders that she enjoyed padding up.

Forgot to mention that we went to Roche aux Sabots after this (quick approach from the same car park) and the kid's circut there was good for her.
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