Camping La Cascade

You’d better take a jaw-sling with you when driving to La Cascade along the Gorges de la Jonte. Because if the views along this scenic chasm (especially the part between Le Rozier and Meyrueis) don’t make the lower half of your face succumb to the force of awe-inspired gravity, then the fantastic atmosphere at the campsite will.
While the area around the gorge brims with campsites, the majority are large, commercial and – dare we say – déclassé. La Cascade deftly sidesteps any such negative associations by virtue of its location, slightly away from the gorge itself, positioned at an altitude of 2,460 feet (750 m) at the foot of the majestic Causse Méjean.
There’s no denying it’s big – but big in a large, open, and friendly way, rather than a packed- with-caravans-God-I-can’t-breathe-properly way. Rather than welcoming motorhomes and building loud discos, La Cascade’s hospitable French owners, Marie-Hélène and Eric Marilou, have kept it deliberately natural, with just a smattering of wooden chalets (13 to be exact) and a huge amount of space for campers.
 
There are 50 pitches in total, split between two main fields (plus a couple in a delightful little hidden area next to a stream). Wherever you throw up your tent you’ll get lots of space and lovely open-sky views, either of the handsome Causse Méjean or the fresh, towering pines on the other side. In the morning the first sounds you’re likely to hear are bells and sheep.
 
Both Marie-Hélène and Eric grew up in the area. Eric’s family have long owned the land that La Cascade was built on and, in fact, he can trace his ancestry back an impressive 1,500 years – talk about carrying on the family business. The couple take their environment seriously, which is reflected in the ardent eco-policy of the site (they were awarded the Clef Verte in 2005): 60 per cent of the energy needed to heat the domestic water is solar, two-thirds of the lightbulbs are low-energy consumption, and there’s an emphasis on recycling.
 
There’s a fair amount to do on site. A sizeable boules court, small library with documentation about the surrounding region, a playground for kids, and a badminton net stretched across one field. You can splash around in the spring and waterfall right next door (which is connected to the River Jonte), hire a bike from the site, or take one of their guided hikes during summer. There’s no restaurant on site, but the shop sells lots of excellent local produce.
 
Since the site is located within the Parc National des Cévennes, there’s an abundance of activities off site, too. You have direct access, of course, to the nearby Gorges de la Jonte, which offers plenty of climbing, hiking, and cycling opportunities; but the even more spectacular Gorges du Tarn, formed by the Tarn River between the Causse Méjean and the Causse de Sauveterre, is also just a half-hour drive away.
 
Here you can take walks and drives, enjoy kayak trips or rafting, go fishing, caving, or canyoning... all you’ll need are some wheels, a desire for adventure, and your very durable jaw-sling.