“Rustic?!”, you cry – ever a term with an undertone, like a teacher's school report describing ‘one of the more talkative children in class’ or a home-made meal that tastes ‘interesting’ – but here we really mean it. The facilities are not overgrown or dilapidated, far from it, yet somehow remain refreshingly uncommercial, with a family run feel only bolstered by the enthusiasm and buoyant nature of Jessy and Baptiste, the friendly campsite owners.
The pitches themselves are spread either side of the central buildings where the couple live, with a small restaurant downstairs serving traditional local meals and dealing out freshly baked bread in the morning. Most are shaded by mature trees dotted across the site and if you come at the start of the season you can even pick the last of the seasons cherries, which hang appetisingly from the branches.
Sociable yet tranquil, Camping l’Offrerie plays host to a range of nationalities, with everyone from skimpy walkers’ tents taking advantage of the Vezere valley’s hiking trails, to campervan and carvanners looking for a fortnight in the sun. Perhaps most at ease are families, though, largely because of the endless games to keep little one’s occupied. If that school report of the ‘talkative one’ is close to home then you’ll find comfort in the swimming pool and trampoline that become the centre point of your holiday and leave everyone sleeping soundly when night-time falls.
Off site the natural delights of the Dordogne region and a wealth of pre-historic caves in the near vicinity provide plenty to keep you busy, though some of the most charming French scenes can be found on the doorstep. The local village of Rouffignac may have a slightly sleepy feel at times but on market days the lively bustle is not to be missed. Between the light sandy coloured houses, it provides an undiscovered sense of authentic France without a crowd of fellow British tourists jostling alongside you.