Getting There

[Deepdiver]

Advice needed please for newbies, we are looking to tour the Limousin and Loire region in early May 08, after hours of searching we have managed to find out we can fly direct from John Lennon airport Liverpool ( this being our nearest airport)to Limoges. Not much choice for us northerners is there. We would like to stay in a campsite anywhere in the Limousin (renting a static caravan) recommendations please, we feel this would be the best place to explore this and surrounding areas with the intention of buying at a future date.
Questions:- Does anyone know driving times from Limoges to eg. Blois in the Loire Valley.
Also would it be wiser to hire a car after landing or do it before we leave for France.
Obviously we are taking advantage of early flight bookings for a party of 2 and any advice on places to visit that would be helpful for us.
Originally on our welcome posting we were thinking on the possibility of buying in Normandy and Brittany but on further research we think the Loire or Limousin regions would be better suited for us due to the more clement weather.
Sorry for the long winded posting

[Bevdeforges]

Hi Deepdiver! According to Mappy, the drive from the airport at Limoges to the center of Blois is about 3 hours. I'd book the hire car ahead of time, just to be safe.

There are a number of campground guides that could help you find a good spot to stay. Michelin is probably the most available guide to campgrounds and facilities (not sure if they have an online site). Any bookstore that carries Michelin guides can probably get you the campground guide for France.

[Deepdiver]

Hi Bevdeforges, Okay that 3 hr drive will be very helfull as to get a rough idea on driving distance to blois & surrounding areas. Might look further into renting a car this side, but as were are flying might be more easy at the airport. As for the campsites will have a look at our bookstores, & on ebay.
We are in the infant stage of starting this dream, & with help from this site, books, magazines, word of mouth, not forgetting the internet, will probibly lead to 2 or 3 years realisticly before actually buying Will try renting first,as this will be our final move & have to get it right.