In the spirit of we small and perfectly formed down shifters offering a great experience AND helping each other out - this is what Jacqui and Kevin are doing in Abruzzo. 

Love to have you in the Mercantour for the summer but we are kinda booked!!!!

KOKOPELLI CAMPING - this is what they are saying!!!

Active ventures, simple pleasures.

The smaller the campsite, the fewer the rules, the more the freedom Active ventures: Well off the beaten track in central Italy, the Majella National Park in the Appennines of Abruzzo is an idyllic play and training ground for any active adventurer. With its endless crags, gorges, lakes, wilderness and sweeping mountain roads, the Majella is just the perfect spot for climbers, hikers, bikers, cyclists and triathletes.

Simple pleasures: To the back drop of the Majella mountains and stunning views whichever way you look, we have no electric hook ups, no marked out plots, no campervans. Just tents and camping as nature intended. Just pick your view, pitch your tent amongst the olive and fruit trees, explore, chill, relax. Opening May 2012, between us, a pair of downshifting climbers, we have a fair amount of experience of climbing, mountain biking, cycle touring, triathlon and skiing. We’re also aiming for a self-sufficient, minimal impact lifestyle.
We cook our own bread, grow our own veg, enjoy a good festa and live for the mountains. With Kokopelli, we will be pulling all this together in Abruzzo, the relat i vel y unknown, but truly spectacular, heart of Italy. And you don’t even need a tent to camp with us: Camping our way: if travelling with all the paraphernalia of camping life is difficult, or you just fancy giving it a try, then why not use one of our tents? Or stay in Rosemary, our quirky little VeeDub? Rosemary can comfortably sleep 4 friendly adults, she’s got a small kitchen, cooker and fridge. She also has a large awning which can be attached to her side giving bags of space and a separate sleeping compartment.

 Camping without camping: if camping really isn’t your thing, we do have a rather nice
en-suite family room in the house, or a basic, but very comfortable, room in the barn,
sleeping 2-4 people.
 

Whether you’re in Rosemary, the barn, or the house, all the outside living, sun
terrace, BBQs, communal barn, showers, laundry and so on are available to you as if you were
camping. This way you get the best of both worlds.  A few mod cons: Just because we’re “back to nature” basic it doesn’t mean we’re prehistoric. We’re walking distance from Serramonacesca with its
two “sell everything” shops, two bars, a butcher and a chemist. We have wifi,
power points and are happy to charge your mobile phones, laptops & other devices.
We’ve got a communal fridge-freezer, solar powered showers (with gas back up), cooking
facilities and dining areas. We’ve even got a TV that we’re happy to share for big sporting
events and so on.
A little bit extra: whatever your needs or passion, we can (within reason) fit in with you.
We can pick you (and your bike) up from Pescara airport, we can arrange bike hire, give
you maps, guidance, itineraries or work with you to create a training programme. We can
drop you off at the top of a mountain if all you want to do is hike or cycle down. If you’re
a climber, we can show you the crags and give you crag guides. We can make you
picnics for your daytime explorations and you can join us for supper, wine, chat and
laughter in the evenings. We can even show you the local bars, beaches, events, festivals
and fun.
 

How to find us:

FB - Kokopelli Camping
Twitter - @JaqsD
www.kokopelli-italy.blogspot.com
jacqui_dixon@hotmail.com

Dreamin'of the Dordogne????

As we in the Mercantour are pretty chocker for the season for accommodation and holidays, let me pass you in the direction of Jane and Steve Harman-Hunt, who have found the perfect location in the Dordogne.  

Jane and Steve have only been in the area for a handful of years, and we spacebetweeners have not yet been over to visit them (France is just too too big!), but (given that Jane is a Lord at heart) you can be sure of a great welcome.

They are offering 15 % off all holidays at their home the Ridge in May and June 2012...which can't be bad in these stringent times.....

At the Ridge they have a 1 bedroom cottage and a 2 bedroom gite.  The area is just perfect for great lower level walking and chilling.  If you can drag yourself away from your lounger, there are many  beautiful towns and villages to explore locally, and many activities for children. 

For bookings in July and August......be quick!