Pool complex

The main reason we booked this campsite is that its pool facilities are perfect for the entire family. There are large slides, small slides, a splash area, and many pools. The campsite is in Brittany, and the weather here can be similar to the UK, so having an indoor pool area was a definite necessity for us.
The indoor pool area at Ranolien has a small baby pool, a large toddler pool, a larger swimming pool, and a splash area. We have loved playing in this all week. The large pool has been perfect for my 4-year-old to practise her swimming and diving, while the toddler pool has been great for my (almost) 2-year-old to wander around in. The main pool even has a pool hoist, making it accessible for disabled users.

Outdoors, the first pool we spent most of our time in was a toddler pool. To enter the toddler pool, you can either walk in normally or take the cute, small slide, which our 2-year-old chose every time. It’s an enjoyable addition.

The other outside pools included a jacuzzi, another shallow pool, and a 1.6m pool below that.
These are all heated to a beautifully warm temperature (close to 30 degrees!).

And we cannot forget the slides.
The campsite has four racer slides and a flume, all built into a pink granite rock structure. The slides kept our 4-year-old occupied and landed in yet another wonderfully warmed swimming pool.

To enter the pool, you could use the outdoor access around the side of the bar or head through the changing areas. The changing areas are handy as they have lockers, toilets, showers, baby change facilities and large changing rooms.
lifeguards are present but not constantly monitoring.
Swimwear rule
This campsite imposes strict swimwear rules: Speedos, Jammers, and other tight lycra swimwear only are allowed. Mike was asked to remove his shorts as soon as the lifeguard saw him.
Beach & water activities

The campsite is very close to the sea; you can see it from many emplacements. However, to get to a good beach, you’d have to travel by car – or take a long walk.

There are a few rocky beaches nearby, off of the coastal paths. However, we found the best beach was at Perros-Guirec itself, and we regularly visited the Trestraou beach.

In Summer, a shuttle bus runs to the beach every 15 minutes from the car park outside the campsite.

Campsite Facilities
Le Ranolien has many facilities that kept our family so occupied we hardly left the campsite.

Receptions, Customer Services and Check-in
We checked in to Le Ranolien on a Thursday afternoon in June, and the process was easy. I went into the reception, a lovely stone house, gave the receptionist my name, and she handed us an envelope with a map, code for the barrier, wristbands, a car sticker, and an information guide.

Once we arrived, she contacted her team and requested that our fridge be delivered to our pitch. We had hired it directly from the campsite when booking. All the staff we met were lovely and friendly and seemed passionate about the campsite and helping customers.
The reception building also houses a small library, with books and seats for small children as well as adults, and an information centre with booklets on days out, local walks, bike routes, and more. It’s a really helpful space and definitely worth a browse if you are looking for an activity. Because of the information here, we found a local climbing place to take our climbing-obsessed daughters, too.

The receptionist, and actually, all the staff we have spoken to, are multilingual, speaking French, English, and often another language as well. The campsite isn’t just full of French or English. During our ten days, we’ve noticed a wide range of different nationalities, including Irish, German, Italian, Swiss, Dutch, and more.

Play Areas

We love how central the play areas are on Le Ranolien
Playpark

The main play park, like the pool, is built into another giant pink granite rock, with slides and climbing facilities coming from the top, and a (sort of) maze underneath. There are also other climbing frames, although these are definitely more for older children, perhaps 4/5+. Unfortunately, our 2-year-old daredevil didn’t agree with that recommendation though and managed to hurt herself coming down a very fast slide. I think the lack of toddler slides may be my one and only complaint…?
Restaurant Park

Outside the bar/restaurant/takeaway area, separate from the main park, is another small play area with a large triangular climbing net and a small seesaw. It’s not a massive area, but it’s something to stop children being bored while they wait for a takeaway.
Bouncy Castle

Our favourite cloudy morning activity has been the bouncy castle. It has perfectly tired our children out, ready for nap times, and it has meant we can have a coffee and croissant in (almost) peace. It’s surrounded by seats, so parents can relax while their children bounce. Thankfully, holidaying out of the main school holidays has meant we didn’t find any “big” boisterous kids on the bouncy castle.
Arcade

Next to the bouncy castle area is a small arcade. It accepts coins or tokens, which can be purchased via card from the machine inside the arcade.
Table tennis

Like most French campsites, Le Ranolien has many table tennis tables. These are free to use, and equipment can be borrowed from the reception.
Petanque

Petanque or Boules is a vital sport here. Many tournaments have been played in the designated petanque areas near the parks.
Body weight gym

There is a bodyweight gym near the park. It’s a comprehensive area that is great for callisthenics exercises. There’s also a designated stretching machine.
Scooter/BMX track

One of our daughter’s favourite features of this campsite is the scooter track. It’s a really cool track for bikes, scooters, and skateboards. Helmets must be worn, and safety is key. On one of our first days, we saw a child being put in an ambulance while the dad was left holding a scooter and helmet. So please be careful and don’t let your children use it unattended.
Multisports

There are three multisports/football courts, varying in size. The largest two host football, basketball, and netball, while the smallest is more of a small football court.
Volleyball

Located in the same area as the multi-sports court is a volleyball court.
Baby club

There is an unmanned “baby club” at Le Ranolien. It’s a mobile home with toys and a small soft play structure for children under 5. It was an excellent place to go on a cold/wet morning. And I absolutely love how they’ve built a soft play area at the end of a mobile home.
Cinema
This is a new one for us: a cinema on the campsite. Okay, so it’s more of a small projection room, but still, it’s a great way to kill some time on a rainy day. While we were there, they were showing films like Mario Brothers, Top Gun Maverick, and Three Musketeers.
Animation and entertainment for kids and adults
During our low-season stay, there was regular animation at the bar and evening shows. However, I imagine there will be a lot more evening and daytime entertainment in summer. We often saw yoga and other exercise classes in the theatre area and Aqua Aerobics at the pool in the mornings.

The Koala mascot was often out and about doing walks for children. However, I did notice a massive lack of children’s mini disco. I think this only happens on a Saturday night in the low season.
Evening entertainment-wise, some nights were filled with football (Euros), and other nights, the animation team was on it. We actually had grandparents babysitting one night and managed to make it out to the bar for a music quiz. We lost, but it was still great fun, and the animation team did a great job.

Kids Clubs & Facilities

As we visited in low season, the full kids’ club and animation facilities were not up and running. However, they still had a designated kids’ club for 5-12 year olds. There were activities like “art attack,” treasure hunts, origami, and more. There was also the previously mentioned unmanned baby club.
Bars, Restaurants and Takeaway

They are all located in a central hub, which includes a bar, restaurant, takeaway, and even a creperie.
Bar
We loved the bar. Built into yet another stunning stone building with the most beautiful tiled roof, the bar was great for a sunny afternoon.

You can chase the sun around the whole building with multiple terraces and enjoy a different location daily. There’s a pool terrace, a front terrace, and a side terrace, and our favourite was the back terrace near the parks.

Prices were okay for wine but expensive for cocktails and other drinks. I have attached a photo of the bar prices for your reference. There is also ice cream, waffles, and crepes sold from the bar, and our children have ice cream every night from here (their little holiday luxury).

Restaurant
We didn’t eat in the restaurant during our stay, but it was often busy, and the menu looked really nice. It was also set in a lovely building, and had we not been on such a tight budget, I imagine we would have eaten there.

Takeaway/Snack Bar
We used the takeaway a couple of times. First, we had a pizza on our first night after setting up the tent. Second, we got chicken nuggets and chips when we stayed out a little too late with the children and felt too lazy to cook. The pizza was huge, and although Mike and I shared it, we couldn’t finish it, even though it was delicious. The nuggets and chips were also good; however, the prices were slightly higher than at other campsites where we stayed.

Creperie
We didn’t use the creperie this holiday as the opening times were a little too late for us in the evening (it opens at 7 pm). We just never managed to find the time at their lunch opening (12 pm). Again, it always looked busy, though, and the smells they were kicking out during their morning prep were delicious.
Campsite Shop

The campsite shop is run by Carrefour and has a reasonable selection of produce. It’s also where you can get your morning bread and pastries. The children loved going into the shop, not just to get a croissant but because the shop had tiny people trolleys for children to push around and cause mayhem with. I loved the shop’s wide selection of Brett’s crisps—my favourite is cheddar and Roscoff onion.
In low season, the shop is closed in the midday (8-12 and 4.30-7), and in high season, it runs continuously from 8 am-8.30 pm
Boutique shop Ty Rano

Providing guests with a wide range of souvenirs, swimwear, beach toys, and more, the boutique is open in low season from 9.30-12 and 4.30–7 pm. It’s open continuously in high season from 9 am to 8 pm.
Spa (& Beauty salon)
The campsite has an amazing-looking spa with a pool. A wide range of treatments are available, and access to the spa, balneao, and hammam is 15 euros per person. I am gutted we never managed to go here, but when you have two children who aren’t yet old enough for kids’ clubs, It’s something that will have to wait a few years.
Gym
The campsite has a fitness room, which can be accessed through the spa. It has a wide range of cardio fitness machines.
WIFI
If you are staying in a premium rental unit, the wifi is free, and you’ll get three codes for a total of 3 devices. However, if you are in a standard accommodation or you want to pay for more than three devices, then you’ll have to pay (per device):
- 5 euro for 1 day
- 7.50 for 3 days
- 15e for 7 days
Bike Hire

Bike hire is available on the campsite from an outside company called Bikes Evasion. You can find out information on their website, bikes-evasion.fr, or look at the photo below to see their current prices.
Pets
The campsite allows dogs, and we’ve found that most campers have a dog with them. Thankfully, they’ve all been lovely and calm animals, and I haven’t heard a single bark. In fact, the noisiest thing on this campsite is a toss-up between my children and the bird noises… If you want to bring a pet to a mobile home, double-check which ones they are allowed in, and you’ll likely have to pay a premium.
Shower blocks & Laundry

Our shower block has been perfect. It’s modern and clean, the showers are nice and hot, and there’s a baby bath. However, it is a very small, intimate shower block. Our emplacement is in a quiet location with only a few other campers around us, many of whom have booked pitches with private sanitary facilities.

There is another shower block closer to the main camping area, and these facilities also look perfectly clean and modern. I really cannot complain, though. Although there are only three toilets in ours, I have never had to wait.
Laundry

The laundry block is next to the bouncy castle and has loads of washing and dryer machines. However, these were often in use, so make sure you get up early to get one. The machines only take cash, in coin form, which we NEVER have, so we had to borrow money from family to use it. There is no ATM on-site or within walking distance, and we wanted to avoid using the car often. So make sure you pack cash. There was also an accessible washer and dryer at the top of the stairs, so you don’t need to traverse the stairs.
The Youtube Video Of Our Stay At Le Ranolien Campsite
Accessibility

Although slightly hilly, this campsite has fantastic accessibility. There are more obvious things here than at any other campsite I have visited: disabled toilets, showers, pool hoists indoors and outdoors, accessible laundry machines, and more. Le Ranolien is definitely doing what it can to ensure everyone has the same opportunities to enjoy their holiday.
Nature walks

Just outside the campsite, you can start a coastal walk that will take you to numerous villages alongside the rugged and beautiful pink granite coast. We spent a morning walking the paths to Ploumanac’h and another to Perros Guirec. However, it was a fairly difficult walk for the 4-year-old, so we didn’t do it often.
Day Trips
Vivons Perchés:

A treetop climbing park just 18 minutes away.
Mini Port:

A unique boating experience for kids (and adults…).
Perros-Guirec:

Explore the town and Trestraou Beach.
Available Accommodation

We stayed in our tent on a 3-shell emplacement. It was spacious, grassy, and private.
Our family stayed in Sandaya’s colourful cottages, offering large gardens and ample play space.

I’m used to coastal campsites cramming in mobile homes, but they had so much room for children to play in the garden.
Sandaya offers a wide range of accommodation options for mobile home lovers or camping enthusiasts. Check out the extensive list on their website to see what’s best for your family.
Do You Need A Car To Get Round?
Yes, I recommend having a car to reach the campsite and access nearby shops, beaches, and local attractions. While the campsite is close to walking trails, some of the best beaches and day trips require driving.
How To Get To The Campsite

The campsite is easily accessible by car and conveniently located near Brittany’s ferry ports.
Approximately 1 hour 30 from Roscoff ferry port and 2 hours from St. Malo.
Should I Hire A Car?
Yes, if flying, hiring a car is strongly recommended. Although the campsite has shuttle services in summer and walking trails nearby, a car offers the flexibility to explore Brittany’s Pink Granite Coast, nearby beaches, and attractions like Ploumanac’h and Perros-Guirec.
Ferry Port
The nearest ferry ports are Roscoff, about 1 hour 30 away (77km) and 2 hours from Saint Malo (166km).
Driving Directions

Address:
Boulevard du Sémaphore – Ploumanac’h
22700 Perros-Guirec – France
GPS:
48.827727, -3.473947
Cleanliness and Maintenance

I love Sandaya campsites because they are so clean and well-maintained. Every morning, we see staff cleaning, and throughout the day, we see the maintenance staff cutting grass, planting plants, and keeping up with the campsite’s requirements.
Sandaya is one of the top-tier camping brands.
Our toilet block was cleaned twice a day, and the mobile homes that our family stayed in were spotless. However, the only thing I noticed was a fair amount of green around the outdoor pools. Could this be because they are surrounded by plants? I’m not sure, but it really didn’t impact our enjoyment.
Family Friendliness

I think this campsite is perfect for families with children under 13, although I imagine in Summer there are lots more activities for teenagers to get involved in. We were really surprised when we arrived, as there was a massive lack of children. We almost expected it as we booked during term time, but we were slightly disappointed.
We were staying in this beautiful cul-de-sac area, which would have been lovely for our children to have had some toddler friends to play with, but I think pretty much every camping pitch was filled with retirees. They were all lovely, and there must be a reason they were drawn here. My 4-year-old didn’t seem to mind either; she still made friends with all the neighbours regardless of age.
Pricing and Value for Money

We paid 284 euros for a 3-shell pitch (middle tier) for 10 nights, including our fridge hire and tourist taxes. The cost will obviously be more in high season, but for the facilities you get, we received amazing value for money. For the same week this year in a mobile home, it would cost from 600 euros to well over a thousand euros, depending on ratings.
FAQ’s
Are The Mobiles Close Together?
NO! We were surprised by just how much space some mobile homes had. Our family stayed in the colourful cottages, which had proper gardens separated by shrubbery to play in.
Is The Campsite Flat?

No, there are a few ups and downs, but nothing extreme. Plus, the campsite has done a lot to ensure it is wheelchair friendly. We had no trouble pushing a pushchair or riding scooters on the small hills. However, the coastal path nearby would be extremely difficult for wheelchair users.
Are There Mosquitos?
Yes, we saw a few, even in Brittany. We were surprised as we weren’t aware they had made it so far north, but unfortunately – they were there.
Is It Easy To Get A Sunbed Around The Pool?
Yes, during our stay, it was easy to get a lounger. However, we stayed before the Summer holidays in the UK and Ireland started, so matters may change in July and August.
Where’s the nearest ATM?
There is no ATM on the campsite, which made getting cash for the washing machines a little difficult. I did send Mike to a cash machine at Credit Agricole, just a five-minute drive away in Tregastel. However, it was market day on Monday, and it ended up taking him around 20 minutes to get there instead. So, Credit Agricole is the closest—but avoid it on Mondays.
Do You Need To Wear A Wristband?
Yes, we were given a lovely Yellow Sandaya wristband.
Do Men Have To Wear Swim Trunks?
Yes, and it is strictly enforced. Mike was asked to change his shorts, and so were many others.
Are There BBQs On-Site?
Yes, all the mobile homes we saw had beautiful stone charcoal barbecues. We were also able to hire a barbecue from the shop; however, we found it expensive and decided we’d stick to our portable hob.
Can You Use Inflatables at the Pool?
We didn’t see anyone using inflatables, although there were a few tiny ones in the toddler pool. I think if there had been too many, the lifeguard would have stopped it, but I’m not sure.
What’s The Weather Like In Spring/Summer?

It’s like the UK, and that’s our one downside to Northern Brittany. If the weather was better, we’d absolutely love Brittany; honestly, it’s comparable to Cornwall and Devon. The weather lets it down. Pack jumpers and blankets for the evening, and keep your fingers crossed for the sun. However, the campsite does have facilities for rainy and colder days, like the indoor baby club, the indoor pool, and the enclosed bar area and eateries.
Can You Park On Your Pitch/Emplacement?
Not on every emplacement. Many emplacements were car-free, which is fantastic for families with young children. We loved that our toddler and 4-year-old could play safely at their grandparent’s mobile home without worrying about cars.
Can You Take Pets to the Campsite?
Yes. We saw an unbelievable number of dogs during our stay, but it’s no surprise, as the local area is extremely dog-friendly and filled with incredible walks.
Is There Disabled Accessibility On The Campsite?
Yes, there was a lift at both the indoor and outdoor pool and accessible ramps located at all the facilities.
Where’s The Nearest Supermarket?
The Super U at Tregastel was just 5 minutes by car and was massive. It had a large selection of meats, fish and fresh produce.
Is It Loud In The Evenings?
We didn’t find it loud at all. In fact, we managed to fall asleep by 10 p.m. most nights. We did check out the evening entertainment a couple of nights, and they were all calm, not rowdy.
What Can We Do If It Rains?
There are loads of things to do in the rain. The campsite has a large indoor pool and splash area, a cinema, a baby club, and many bars and restaurants.
Can I Use My Transferwise Card On-Site?
Yes, we were able to use our bank cards everywhere except in the laundrette, where we needed coins to put in the old-fashioned coin machine.
Review Conclusion
What did we think about Le Ranolien
