Keycamp's Treehouse in France - Video

Here's a short 3-minute video on what it's like to stay in one of Keycamp's treehouses in Northern France:

(Video produced by Seth Reynolds, copyright Greentraveller Limited).

This treehouse is in the heart of Keycamp's campsite site at Le Château des Marais, Loire Valley, Northern France.

>> For availability and bookings: Keycamp Treehouse in the Loire

The Rooms
The treehouse is about six metres off the ground (ie. just a little lower than a double decker bus), access is via wooden stairs, which are relatively easy going, though the final few steps are quite steep. It's split into two rooms (each wrapped around a separate tree) separated by a terrace. The main room (right)  has a double bed and a single bed, while the slightly smaller second room has three single beds. Both rooms have a chest of drawers and three small cute windows - and the tree actually comes through the floor and goes up through the ceiling by the side of the beds. The main room has a dry compost toilet, though if you prefer normal flush loos there are plenty in the main campsite grounds. Back on terra firma, there is a tent with an additional 4 campbeds and it is fully equipped with cooking facilities.

The Food
Self-catering. Keycamp provide a welcome pack with tea, coffee, orange juice and red wine, cleaning products, sponges, cloths, matches for the gas cooker, washing up liquid. You can also pre-order towels and linen.

The Activities
You are free to use all the facilities on the site - a typical French family campsite. There's ping pong, a big pool with huge flume for kids, bar and restaurant, take-away with pizza, Go-Kart, games room, a badminton court and an outdoor exercise area. Outside the campsite, you are of course in the Loire valley where there are any number of chateaus and vineyards to discover, plus it's very flat so cycling is popular and there are lots of river sports. 

What makes it a green accommodation?
A night up in the peaceful boughs of a tree and you feel not just close to nature but a part of it. Fortunately, the design of this tree-house is much more than merely a makeshift shack of flimsy wooden planks and rope ladders. The tree house is wrapped around the two trees and held up by support wires rather than using the tree boughs for support. Inside, there are dry compost toilets and no lighting - the treehouse is completely off-grid.

The treehouse terrace is a great place for a picnicTop Tip
There's only one fluorescent lantern provided so we strongly advise you take several torches. Also, because the treehouse is elevated, if there's a little wind it can get quite chilly at night so it's a good idea to pack a warm top in case it isn't the normal balmy evening. The terrace is lovely place to hang out during the day, so you might find it useful to take lots of card/board games..

Getting there
St Malo is the nearest port from where you can catch the train to Dol de Bretagne. It's then 6k to the campsite. For ferry routes from the south of England (Poole, Portsmouth and Weymouth) to St Malo, see our Ferry Journey Planner.

Verdict
The treehouse is surprising spacious, and the terrace is a great place to relax and gaze up at the sky as the sun filters through the leaves. The trees do sway a little bit, but it’s not scary at all, you feel like you’re being gently rocked (see the video). Great for big families and couples wanting to discover their inner Tarzan!

For more treehouse holiday ideas, see our guide to Treehouse Holidays in Europe