The Inspections

Inspected and Selected

Whilst the content and scope of the guides have expanded considerably since the early editions, our selection of campsites still employs exactly the same philosophy and criteria as Alan Rogers defined in 1968.

‘Warts and all’

Firstly, and most importantly, our selection is based entirely on our own rigorous and independent inspection and selection process. Campsites cannot buy their way into our guides - indeed the extensive Site Report which is written by us, not by the site owner, is provided free of charge so we are free to say what we think and to provide an honest, ‘warts and all’ description. This is written in plain English and without the use of confusing icons or symbols.

Alan Rogers Inspectors

In all, we employ around 30 teams of campsite assessors and they are responsible for ensuring that all the sites included in our guides meet our exacting criteria.

Our inspectors come in all shapes and sizes but share a common passion for camping, caravanning or motorhoming.

David and Marjorie Chapple are in many ways typical of our site assessors. They bought their first caravan back in 1966 and have been travelling to the continent regularly since 1971. David is a retired mechanical engineering university lecturer and Marjorie a retired teacher. They are both avid Francophiles and have a good command of the French language.

With the opportunity for early retirement, they spent a few years working as campsite couriers in France, latterly in the Drôme region of central France. Some time ago they have joined our inspectorate and have become our specialists in central France and the French alps, covering a region broadly marked out by the Auvergne to the north and Provence to the south.

Each year they inspect a large number of sites on our behalf, usually including some which will appear in our guides for the first time. They also renew their acquaintance with other sites, some of which have been in our guides for many years.

David and Marjorie use their caravan when inspecting sites and typically might expect to visit 2 or 3 sites each day, overnighting at the last of the day. Needless to say, site owners are unaware that they will be visiting, so that we can be sure to get a proper ‘warts and all’ assessment. Although they arrive unannounced, all our inspectors do, of course, introduce themselves upon arrival. When visiting sites which are more isolated, or at the end of tortuous mountain passes, they often leave their caravan and continue with a two man tent. On average they can easily cover over 3,000 miles over 5 weeks or so, and each year look forward to a further ‘tour of duty’!

See also: About the Guides | View the Guides | About Alan Rogers

The Inspections

Inspected and Selected

‘Warts and all’

Alan Rogers Inspectors

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