Please make yourself and other MOT’ers aware of the following:

As always, neither I personally nor the MOT in general accept any liability for the above information and you should take suitable advice and make your own decisions in relation to compliance with French motoring laws. This page is provided purely for information to highlight areas where you might want to seek suitable advice.

We auction items that money cannot buy, which have been donated by rally members. We would ask you to persuade any of your friends, family or fellow branch members to make suitable items for you to bring with you, along with anything of your own making.

Remember that you need to bring the items in your car and they need to go home in a Minor, so please, nothing too large or fragile.

In the past, we have had the most amazing items donated, such as a weeks’ holiday in the home of one of our Continental members, a special cake, paintings, ceramics, wood and metal crafted models, tapestry, knitted items, hand made tools…the list of imaginative items goes on. Some members have even commissioned special items from commercial organisations.

Last year we made in the order of £2,700 and with your help we could try to exceed this amount.

If you need to talk to us about your ideas for a donation, please contact: daveandjackie@tesco.net or telephone 01 202 877972.

Please help us if you can.

Dave and Jackie Walker
For the Auction Team

The programme will include social events, visits to places of interest, a steam train ride, ‘Le Drive’ a gentle tour round local countryside, a group photograph, various walks and the regular fund-raising events for our chosen charities, which for 2012 will continue to be Leuka and the British Heart Foundation.

The Dordogne is a very popular area for the ‘Brits’, both to live and to visit. For this reason we expect high numbers of bookings despite this being a ‘long’ MOT. We recommend that potential MOTers should book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

There will be a small increase to the registration fee for 2012 to £27 for Minor and driver plus £17 for each passenger 17 years and over. The fee for children will remain unchanged at £8 for 5-16 years and under 5’s free.

The Campsite: Domaine de la Paille Basse

The campsite chosen for MOT 2012 is Domaine de la Paille Basse near Souillac in the Dordogne Valley, around 385 miles from Caen. Once again it is a Castels site which guarantees excellent facilities. We have reserved 40 camping plots and 36 mobile homes, which are particularly good value this year.

As one would expect from a Les Castels site there is a good range of high quality facilities and spacious pitches both on grass and within a wooded area. There are several toilet and shower blocks including facilities for disabled people.

The shop is well stocked and is open from 8.00- 10.30am. Fresh bread, choc au pains and croissants can be ordered for each morning.

There is a restaurant and take-away which open in the evenings, with the exception of Tuesdays.  Alongside the restaurant is a bar with small lounge and outdoor seating.  Wifi is available on the patio, with a purchased password.

The campsite has a large outdoor swimming pool, children’s paddling pools and a separate pool with large slides.  Other facilities include tennis courts, table tennis, pool tables, television room, boules area and a mini ‘farm’ enclosure with chickens, ducks, goats and a pig.

For the quiz, auction and celebration barbeque we have negotiated use of a building on the campsite which includes a large hall, toilets and bar area; for the ‘welcome events’ on Saturday and Sunday we have use of an upstairs games room.  Of course, if the weather is good we shall hold events on one of the suitable outdoor areas however it is reassuring to know that we have ‘wet weather contingencies’!

Travel to MOT2012

Everyone has to make their own travel arrangements from home to MOT.

If you live in the UK then you will need to book a ferry; we suggest you consider which UK ports are most accessible to your home, as well as the French ports that are most accessible to the campsite. Consider whether you will use the toll roads (peage) or more minor roads.  Before booking a ferry we suggest that you compare different routes from home to the campsite, both for price, journey time and breaks.  Please ensure that you plan for overnight and day-time breaks to stay safe!

Information about ferry crossings can be obtained from:

www.Aferry.co.uk  and other similar sites

Also the MMOC has a discounted travel service, in conjunction with The Travel Market Ltd. Tel. 01304 213533. Website:    http://www.travel-market.co.uk

The MOT Handbook will provide some guidance about driving in France and preparing your Morris for the long journey, we hope to circulate that in February.  The Handbook will also include a list of everyone who has registered to take part in MOT, with their home town. If you want to travel as a part of a group we may be able to put you in contact with other MOTers travelling from the same area.

We hope that this information will assist you in making suitable choices about accommodation and travel to MOT. If, during your research, you discover anything that may be of interest to others please let us know and we will endeavour to pass the information on.

Ash & Pam Holmes

We have negotiated 2011 prices.  In addition to the accommodation costs you will have to pay a Tourist Tax of approximately €0.42 per person per day.

Those of you with Les Castels cards can use points to make savings and accumulate points  (see www.camping-castels.co.uk/ for details).

No booking fee will be required.

The campsite will accept payment by Camping Cheques but would prefer this to be using the Camping Cheques ‘card’; if you wish to pay in this way then you need to advise us at the time of registration for MOT.     For further details see the Camping Cheques website at : http://www.campingcheque.co.uk/or phone on 01580 214002.

When registering for MOT please identify the number of days that you wish to stay at the campsite, bookings can be for any number of days. Mobile homes can be booked for additional days before and/or after MOT.

The process to book accommodation is as follows:-

• you tell us on the registration form which type of accommodation you would like (if you are requesting a mobile home please give us alternatives as there are limited numbers of each). We will then send you a ‘contract’ (which is between yourself and the campsite) stating  the accommodation that you have been allocated.
• You will need to complete and sign the contract and then return it by post to the campsite with a deposit of 25%.
• The campsite requires the balance of payment to be paid one month before your arrival at the site.

Camping Plots – The camping plots are all spacious, flat and have water, drainage and electricity. The cost will be €19.00/night which includes a car, two adults and tent or caravan.

‘Fixed’ Accommodation – The site has mobile homes and we have asked them to reserve the following until the end of December 2011.

Tour Operators – In addition to the campsite-controlled accommodation two tour operators have a presence on the campsite, Vacances Directes and TLC. Booking their accommodation must be done directly with the company concerned.

Vacances Directes is a French company which caters mainly for French holiday-makers but they will also accept bookings from other nationalities.

Their website is at:   http://www.vacances-directes.com/.

TLC are unknown to us, their website is:    http://www.tlc.asso.fr/ [/stextbox]

Other pages in ‘Thinking of Coming’

• 2012 Charity Auction Appeal
• 2012 Domaine de la Paille Basse
• 2012 la Paille Basse accommodation options
• 2012 TRAVEL MATCHER (this page)
• 2012 la Paille Basse – local towns to visit
• 2012 la Paille Basse – local chateaus
• 2012 la Paille Basse – other activities
• 2012 la Paille Basse BOOKING FORM

Over the years there have been many many requests for a way of people travelling together. This page has been set up to help MOT’ers meet up en route (see, we’re speaking French already!), and travel together for part or all of the journey in France. Below is a list of people and brief details of their itinerary who are either willing to lead someone else along and offer moral support, are feeling a little apprehensive and would like to follow someone else, or who just like the idea of travelling as part of a small group.

If you see someone on the list who matches your times and preferred travel, use the form underneath the table to send them an email with your contact details. Conversely, if you’re a seasoned MOT’er and/or are handy wielding a spanner and wouldn’t mind helping someone else along, please use the Submit Travel Details form below and your details will be added to the table.

Travel Details List

The arrows at the top of each column allow you to ‘sort’ by that column, and entering text in the search box will automatically ‘filter’ the list to show only entries where your search phrase exists, updated each time you insert a character. Delete everything from the search box to see all results again.

Contact Request - Click here to expand

Contact Request - Click to Close

Travel Details Form - Click here to expand

Travel Details Form - Click to Close

This page (like most content on the site) has been created to make MOT more enjoyable for you, our loyal MOT’ers. I hope it proves useful for you (it’s certainly taken enough work to code it!), but if you have any suggestions or comments on this Matcher, please do let me know below.
All the best, and see you all in France in 2012!
Mike

Other pages in ‘Thinking of Coming’

• 2012 Charity Auction Appeal
• 2012 Domaine de la Paille Basse
• 2012 la Paille Basse accommodation options
• 2012 TRAVEL MATCHER
• 2012 la Paille Basse – local towns to visit (this page)
• 2012 la Paille Basse – local chateaus
• 2012 la Paille Basse – other activities
• 2012 la Paille Basse BOOKING FORM

This page gives you a flavour of some of the towns within easy exploring reach (less than 20 miles) of our campsite which you might feel like visiting during your stay. There are separate pages for those who like to visit chateau’s and for the young at heart who fancy something more strenuous.

Souillac - Click here to expand

Souillac - Click to Close

Collonges-la-Rouge - Click here to expand

Collonges-la-Rouge - Click to Close

As soon as you arrive at Collonges you’ll understand the ‘la Rouge’ in it’s name – most of the houses are built from the local red sandstone. It carries the coveted title ‘Les Plus Beaux Villages de France’ (most beautiful villages of France), of which there are only about 150 across the country. It dates from the 8th Century when a priory was founded here, and following the granting of exemption from taxes by the Viscounts of Turenne many of France’s idle rich built homes here.

It’s a small village so won’t take long to get round, but it’s very much worth walking through the winding passages and spotting The House of the Mermaid, the Rennaisance styled Court of the Chatellenie, and the 12th Century Church of Saint Peter.

There are two more ‘most beautiful villages less than 7 miles from Collonges (unfortunately in opposite directions!), Turenne and Curemonte.

Curemonte

Turenne

Sarlat - Click here to expand

Sarlat - Click to Close

Rocamadour- Click here to expand

Rocamadour - Click to Close

Other pages in ‘Thinking of Coming’

• 2012 Charity Auction Appeal
• 2012 Domaine de la Paille Basse
• 2012 la Paille Basse accommodation options
• 2012 TRAVEL MATCHER
• 2012 la Paille Basse – local towns to visit
• 2012 la Paille Basse – local chateaus (this page)
• 2012 la Paille Basse – other activities
• 2012 la Paille Basse BOOKING FORM

There are many stunning chateaus within easy striking range of our base in 2012, and below you can get an idea of which ones might be up your street. If you’re planning on visiting one, leave a note on the noticeboard on the site to let everyone know – you might find that others will want to come with you.  There are separate pages in the index on the right for towns worth seeking out, and for the young at heart who fancy something more strenuous.

Chateau de Fenelon - Click here to expand

Chateau de Fenelon - Click to Close

Less than 25km (14 miles) from the campsite, Chateau de Fenelon is thought to be one of the most beautiful castles in the Perigord Noir. The double-walled chateau sits on top of a bank of rocky terraces with sweeping views over the valley below, and is one of only a handful of remaining buildings that still has an original stone roof. The furniture dates from the 15th-18th centuries and there is a large collection of historic arnaments. The treaty of Bretigny granted subservience to the crown of England in 1360, but lasted only 15 years before the French seized it back!

There is a (free) shaded car park, picnic area and toilets. Admission is 8 euro, or 7 euro for prebooked groups. NOTE: The chateau is closed on Tuesdays

Chateau d'Assiers - Click here to expand

Chateau d'Assiers - Click to Close

This one is a little further, at about 35 miles from base, but serves as a great add-on if you’re already visiting the adjoining Regional Parc Naturel which stretches from just south of Souillac right down past the main town of Cahors. Originally built in a vast (40 metres on a side) quadrangle, the Chateau d’Assier met a miserable fate for such a beautiful building when, in 1768, most of it was sold off to demolition contractors. In 1934 the French government acquired the remains of the building and funded a large restoration of the West Wing. The Grand Staircase spirals around a marble pillar decorated with ‘grotesques’ (so, a bit like looking round the MOT campsite then) and a series of vaulted rooms and a small museum, plus a dovecote. Closed on Tuesday, a mere 3 euros gets you a 30 minute guided tour which can be delivered in English if you’re struggling with the French version.

Other pages in ‘Thinking of Coming’

• 2012 Charity Auction Appeal
• 2012 Domaine de la Paille Basse
• 2012 la Paille Basse accommodation options
• 2012 TRAVEL MATCHER
• 2012 la Paille Basse – local towns to visit
• 2012 la Paille Basse – local chateaus
• 2012 la Paille Basse – other activities (this page)
• 2012 la Paille Basse BOOKING FORM

You’re not stuck with dusty old chateaus or busy town centres to visit if that’s not your bag – there are a variety of other activities to enjoy in the local area. A couple of these are shown below just to give you some ideas, but remember to check the noticeboard on the campsite first to see what things are going on and when. Don’t worry too much if you’re not terribly au fait with the French language, as these (and pretty much all the ‘touristy’ activities) have people who can speak English.

Canoeing - Click here to expand

Canoeing - Click to Close

A day in a canoe drifting down the Dordogne River is one of our favourite pastimes.

You glide gently passed Beynac, La Roque-Gageac and other small villages along the Dordogne, and you see beautiful sections of the river that are not visible from elsewhere. Canoeing along the Dordogne is safe for children (lifejackets are provided) although maybe a bit difficult with small infants and babies.

There are plenty of places along the route where you can pull your canoe over to the river bank for a picnic, a paddle and a sunbathe.

A large ‘screw top’ plastic tub is usually provided to help stop your picnic and camera getting splashed by over-enthusiastic children. At the start, the canoe hire company will usually drive you upstream in a minibus  – you can then canoe back downstream with the flow of the river. Alternatively you start your canoeing from the hire centre and finish at a pre-marked location downstream, where a minibus will arrive every hour or so to collect people and canoes and take them back to their cars.

The important thing to note is that you are always canoeing with the flow of the river, not against it. Most canoe hire companies also offer a choice of distance, so that you can canoe for just half a day if a whole day sounds too much or too hot (a half day is typically 14km, a full day 28km).

 

les Grottes de Lacaves - Click here to expand

les Grottes de Lacaves - Click to Close

La Brasserie Gaillarde - Click here to expand

La Brasserie Gaillarde - Click to Close

From the small beginnings of a weekend in France, Minors On Tour (MOT) has developed a tradition of providing an enjoyable week-long camping holiday based around the late-May (Whitsun) Bank Holiday week.

As this time of the year is normally the school half-term break, MOT has become very much a family holiday, and year by year there has been a shift from those early days of adults in ‘pup-tents’ with just the most basic equipment that they could squeeze into their Minor, to trailer tents and caravans, catering not only for the Minor owners, but for the younger ‘Minorist’ as well.

With the advent of on-site ready erected tents and mobile homes, MOT has developed further, allowing those who have ceased to find any comfort in ground level camping in confined spaces to continue to be part of the trip.

Venues vary, but the majority of MOT’s have been somewhere in France, a land of many different cultures, customs, cuisine and countryside.

From rugged northern coastline, through rolling ‘big sky’, mountains and canyons, to the azure seas of the Mediterranean, there seems to be a view round every turn in the road.

Hundreds of regional culinary specialities, numerous smooth, tangy or strange looking cheeses, and varieties of wines and beers, far too many to count, delicious breads, tarts, cakes and pastries await your delectation.

Whilst France has had the pleasure of our company for the majority of MOT’s so far, there have been trips to The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Switzerland in the early days, and more recently to Germany. You can find out more about previous trips by clicking on the national flags on the top of this page, or the linkbar on the left.

The future? So many MMOC members, both from the UK and from mainland Europe, regularly take part in MOT that, as long as someone is prepared to organise this now traditional part of Minoring life, it is impossible to foresee a year without it.

Usually alternating annually between long and short distance trips, MOT is very much a do-as-you-please affair. In the early days, discount block booked ferry crossings meant that the trip started with everyone meeting on Dover dockside. However, the advent of Eurotunnel, and the now highly competitive nature of ferry travel, inevitably saw the demise of cheap crossings to France. Participants now book their preferred method and time of travel, and are free to arrive and leave the campsite when they please.

Whilst thare are various things organised during the week of MOT, some of which you can see by clicking on ‘What We Do On MOT” on the linkbar on the right, nothing is compulsory, you are free to do what you wish. Some of the events are intended to raise money for charity, and are hopefully entertaining, so your involvement would be welcomed.

This website was started in the year of the 21st MOT, and by it’s very nature will never be finished. It is intended to be a record of all of the previous overseas trips, and we need the help of all previous participants to built it into something that the Morris Minor Owners Club, and those who have enjoyed the experience of MOT, will be proud of.
If you are a previous participant, would you please have a look at the link ‘COULD YOU HELP’  at the top of each page.

Whether you have been on an MOT, or you have yet to take the plunge, please feel free to leave your comments on this or any other page.

MOT is a holiday for members of the Morris Minor Owners Club. If you are a Morris Minor owner but not yet a member of the Club, have a look at the MMOC website for membership details and a whole lot more.

We hope that you enjoy exploring this website, and urge you to log on regularly, as the site will be updated frequently. Keep an eye on ”Thinking of coming’ section as details will be published when they become available.