Channel Ferry Information

If you cross the Channel all the time, you will know most of this, but for those contemplating biking on the open roads of Europe - read on:

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Crossing the Channel for Chapter members living in the South West usually means travelling from the following ports.

West to East they are:

Plymouth - Brittany Ferries
Poole - Condor Ferries and Brittany Ferries
Portsmouth - Brittany Ferries and LD Lines
Newhaven - Transmarche
Folkstone - Euro Tunnel and LD LInes
Dover - Sea France ** (see note at bottom of page)**

Cheapest crossings are Channel Tunnel from Folkestone or Sea France Ferry from Dover to Calais. However if you are visiting Brittany, Western France or heading South to Spain, you have to factor in the time and fuel getting to the West and then the long ride back across Northern France on the return journey. Plus the long and rather tedious ride to and from Folkestone or Dover.

It is a tight calculation. Its around 200 miles from Bridgwater to Folkestone and although you can do it in about 4 hours if you press on. You then arrive in France already tired. Many people stay just short of Dover/Flokstone but that is extra expense. If you are going to Brittany, it's a long day's ride from Calais. However the Tunnel is cheaper by a large margin than Brittany Ferries from Poole, Portsmouth or Plymouth.

Avoiding the weekends saves money and if you are renting a Gite (holiday home), many owners have a deal with Brittany Ferries that gives visitors a discount on the prices. Worth enquiring. They pay for this but do get an accrued bonus giving them discounts if lots of people use the facility.

The Tunnel has numerous crossings thoughout the day is is very flexible. You can usually change the time if you are early. Much the easiest way to cross the Channel. Ride on to the train, stand by your bike for 35 minutes, ride off and there you are in France. Obviously not great if you are claustrophobic but otherwise the only downside is the location. Sadly there are no immediate plans for a tunnel from the Dorset coast yet.

The ferries are much less flexible. Apart from anything else, the number of crossings on all the routes have been reduced and there is often only one per day. There is a mix of roll on roll off boats and fast ferries which are catermarans. These are normally on the Poole - Cherbourg, Poole - St Malo and Portsmouth - Le Havre runs. Journey times are shorter with these, but they carry a health warning.

Catermarans are very poor sea boats in high winds or a heavy swell. Much above a force 4 and you will share the crossing with some very sea-sick people! Also they have very limited facilities to carry bikes. Usually only about 20 per crossing and popular sailing times can be full.

Plymouth to Roscoff is a useful ferry if you are going to Western Brittany but its a night crossing from the UK. You can sleep in the seats but unless you are very flexible and /or young, you will end up very stiff in the morning and there is also a lot of disturbance with various passengers wandering around during the night. Cabins are far more civilised but costly.Some people bring sleeping bags and sleep on the floor.

Poole to St Malo - Condor Ferries - is by Catermaran and is always a long crossing. It usually calls at Jersey and Guernsey on the way and can take up to 10 hours in total because of this. Sometimes you have to change boats in Jersey. The departure and arrival times on this route vary considerably because the Channel Island ports and St Malo have huge tidal ranges and the boats can't land at low tide. St Malo is a lovely port though. Very civilised. Lots of places to eat in the old town not far from the terminal, which is quite small.

Poole to Cherbourg the usual route from the Somerset/Dorset area. Short(ish) crossing only about three and a half hours (although seems much longer in rough seas!). Used to be a Ro Ro ferry but is now usually a Catameran. This crossing can be rough as it is exposed to the full force of the Atlantic swells. Easy exit from the port at Cherbourg and a new road takes you out without having to go through the town. Its roughly a two hour ride down good roads to pick up the autoroute at the bottom of the peninsular.

Portsmouth to Caen - Brittany Ferries - The ferry port is actually at Ouistreham about 15 kms from the centre of Caen. Easy exit from the terminus and then either turn right and head along the coast road to the D Day beaches or take the dual carraigeway down the the Caen ring road and pickup the Autoroute if you are heading south.

Portsmouth to Le Havre - Run by a French Company, Louis Drefus (LD Lines). Usually quite competetively priced. An overnight crossing from the UK departs Portsmouth 23.00. Cabins are a good option if you want to arrive fresh in the morning. Their 'sleeper seats' are okay. Better than the standard seats, but you share the compartment with about 20 strangers. If you get restless fellow travellers, it can be diificult to sleep. Exit from the port can be unerving if you are not used to it. Basically turn right and just keep going straight on until you pick up the signs either to Paris/Rouen or the Pont de Normandie if you are heading West. (It can be easy to miss this).

Newhaven - Dieppe Another French run ferry, Transmarche. Very reasonably priced for bikes. About a three hour crossing. Easy access to Newhaven terminal. Only one ferry per day. Very popular with heavy goods vehicles and the boat is not exactly the height of luxury but adequate. Easy exit from Dieppe terminal. Very handy for the Paris area and points south.

Folkestone - Calais - Euro Tunnel - Cheap, convenient and flexible. How useful it is depends on where you are going. Other than that its almost too dull. Not the adventure of a ferry journey perhaps.

Dover - Calais Sea France. At the time of writing (November 2011) there is a health warning with this crossing. The company has been struggling to pay its way and may be sold or wound up. Make your own enquiries!