Mrs Breath & I are looking to road test our new tent in Brittany. Never camped in France so I was delighted to read in the advisory post about first timers should maybe consider doing a few stints on hone soil first. Well, in the immortal words of Captain Ron, 'If anything is gonna happen it's gonna out there, right?'.
So, I've been trawling through posts and websites and narrowed it down to 2. Sailing from Portsmouth, which would be the better option, Cherbourg or St. Malo? I ask because the cost is about double if we go to St. Malo vs Cherbourg. (£160 compared to £340). I know I'm not going to use £155 of diesel, just an extra 2 or 3 hours driving. Both are an overnight crossing and a river about 0800.
I've also been trying to factor in arrival time on the continent and then driving to a site with ample daylight to pitch tenty. This would mean doing a night time crossing but am aware that the quality of any sleep would be pretty naff at best.
Or do I get a daytime crossing to Caen, arriving at 1500, and we pitch locally for 1 night (or get a one night stay in a hotel/B&B)?
Thank you.
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There’s no need to drive far from either Cherbourg or St Malo - there are good campsites within an hour of each of those ports - and some even less than that. But perhaps you have another destination in mind?
We will be travelling from West Kent. Typically, the nearest crossing would be the Channel Tunnel but there still seems to be all manner of caperings going on, courtesy of our French cousins. I had even though about DFDS and hopping off at Dieppe but I really have my heart set on Brittany. I've always wanted to go there for a good old school French feel holiday. It still seems relatively unspoilt in a West Country kind of way. We did the West Country last September. Hired a motor home for 10 nights but we were disappointed with the restrictions on where we could park it, which I totally get. Thoroughly enjoyed Cornwall and Devon. We did 4 nights in each. I have to say, I was somewhat surprised at the temperature of the North Atlantic in September. Where I usually swim on the South coast, the water temperature is practically balmy but this was like ball achingly cold 🥶 Have to say that I was the only muppet in trunks and a rash vest. Everyone else was in proper wetsuits of one kind or another. Anyway, I digress...
Mrs Breath has since said she would like to visit one or two flea markets whilst in French France. I'm sure our fleas are just as good here but I guess it just goes to show, you can take the girl out of the Medway towns...
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I know where you are coming from Mr Breath, we have traveled all over France but absolutely love Brittany, it has a certain charm, but I am born an bred Devonian, so I guess I like it’s familiarity. Obviously we do Plymouth Roscoff, only 35 mins from where we live on Dartmoor, not the cheapest, but very convenient.
Please be aware, you are only allowed to bring back 75 French fleas, it really is not worth taking the risk. But going from Plymouth will assure you bringing back fleas anyway! 👍
Don't dismiss the quality of sleep on a overnight ferry crossing unless you are a very fussy sleeper, assuming you have a cabin, where the beds are pretty good, but the budget couches in the lounge are truly awful! We've had the same need, long journey to port UK side, then to pitch tent in daylight after a few hours driving to destination in France.
We have tried many variations of western channel crossing over the years, with UK hotel night before early morning crossing (not much sleep as need to be at port an hour or so before sailing!), French hotel after late arrival crossing (rather over tired by then as very long day!), and the God awful overnight couches on ferry (instruments of torture in one of Dante's 9 Circles of Hell!), but we find the overnight cabin works as well as anything, albeit a bit of a short night as the unavoidable bing-bong wake up alarms and nagging woman on the Tannoy about an hour before arrival cut short your dreams! What it lacks in sleep time, it makes up for in being able to fully relax without transit/timings from/to hotel to think/worry about.
If you are forced to book an overnight couch by budget or cabin availability, the smart experienced travellers don't go anywhere near the couches, they find themselves a comfy bench in the bar (bar close about 1am) or other seating areas and crash there, take something to use as a pillow (bag/backpack) and blanket (jacket) (or even a sleeping bag and proper pillow!), and you can get a half decent few hours sleep, you'll NEVER get that in the couch lounge!
Many thanks for the replies, and it's always good to hear from those with first hand experience.
I've done a few rough calcs on time travelled & costings and this is what I've come up with, going from where I live (essentially J4 of the M20):
Channel Tunnel:
Time to terminal: 1 hour max
Crossing time (Including check in): 1H 20m
French terminal to destination (Erquy): Approx 6 hours (Michelin Recommended route)
Total Time OTR approx 14 hrs + break
Total Travel duration: 16.75 hours min
Total cost: Fuel & Crossing (incl. return) = £488.00
Pro's: Very Flexible options on crossing times, best value price wise, shortest overall total journey time.
Con's: Further to drive (although get to see more of France)
Brittany Ferries:
Home to Portsmouth: 1.75 hours (94 miles)
Ports - Cherbourg (Oveernight): Out - 8 hours + check in (1 Hour min)
Cherbourg - Ports (Daytime): Back - 4 hours + check in (1 hour min)
Cherbourg to Erquy: 3.75 hours (149 miles) + Return
Total hour OTR (incl. return): 11 hours (break on ferry)
Total travelling duration: 23 hours min
Total cost (Ferry & Fuel): £636.00
Pro's: Less time driving
Con's: Very limited on days/times available for crossing, cost (£148 more than channel tunnel + driving), sea state on the crossing (Mrs Breath doesn't do well on the water, especially if it's a tad choppy).
Ports - St. Malo: Crossing (out) - 11 hours (overnight) + check in (1 Hour min).
St. Malo - Ports: 7 hours (daytime) + check in (1 hour min)
Total miles OTR: 246
Total hours OTR: 6.0 hours
Total trip duration: 26 hours min
Total cost: £691.00
Pro's: Shortest driving duration
Con's: As per above but £203.00 more than channel tunnel option.
Food for thought. Always good to see something laid out in black & white. Just need to finalise the dates now.
I hope this is helpful to others.
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Quote: Originally posted by Devonatheart on 02/8/2022
Please be aware, you are only allowed to bring back 75 French fleas, it really is not worth taking the risk. But going from Plymouth will assure you bringing back fleas anyway! 👍
Thank you for this, D at H, it made me look in to the allowances on goods to return with. I mean stuff other than tobacco or alcohol. Neither Mrs Breath or I smoke and we are not really into drinking (have done plenty of that in the past and grew bored of it). Now we just like good food and nice things to adorn our home/garden with.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by 75 French Fleas Could you elaborate on this for me please.
According to Gov.uk, the limit seems to be to a value not exceeding £390 (less if using private plane/boat). It then goes on to say, and this is where it gets a bit confusing, if the total value is less than £1000 and you declare it then all you need is to produce an invoice or document to say it was made/produced in the EU using EU sourced materials/ingredients. Anything over £1000 you can apply for a zero rate of duty if you can supply all the above ALONG with a statement of origin from the manufacturer/supplier. At least that how it reads to me, cutting away all the 'fluff'.
Quote: Originally posted by Dog Breath on 01/8/2022
Mrs Breath has since said she would like to visit one or two flea markets whilst in French France. I'm sure our fleas are just as good here but I guess it just goes to show, you can take the girl out of the Medway towns...
Regarding fleas………..The Westcountry humour is strange at times. 🤣👍
If flea markets are your thing you need to look out for signs for 'brocante' - they are often held at weekends and tend to be advertised very locally but you might strike lucky. Sometimes village Facebook pages will advertise them - definitely worth searching the name of any town or village you are planning to stay in for any length of time, a great source of 'what's on' info. We've done Cherbourg, Caen and St Malo when going to Brittany - if you are heading for the south coast St Malo is probably your most relaxing option as you will at least be fresh when you start your journey on that side of the channel ! If you've got plenty of time and can factor in a stopover - les Capuchins in Caen is a good one, it's a nice drive down through Normandy.
Enjoy - it's a wonderful place to visit, lots of fabulous towns, oh and markets of all kinds !
------------- Seeking luxury in unexpected places
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There is also Newhaven- Dieppe to throw into the mix. It's a lot cheaper than BF for the crossing, closer to you and a bit closer to the final destination in France than Calais.
------------- pork
Remember a good wife always helps her husband with the dishes.
Quote: Originally posted by Dog Breath on 03/8/2022
I'll make sure not to duck next time, you crack a funny, that way it shouldn't go over my head 🤦♂️🤣
Having read all this properly, and seeing that you live nearest the Tunnel, I'd be tempted to do a Tunnel crossing. The driving from Calais to Brittany will be far superior to the driving to a UK port. You can either jump on the Autoroute and pay tolls, or do like a lot of us and meander along the smaller free roads, seeing a lot of rural France. You would then probably want to camp overnight before reaching your intended destination, but there are loads of campsites on the way if you are happy to unpack/pack your gear.
Or you could stay in a budget hotel, or gite.
As another Kentish person, like Franbee I’d go for the tunnel too - as much for the trip back, when it’s just a quick nip up the M20 (slower while Brock is in force it’s true) then get the kettle on. The whole thing feels quicker and cleaner.
For flea markets and boot fairs (vide greniers or attic clearance) you could have a look at https://brocabrac.fr/35/. Choose your area!
Many thanks for all the replies. Yes, we had decided to get an early train and then break the journey every 2 hours for 30 minutes or so. According to the Michelin planner, it's about 6 hours from Calais to Erquy. Maybe some of you know differently, given the comment about stopping overnight. This had occurred to me but wouldn't want to be faffing putting tenty up for 1 night.
Where the Newhaven to Dieppe crossing is concerned, there was nothing to be gained going that way for us. It would take us about 90 minutes to get there and then a 4 hour crossing (excluding the check in time.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Which crossing?
via mobile 01/8/2022 at 9:55am
Could you elaborate on this for me please. 
