If you set off early, get over the ditch, via Dover, arrange a one night stop, and then perhaps another one if you want to get really South, it is no problem. Just don't make it into a race and try and push too much.
Dover to Dunkirk is cheap if booked early, but Portsmouth to LeHarve will save you extra miles in the UK, avoid the M25 and reduce fuel and autoroute charges in France. It will also get you well on you way south via Orlean, or LeMans.
Just for your info; lorries are not allowed out on Sundays in France, so that may make life easier for you. Didn't see any in Belgium this year either,
Use google maps to have a look.
We still use our tent on the continent, but there are just two adults and no kids to keep entertained, and we can easily move further south if we wish to.
Best regards,
Jim.
We have a motorhome, and three kids, and usually go to the Normandy area, this year we went to Devon instead. France next year.
The advantages of France are the roads are bigger, so easier to drive the van round, the tourist areas are not as crowded, parking is easier, and a lot less crowded beaches. The change of country is interesting as well.
Disadvantages are the campsites are dearer, and the attractions are much more spaced out, if you don't just want to go to the beach, or if it rains.
The weather can be the same in both locations though.
Look at
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=7071, it's a good campsite, and the reviews seem to match our experience there. It has it's own quiet beach, and you can bodyboard there. The sand is a bit coarse, we've been in a high wind, and you can get grit blasted.
We usually go from Dover, and stop overnight on the way.
We left Hindley green at 13.00pm on friday arrived at portsmouth at 18.00 got the night ferry at 20.30,the ferry docked at 7am saturday morning (uk time) It takes longer at night so you don't dock to early, we arrived at camping du letty around 12ish (france time) but we did got lost on the way due to the wife having the map upside down tee hee.We went on the night ferry as the times suited us,it is a 8-9 hr sailing time in the day
It sounds a long time but is broken up by the ferry journey and was not as bad as 10hrs down to Cornwall in one go,hope this helps.
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NW france is just like Cornwell but much better, bigger and quieter. I am Cornish and have just had a great three weeks walking the coastel path. Weather OK I found west of St Ives.
If you fancy NW France look at a few photos on my web photo site under France 2007 and 2006. La Rochell, Crozan Finistere, Pink Coast and st Malo.
http://www.photodex.com/sharing/
Uese Browse Member area and use name skynner
Hi we had a had the same dilemma as you last year after 7 yrs to Padstow and each year seeming to get more rain,we decided to try France we live near you in Hindley Green and decided to try Brittany this year as its not to far to drive once in France for the first time.
We left on the last day of term on the 18/7 for 2weeks,we also have 2 kids age 11+3 and travelled to Portsmouth it took us 5 hrs to get there with a bit of traffic in Birmingham,the ferry crossing went very well and we sailed to St Malo,this route is much more expensive than going from Dover to Calais but takes away alot of the driving to the Brittany area.It cost us about £550 with Brittany Ferries for car,van+four passengers.
When we arrived in France it took us 3hrs of stress free no traffic driving to our site called Camping du Letty in a beach town called Benodet,the site is nice and quite with one bar and a lovely take away serving allsorts except burger and chips,and the bar was out of the way of the pitches and very quite.The pitches are large and some are right on the beach but these are very popular,all pitches on site are within less than a minute walk to the beach and the kids loved it ,our first visit to france was better than expected and unfortunatly for Padstow(and Rick Stein) I think it is deffo back their next year.We where lucky we had 1 1/2 weeks of perfect blue sky+1/2 week of cloud but no rain,If it rains you can always sit in with a bottle of unbeliveable cheap wine while the rain passes.
The site is reviewed on this site,if you search for it and also has its own website.If you need anymore info just ask i will try to help ta,
Andrew.
We were in Cornwall those very same weeks and had the same weather.
Brittany, Normandy and The Vendee the weather is a gamble.
That said having had a lousy fortnight in Brittany last year, we decided to stay in the UK this year and save the ferry fare. We got hoist by our own petard - we had a weather lousy fortnight in Cornwall.
With hindsight, I would have preferred to be in France with its cheaper diesel, fantastic seafood etc. etc.
They say hindsight is a wonderful thing don't they?
Vic
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Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 12/8/2008
Quote: Originally posted by Val A on 12/8/2008
In France it definitely won't take you 12 hours to do 325 miles, which is a good start! Roads are much less congested, and towing is much easier - so that will make the journey easier for you.
When we left the Mont St Michel area for Cherbourg on July 5, the A84 south was jammed with traffic for miles. On site, a couple of days previously, a Dutch family told us they had suffered a horrendous journey on this road.
This is the main route from Cherbourg to the south, so beware anyone taking this route. I can't imagine the roadworks having been completed yet.
Bertie.
We've always found that the getaway from the ferry at Ouistreham (Caen) first thing in the morning to be the quickest and least congested. A few miles down a good dual carriageway road hooks you up to the Autoroute network and away you go - the world is your lobster!!!!!
We usually cover the 210 miles from Ouistreham to Camping de la Baie at Trinite sur Mer in under four hours including a couple of stops for coffee, munchies, wees etc.
we are currently in Brittany, (Quimper) and the weather for the last five days has been good, far better than in the UK. Nothing in life is guaranteed, but for once, we have been lucky.
Whatever the weather, France has a charm and character that is hard to beat, and gets our vote every time!
We love Cornwall but have never had really good weather and we just run out of wet weather activities. For past three years we have been to France, starting in the Loire, then the Alps and this year right down to the south of France. Only on this recent trip did we get wall-to-wall sunshine and really hot weather for two weeks solid. The other two holidays had better weather than the UK, but not much to write home about.
In some ways being in France makes for a more stressful time - different language, money, driving, but it's the difference which makes the holiday something a bit special. I reckon the idea of starting with something not too far into France and accepting that the weather may not be great may be a good introduction to what is a beautiful, fascinating and varied country.
We just got back from Cornwall on Sat, and the weather was terrible only 1 nice day, other than that it was wind and rain.
We went to Brittany (Carnac) first time for us to France end of June, and thats it now we wont bother with a main holiday in the UK again, it was FAB! We were lucky tho had lovely weather all week! We are off to Loire valley in 10 days to see what thats like, next year we will plan our hols properly and go to France for a couple of weeks instead of a week here and there.
Think everyone gets a bit nervous before they have been, but as everyone one says it is so easy you will love it!
------------- ~*MZZY*~
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Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: France or Cornwall
