Crossing the water.. ferry options & travel trauma

[KingOrry]

I got sidetracked by a post re the Guzzirumble in the Netherlands and started wondering what experiences folk had re the various ferry/Chunnel crossings (though I’m conscious individual location will mostly drive choice).

I’m looking at various trips next year and would welcome your experiences, for what it’s worth…

Though I live only an hour’s ride from Hull, I’ve only used the P&O overnight sailings once on my motorcycle. Initially the cost was the prohibitive factor, but when they summarily sacked all their UK based staff for cheaper workers from elsewhere, I thought stuff em, I’m not using them ever again. Sad really as it’d be an ideal route for me, close to home, an overnight jobbie so I’d be getting a nights kip then be rolling off the ferry early doors allowing a good days ride into Europe.

Typically I instead ride down to Folkestone for the Chunnel crossings as I like the ease of riding onto the train and the speed of the crossing. I’ve also found the staff flexible, and if arriving early they’ll often offer to get you on the next shuttle.

Have done them in both car and on a bike, and though it’s a fair drive, 250 miles so 5hrs, if I set off by a leisurely 10am, I can still get to Folkestone, fill up and even grab some grub before jumping on an early afternoon crossing, 3.30-4pm ish, I then arrive in France with plenty of time to make a head-start on my trip.

FYI - there’s a Morrisons off the M20 not far from the terminal if I recall right, and I’ve also used a Shell in Folkestone which had a Subway attached, so got fuel for the bike and us. I also find the Chunnel crossing provides a handy respite to stretch ya legs and grab a coffee/bite.

I have stayed in Folkestone and caught an early morning crossing, but find it’s just as easy, and often cheaper to head an hour or so into France and overnight there before progressing. Last time, in the car with my wife and granddaughter, we carried on to Arras and stayed the night there before heading to Disneyland.

When heading to Ypres we usually carry on straight from our arrival in Calais, leaving home a 10am, we’ve found we can arrive easily in time for dinner and the 8pm ceremony.

Never used the channel ferry crossings so would welcome thoughts.?

Also never tried the DFDS crossings from Newcastl or the Harwich - Hook of Holland ones, both seem more hassle to access from my Grimsby home, especially when it comes to to Harwich where I’d have to journey through the Flatlands of the Fens. I’m convinced that journey would take longer than heading to Folkestone.

Any one had experience of either of those.

There used to be a crossing from Immingham, and indeed there still are regular freight ones that go into Esbjerg Denmark. They’d be great if looking to head further north, I like Esbjerg and have a hankering to try the E39 road in Norway, but whenever I’ve enquired they say they’re unable to accept ’normal passengers’ on the crossings ( I’ve considered setting myself up as a transport business and asking again ).

Anyone aware of similar Northern crossings from Scotland.?

Any/all info, advice, experiences most appreciated

[Doc1]

The Tunnel really can’t be beaten for speed and price, if Calais is a good starting point.

However, I really don’t feel like I’m having an ‘Adventure’ (or just a decent trip) if a Ferry isn’t involved.
I’ve been to the Mandello Anniversary Event twice on my Stelvio, 2022 & 2023, used the Newhaven ~ Dieppe route both times.
Late evening sailing from Newhaven, you get off the Ferry in Dieppe at 0400-ish, so you start fresh after a sleep and Breakfast, and have deserted roads for the first 3 hours or so.
I’ve also been to Lisbon on the Stelvio twice, used the Portsmouth ~ St Malo crossing for those as it suited my route.
Again, night sailing from Portsmouth, early start in St Malo.

[KingOrry]

Like the ferry ‘need’

And yeah, I’ve also used the Portsmouth - St Malo ferry a few times, (though only ever in a car with the kids heading south along the Atlantic coast to Biscarosse). I like that route for a few reasons, while yes it’s a long way from Lincolnshire to Pompey, because the out-bound ferry sails in the evening , you can take a nice steady run down (especially helpful when travelling with a car full of kids). Also as it’s a night crossing, you roll off around 6am so have a nice early start and full day to make progress. With the kids we’d drive the 400 miles to Biscarosse taking our time with rest stops in an Aire or popping in to a Supermarche for supplies. I also found, rolling off in the early morning allowed us to call in one of the small Boulangeries in St Malo for wonderful fresh and still warm patisseries, simply gorgeous

The return leg isn’t so simple as it’d leaves St Malo 10am ish, (or at least did). I’d usually leave the campsite around midnight and drive through the night while the kids and missus slept. Again with a few suitable stops for 40-winks and a refresh as required.

I’ve only used the long overnight ferry from Spain once, on the way back having done a quick lap of Europe with the missus on the pillion. Having gone out on the Chunnel, we’d covered 4000km in eight days through France/Italy etc, we looped back and were in the Pyrenees when we decided to head home so booked the return only 24hrs before sailing. We boarded at Santander and found that a very civilised way to sail home, (though I bet the Bay of Biscay can get a little ‘choppy’). I’d defo head that way if planning a trip to Spain/Portugal, actually, I quite fancy a ride down to Bushys Bar in Gibraltar… umm

[Doc1]

I’ve yet to do the Santander/Bilbao option, mainly due to cost, but I think I’ll give it a go at some point.

[KingOrry]

Out of interest, I just looked at the prices for Brittany Ferry’s return crossing in May next year for both St Malo and Bilbao..

£532 versus £704..

Considering the extra mileage/fuel, plus inevitable overnight accommodation needed, it looks like going on the long ferry is a cheaper option overall.

Interesting..

[sidthedid]

I’ve been that way from rosslare, the basque country going south from bilbao is very nice. middle flat part of Spain from salamanca to Portugal border is extremely dull, I would pick a different route if going to Portugal again.

the ferry was fine, just takes a long time.

[Doc1]

Both rides to Lisbon, I was with my oldest Friend (we started junior school together in 1967).
He’s Portuguese, and we were heading to his Father’s place in Azeitão, 40km south of Lisbon.
He still works (poor bugger), whereas I’m retired, he needed to maximise his time off work, so we went the most direct route.
St Malo to Lisbon in two days.
Day one, St Malo to Haro, Spain. 907km
Day two, Haro to Azeitão, 832km

[KingOrry]

That’s some distance you both covered over a couple of days, good effort (especially with erm.. more ‘mature’ bones in the saddle ). I’m guessing you used the toll roads, over the impressive bridge at Nantes etc.

I’ve found that ‘coast road’ a nice ‘easy’ run, even in the ‘busy’ areas like around Bordeaux, though I’ve only ever done it in a car. I’d head to Biscarosse with the family, that’s about 400 miles, but the motorways were pretty quiet, rest areas large and frequent, and plenty of options to divert off to get food, fuel or both (as I’d usually do to save on petrol costs compared to motorway prices). I can’t recall how much the Tolls were, but I seem to remember thinking it was good value for the simplicity of it, it always felt like an ‘easier’ journey than it is driving to Cornwall from my N.Lincs home.

At the rate you covered the miles, you could easily reach Gibraltar in four days, I’m hoping to head there at some point.. you’ve got me thinking now.

[Doc1]

Doing that sort of mileage, in France at least, you have to stick to the Autoroutes.
I can squeeze 200 miles from the 18 litre Tank on my Stelvio at a steady 75-80 mph (2011-2016 model has a 32 litre Tank).
Fuel stops off the Autoroutes can be a bit few and far between.

The second time we did that trip, we took three days, but the route was a bit longer.
St Malo ~ Aubusson 630km
Aubusson ~ Zaragoza 750km
Zaragoza ~ Azeitão 965km

That last leg was during the heatwave Spain had in Jul 22, hit 43°C for a few hours.
I had a Cork keeping the Oil in my Engine (long story) since just north of the Pyrenees, but the Stelvio didn’t miss a beat the whole journey.

[KingOrry]

A mighty Impressive bit of Macgyver-ing there

[Doc1]

First trip, in 2021, we were approx 40km south of Valladolid on the way home.
I returned to the Bike after paying for fuel, to notice the Rear Wheel, Brake, Swing-Arm and R/H half of the Tyre dripping with Oil.
I suspected the main Seal on the CARC Unit had failed, and they only fail if the main Bearing Cage is breaking up!
Another long story, but it turned out to be the Rubber Boot on the top of the Unit had Split, still don’t know why (but I have a theory).
What was looking like an expensive recovery home, turned into a simple fix with a €15 CV Boot Kit from a local car spares shop (this was after four days in Valladolid ~ Spanish weekend!).
There was even a Guzzi Dealer just 4km from the Hotel I went to, talk about luck, but in the end I only needed a bit of Gear Oil from them.

[Doc1]

Of course, that had to be the one trip I did without the Centre-Stand!

[Doc1]

Apologies KingOrry, for the massive Thread Drift . . .

[KingOrry]

No worries Doc.. in fact I’ve updated the title and now your messages are entirely on topic

More of the same most welcome

[Doc1]

I like it!!

Had a very minor MacGyver moment when out on a group ride a few years back
Mixture Screw came loose from the Carb on my 2005 KTM Duke II, fell out and was lost.

Fixed it with a Foam Earplug, held in place with a Starbucks Stirring Stick!

The annoying thing was, it ran better like that than with the Mixture Screw in . . .

[KingOrry]

Brill..

Think my fave was swapping an idle speed regulator valve on our old Mk2 Espace for a garden tap.

Worked really well, I’d pop the bonnet and open the tap fully then start it, slowly closing the valve as the engine warmed. Had it in situ for a few months before sourcing a replacement.

Needs must eh.

[Austin]

Over the years we’ve tried most of the ferry options as well as the tunnel. For us from Lancashire i find Plymouth to be the most convenient and reliable port. Portsmouth is slightly nearer but isn’t such a straightforward run down south. Hull or Newcastle the nearest but land you in Northern Europe. Good if going east, but not so much so if heading south, and tbh the significant cost saving and the turn up and go convenience of the tunnel from Folkestone to Calais trumps Hull/Rotterdam even with the hassle of the long and busy run down south.

From Plymouth it’s either Roscoff in Brittany or Santander in northern Spain - my preferred route. I’ve done this route about 20x now. Never late or delayed although we’ve had some wild rough crossings. I don’t travel well so just lie down for the entire time if it’s rough. Arrival in Santander is easy - more or less straight onto the motorway network and you can be off and into the Picos within 30mins. Santander itself is a very nice place too.

Equally Roscoff is a nice port, and you can be quickly away and either onto good French routes South or smaller good roads into Brittany. Again convenience of access via Plymouth trumps the slightly easy access to central and Southern France via the eastern Brittany and Normandy ports

Cost-wise i normally find any reduced cost for a short crossing is more or less offset by the cost of inconvenience , extra mileage, overnights etc . Saving a few quid is not worth hassle of a difficult journey

Just go for the most convenient port in both directions and you will be happy.

[Antrox]

KingOrry

I usually take the DFDS ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, which departs at midnight and arrives around 5 am. I’ve also tried the DFDS ferry from Dover to Calais, though never the tunnel, as it’s much more expensive than these two options. Both routes are good, but I prefer Newhaven because the queuing is shorter. In Calais, despite arriving at border control two hours in advance, I still managed to miss my ferry due to the chaos

[KingOrry]

Thanks @Antrox - I’d not really ever considered the Newhaven - Dieppe crossing, but they’re certainly worth considering. Especially at busier times, as you mentioned, I’ve also experienced some pain on a Bank Holiday Calais departure, not fun.

@Austin - I’m with you on the Hull crossing, great if you’re heading north, but too expensive in comparison with a channel crossing.

As for a Plymouth departure, yeah I can see that working if you’re based on the west of the UK, from my East Coast home however, not so attractive.

Good stuff folks, thanks for the responses

[Phil_Skinner]

Hi all, the Poole to Cherbourg crossing is worth considering if you are heading further south through France. Poole is not a bad departing port as it is fairly easy to get to from the North and doesn’t involve the M25.