Waaay back in 2005 (en route to a family holiday in Biscarosse France) I travelled to Portsmouth on 8/7.. the day after the London bombings.
As you might imagine, the M1 matrix signs all the way down south were telling everyone to avoid London, (which I was going to do anyhow). I left the M1 at J15 and went A43, M40, A34, and recall being surprised at how quiet that Route was. As you say, probably less painful to reach Poole or Pompey if coming from ‘The North’ as it avoids any contact with the M25 and Dartford crossings.
I was also looking at a potential trip to a Guzzi Rally in Italy this January, the Gallotreffen It’s probably ‘pie in the sky’ at the moment, but anyone done that one.?
That’s near Modena, Bologna, so was thinking of potential routes through France to avoid the ‘high ground’.
I thought a Portsmouth crossing to northern France, then a ride down via Le Mans, Tours, Limoges etc would allow me to head along the south of France - Montpellier, Marseille, Nice etc and into Italy, hopefully without the need for snow chains on the tyres
Hi there, I’ve used LeShuttle from Ashford to Calais loads of times in car and on bike. It’s wonderful. All done in about 30 mins. The only drawback on a bike is there no where to sit when you’re in transit. For the convenience I’m fine with that
I usually park my bum on the side, leaning, half-sitting against the side of the carriage.
(I would sit on the floor, but might not find it so easy to get up again without furniture to climb up on.! )
You’re right though, they should have some fold-down seats, but I guess motorcycles form little of the overall traffic. You can always sit on ya bike I guess.?
Good on you. I’ve taken the same stance. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
So far I’ve done Harwich to Hook of Holland, Dover Calais Ferry and “Le Shuttle” routes. Of course, it depends on where you live and where you’re heading, but I prefer the ferries. First would be Dover - Calais (cheap, cheerful and offers a short rest), then my next choice is Harwich. I like to take the overnight ferry. I live in Sheffield, and it means I can ride down, grab a bite on the way and then have a restful night’s sleep before setting off fresh to wherever. I also like touring in Spain / Portugal, but I don’t do the Plymouth / Portsmouth anymore because a) it’s very expensive, b) I find being on the ferry that long very boring, and c) I really like riding in France.
P&O is only 15 minutes from home, so despite the ethics the 500 mile plus round trip ride to the south coast is not attractive. I understand your point of view, however my wife used to work for P&O and said a lot of the staff on the British ship had a couldn’t be bothered attitude and it was always more pleasant on the Dutch ship that was manned by foreign labour. I have used the ferry a fair bit and although expensive, it saved me a few days holiday whilst I was working. But its horses for courses.
The Newhaven to Dieppe is worth considering. I used that on the way back from Lemans, overnight and it was excellent. If I remember correctly I got a discount for being over 60!
It’s odd that. I stopped using Irish Ferries because they sacked their Irish crews and took on a load of Poles at a considerably reduced salary and switched to Stena (which wasn’t as convenient but, as KingOrry said). Then some storm whose name I forget smashed through Holyhead destroying the Stena berthing facilities and severely damaging the Irish Ferries ones. For almost two years they shared the same facilities but the sailing times were all over the place, which forced me back onto Irish Ferries for a few crossings. I had forgotten how pleasant and helpful the Irish Ferries crews were.
Also on the last crossing (February this year) things went a bit wrong regarding boarding and tying down my bike (no damage involved - I ended up getting locked on the vehicle deck because portside hadn’t followed SOP) and I lodged a complaint. Not only did Irish Ferries respond within two days, they also dropped a voucher into my account to cover my next crossing.
I guess it’s ‘the way of the world’ these days, and doubtless the staff on board are mostly just busy doing their jobs. Having worked at a place which ‘suffered’ a couple of ownership changes, in my experience, things never improved, well, certainly not for the staff.
For me, so far as Hull v Folkestone..
I can get to Hull in less than an hour from my home, but ferry costs are £450 upwards, especially when adding the price of cabins.
Heading south and crossing the Channel is considerably cheaper, c.£150max for the Chunnel, but involves a 250 mile/5hr ride to Folkestone.
Overall for us, a short return trip to somewhere like Ypres with bike, rider and pillion;
Hull = £600 + 3.5 hr ride (each way) + overnight on the ferry, 400 miles ish so 8 gallons of fuel c.£60, total = £660.
Channel = £350 + 6.5 hr ride (each way) 620 miles is so 13 gallons, c.£100 ish, total = £450.
That difference of roughly £200 usually pays for a couple of nights in a hotel.
I’ve found I can happily ride down to the channel, fill up, grab a bite and still be in Ypres for tea time, hence I’ve only once taken my bike via Hull.
If heading south towards the Alps or Mandello etc, there’s little to be gained going via Hull for me, but.. Horses for Courses.
There is a ferry from Immingham to Esbjerg Denmark, but sadly that’s for commercial traffic only. That’d be ideal if heading ‘up Norff’ somewhere like Norway.
Crikey. Were you taking a van over.? I booked two bikes and riders in an outside cabin with dinner and breakfast for £585 last May. I guess it will be dearer now given the price of fuel.
It’s probably ‘pie in the sky’ at the moment, but anyone done that one.?
