Driving to Brittany in Summer- which crossing?

[Piginapoke]

I'm taking the family and some friends to Britanny, near Brest, for a 2 week holiday in the summer. Would you go Dover-Calais and drive the next 500 miles, or do you know a better crossing to get us nearer to the west of France and cut down on the driving?

PS Do you think proposing a quick tour of the WW2 U boat pens would be a marriage ending idea? Oh wait, I think I know the answer to that one already.....

[DrTre]

as a child we used to do plymouth-roscoff, easier all round.

[MentalSarcasm]

My family has done the Calais-Brittany drive many times in the past (just past St Brieuc, however you spell it). Personally I prefer it to the Dover-St Malo crossing, partly because I don't like sleeping in a cabin with a bunch of family members that snore, and partly because when you're driving you can stop when you like (or when your Dad likes if he's the one driving) and you get to see a lot more (other than sea and night time like you do on a ferry). Just make sure you pack a lot of things for the kids to play with and plan several stops where everyone can stretch their legs/pee/have something to eat.

[pmanson]

We did the Portsmouth - St Malo crossing last July when we went to France.

No problems at all and kids entertainment etc. Food was crap and overpriced though so take a picnic if you can.

[Piginapoke]

Thanks all. May I ask how long is the crossing to St Malo?

[snotrag]

Done Portsmouth - St Malo a few times, works well for Brittany. I'm sure young kids would much rather be running about a ferry than sat in the back of the car all night.

[MentalSarcasm]

Piginapoke said:

Thanks all. May I ask how long is the crossing to St Malo?

From Dover or Portsmouth?

Dover is an over nighter, so about...10-11 hours?

[snotrag]

Think its about 9 or 10 hours. Overnight job.

[Piginapoke]

snotrag said:

Done Portsmouth - St Malo a few times, works well for Brittany. I'm sure young kids would much rather be running about a ferry than sat in the back of the car all night.

Oh yes

[SJobson]

In 2007 we did the Dover-Boulogne crossing and drove to Paimpol. We stayed overnight on the way, in Etretat, and two nights in Honfleur on the way back. Traffic was appalling on the way; being in August we happened to hit Le Grand Depart. The bit from Boulogne down to Le Havre was pretty easy though, it was Le Havre round to St Malo which was slow.

In 2008 we did Portsmouth to Caen, though we didn't go to Brittany but south of the Loire instead.

On balance, I'd say going to St Malo would make an enormous difference, but there's not a lot of benefit to crossing to Caen, Cherbourg or Le Havre over Calais/Boulogne.

[parapaul]

We always did Portsmouth - Cherbourg. About 4 hours IIRC or overnight at a snails pace.

[Piginapoke]

SJobson said:

In 2007 we did the Dover-Boulogne crossing and drove to Paimpol. We stayed overnight on the way, in Etretat, and two nights in Honfleur on the way back. Traffic was appalling on the way; being in August we happened to hit Le Grand Depart. The bit from Boulogne down to Le Havre was pretty easy though, it was Le Havre round to St Malo which was slow.

In 2008 we did Portsmouth to Caen, though we didn't go to Brittany but south of the Loire instead.

On balance, I'd say going to St Malo would make an enormous difference, but there's not a lot of benefit to crossing to Caen, Cherbourg or Le Havre over Calais/Boulogne.

Thanks- very useful

[mas99]

Another vote for portsmouth - depends of course on where you are in the uk, but trekking around the m25 then m2 to dover then the drive on the other side....

I get onto the M40 then A34 past Oxford and then down to Portsmouth - generaly fairly clear and quick. unlike the M25 dartford crossing or the road into dover.

Which crossing you take depends on circumstances - Le Harve is only 4 hours or so which is managable with small kids, St Malo is longer - esp with the channel island stops.

Dont know the others - We usually go into Normandy so Le H. is good for us.