Le Mans crossing advice
Discussion
Hi all, Happy New year!
We are hoping to book our ferry/chunnel crossing this week for LM Classic. Normally we go Dover-Calais through the tunnel for the LM24 but i know you can go further round the French coast, from i think Portsmouth, to save the journey time the other end. As we are in a series of old classics this year we think this maybe the best option. Can anyone confirm Ferry crossing info and prices etc from past experience?
Cheers!
We are hoping to book our ferry/chunnel crossing this week for LM Classic. Normally we go Dover-Calais through the tunnel for the LM24 but i know you can go further round the French coast, from i think Portsmouth, to save the journey time the other end. As we are in a series of old classics this year we think this maybe the best option. Can anyone confirm Ferry crossing info and prices etc from past experience?
Cheers!
I always go Portsmouth > Caen nowadays. Can't stand the drive from Calais. It's so boring 
The Portsmouth > Caen overnighter might be quite a bit more expensive, but for me, being able to jump on the ferry in the evening, have a bite to eat and a few beers, and get into bed, whilst letting the ferry take the strain is so much easier. Maybe i'm just getting old
The Portsmouth > Caen overnighter might be quite a bit more expensive, but for me, being able to jump on the ferry in the evening, have a bite to eat and a few beers, and get into bed, whilst letting the ferry take the strain is so much easier. Maybe i'm just getting old
James_N said:
I always go Portsmouth > Caen nowadays. Can't stand the drive from Calais. It's so boring
You are using the wrong roads. 
Get off the Autoroutes and onto the Departmentales. Take an overnight break of journey at a municipal campsite if you get tired. This year I'm planning to visit the CWG Cemetery at Abbeville on the way out and that at St. Omer on the way back, stopping off at Crecy and Agincourt too. Next year is 600 years since the French had an arrowing time at Agincourt.
James_N said:
I always go Portsmouth > Caen nowadays.
The Portsmouth > Caen overnighter might be quite a bit more expensive, but for me, being able to jump on the ferry in the evening, have a bite to eat and a few beers, and get into bed, whilst letting the ferry take the strain is so much easier. Maybe i'm just getting old
+1 - We went from Dover for a number of years, but Pompey for the last couple (and next year). Less road miles the other side, less road miles this side, and get there in better shape. We travel from the North West, so trying to do the whole run in a day (then pitch your camp) can be a chore. The Portsmouth > Caen overnighter might be quite a bit more expensive, but for me, being able to jump on the ferry in the evening, have a bite to eat and a few beers, and get into bed, whilst letting the ferry take the strain is so much easier. Maybe i'm just getting old
There's two ferry operators out of Portsmouth. You can either go first class to Cean with Brittany Ferrys or second class with LD Lines (for about half the price) to Le Havre (Brittany also go to Le Havre but no good return crossings for Le Mans).
I've done LD Lines a couple of times because for the price you pay for a seat to Cean you can have a cabin to Le Havre! The only trick with LD Lines is to eat before you board as there's really nothing special on the boat.
Either way there's a lot to be said for the night crossings - everyone gets to have a few beers before bed and wakes up fresh and sober for a leasurly drive to Le Mans.
I've done LD Lines a couple of times because for the price you pay for a seat to Cean you can have a cabin to Le Havre! The only trick with LD Lines is to eat before you board as there's really nothing special on the boat.
Either way there's a lot to be said for the night crossings - everyone gets to have a few beers before bed and wakes up fresh and sober for a leasurly drive to Le Mans.
This year for the first time,going from Portsmouth to Caen got cabins booked both way's.
Its only just over 2 hour's 30 mins at each end then. You save on fuel etc, crossing cost us £368 return leave on the Wednesday night arrive in France Thursday morning.
We then return on Monday aftennoon, have a nice breakfast in the morning at the campsite then a slow drive to the Ferry for the afternoon trip back.
Its only just over 2 hour's 30 mins at each end then. You save on fuel etc, crossing cost us £368 return leave on the Wednesday night arrive in France Thursday morning.
We then return on Monday aftennoon, have a nice breakfast in the morning at the campsite then a slow drive to the Ferry for the afternoon trip back.
Edited by SEE YA on Thursday 9th January 12:15
Going again with LD lines this year - Portsmouth/Le Havre - Thursday night out - return Monday PM incl cabin £265. Mind you booked this in September when crossing schedules were released 
and even then all the double cabins had gone so doubt any cabins left now on this route.
Can't beat the overnight ferry trip - 3 hours to port on Thursday (from East Anglia) - meal near Ferry port then board ferry and sleep.....wake up in morning - have a shower and nice and refreshed for a leisurely 2/3 hour
on the back roads to Le Mans campsite. 
and even then all the double cabins had gone so doubt any cabins left now on this route.Can't beat the overnight ferry trip - 3 hours to port on Thursday (from East Anglia) - meal near Ferry port then board ferry and sleep.....wake up in morning - have a shower and nice and refreshed for a leisurely 2/3 hour
on the back roads to Le Mans campsite. People seem to have forgotten the Portsmouth/Cherbourg fast cat and the Portsmouth/Le Havre fast cat. The former leaves at 0900 and gets you into Cherbourg at 1300 just in time for a nice moules/frites in town, followed by a gentle waft to Le Mans in the afternoon. The return leaves at 1700 leaving you a whole day to get to the port. I use it a lot in summer. Only three hours and you're there. The Le Havre service only runs Thurs/Sun though, so not practical.
I'm struggling to find a crossing that makes sense this year for me.
I am towing so fuel is a greater cost. Therefore a longer crossing might make sense, especially as I'm also slow, with no real ability to make up time.
I can't find a reasonable return which does not involve Sunday night on the longer ferry routes.
It looks like an early morning train on the Thursday morning at the moment, and then a mid-afternoon train (or preferably boat to give me a break) on the way back.
The cat's all seem to exclude caravans so they are out.
I am towing so fuel is a greater cost. Therefore a longer crossing might make sense, especially as I'm also slow, with no real ability to make up time.
I can't find a reasonable return which does not involve Sunday night on the longer ferry routes.
It looks like an early morning train on the Thursday morning at the moment, and then a mid-afternoon train (or preferably boat to give me a break) on the way back.
The cat's all seem to exclude caravans so they are out.
surveyor said:
The cat's all seem to exclude caravans so they are out.
Not so. The Portsmouth/Cherbourg takes caravans. http://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-booking-30...
It'll take you less than four hours from Cherbourg taking it easy, and the worst part is Cherbourg/Caen on the single lane roads, then you can take the route nationale or, as I did Sunday, the motorway. I was towing the trailer and XKSS, got off the ferry at Caen at 0730 and was indoors south of Le Mans at 0930. Allow an hour from Cherbourg to Caen.
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 9th January 12:27
Quick check. I want to be back Monday night, and no-one does a longer crossing daytime, unless someone knows better....
Hull - Zeebrugge one way = £415 (830 return!). That's mental.
The Portsmouth - Cherbourg is £250 one way, and again the return journey is not idea as an overnight crossing. The train is £98 each way.
I think I'm stuck with driving down to somewhere near the train Wed Night - sleep in the van, early morning train, and hopefully by the time I get to Le Mans the rest of the group will be about equal with me.
Hull - Zeebrugge one way = £415 (830 return!). That's mental.
The Portsmouth - Cherbourg is £250 one way, and again the return journey is not idea as an overnight crossing. The train is £98 each way.
I think I'm stuck with driving down to somewhere near the train Wed Night - sleep in the van, early morning train, and hopefully by the time I get to Le Mans the rest of the group will be about equal with me.
You don't have to do the same crossing both ways. I'm planning on doing the Portsmouth to Le havre overnight on the way down and get the chunnel on the way back on Monday afternoon which leaves time to get some wine in if we get away early enough. Plus a stop off in a nice town with a river for lunch to make up for the boring autoroute.
For the lm24 is working or about £200 per car. We used to do dover to Dunkirk but missing sleep on Tuesday night wasn't good.
Last year was much nicer. 4 beers before bed and 6 hours kip then the few hundred km of N roads down to Le mans
For the lm24 is working or about £200 per car. We used to do dover to Dunkirk but missing sleep on Tuesday night wasn't good.
Last year was much nicer. 4 beers before bed and 6 hours kip then the few hundred km of N roads down to Le mans
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