Club Arnage

the best route ive done so far has been newhaven dieppe im thinking of doing poole cherbourg any one else done this and how long roughly did it take ? any thing has got to be better than dover calais i would rather stick a fork in my eye !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We've always favoured the Dieppe crossing. But the hoverspeed situation has meant we are now on Dover-Bolougne.
My fork is at the ready !

Cherbourg is between 3 and 4 hours depending on what you are driving/riding.

Caen is by far the closest. 91 miles door to door!!

I've been Pompey-Cherbourg for the last 12 years - I live in Somerset so the shorter crossings are not really an option.  As JP says above, it takes 3-4 hours, about 170 miles to the circuit.  Good road until Falaise, then typical French 'N' road until just before Alencon, then motorway from there.  The last few years we have got off the 'vomit comet' at about 6.00pm, getting to LM at about 10.00 after stopping to get basic supplies (beer & wine), and that is in a mundane car dragging a trailer.  Still enough light at that time to set up camp and sample the basic supplies.

Because of the P&O situation now, we have changed to Pompey-Caen.  Hope this helps.

DB

I have done afew routes.

Portsmouth - Cherbourg on my bike -

real pain to be honest, but i had to stop for juice as its longer than 130 miles.

The route isnt full with LM cars and i didnt get the same buzz of anicipation on the way.

Caen or Le Havre has to be the best option from Portsmouth.

Brittany Ferries are doing a fast craft this year but have strange sailing options.

My favourite so far is Le Havre, but we are also onto Caen this year as P&O are shisters.

First time from Bolougne this year.
What's a reasonable driving time for this ? also approx mileage.

Under 4 hours
A shade under 250 miles. via Rouen, Alencon. Avoid going via Paris. Only about 50 miles further, but expensive tolls and possibility of traffic jams around the Paris ring roads.

Thanks Kpy

Team Crapaud will leave Jersey for St Malo. From there its less than an hour to Renne (1 car made it in 20 minutes, they did the supermarche shop, ie beer run), stop for lunch, then an hour and a bit to lemans.

I'm sure there is a boat to St.Malo from UK.

Last year i left Jersey at 9am GMT and arrived at Le Mans at 1pm French time, only stopping once to get petrol and 10 minutes later to change a rear tire after having a blowout at a ton (thats no fun belive me).

Boat direct to to St Malo from UK is Wednesday night at 20:30pm from Pompey. We do this trip every year. It's an overnighter and the ship has a full size bar at the stern so plenty of scope for a good evening and to sleep it off. Mind you it's an early disembark at St. Malo - 07:30am!!!

Cheers all

I bet I'm the only one travelling from Dunkerque. Those theiving ferry operators wanted over £330 for Dover Calais with car & caravan. It was £220 last year for the same times.

Norfolkline go to Dunkerque (from Dover) for £188. It's about 20 miles the wrong way though.

Smokie - You should try joining the caravan club. They get glow rates on all ferries.

The "caravan for us cost £512 on the Pompey - Caen route

That should put an extra 2 hours on to your journey time if you are anything like some of the wagondraggers I get stuck behind.

I generally head south down the North Sea, through the Straights of Dover into the English Channel and west to Le Havre.
Then up the River Seine, across to the Sarthe River, along Tetre Rouge Brook and into the Maison Blanche storm drain channel.

Takes me about 2.5 hours.

do u really that sounds the best route yet can i follow you ????

I'm in the Caravan Club but their prices have never been any better than those available directly from the operators. If you are prepared to get on a ferry at 04:15 then you can save money. Luckily for me I'm not that hard up! :)

That should put an extra 2 hours on to your journey time if you are anything like some of the wagondraggers I get stuck behind.

LOL - I have a half decent towing speed (conditions permitting of course) somewhere between 70 and 80 mph, if I can be bothered (3.0 litre car...).

But it's easier and less costly to trundle at 65 - 70. And I won't get nicked for it...

So that's why you set off the Sunday before the race weekend  ;D

No, he gets there on the Sunday before the race, he leaves in March!!!!!  ;D ;D ;D

I have a cunning plan (glad I am sober typing that one!).

If all the gendarmes are going to be between LM and the Channel Ports looking for Brits exceeding the speed limit (they can even smell out a hire car with a French plate and a Brit driver), then I am going to get the ferry down to Santander, and drive up from Spain.  :o

Weee!!! Balls out driving again, just like the old days.  ;D :D

Avoid using mappoint unless you like long detours.

Try this to and be amazed just how good this system is.

1. Go to http://mappoint.msn.com/DirectionsFind.aspx

2. In the Start section, select "Norway" from the listbox and enter

"Haugesund" into the "City" field

3. In the End section, select "Norway" from the listbox and enter

"Trondheim" into the "City" field

4. Click on "Get Directions" ...

5. jump in your car for a nice tour

What the hell is that?? so travel most of the way around europe & take 2 ferries??

Still I suppose thats the logic that makes Microsoft one of the richest  companies in the world!! (MSN is owned by Microsoft for those who don't know)

Personally I like the trip from Calais to Le Mans, there's plenty of cars to watch as they fly past you,  it's a long way but I always remember, good things come to those who wait!!