This page is should help with Channel crossing options and the motorways

Ferry, Tunnel or Plane.............. ?

THE FERRIES

The ports of St Malo, Caen and Cherbourg are one ish, two and a half and three hours drive respectively via generally deserted, toll free motorways. These run as far as Guer (ten minutes away) and are toll free. Calais is about five hours drive and the tolls add up to about fifteen pounds. Most (but not all) French toll booths take credit cards.

Mileages as supplied by the RAC Route Finder are as follows: St Malo- 76 miles, Roscoff- 169 miles, Caen- 149 miles, Cherbourg- 169 Miles, Le Havre- 203 miles and Calais 357 miles.

The cheapest crossings are usually Dover-Calais but the drive through France is not for everyone. Most people come to Caen, St Malo or Le Havre.

Please see the map below for the main motorways. Please use this as a guide only and refer to a more detailed road map before setting out. We will also send you written directions to the house by e mail two months before you are due to arrive. We do not recommend the use of Sat Nav to find the houses. No-one who has used our directions and a road map has ever got lost getting here. A high percentage of people using Sat Nav can`t find us due to the fact that so many small roads are not marked.

Please note all crossing times given below are taken from the websites of each company but are subject to change. The crossings quoted are for day crossings.

You need to book your crossing direct with the ferry, tunnel, plane yourself as we are not allowed to do this for you...sorry !

1. Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries travel from:

Portsmouth-St Malo. Crossing time 9 hours
Porstsmouth-Caen. Ferry crossing time 6 hours
Porstmouth-Caen. Fast cat crossing time 3 hours 45 mins
Poole-Cherbourg. Crossing time 4 hours 30 mins
Plymouth-Roscoff. Crossing time 6 hours
Cork-Roscoff. Crossing time 14 hours

SAVE TWENTY PERCENT ON BRITTANY FERRIES PRICES
Get TWENTY PERCENT discount on your travel with Brittany Ferries who cross from Portsmouth, Poole, Plymouth and Cork to St Malo, Caen, Roscoff, and Cherbourg. Ask us for our discounted travel number

This twenty percent off Brittany Ferries normal rates is only available when you book a gite with us !!!!

As not many people fly here as a hire car is needed so this section is not as extensive as the others. Car hire is available at all the French airports but we recommend you book in advance from the UK. Locally you can hire a car at Europecar in Ploermel

The closest airport is Rennes (forty minutes) where you can travel Flybee from Southampton or Exeter.

Dinard is and hour 15 minutes away where you can travel with Ryanair from East Midlands, Stanstead, Bristol and Birmingham

Nantes (1 hour 20 mins away) You can fly there with Easyjet and Ryan air from London, East Midlands, Nottingham and Liverpool

Money saving hints.....

1. Book well in advance. The price often rises nearer the crossing time

2. The cheapest days to travel are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
(we can often accommodate these changeover days in the low season)

3. St Malo is the most expensive crossing but is the port closest to us.

4. Daytime crossing are cheaper than overnights

5. Roof racks are extra

6. Don`t forget to use our discount number on Brittany Ferries. You'll get twenty percent off !!

TO SEE OUR SUGGESTED LOW COST OFF SEASON HOLIDAYS FROM £8 PER PERSON PER DAY INCLUDING GITE RENTAL AND FERRY TRAVEL THEN PLEASE:

CLICK HERE

Useful travel info...
DOCUMENTATION
You need to bring your Vehicle Registration, Insurance, MOT and Driving Licence. It is also advisable to take out European breakdown cover. As of 2008 you also need spare car bulbs, a warning triangle and a yellow jacket (that you can reach without getting out of your seat). Note: Regulations seem to change all the time so please check before you travel.

SPEED CAMERAS
Although there are not many fixed cameras they do exist particularly on the motorways. You will see large white signs with black pictures of different vehicles followed by radar lines. Hand held speed traps are also used and normally an on the spot fine will be given of 90€. The speed limit on a Brittany motorway is 110Km/h. In towns and villages it is usually 50Km/h but can be as low as 30Km/h.

PRIORITY TO THE RIGHT
A yellow diamond shaped sign with a white border indicates that drivers on main roads have the right of way and don’t need to give way to the right. (Often seen when entering motorways). When the sign reappears with a diagonal black line through it, then this changes back so you do have to give way to the right. (Often applied when in small village squares and on country roads where cars can pull out from junctions on the right in front of you on the main road.) Unless you see `give way` markings on the road at the junction or a `give way` sign be careful.

PETROL STATIONS
Motorway and dual carriageway stations are normally manned 24 hours. Supermarket and local stations are normally manned from 0900-1200hrs and 1400-1900hrs. Automated 24hour card pumps normally only take French bank cards and those UK cards that have a PIN number with them.

CHANGING MONEY
You can use UK credit /debit cards in most cash machines in France to obtain your Euros.

All the above travel information is advisory only and not verified. If you would like more details then please speak to the French embassy in the UK. We carry no responsibility for the accuracy of this information. Please note that French road regulations are subject to change at any time.