I am planning a cycling/camping trip to Brittany for mid-June and want to visit the Crozon peninsula and then get to the Iles d'Oussant,ideally using ferries. I know a ferry ran from Le Fret (near Crozon) to Brest 2 years ago, having met someone who used it, but I am not sure if it still runs and the only website I could find only talks about gourmet cruises from Brest to Le Fret, which while no doubt enjoyable probably might take excepton to me carrying on a bike. If I can get the ferry from Le Fret to Brest I also should be able to take the ferry from Brest to the Iles d'Ouessant, mainly to avoid having to cycle out from the centre of Brest. If the ferries are not running then I can cycle from Crozon to Le Conquet and get the ferry to the islands from there, but using these other ferries would be interesting.
So, does anyone know anything about these ferries, e.g. approximate timings of sailing and/or a suitable website? I have found some links here but not quite the ones I need: http://france-for-visitors.com/brittany ... olene.html
I have found one campsite on the Il d'Ouessant - the municipal Pen Ar Bed, which I think is the only one unless anyone knows of another. http://www.campingfrance.com/UK/Find-yo ... PEN-AR-BED
Ferries in Brittany - Le Fret/Brest/Iles d'Ouessant
Re: Ferries in Brittany - Le Fret/Brest/Iles d'Ouessant
\I thin the ferry service to Uushant sailes fro Le Conquet.
http://www.brittanytourism.com/discover-brittany/hidden-gems/pointe-st-mathieu-and-le-conquet
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?level0=100
Cheers,
Paul.
http://www.brittanytourism.com/discover-brittany/hidden-gems/pointe-st-mathieu-and-le-conquet
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?level0=100
Cheers,
Paul.
Re: Ferries in Brittany - Le Fret/Brest/Iles d'Ouessant
Yes - the main one does, 5 times a day in summer I think - but my map also shows a ferry going from Brest, which was the one I was looking at. I suspect I will just have to have a look when I get there, assuming the ferry from Le Fret to Brest still runs and the worst case will be a cycle out of Brest to Le Conquet.
And thanks for the marine traffic link - what a fascinating site. Now when I see a ship of the coast I can find out what she is and where she is going.
And thanks for the marine traffic link - what a fascinating site. Now when I see a ship of the coast I can find out what she is and where she is going.
Re: Ferries in Brittany - Le Fret/Brest/Iles d'Ouessant
zooming in on the marine map will show up ferry routs, it's based on google earth mapping but they seem fairly accurate.
Cheers,
Paul
Cheers,
Paul
- simonineaston
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Re: Ferries in Brittany - Le Fret/Brest/Iles d'Ouessant
That Marine Traffic site is Fun
Funnily enough it doesn't show the ferry to Ile de Brehat, off Paimpol. I took that ferry last year in August, and I imagine it runs all year 'cos there's a permanent population of the island.
I know the OP's planning a route far to the west of Paimpol but I thought Ile de Brehat was thoroughly charming and has a camp-site, too.
Funnily enough it doesn't show the ferry to Ile de Brehat, off Paimpol. I took that ferry last year in August, and I imagine it runs all year 'cos there's a permanent population of the island.
I know the OP's planning a route far to the west of Paimpol but I thought Ile de Brehat was thoroughly charming and has a camp-site, too.
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: Ferries in Brittany - Le Fret/Brest/Iles d'Ouessant
Just got back on Saturday. The ferries do exist but times are a bit awkward if you want to join one ferry onto another. I have written a short account of my journey here: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/Brittany2012
You will find links to the websites of the two companies which run ferries from Le Fret to Brest and to Ouessant in that account. Timings of ferries are given on the websites but I would recommend an e-mail or 'phone call to confirm a service is running. For example, the Brest ferry does not run on Mondays at the moment but the website does not seem to reflect this.
You will find links to the websites of the two companies which run ferries from Le Fret to Brest and to Ouessant in that account. Timings of ferries are given on the websites but I would recommend an e-mail or 'phone call to confirm a service is running. For example, the Brest ferry does not run on Mondays at the moment but the website does not seem to reflect this.
- simonineaston
- Posts: 8063
- Joined: 9 May 2007, 1:06pm
- Location: ...at a cricket ground
Re: Ferries in Brittany - Le Fret/Brest/Iles d'Ouessant
I've had a quick decco at your write-up and the photos - it all sounds Great Fun! There's even dolphins, I see
S
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
(on the look out for Armageddon, on board a Brompton nano & ever-changing Moultons)
Re: Ferries in Brittany - Le Fret/Brest/Iles d'Ouessant
Biggest problem was the carriage of the bike on the deck out to Ouessant. I washed it down afterwards but now a week after getting back the headset has virtually siezed up with corrosion. Salt water may also have got in while I was on the island - blown in by the wind.
I have now started to strip down the bike to clean and re-grease everything.
If anyone else ever takes a bike on this ferry I suggest wrapping it in cling film, or something like that first. A CTC bike bag might work but the problem is the crew need to secure the bike which would be difficult if they could not pass ropes around the frame tubes.
I have now started to strip down the bike to clean and re-grease everything.
If anyone else ever takes a bike on this ferry I suggest wrapping it in cling film, or something like that first. A CTC bike bag might work but the problem is the crew need to secure the bike which would be difficult if they could not pass ropes around the frame tubes.