getting to France/Holland

[mercalia]

Every one now seems use the channel tunnel or flies with the hassle of packing your bike. do any here still use the ferry and I assume u dont need to undo any bit of the bike?

[ChrisF]

I used the ferry from Dover to Dunkerque last year, very easy and no dismantling. There were other bikes including one with a trailer. Also there's a good fast train (that takes bikes) to Dover from St Pancras.

[MrsHJ]

Yep, I use the ferry. Last used in 2014. Blissfully low key, cycle on, cycle off (although it's less fun than it used to be as you have to dismount and walk the last bit on due to the risk of slipping on the metal loading ramp). There is a boat and some rope and that's about it. They were starting to get a bit tetchy about the sheer volume of bikes using the crossing ( well get more bits of rope I say) and I have to admit there were many more bikes than when I toured pre kids. Admittedly 4 of the bikes were our family but there must have been twenty plus.

[andymiller]

A lot depends on where you live, but if you live in say Southern England and you want to tour in Britanny and Normandy then the ferry is hard to beat. The ferry from Harwich looks like a decent bet - although the sailing times aren't particularly convenient.

The Mediterranean ferries are also worth thinking about for longer tours eg mainland to Corsica, then Sardegna, and on to Sicilia (and you could go on to Tangiers or Malta).

[FarOeuf]

I mostly use the ferries (Newcastle/Amsterdam). your bike is simply lashed (just to stop it falling over) to a railing on the side of the deck, so if you want to protect your paintwork wrap your jacket or something around the strap/frame.

[FarOeuf]

The Mediterranean ferries are also worth thinking about for longer tours eg mainland to Corsica, then Sardegna, and on to Sicilia (and you could go on to Tangiers or Malta).

In addition, you can't take the bike on the Almeria/Nador ferry but you can on the Motril/Nador. I used that one (and the Tangiers catamaran coming home) and both were excellent.

[iviehoff]

I used the ferry from Dover to Dunkerque last year, very easy and no dismantling. There were other bikes including one with a trailer. Also there's a good fast train (that takes bikes) to Dover from St Pancras.

But you'll have to cycle from Folkestone to Dover if you want to go there in the short term. The sea wall the railway is built on between F & D collapsed in heavy seas over Christmas. I think they said it would take about 6 months to rebuild it.

All 3 ferry services to the Netherlands (from Newcastle, Hull and Harwich) are fine with a bike, ride on service. There's one or two of the ferries to France which aren't, but I forget which ones.

[Silverdorking]

Any experience of Brittany Ferries to St Malo? Also wondered whether there is cost benefit to early booking or should one retain flexibility and pay at travel time. (Never very confident that I'm going to retain by schedule when touring!)

[beardy]

or should one retain flexibility and pay at travel time

I made that mistake last year on Dover-Calais (DFDS) £19 booked on line, £29 buying a ticket at the terminal.
I guess that if I had smartphone I could have booked the ticket in the reception and then collected it at the counter?

[andymiller]

The Mediterranean ferries are also worth thinking about for longer tours eg mainland to Corsica, then Sardegna, and on to Sicilia (and you could go on to Tangiers or Malta).

In addition, you can't take the bike on the Almeria/Nador ferry but you can on the Motril/Nador. I used that one (and the Tangiers catamaran coming home) and both were excellent.

Yes the possibilities are endless (eg Italy to Croatia, Spain to Italy etc etc).

And so far no one has mentioned the ferry to Santander.

[MartinBrice]

I used the ferry from Dover to Dunkerque last year, very easy and no dismantling. There were other bikes including one with a trailer. Also there's a good fast train (that takes bikes) to Dover from St Pancras.

But you'll have to cycle from Folkestone to Dover if you want to go there in the short term

you can go via Canterbury - but you need to ride from Canterbury East to Canterbury West - but there is a line to Dover from Canterbury so you needn'y ride over the White Cliffs of Dover.

[Sweep]

The Mediterranean ferries are also worth thinking about for longer tours eg mainland to Corsica, then Sardegna, and on to Sicilia (and you could go on to Tangiers or Malta).

Have seen touring cyclists getting on to the ferry in Cagliari for Trapani or Palermo. You can fly. In no time. But why would you want to? Threre were also regular weekly sailings to Tunisia but not sure if there still are. There were also summer sailings between Spain and Sardinia. Again, haven't checked lately. Fond memories of taking the ferry out of Genova - I'd recommend it to anyone with the city and the howling cars on the flyover rising up from the docks.

[PH]

I like the ferry, but if you're looking for a fast, cheap way of getting to France without dismantling your bike, there's also a Eurotunnel option
http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/traveller- ... /bicycles/

[ossie]

Ive done Stena Line from Harwich to The Hook of Holland and it was very good...£60 for a cabin(which is compulsory) overnight and it drops you straight onto the Eurovelo 15. I cycled to Harwich but the station is next to the port.

Also done Condor Ferries from Poole / St Malo / Jersey / Guernsey...fast / quick and efficient and bikes are free.

[Tigerbiten]

I have to get a ferry as my bent trike-trailer combo is to big/heavy/expensive to go on a plane/train/bus.
I normally book online a couple of days before I turn up a the port for the continent and back. Otherwise I just turn up.
Even though my combo is twice the length and twice the width of a DF bike, I'm still charged the same rate as a standard bike .......