Cycling UK Forum

With time being precious this summer and friends being away when I'm free to travel, I'm looking at a short tour of part of La Vélodyssée.

Does anyone have any experience of getting back from the French-Spanish border to the UK? Is it possible to get a train to Santander for the ferry?

I watched a YouTube video about a family that cycled the route and they caught the bus.
There was the normal hassle and confusion about whether the bikes needed to be bagged or boxed or not on the bus.

This is their video, you could probably skip to the last 5 minutes to see the bit about the coach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiYTLCy-U_A

You can get a TGV back from Hendaye to Paris and then a ferry port. That’s going to be ok for speed and cost and would be my choice. I’ve used the TGV a fair bit to and from South West france including Bordeaux although I haven’t tried Hendaye yet. Seats are available around 3 months in advance and the bike is booked for 10 euro and stays intact. Must be booked and I’d suggest booking as early as possible. It’s only around 2 hours by TGV from Bordeaux to Paris!

It’s probably fastest to fly back from Bordeaux.

When I did it I cycled to Santander for the ferry and I have used regional trains with the bike in Spain before.

I understand that buses often take bikes in Spain. The websites show which ones and I’ve checked it for getting the bus from Gijon at the end of the via de La plata and it looks ok. Just trying to remember the names of the main bus companies, You need to alllow extra time for the ferry from Spain and they only go in certain days and aren’t cheap.

I know it's heresy, but flying is probably easiest and possibly cheapest.

Bordeaux has plenty of flights to UK. Local trains take bikes from places like Bayonne to Bordeaux. Plane ticket about £30-40, can be much cheaper, bike about £50, luggage extra if not carry on.

Id be interest to hear prices of other options. I use the ferries a bit and from memory only about £25 from Caen. I can get ticket from Portsmouth to Essex with rail discount for about £18 (ride or tube in London). It's pretty much an all day trip from France to home for me (last time overnighted in Portsmouth as more convenient).

simonhill wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 1:30am I know it's heresy, but flying is probably easiest and possibly cheapest.

Bordeaux has plenty of flights to UK. Local trains take bikes from places like Bayonne to Bordeaux. Plane ticket about £30-40, can be much cheaper, bike about £50, luggage extra if not carry on.

Id be interest to hear prices of other options. I use the ferries a bit and from memory only about £25 from Caen. I can get ticket from Portsmouth to Essex with rail discount for about £18 (ride or tube in London). It's pretty much an all day trip from France to home for me (last time overnighted in Portsmouth as more convenient).

I can usually fiddle the figures a bit to justify my approach by adding airport parking or an extra hotel night. I use the longest channel crossing so it’s also the most expensive (roscoff) because it’s close to home- a return on the bike is about £250 including a cabin one way (overnight). It would be less if I booked earlier or accepted a reclining seat instead of a cabin. For the TGV book early and it’s roughly €100 euros across france- book later and it can be more. Obviously there’s a lot of variation depending on the actual route. I fully budget my trips before going and travel isn’t cheap.

st599_uk wrote: ↑19 Feb 2024, 12:53pm With time being precious this summer and friends being away when I'm free to travel, I'm looking at a short tour of part of La Vélodyssée.

Does anyone have any experience of getting back from the French-Spanish border to the UK? Is it possible to get a train to Santander for the ferry?

Where's the end of the tour? And where's your final destination in the UK?

And how many people and bikes?

Thanks

Jonathan

st599_uk wrote: ↑19 Feb 2024, 12:53pm With time being precious this summer and friends being away when I'm free to travel, I'm looking at a short tour of part of La Vélodyssée.

Does anyone have any experience of getting back from the French-Spanish border to the UK? Is it possible to get a train to Santander for the ferry?

Euskatren the Basque railway take bikes (or it used to) Hendaye to Bilbao. No booking just keep bike in door vestibule - a bit like Southeastern trains.
Not sure about Bilbao to Santander - but don't Brittany ferries go to Bilbao as well?

Jdsk wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 10:09am

st599_uk wrote: ↑19 Feb 2024, 12:53pm With time being precious this summer and friends being away when I'm free to travel, I'm looking at a short tour of part of La Vélodyssée.

Does anyone have any experience of getting back from the French-Spanish border to the UK? Is it possible to get a train to Santander for the ferry?

Where's the end of the tour? And where's your final destination in the UK?

And how many people and bikes?

Thanks

Jonathan

It finishes at Hendaye, and I'm the only one heading back to the UK. The others are from other EU countries.

ANTONISH wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 10:10am

st599_uk wrote: ↑19 Feb 2024, 12:53pm With time being precious this summer and friends being away when I'm free to travel, I'm looking at a short tour of part of La Vélodyssée.

Does anyone have any experience of getting back from the French-Spanish border to the UK? Is it possible to get a train to Santander for the ferry?

Euskatren the Basque railway take bikes (or it used to) Hendaye to Bilbao. No booking just keep bike in door vestibule - a bit like Southeastern trains.
Not sure about Bilbao to Santander - but don't Brittany ferries go to Bilbao as well?

Thanks, I'll check the Bilbao route

st599_uk wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 4:01pmIt finishes at Hendaye, and I'm the only one heading back to the UK. The others are from other EU countries.

Thanks

As usual I'd include one-way car hire in the option appraisal.

Much more effective with more than one in the car, but are any of the others returning to northern France, or Belgium or the Netherlands?

NB Much cheaper if you drop off in the same country as you hired it.

Jonathan

st599_uk wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 4:01pm

ANTONISH wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 10:10am

st599_uk wrote: ↑19 Feb 2024, 12:53pm With time being precious this summer and friends being away when I'm free to travel, I'm looking at a short tour of part of La Vélodyssée.

Does anyone have any experience of getting back from the French-Spanish border to the UK? Is it possible to get a train to Santander for the ferry?

Euskatren the Basque railway take bikes (or it used to) Hendaye to Bilbao. No booking just keep bike in door vestibule - a bit like Southeastern trains.
Not sure about Bilbao to Santander - but don't Brittany ferries go to Bilbao as well?

Thanks, I'll check the Bilbao route

I’d recommend a cabin as the crossing is more than 24 hours, I think you’re looking at £250 for boat, bike and cabin one way.

MrsHJ wrote: ↑21 Feb 2024, 6:01am

st599_uk wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 4:01pm

ANTONISH wrote: ↑20 Feb 2024, 10:10am

Euskatren the Basque railway take bikes (or it used to) Hendaye to Bilbao. No booking just keep bike in door vestibule - a bit like Southeastern trains.
Not sure about Bilbao to Santander - but don't Brittany ferries go to Bilbao as well?

Thanks, I'll check the Bilbao route

I’d recommend a cabin as the crossing is more than 24 hours, I think you’re looking at £250 for boat, bike and cabin one way.

From what I remember of the time we did Portsmouth-Bilbao and back a cabin was a compulsory part of ticket purchase.
It was two nights going out and I don't think I'd have fancied the alternative much.
£250 seems reasonable I doubt that you would get back much more cheaply by any other route.
There should be a night train from Hendaye to Paris maybe there would be bike space on that and sometimes there is limited bike space on the TGV.
Or Intercites to St Malo via Bordeaux and Nantes (a long day) and bike spaces have to be booked.
All in all getting the ferry from Bilbao looks a better option.