NW England into Europe options

[frankspencer1979]

Starting to plan what will be our first Europe trip next year. Aiming for Interlaken (although this is not set in stone) mainly because I want to see mountains and Interlaken looks relatively accessible. This will be a trip for myself and my (currently) 8yr old.

We live NW England, how do people from this neck o'woods generally get over to Europe!? I know there's loads of factors, but I'm just interested in hearing how peoples choices work out for them.

I'm currently tempted by up at crack of dawn, 5-6 hr drive down, chunnel over and then a stop somewhere en route t'other side.

 

[Bigsidavies]

It's a long time since were down there. Didn't have the van then, but the only real route is tunnel or Dover/Calais ferry. We did a weekend in Paris then a couple of days in Dijon on the way down to Annecy then back via Chamonix, lake Como, Stelvio Pass, Castle Neuschwanstein then back through Germany and along the Rhine, Belgium and home.

 

[DaveCrampton]

We have done most routes. In general the price goes up as you leave from further up the East Coast.
So :-
Rosyth, no longer running, priced out of existence.
Newcastle, DFDS, pricey to Ijmuden(Amsterdam).
Hull, P&O only to Rotterdam these days. Used to run to Zeebrugge, but discontinued a few years ago. Cheaper than DFDS, but my scruples keeps me away.
Essex, did this years ago, again cheaper than Hull.
Dover, cheapest but a long way away for us, (who live 3 miles from Rosyth).
Newhaven, to Dieppe. Not to bad, and a 4-5 hour crossing.
Southampton (from memory) to Cherbourg. It was an overnighter in a cabin, like Newcastle and Hull.

These days we go over from Newcastle as we stay north in the Netherlands. If we go to France we go via Newhaven and break the drive up in the UK.

 

[JDC]

We have done done France a few times and it's much of muchness. We've left at 6am drove down in the traffic and took 8hrs, ferry crossing then more drive but you are getting to the destination late at night and most places don't like you rocking up after 8pm. This year we left Liverpool at 7pm. Drove down and got a 3am crossing (cheaper) then drove just past Paris getting there for 12 the next day. Power nap included obviously. We've done that a few times and it seems to work for us especially with kids who can then sleep for the majority of journey time.

 

[Nutexa Frictions]

We did interlaken this year, left Wirral after friends wife finished work at 4pm, and then stayed the night at reading services, got the Dfds ferry from
Dover to Dunkirk as was the cheapest. Stayed a few days in Belgium then drove down to the alps in one hit, long drive and won’t be doing that again next year, will break it up with a midway stopover even if it’s in a aire. We stayed in camping alpinblick in interlaken and was great, make use of the free bus pass and get the train from interlaken to different places.

 

[tommy_t6.1]

When we went this year, we left Manchester at about 5pm, headed down to a Vw meet at Tamworth. Stayed there for a few hours then headed to the tunnel.

We got there around 1am after and waited for our 2:30am crossing. After 35 mins your in France and on your way. We travelled for about 30 mins in France and stopped at the first Aire we came across. Set the van up and slept there until about 10ish.

For us this was the best way to do it. Traveling at night you don't deal with the traffic. We wouldn't do the ferry as it takes too long, plus I get major seasickness!

We'll be doing the exact same journey a couple of times next year as it worked out really well!

 

[Mick]

Starting to plan what will be our first Europe trip next year. Aiming for Interlaken (although this is not set in stone) mainly because I want to see mountains and Interlaken looks relatively accessible. This will be a trip for myself and my (currently) 8yr old.

We live NW England, how do people from this neck o'woods generally get over to Europe!? I know there's loads of factors, but I'm just interested in hearing how peoples choices work out for them.

I'm currently tempted by up at crack of dawn, 5-6 hr drive down, chunnel over and then a stop somewhere en route t'other side.

There are a couple of options I would recommend.

There is a great pub stopover, The Drum Inn, the junction before the Eurotunnel. Last time it was £10 for the night but it may have increased. Toilet showers etc.

On the other side there is a great MoHo stopover in a very large car park in the village of Bergues. Great breakfast 1/2 a mile away in the town square. Beautiful walled town.

 

[Bundy88]

We normally do the Drum Inn and get an early tunnel, then stop somewhere near Troyes for a quick overnighter...Ibis or Camponille jobby

 

[frankspencer1979]

Thanks for the tips so far.... Going to check out the Drum inn idea, that would mean driving down on a Saturday then early tunnel Sunday, as opposed to current thinking of v.early start on the Sunday for mid day-ish train.

Is there a massive need to book far in advance? For the tunnel or ferry but also euro campsites? This will be second week of May half term (actually first week june.) Most schools round here get 1 week, but my daughter's school is one of the few that does a second week for this break, not sure how that pans out across the country?

 

[Mick]

Thanks for the tips so far.... Going to check out the Drum inn idea, that would mean driving down on a Saturday then early tunnel Sunday, as opposed to current thinking of v.early start on the Sunday for mid day-ish train.

Is there a massive need to book far in advance? For the tunnel or ferry but also euro campsites? This will be second week of May half term (actually first week june.) Most schools round here get 1 week, but my daughter's school is one of the few that does a second week for this break, not sure how that pans out across the country?

I always use searchforsites app and have never been turned away yet. Lot of overnight stops which may or may not be campsites.

I’d call ahead to the Drum Inn if it’s gonna be a busy weekend. Germany (Stellplatz) and France (Aires) are setup for motorhomes/campers in most towns & villages. Just follow the MoHo sign showing dump point for your water.

Eurotunnel I’d book in about March if it is 1/2 term but the earlier the better. I’m off on the 9th November and booked in May.

 

[Jay-D]

Hull to Rotterdam ferry is decent, not the cheapest option but the overnight aspect doesn’t feel like travelling, if you get my meaning (although I’ve heard interesting stories from people when the weather isn’t great and there’s choppy seas!). I’d personally much rather have a few more hours of driving through Holland, Belgium etc than have more hours driving down to south of England, but hull from Manchester is easy for me. I’m planning on heading over there next year so I’ll keep an eye on this thread. Where ever you go from, you’ll have a blast! Enjoy

 

[Mick]

Hull to Rotterdam ferry is decent, not the cheapest option but the overnight aspect doesn’t feel like travelling, if you get my meaning (although I’ve heard interesting stories from people when the weather isn’t great and there’s choppy seas!). I’d personally much rather have a few more hours of driving through Holland, Belgium etc than have more hours driving down to south of England, but hull from Manchester is easy for me. I’m planning on heading over there next year so I’ll keep an eye on this thread. Where ever you go from, you’ll have a blast! Enjoy

I've done the Harwich- Hook run a few times and it's very good. From Leicester it can easily cut out 4 hours behind the wheel on the run to Austria. Nightime sailings are compulsory cabins but the early ferry is good with some good options to camp overnight nearby. You can easily go via Luxembourg to Interlaken and get diesel at Euro1.10

 

[Shaun Witts]

As several others have mentioned, you need to schedule in an overnight stop somewhere - and both outward and homeward bound. I live near Clitheroe and drive to Munich & Austria several times a year (I used to live in Munich). When I moved back from Munich I made several trips in my A4 estate through the tunnel and up to Lancashire. I have done such journeys without a proper sleep before, but I can’t do that anymore. So, for me, the Hull/Rotterdam ferry is perfect. It’s only two hours from home (M62 allowing), and has a lot of facilities for a comfortable crossing (cinema, cabaret, several bars including a piano bar not to mention a casino). I usually have a good meal in one of the two restaurants, a few beers and a good nights sleep followed by a full breakfast. That sets me up for the 9-10 hour drive to Munich or Austria.

I know that P&O haven’t had good press in the recent past (for good reason), but it seems to me that the crew on the Hull/Rotterdam route has not changed - one boat was always staffed by non-Europeans.

In fact, I’ll be taking that route again before the end of November.