Advice needed on Cameret trip

[ChrisE]

I'd like to take Rival Spirit as far down the West Coast of France as I can in a long weekend in preparation for the annual holiday and I have a question.

Weather, as ever, permitting we'll set off on Friday evening and will want to stop about midday Sunday to get back, prepare for the following week, etc. Cameret is well within our range but I'm open to suggestions if there is a more convenient place to leave the boat for a week. Any advice on the fastest route back to the Solent area? Ideally by air back to Southampton or Bournemouth (although I'd consider any public transport route that took up to 8 hours) with a return passage available on the following Thursday evening.

Thanks in advance.



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[qsiv]

The visitor berths at Camaret are a bit exposed in the wrong conditions - but it is a good passage port. Moulin Blanc in Brest would be totally secure, and have better transport links, but is a slight detour.

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[zefender]

I'd also be a bit cautious about the security there. A couple of years ago, I chased two yoofs off the pontoon at about 2am after I saw them going onto at least three boats.

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[brianhumber]

Some years ago I had a very rough night including snapped springs in Cameret. Brest is more secure. If air is not available the you could then train it, with one change to St Malo for overnight Ferry back to Portsmouth

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[ChrisE]

Thanks all, looks like Brest instead of Cameret. Useful info about the train, I'll investigate further. Still interested in any other travel tips about getting to and fro.
Chris

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[qsiv]

When in Brest Olivier de Kersauson had a fine restaurant (Au Bout du Monde?) - the man inself occasionally propped up the bar ...

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[Goodge]

I flew Ryanair back from Brest last year but it goes to Stansted. About 1 hour

45 minutes on Stansted Express( train) back to London Liverpool Street, 20 minutes on tube to Waterloo, one hour 15 to Southampton.

Flight was £29, Stansted Express about £10 and train to Southampton is about £23 cheap day single.


A bit round the houses but will be quicker than train and ferry back to Portsmouth.

Worth considering

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[milltech]

I think Ryanair have dumped Brest n.m.

..

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[milltech]

Re: Brest Option

It's worth being aware that the Brest 2004 maritime festival will be operating from the 10th to the 16th July so boat room maybe restricted unless booked. I will be there and am also looking for a way home, Ryanair would have been good but it wasn't on their schedule last time I looked, maybe it's summer only, I'll look again.


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[ChrisE]

Re: Brest Option

Aiming to be going after the Brest festival but thanks for the warning.

Have now had an opportunity to check flights and have found that Air France fly out of Brest to Southampton via Paris for a cool £430-£500 rtn handy but pricey. There are also connecting flights from Rennes and Lannion at similar cost to Brest. Ryanair fly from Dinard (adjacent to St Malo) to Stansted but only AM flights out on Sunday PM rest of week. They also fly from La Rochelle so might consider a longer delivery trip. So I'm thinking about my options.

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[milltech]

Re: Brest Option

La Rochelle looked a long way, at least St. Malo is in the right direction! I think I'll post a question about trains from B. to St.M. Offially I'm also booked for Douarnenez from the 16th to the 20th, but I have to be back in Blighty for the morning of the 20th. Ryanair looked such a terrific option. I think Air France must fly a lot of empty aircraft!

I can't decide whether to dump Douarnenez and head back to Falmouth or to do it and leave the boat a few weeks at D.




<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[ChrisE]

Re: Brest Option

Looks like about a 4 hour train journey, try the address below for deutchebahn they have a good timetabling site:

http://www.bahn.de/pv/view/int_guest/subhome/international_guests.shtml

Looking at the times/cost with any combination of train/plane or boats from Brest, La Rochelle becomes more appealing

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[drawp]

There are BA and Air Chance flights from Nantes to Gatwick.

Or if you can make it around the next corner to Benodet or Le Foret, there is a summer schedule bus service from Quimper to meet the Plymouth ferry in Roscoff.

For train timetables look up www.sncf.com

Happy hunting and good luck.



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[ChrisE]

Thanks for the tip. Nantes > Gatwick sounds good, will investigate.

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[milltech]

Re: Brest Option

That's a good site, it looks as if one could leave, (in my case), the "Office de Tourisme" at Douarnenez at 07.43 and get into Reading Station at 20.43 same day. Bus - TGV - Metro - Eurostar - Tube - Train. By the time one has buggered about travelling to airports and checking in and arriving at an airport miles from home it probably isn't a bad option.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[nonchalant]

Camaret is great if you can find a berth in the inner harbour - possible if you're prepared to negotiate with the capitainerie. But others are right about Brest being easier for transport back here. My understanding is that Ryanair have axed the Stansted-Brest air route, only a year after buying up Buzz - but they are still flying Dinard (near St Malo) to Stansted So train and plane from Brest via Dinard (or even bus to Brest or somewhere else on the N12 from Camaret) may be an option.

I can't recall the trains from the Brest area to Roscoff, but there's the Roscoff to Plymouth ferry if you can bear the overpriced Brit rail system (change at Westbury?).

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[pugwash]

TGV and Eurostar?

Brest dep 08.50 arr Paris Montparnasse 13.25, change station and have lunch in cafe, dep Paris 15.19 arr Waterloo 16.54 cost £162 or dep Brest 11.48 or 13.47 and arr London 19.58 or 22.28.
Slightly pricey but smooth and efficient.
For schedule and booking go to http://www.raileurope.co.uk/# the click "Bookable Online."


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[pugwash]

TGV and Eurostar

Brest dep 08.50 arr Paris Montparnasse 13.25, change station and have lunch in cafe, dep Paris 15.19 arr Waterloo 16.54 cost £162 or dep Brest 11.48 or 13.47 and arr London 19.58 or 22.28.
Slightly pricey but smooth and efficient.
For schedule and booking go to http://www.raileurope.co.uk/# then click "Bookable Online."


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[pugwash]

TGV and Eurostar

Brest dep 08.50 arr Paris Montparnasse 13.25, change station and have lunch in cafe, dep Paris 15.19 arr Waterloo 16.54 cost £162 or dep Brest 11.48 or 13.47 and arr London 19.58 or 22.28.
Slightly pricey but smooth and efficient.
For schedule and booking go to http://www.raileurope.co.uk/# then click "Bookable Online."


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[pugwash]

More on TGV

When entering Brest in the booking system use Brest (29).

Also, TGV services are even quicker from Nantes -- dep Nantes 0730, arr Waterloo 13.30 -- seven hours total. Three morning services.

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