Calais, Boulogne or Dunkirk?

bradtarga34

bradtarga34

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 Apr 2006
Messages
707
Location
Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
Visit site
We are based on the Thames and looking at heading to France for a couple of nights over the August bank holiday and wondering which port would be best to try for a first French port visit. Main priorities are easy access to local restaurant's and bars (what a surprise! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) and preferably some ambience? I quite like Boulogne having been there by car and town access and restaurants are good, but not sure if the marina there near the town is for the public or only fishing boats?
 
Calais has a gate/bridge and is a battle to get in/out, no Hypermarkets close by so Boulogne gets my vote.
Restaurants very good value.
Beach close by.
Hypermarket with in Trolley dash distance (Time for high tide).

24 hour access to old Harbour , new marina has a gate and looses much of the atmosphere.

Enter main Harbour and do not head straight for inner harbour as there is a spit.
You will see from the Chart and poor buoyage you need to curve to starboard.

There are traffic lights but will be probably be green, green white but if you dont know the difference between green white green then best have your almanac open on the right page /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Proceed all the way into Town leaving new marina gate to starboard.

Dries out at South end near locks but you should be a long way from there.

Boulogne has all the best of France.

Crossing at Varne can be choppy due to current and two headlands, try crossing from Dungerness.
 
Boulogne with-out a doubt
spent 5 days in 2 spells 3 weeks ago
dont lock-in its to remote & sterile.
harbour / marine staff very good & helpfull
there is a wine shop that allows you to "taste" before buying + delivers @ a time to suit you, ask in the marina office
 
Thanks for the advice, looks as though Boulogne it is! I had a look at the Boulogne Port web site and looks like the one closest to Town that you recommend is the Port Maree? I'll have a butchers at the Almanac as well to see what secrets that has in store, I'm sure no mention of your top tip about the wine tastings /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif!
 
Dont forget the fishy smell in Boulogne, Calais marine very good but you have to lock though the bridge 5 opening times around high tide ( unless you are a motor boat and can fit under the bridge), good beach within 10mims walk and the town 10 mins the other way.
 
Boulogne at low water stinks to high heaven. Quite the the mankiest mud in France, especially anywhere near the fuel pontoon. However, do agreed the town is the best of the three mentioned.
 
A wander up to old town at top of hill is nice.Tiny resturant called the Bon Acuiel ?is worth a visit.Almost next door to the big church with all the shrapnel damage still visible in the walls.
Also down on sea front is statue of some general or other on horse.Great fun to be had trying to match up the entry and exit holes of various bullets etc aimed at it over the years.
 
Third (or more) vote for Boulogne....

Never noticed a problem with stinky mud when I was last there....

Agree with Sailorman... don't lock through....

Friendly marina.....

Couple of heads ups... you'll need your own water hose, and avoid leaving or returning to the marina at LW.... the gangway is seriously steep!

Walk into the old walled town, its lovely.....
 
Dont get within 75 mts of the weir @ half tide its vvvvvvvery lumpy rocks that dry-out @ L.W.
19989998c6e853ac841be79ff032922dc08daf8b443d7620c1a34d7a.jpg
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

2 fine Oyster 37s together in Boulogne, a rare sight ( only 35 afloat ) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif




i didnt notice any smell in temps of high 80s.
i found the place much improved since last there 4 yrs ago. they have eve
nm "tamed" the local fishermen or de-rated thier engines, only a few boxes dropped onto their pontoon before "sparrers"
 
Nice one MagnaCarter, we will probably heading off from Teddington Lock at sparrow's on Saturday morning then hopefully get the Tuesday off. Will keep an eye out for you though and will be happy to reciprocate your offer!
 
And the Maverick choice is.......... Gravelines, just North of Calais. It is a lock in, and it dries for 20 mins a tide in soft mud, but it has a decent Marina pontoon, Leccy(free) and Water, security, Pretty good restaurant bistro attached to the marina office, a decent chandler, LIDL is 100m away, its a fortified town with 3 or 4 restaurants and several cafes. Ineresting day out. Beach is a 10 minute bus ride.
We stayed for 3 days last month. Great, and all done on your EU money.
 
I love all three choices however the maverick choice of Graveline I would put a question mark on. It's a great place but I reccomend that for the first time one goes with a person that has been before.
 
I must say I've just seen your reply byron. Like Roger, I am wondering why you say that?
Its a narrow entrance to a long breakwater, good leading marks, plenty of water, just a lot of tide going across the entrance at springs. With my puny 7kts, I had no trouble at all.
Probably not good if attempted in strong winds, but then you wouldnt go there anyway if that is the case. Other than that, itas about 1.5 miles up a river, and through the lock gates, tie up. Easy really.
 
OK! Maybe I am being too cautious on behalf of others. It's just that Calais/Dunqerque/Bolougne are all novice proof and heavily 'sign-posted' whereas Graveline does require more forethought. Its only my opinion and I can understand it if you disagree with me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top