Cherbourg next week

[fjweaver]

Hoping to leave for Cherbourg early on Tues or Weds next week from Yarmouth, expecting to arrive early evening.

I heard that the French are on holiday around now - will Cherbourg have spaces in the marina? I've been once before with no problem.

It's just me with my 2 boys (14 & 16) and will be staying for a week or so and was thinking of hiring bikes for a day or two. Has anyone done this and can recommend good routes. Would think about hiring a car too for a few days.

Would be grateful to know of anything that might interest 2 kids who will have just returned from a wonderful 2 weeks in USA with their mother..... Last year was our first holiday on our own and wasn't too successful following the realisation that I'm ok as a dad (can still kick a ball & beat them at tennis!) but not so good at playing mum & organising them....

I know we could go sailing but they're getting to the age where cruising isn't quite the same as hacking along on a laser or surfing so don't want to overkill it after the trip cross-channel

all help & suggestions gratefully received!!!

thanks
Frank

 

[Poignard]

The undersea museum [Cite de la Mere] is very good and has interactive displays for kids. Train to Bayeux to see the tapestry. Taxi or hire car to see the invasion beaches and museums. Beaches. Fishing. Markets at Cherbourg and Octeville. trainservice to Paris. Shopping. And, if all else fails, sailing!

Re berths in the marina. If it's full you can anchor outside and grab a space next morning when many people leave.

 

[srevir]

Got stormbound in May so visited the museum - great incl nuclear sub

Hired car ( several car hire firms on the road which runs down the west side of the inner basin)

Cartaret has a great beach

Cap de la hague has spectacular scenery but may not be too kid friendly unless they like scrambling over the rocks looking for critters

The Capitainerie was very helpful with sugestions.

Its a pretty big marina but occaisionally they have large 'rallies' so I would check beforehand.

Téléphone : 02 33 87 65 70

Fax : 02 33 53 21 12

capitainerie@ville-cherbourg.fr

Have fun /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[raquet]

As others have said the Cité de la Mer is well worth a visit and is an easy walk from the marina. There are a couple of good museums although I guess lads of that age might not be too interested in that sort of thing. The idea of a train trip to Bayeux is a good one and you could extend it to Caen which is fun to walk around, has two magnificent abbeys and (if walking becomes too much) a splendid new (ish) tram system. Bicycles can be hired and there are many places around worth a pedal. Barfleur is about thirty kilometres – I couldn’t do it by bike but plenty of people do. The coast road is very handsome through Brettville and Fermanville. Port Lévi is just off the coast road at Fermanville and is a lovely little village with a tiny port and a magnificently sited fort. You will see the lighthouse at Cap Lévi on your way in. Going in the other direction La Hague has some great cliff scenery and the cap is wild and wonderful. The beach, going south on the west coast, at Barneville-Carteret is perhaps the best in Normandy.

Visit tourist office for links to bike hire and other stuff. PM me if you want more local info.

 

[AIDY]

If you get to barfleur (sp) you can go up the light house. also a museum there

 

[raquet]

[ QUOTE ]
If you get to barfleur (sp) you can go up the light house. also a museum there

[/ QUOTE ]But don't forget that the lighthouse isn't actually at Barfleur - it is at Gatteville about 4 or 5 kilometres away. Mind you it is a lovely walk from Barfleur to Gatteville - we did it for our village walk last year.

 

[AIDY]

yup agree but most people know it as barfleur light house. never pedelled from cheb but pedelled to the light house from st vaast. its about 1e to go up

 

[raquet]

[ QUOTE ]
yup agree but most people know it as barfleur light house. never pedelled from cheb but pedelled to the light house from st vaast. its about 1e to go up

[/ QUOTE ]I think I could either pedal from St Vaast to the lighthouse or climb the lighthouse - but not both - or at least not on the same day.

 

[AIDY]

you could always stop half way for a beer or three /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[raquet]

[ QUOTE ]
you could always stop half way for a beer or three /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]How do you think I got into this decrepit condition in the first place?

 

[fjweaver]

thanks everyone for all the ideas - think the 'beer or three' might be favourite!