French coast

[Independence]

Looking at a cruise along the French coast this year July-August time circa 10 -12 days starting from Ramsgate.

Can anyone recommend any ports I should consider.

Thanks

 

[FullCircle]

Looking at a cruise along the French coast this year July-August time circa 10 -12 days starting from Ramsgate.

Can anyone recommend any ports I should consider.

Thanks

with or without a fridge?

 

[Independence]

I'm told only with one.

 

[Pye_End]

Gravelines, as a start.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Definitely Valery en Caux... If you like peace and a proper French port rather than tourist country....

Dieppe is also nice, with a great local Market

 

[Tom Price]

[QUOTE=Independence:
"Looking at a cruise along the French coast "

Get Neville Featherstone's North France & Belgium Cruising Companion (£18 from Amazon) and make up your own mind.
And the River Seine chapter might tempt you to reach Rouen - it did me!

 

[Pye_End]

Honfleur is a must.

 

[Tom Price]

[QUOTE=Pye_End: "Honfleur is a must."

NOT while the lock is closed for repair!!

 

[sailorman]

Market day Dives sur Mere (Sp )
Honfleur ( once just to see)

 

[Koeketiene]

Can anyone recommend any ports I should consider.

St Valery en Caux is a must (IMO - but I'm a bit biased )

If you don't draw too much (<1.7m), St Valery sur Somme is also well worth a visit. (Get your tides right & time your entry!!!!)

Dieppe's nice on a market day. Lot's of nice restaurants. Marina was getting pricey when we were last there.

The 'Fish Tank' in Boulogne is a family favourite.

 

[Csail]

Honfleur & Gravelines.

 

[Athene V30]

Honfleur & Gravelines.

+1
and Fecamp

If you make Graveline the last visit leaving & heading back to Essex / Suffolk is simple - just go when there is sufficient water and head about 335 from the breakwater (by memory) takes you over the NE TSS at right angles and up towards sandetti bank, then sharpen your course a little bit to about 315 for the SW TSS - with the tide usually pop out about Fall Head buoy, outside Kentish knock and up to Sunk.

 

[PeterGibbs]

Looking at a cruise along the French coast this year July-August time circa 10 -12 days starting from Ramsgate.

Can anyone recommend any ports I should consider.

Thanks

How's this?

Calais - tidal entry. good eating. Nice shakedown stop for you

Boulogne - 24/7 easy stage port. Can be bit whiffy in the marina. Nice citadel

Treport - tidal entry, nice resort village

Dieppe - 24/7 and loads of eating places, Nice old church, atmosphere aplenty. One of the most expensive ports on this coast and not brilliant facilities.

Fecamp - 24/7 good atmosphere and eateries. Benedictine "factory" always a pleasure!

Havre - OMG!

Honfleur - v busy at the time you will be there. Multi-rafting. Most picturesque port on whole coast. Historic and good market and shops.

Deauville - tidal and classy.

Ouistreham - tidal lock. Nice village. Take canal to Caen - port is right in centre of historic town. Great castle for the kids. Lovely and not crowded, usually. Good stop for the ladies!

Courseuilles sur mer - tidal and pricy for the poor facilities.

Grandcamp - nice old fishing village, limited space

St Vaast - also tidal but classy.

Cherbourg - 24/7 OMG!

If you're up for it, pick the best above and hasten on (weather and crew permitting) round Cap de la Hague and enjoy Channel Isles and Malo, with lovely ports to westwards. Plouer on the Rance is worth a stopover for the calm of the river but you must arrive with clearance to enter the gated marina.

Otherwise, don't get in late at this time of the year or you will be rafting multi-deep!

PWG

 

[johnalison]

All the above, and in a couple of weeks you might like to include Deauville/Trouville and one of our favourites, Dives. The development there is now complete and is everything that Eastbourne ought to be but isn't. The entrance isn't as alarming as some people make out in decent weather and the historic town is pleasant to walk round without Honfleur's tourists.
In Dieppe, try Le Newhaven near the marina for a reliable meal.

 

[CPD]

Just dont forget the fridge .........

 

[sailorman]

All the above, and in a couple of weeks you might like to include Deauville/Trouville and one of our favorites, Dives. The development there is now complete and is everything that Eastbourne ought to be but isn't. The entrance isn't as alarming as some people make out in decent weather and the historic town is pleasant to walk round without Honfleur's tourists.
In Dieppe, try Le Newhaven near the marina for a reliable meal.

Dieppe Try the first restaurant on the stbd hand as you enter the hbr. they do a very good fixed price meal, family owned & run also the locals use it

 

[bromleybysea]

French ports

Most of the above. My personal favorites are Gravelines and the two St Valerys- sur Somme and en Caux. At the latter it's worth a walk up to the memorial to the men of the 51st Highland Division who made their last stand there before Dunkirk. St Valery sur Somme is a bit of a lobster pot- not to bad on the way in if you choose your weather, but can be hard to leave if the wind goes westerly- I have buried the bow in a force 3 coming out of there. Dieppe can be rolly and noisy and as said, the facilities are not brilliant, but the town is great.

 

[sailorman]

 

[wingdiver]

Out experience
Definitely:
Fecamp - fresh fish market and great restaurants further along the quay. Great view from cliff to the east with church and WW2 fortifications.
Honfleur - just to say you've been. Don't bother with the old harbour inside it's like being in a goldfish bowl with hundreds of people looking at you. Toilets and showers a long way. Bus to Trouville and Deauville if you don't want to visit by water.
St Vaast - excellent restaurants and a fine deli/shop and local oysters
Don't really rate:
Dieppe - most expensive place on that coast with no real reason. Ridiculously short finger berths for our 37 footer so haven't been back since.
Boulogne - OK but not exciting
Cherbourg - not bad once you find your way away from the marina area.
Dunkirk - souless around marina areas