GlennG
Well-Known Member
I'd also add that the Normandy beaches are nice. Had a very pleasant three nights in Courseulles-sur-Mer which is about 10km east of Arromanches (of Mulberry Harbour fame). Courseulles has an excellent yacht club overlooking the marina (they said it was modelled on a British yacht club).
One useful thing is that winds will normally blow you back up the channel (sod's law aside!), so it should be easy enough to get home. With cross-channel ferries from Dieppe (Newhaven), Le Harvre and Cherbourg (Portsmouth), you've a fall-back if you get stuck. All three harbours are very easy to enter at all states of the tide (but get Cherbourg right as the current's strong!).
Personally, I don't rate Fecamp that highly (don't try it if it's a north-westerly, and there's a big surge if you're in the tidal basin).
I really like Dieppe (but try to get down to the end pontoons for a quieter night as there's a bit of a surge against the floating barrier).
Boulogne's nice with an interesting museum in the castle.
Time your holiday taking into consideration the French holidays - August - when it's very busy.
One useful thing is that winds will normally blow you back up the channel (sod's law aside!), so it should be easy enough to get home. With cross-channel ferries from Dieppe (Newhaven), Le Harvre and Cherbourg (Portsmouth), you've a fall-back if you get stuck. All three harbours are very easy to enter at all states of the tide (but get Cherbourg right as the current's strong!).
Personally, I don't rate Fecamp that highly (don't try it if it's a north-westerly, and there's a big surge if you're in the tidal basin).
I really like Dieppe (but try to get down to the end pontoons for a quieter night as there's a bit of a surge against the floating barrier).
Boulogne's nice with an interesting museum in the castle.
Time your holiday taking into consideration the French holidays - August - when it's very busy.