Ports in northern France?

[WestWittering]

We are off to France at the end of next week, for up to a month. For various reasons, we are not going on Flora, but in Mr Whiffy our Campervan.

Hoping to end up in Brittany, we will take the tunnel to Calais and then I was hoping to do a reccy for future use, of charming small ports & harbours of northern France.

Would love some recommendations - we are too old for discotheques, but well into seafood & markets and the odd bierre!

Tah in advance

Di

 

[Twister_Ken]

Would love some recommendations - we are too old for discotheques, but well into seafood & markets and the odd bierre!

Tah in advance

Di

Deauville/Trouville. Park in the boat in D, eat in T.

 

[Aries]

Campervans in France

Campervans seem to be very popular in France. We have cruised extensively along the French Channel coast and there seem to be parking places for them everywhere. At Calais they are parked opposite the marina and seem to near all the harbours we have been in to.

 

[elioti]

weve just come back from a dover calais crossing in our van. about 40 mins inland from calais is st omer, a nice town, and next to it Arques, a greta place on a canal. has an old canal boat lift, pretty amazing, ascenseur de fontinettes i think its called, camper vans park nearby for free right on the canal, can watch boats go by. Do the tour of the lift for onlt 4e each. Also, in arques is frances 3 largest employes arc , a glass factory! Its amazing, at this one factory they employ 6,000 people, with a total of 11,000 worldwide. At the arques site, they have 4 full time doctors, and 9 nurses! Really is worth a visit, can see them making beer glasses and vases and all sorts. There is a nice boat port at arques too in a great surrounding, but dont camp there as the harbour master woke us up late and told us we should be camping there, but let us anyway. We came upon this place by mistake, but really do take a look! Whne you get to Brittany, the place we like is Morlaix. also douanernez ( somthing like that!) s brittany has a boat museum. Pont aven is very nice s.brittany too. have a nice trip

http://www.arc-intl.com/Accueil.aspx

http://www.theotherside.co.uk/tm-heritage/visit/visit-arques-canal.htm

 

[elioti]

Campervans seem to be very popular in France. We have cruised extensively along the French Channel coast and there seem to be parking places for them everywhere. At Calais they are parked opposite the marina and seem to near all the harbours we have been in to.

They do charge though at calais, but we were low enough to get into the car park next to the camper area and stay for free! J

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

On your way to Brittany I would recommend Honfleur.

Excellent parking for camper vans right next to the harbour and the town is not only pretty, but also has more good restaurants per square kilometre than any town I have been elsewhere in the world. That's not an exaggeration either.

I have spent a week there and eaten at an excellent different restaurant every night (and most lunch times as well) oh!, and breakfast too.

 

[colhel]

I'd suggest buying the Tom Cunliffe's (SP) Channel Pilot. Some info on ports and harbours both this side of the cHannel and the French side. He doesn't go into detail on campervan parking mind.

 

[Sybarite]

We are off to France at the end of next week, for up to a month. For various reasons, we are not going on Flora, but in Mr Whiffy our Campervan.

Hoping to end up in Brittany, we will take the tunnel to Calais and then I was hoping to do a reccy for future use, of charming small ports & harbours of northern France.

Would love some recommendations - we are too old for discotheques, but well into seafood & markets and the odd bierre!

Tah in advance

Di

You might want to try the search facility here. There have been a few threads on the subject in recent years.

 

[Seajet]

If looking for a rustic little harbour with a good seafood restaurant try Omonville La Rogue ( sp ? ) just West of Cherbourg; good weather only and not for the faint hearted, also watch out for nets.

My parents found camper vans in large car parks in France - esp anywhere near ferries - attract thieves, just a case of being aware.

In view of the weather, I'm certain you're taking the better option, I predict the inability to even give away boats, and camper prices soaring !

Have fun.

 

[WestWittering]

Thanks for the responses - I will check them all out & hopefully get over on the boat later this year, that is if the jet stream gets its act together. There is no beating local knowledge & Ormville sounds like we will only get to visit in a camper - I am a bit girlie when it comes to being dashed against harbour walls or rocks ......

We are living on Flora at the moment which is great for sorting out the storage the way we would like it. We have just got round to throwing away the previous owners Weetabix and we have about 40 apples but I am sure well get there in the end.

In the meantime, Mr Whiffy is going through his checks and getting ready for his first overseas trip in my ownership. Should be a breeze for a 1984 VW - and he is LHD. Just wondering though, should I fly a French courtesy flag and the WOA burgee when we visit the ports?

Armed with your recommendations & my 2012 France Passion membership it will me a blast I'm sure.

Di

 

[jimbaerselman]

En route, stop off at Arromanches and visit the Mulberry harbour museum, easily the best D-Day museum along the coast.

Two themes are excellently presented (sessions run in English, French and German); "History of a Harbour", and "D-day and the Battle of Normandy". Learn all about how to anchor large structures . . .