St Vaast

[Way]

Looking for somewhere to go cross-channel where we can hole up for a week or so and relax, after a rather big cross-channel trip last year....

Is there enough to do/not do?

Is it important to get over there and through the Lock gates...looks like you can anchor outside and wait but surely weather-dependent?

How bad is the rounding of Barfleur - I've done Portland Bill + Cap de le Hague...is it similar?

 

[Tranona]

Rounding Barfleur just like other headlands is fine if you follow the pilot book recommendations and go with the tide. With the prevailing SW winds the eastern side of the peninsular is usually calm. Yes, you can anchor off waiting for the tide. Plenty to keep you occupied for a week if you like mussels, oysters, cider and cream but little to do otherwise unless you have transport.

 

[Twister_Ken]

I'd be tempted to go a little bit further and find somewhere with rail connections. That way you could even pop off Paris for a day. St Malo, Le Havre, Deauville or Caen, maybe.

 

[npf1]

Is there enough to do/not do?

Yes, if relaxing and reading a good book or similar is your thing. No if you want lots of activities or shopping etc. Barfleur is a nice walk/lunch/walk back day out. Going south is a nice stroll too. But there's not a whole lot else unless you get a bus somewhere.

Is it important to get over there and through the Lock gates...looks like you can anchor outside and wait but surely weather-dependent?
The anchorage is a fair way out, but quite sheltered except when there's some east in the wind.

How bad is the rounding of Barfleur - I've done Portland Bill + Cap de le Hague...is it similar?
As mentioned, it's no big deal if you follow the instructions and similar to Cap de le Hague. Avoid if big winds over tide, unless you like roller coasters. In 35k+ miles of sailing, the biggest waves I've ever sailed in were there, as a result of a dumb decision to depart to get back for a deadline (which we missed anyway as everyone was so exhausted after Barfleur we ended diverting to Cherbourg to lick our wounds).

 

[Angele]

I'd be tempted to go a little bit further and find somewhere with rail connections. That way you could even pop off Paris for a day. St Malo, Le Havre, Deauville or Caen, maybe.

.... or Carentan (on the train line that terminates in Cherbourg).

 

[Angele]

Looking for somewhere to go cross-channel where we can hole up for a week or so and relax, after a rather big cross-channel trip last year....

Is there enough to do/not do?

The one day you want to make sure you are there is Saturday (morning) for the market.

To add to others, not a lot to do to keep you busy for a week if getting out and about is your thing, but I don't think anyone has yet mentioned the trip out to the fort - Tour Vauban on Ile Tatihou - either on foot at LW or in the DUKW. Got to be worth a few hours.

 

[sailorman]

The one day you want to make sure you are there is Saturday (morning) for the market.

To add to others, not a lot to do to keep you busy for a week if getting out and about is your thing, but I don't think anyone has yet mentioned the trip out to the fort - Tour Vauban on Ile Tatihou - either on foot at LW or in the DUKW. Got to be worth a few hours.

agree with the market, good local produce

 

[prv]

I don't think anyone has yet mentioned the trip out to the fort - Tour Vauban on Ile Tatihou - either on foot at LW or in the DUKW. Got to be worth a few hours.

Definitely worth doing. At least it was for us, on a gale-swept September day (hence stuck in port rather than sailing) which kept most of the grockles away and meant we explored the place almost on our own. The conditions seemed to suit it. Might feel very different among dozens of tourists (though I don't know if it ever gets like that).

Oh, and the amphibious lorry is not actually a DUKW:

Pete

 

[horatio_nelson]

St Vaast is a lovely little place but I wouldn't fancy spending 'a week or so' there.

I'd go somewhere with better transport links.

There is a great little Tabac near the harbour. When I got stuck in St Vaast last November for 3 days we spent most of our time in there

 

[Angele]

Definitely worth doing. At least it was for us, on a gale-swept September day (hence stuck in port rather than sailing) which kept most of the grockles away and meant we explored the place almost on our own. The conditions seemed to suit it. Might feel very different among dozens of tourists (though I don't know if it ever gets like that).

Oh, and the amphibious lorry is not actually a DUKW:

Pete

... At least they knew what I meant.....

 

[VicS]

St-Vaast-la-Hougue is well worth a visit for the reasons already given. You can anchor outside while waiting for the tide to enter, weather permitting
Huge fun fair all along the harbourside once when we were there. Great if you like that sort of thing. Fortunately packed up early which was good if you didn't.

+ 1 for Carantan as well. You could well find yourself staying longer than intended!

 

[Pinnacle]

If you do go, you must visit here.. http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.maison-gosselin.fr/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmaison%2Bgosselin%2Bst%2Bvaast%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D648

 

[sailorman]

I have the hat

 

[BelleSerene]

If you do go, you must visit here.. http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.maison-gosselin.fr/&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmaison%2Bgosselin%2Bst%2Bvaast%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D648

Its worth half a day itself.

Come on, you'd spend a fabulous week in St Vaast. So long as you're prepared to chill out a bit, there are enough local attractions, and bars etc, and walks around; and you can take the train or a cab to Cherbourg and back.

Just go.

 

[sailorman]

Its worth half a day itself.

Come on, you'd spend a fabulous week in St Vaast. So long as you're prepared to chill out a bit, there are enough local attractions, and bars etc, and walks around; and you can take the train or a cab to Cherbourg and back.

Just go.

as long as the place isnt RAMMED with race boats, the upside was the toilet seat was always warm :encouragement:

 

[BlueChip]

Hire bikes in the town and cycle to the lighthouse.
The climb to the top is hard but the views from the top make it worthwhile- good for at least half a day, longer if you stop for lunch somewhere.

 

[Way]

Thanks all, as always really helpful

 

[jimbaerselman]

If you have any interest in WW2 and the D-day landings, consider Ken's suggestion of Caen. And when you're approaching or leaving, if the weather is good, anchor off the Mulberry harbour beaches at Arromanches to visit the excellent Mulberry harbour museum describing the building and operation of the harbour. Allow 2 to 4 hours to soak it all up.

Caen itself has the WW2 museum of Europe. Allow 4 hours minimum, and take a break half way through.

At the end of that lot you'll all be experts in the evolution of WW2 and its aftermath. Courseilles, at the entrance to the Caen canal, is a ferry port, with a marina accessible at all states of tide. See jimbsail.info/tidal-europe/channel/e-channel for more about the locality, including links to the museums and some marina web sites in the area.

 

[alahol2]

Many years ago we spent a very pleasant day with the kids exploring the uninhabited Iles St Marcouf, a few miles SE from St Vaast. Two small islands the larger of which has a massive fort built on it. There is a fair weather anchorage between the islands.
It looks now that the islands are off limits to visitors on foot but it would be a pleasant anchorage for a lunch stop in good weather.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Eles_Saint-Marcouf
http://www.ilesaintmarcouf.com/

 

[npf1]

with a marina accessible at all states of tide.

FYI: last Sep, the canal and marina were only accessible at HW, as the lock gates were being repaired. Might be worth checking if the work is now complete if heading that way as there is nowhere else to moor/anchor/park there.