Free ferry crossings to France

madmaca

Awww - I got all excited then - I thought it was free with a motorbike. I was all geared up for a quick French tour....

dunx

Bikes are accommodated on just about all trains in France without any fuss, or charge, except the TGV's for which you have to reserve places. In fact, bikes on trains are positively encouraged. Visit the sncf site, choose 'bouger en region', then 'services TER', then 'train + velos'. They even have a leaflet describing some short rides (balades).

Tourist info places have more comprehensive cycling guides and, yes, the area is good cycling territory : north-east across Flanders, if you like it flat (but have a look at the 'Monts des Flandres' - lovely area), or south from Calais towards the rolling countryside of Sept Vallees, Montreuil and Hesdin.

Go for it !

tenuissent

I used to enjoy cycling along the canal out of Calais towards Ardres because it was so peaceful and pretty. There is more traffc now, and it is more built up, but still well worth doing. Did it last year with a friend and had a lengthy and peaceful picnic on the grass (visited a supermarket first).

tenuissent

I used to enjoy cycling along the canal out of Calais towards Ardres because it was so peaceful and pretty. There is more traffc now, and it is more built up, but still well worth doing. Did it last year with a friend and had a lengthy and peaceful picnic on the grass (visited a supermarket first).

John_Pierpoint

About half way along the canal to Ardres is Les Attaques.
It is a bit of a scruffy little industrial place and turning into a lorry park BUT it does cheap French eats. The restaurants on the main road do more than adequate menu of the day fare. Personally my favorite is still the Restaurant de la Gare (side road near the station and canal swing bridge). It used to be run by a former butcher and was real old France (nicotine coloured decor & carpet on the doors); it changed hands to a younger couple a few years ago and has had a bit of a make-over but the clientel would not let the food get out of line. French business lunches during the week, quiet on Saturdays can get busy for the French family dining on Sundays, so book ahead or bag a table early on Sundays. Have your dictionary handy to work out what you are eating and keep smiling. (The French are a bit like us, they hate making fools of themselves in a foreign language).

John

keith234

greatttt thankx

Love-a-bargain_5

these special offer france trips are always from dover....

i live in portsmouth so it seems mad to go all the way to dover when we have ferries literally five minutes away..... but they dont have great offers like this!

pah.