Ferry to France .. Comparing distances from Dartford crossing: Dover - Calais and Newhaven- Dieppe

[scotjimland]

I was surprised that there is actually little difference .. and if going to west from Calais, the Newhaven - Dieppe route may be a better choice..

Driving distance from Dartford Crossing to Dover .. 66 ml
Driving distance from Dartford Crossing to Newhaven .. 75 ml

so an extra 9 miles .. 10 mins driving,, but a big saving on driving in France ,,

Longer crossing, but the prices are very comparable.. if not cheaper on the DFDS ferry to Dieppe

and you get 20% discount for OAP

Ferries To France From The UK | Book Now From £92 | DFDS

Book a ferry to France from England and explore everything Europe has to offer. Our ferry ports in France offer you great connectivity for your onward journey.

www.dfds.com

 

[EuroTrotters]

really depends where your starting point in the UK is and more importantly. where you are heading in France or the continent !

 

[scotjimland]

really depends where your starting point in the UK is and more importantly. where you are heading in France or the continent !

clearly..

.. why I said going West from Calais

and I did say from Dartford Crossing

which the vast majority will use, and people living in the west country have other options ..and Newhaven would still be closer than Dover

 

[EuroTrotters]

clearly..

.. why I said going West from Calais

and I did say from Dartford Crossing

which the vast majority will use, and people living in the west country have other options ..and Newhaven would still be closer than Dover

My apologies.

I can't read too well at the moment!

But just to add, I priced a crossing in June with Stena Line Via Caravan Club. Harwich - Hook Van Holland Return

22nd June out
29th June in

8m Motorhome or
Large 4X4 Towing 8m Caravan

Both come out at £190 Return (£95 each way)

 

[dunnah01]

Tried the Newhaven - Dieppe route between lockdowns. Thought we'd save a few bob by not getting a cabin. Managed half an hour of scowling lorry drivers before caving in and getting a cabin. We now stick to the Dover - Calais route and usually end up spending some time in the NE corner of France even if heading south.

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[EuroTrotters]

I just checked the same dates as I mentioned above with DFDS Newhaven with C&MC more expensive

But Still not bad for a motorhome up to 8m

£275 Direct with DFDS
£225 With C&MC

So we don't have to be over 60, just members of the Club !

 

[Spriddler]

Tried the Newhaven - Dieppe route between lockdowns. Thought we'd save a few bob by not getting a cabin. Managed half an hour of scowling lorry drivers before caving in and getting a cabin...

Where were you when you were scowled at by lorry drivers? I've used that crossing several times a year for getting on for 40 years and never experienced that.
I never book a cabin as I'm still young enough to be able to stay awake and entertain myself for 4 hours in an armchair in one of the lounges.

 

[dunnah01]

Where were you when you were scowled at by lorry drivers? I've used that crossing several times a year for getting on for 40 years and never experienced that.
I never book a cabin as I'm still young enough to be able to stay awake and entertain myself for 4 hours in an armchair in one of the lounges.

It was between Covid lockdowns to be fair so not many joe publics around. There were only about a dozen cars travelling but zillions of lorries and the drivers were in all areas of the boat trying to grab some kip so the whole thing started to resemble a squatter camp. I know it's probably nothing like that nowadays but SWMBO has been put off for life so it's a none starter for us.

 

[WESTY66]

My apologies.

I can't read too well at the moment!

But just to add, I priced a crossing in June with Stena Line Via Caravan Club. Harwich - Hook Van Holland Return

22nd June out
29th June in

8m Motorhome or
Large 4X4 Towing 8m Caravan

Both come out at £190 Return (£95 each way)

Wow that’s a big saving this is the Stena site now 8m moho

 

[scotjimland]

Posted for information about driving distances.. only..

prices on any ferry route are always dependent on dates and size of vehicle(s) ..

Newhaven is a 4 hour crossing, we have used it several times... (never had a cabin, why would you need one for 4 hours.. ? ) ... and heading west in France it saves about 100 miles of driving .. also makes avoiding Rouen easy ..that has to be a bonus


Return trip for us in June,
2 adults small motorhome .. £214 return, less 20% = £172.00

also saving a 100 miles of fuel and Peage costs .. £50 estimated

That will do for me

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[EuroTrotters]

Wow that’s a big saving this is the Stena site now 8m moho
View attachment 845184

Thats the only reason we keep membership of the club.

We are BF Club Members and use that for Spain. But for all other bookings (unless P&O send me a 20% offer). I book with the Caravan Club

 

[WESTY66]

My apologies.

I can't read too well at the moment!

But just to add, I priced a crossing in June with Stena Line Via Caravan Club. Harwich - Hook Van Holland Return

22nd June out
29th June in

8m Motorhome or
Large 4X4 Towing 8m Caravan

Both come out at £190 Return (£95 each way)

Hey EuroTrotters thanks for posting this, as per recent post I decided to check the ccc website for crossings and you’re right, £190 for 8M moho!! Ive Never used the ccc website for crossings before despite being a member for 4 yrs now, but I will from now on, you’ve saved me a few quid there, thanks

 

[EuroTrotters]

Wow that’s a big saving this is the Stena site now 8m moho
View attachment 845184

yes, that is what I got !

 

[scotjimland]

It was between Covid lockdowns to be fair so not many joe publics around. There were only about a dozen cars travelling but zillions of lorries and the drivers were in all areas of the boat trying to grab some kip so the whole thing started to resemble a squatter camp. I know it's probably nothing like that nowadays but SWMBO has been put off for life so it's a none starter for us.

I can understand your discomfort and being put off... but that can happen on any busy ferry crossing, we had it once on an Irish ferry..

we always try to travel on Sundays when it is generally quieter .. especially in France when there are fewer trucks on the roads..

The very first time I went to France, way back in '72 it was using the Newhaven ferry.. so I have a wee bit of an affinity with it..

the best of all is Le Shuttle, but prices are now becoming prohibitive and Tesco have cut the 3 times club card point savings down to 2... so no more Le Shuttle

safe travels whatever crossing you use

 

[EuroTrotters]

I can understand your discomfort and being put off... but that can happen on any busy ferry crossing, we had it once on a Irish ferry..

we always try to travel on Sundays when it is generally quieter .. especially in France when there are fewer trucks on the roads..

The very first time I went to France, way back in '72 it was using the Newhaven ferry.. so I have a wee bit of an affinity with it..

the best of all is Le Shuttle, but prices are now becoming prohibitive and Tesco have cut the 3 times club card point savings down to 2... so no more Le Shuttle

safe travels whatever crossing you use

you just reminded me I have a tunnel voucher to use !

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[Manic]

Also depends if you have a pet, I wouldn’t mind doing the Newhaven route but with the dog it’s a long crossing

 

[scotjimland]

Also depends if you have a pet, I wouldn’t mind doing the Newhaven route but with the dog it’s a long crossing

yes, that's a good point.. pets must remain in vehicle ..but you can visit it by agreement .. mine would just sleep for 4 hours ... lol

Leaving pet in a vehicle​

Your pets must remain in the vehicle throughout the sailing. As the car decks are closed during the crossing it is important for you to agree a time with our guest service centre onboard when you can visit your pet. You can add your pet to your sailing at the time of booking. The price is £18 per pet, each way.

 

[Brains]

As a rule of thumb:
(And on the basis you live south of the Lake District and east of Bristol)
Most of the routes to the ports involve the M25

All of the ports between Poole and Harwich are within 100 miles/2hrs of the M25

All the If you are going to eastern Europe, Italy, Switzerland, Eastern France, Germany, Scandinavia, etc then the first place to look is the Harwich/Hook of Holland route
If you are going to western France and Spain then the ports starting from Plymouth, Southampton, Newhaven make sense.

The tunnel is the best route where speed is more important than cost. (Dogs etc)

Unless you have an aversion to ships (in which case you would be in the tunnel in any case) the Dover/Calais crossing, for those in motorhomes is usually the worst option.

You need to factor in a number of other variables.
Milage home to UK port
Milage (or kilometrage) from EU port to destination
(Note: Do not use Google maps to do home to destination in one go, Google gets it wrong, very wrong! Do EU port to destination)
Waiting time at ports (Dover, in summer, can sometimes be measured in days)
Fuel Cost
Toll Cost
And above all timing's. I work backwards from the destination. When do we want to arrive ?

The advantage of a longer night crossing is you get on the ship late, go to bed, have a good nights sleep and then wake up in a foreign port in the morning and are ready to go bright and early.

 

[olley]

Just looked at the distance from Dieppe to irun 933km and Calais to irun 1086km, so 153km more. You save around 95 miles.
Not enough to matter to me when your looking at the distance to Portugal, but certainly a route to consider.

 

[scotjimland]

Just looked at the distance from Dieppe to irun 933km and Calais to irun 1086km, so 153km more. You save around 95 miles.
Not enough to matter to me when your looking at the distance to Portugal, but certainly a route to consider.

indeed, but if you factor in the ferry costs it may be cheaper from Newhaven, less hassle than Dover and 100 miles less fuel ..not a lot , but it all adds up

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[olley]

True enough Jim but Susan doesn't like ferries, so shorter is better.
And she would miss her shopping fix at Cite Europe.

 

[scotjimland]

True enough Jim but Susan doesn't like ferries, so shorter is better.
And she would miss her shopping fix at Cite Europe.

been there, done that , a double hit to the wallet... lol

 

[oilrag]

lf your uk route suits accessing newhaven ,its much less faff than dover ,time your arrival at newhaven to 3 hours before ,across the road is a
sainsburys' supermarket with fuel ,perfect for any essential fresh supplies etc.
Arriving in dieppe and leaving the port is so easy too,and just up the (main route out ) road away from the port ,a huge carrefoure with fuel ,loos ,free overnight parking and a wash facility for your vehicle if you need it ,close by (walking distance) are lidl ,mcdonalds .
Yet to see any problematic issues with migrants encountered around calais/dunkirk in or near dieppe ,they have not yet noticed it re getting in to uk via our motorhomes or lorry trailers.
With oap or ccc discount its an even more sensible option if your heading south or west once across.

 

[Steve and Denise]

Posted for information about driving distances.. only..

prices on any ferry route are always dependent on dates and size of vehicle(s) ..

Newhaven is a 4 hour crossing, we have used it several times... (never had a cabin, why would you need one for 4 hours.. ? ) ... and heading west in France it saves about 100 miles of driving .. also makes avoiding Rouen easy ..that has to be a bonus


Return trip for us in June,
2 adults small motorhome .. £214 return, less 20% = £172.00

also saving a 100 miles of fuel and Peage costs .. £50 estimated

That will do for me

View attachment 845183

You say avoiding Rouen do you pass it on the west side or as we did on the East side as Rouen is a bit of a pain (especially as I missed the turning)

 

[scotjimland]

You say avoiding Rouen do you pass it on the west side or as we did on the East side as Rouen is a bit of a pain (especially as I missed the turning)

west side.. into La Mailleraye-sur-Seine aire for our first night ..about an hour from Dieppe ..

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[nicholsong]

As a rule of thumb:
(And on the basis you live south of the Lake District and east of Bristol)
Most of the routes to the ports involve the M25

All of the ports between Poole and Harwich are within 100 miles/2hrs of the M25

All the If you are going to eastern Europe, Italy, Switzerland, Eastern France, Germany, Scandinavia, etc then the first place to look is the Harwich/Hook of Holland route
If you are going to western France and Spain then the ports starting from Plymouth, Southampton, Newhaven make sense.

The tunnel is the best route where speed is more important than cost. (Dogs etc)

Unless you have an aversion to ships (in which case you would be in the tunnel in any case) the Dover/Calais crossing, for those in motorhomes is usually the worst option.

You need to factor in a number of other variables.
Milage home to UK port
Milage (or kilometrage) from EU port to destination
(Note: Do not use Google maps to do home to destination in one go, Google gets it wrong, very wrong! Do EU port to destination)
Waiting time at ports (Dover, in summer, can sometimes be measured in days)
Fuel Cost
Toll Cost
And above all timing's. I work backwards from the destination. When do we want to arrive ?

The advantage of a longer night crossing is you get on the ship late, go to bed, have a good nights sleep and then wake up in a foreign port in the morning and are ready to go bright and early.

Don't forget the Dover-Dunkirk route, convenient for parts of France, Germany, Switzerland. We used to use it from Poland - UK, straight run on A4/E35.

 

[WESTY66]

I’ve now compared all the dates I want to go abroad next year with p&o hull, Le Shuttle and Stena Harwich and thanks to EuroTrotters pointing me towards the ccc discounted fares the, Stena Harwich is way cheaper, so I guess that’s the way we’ll be going (even tho I usually take the wrong exit at the second biggest roundabout from HoH port)

 

[Lenny HB]

Tried the Newhaven - Dieppe route between lockdowns. Thought we'd save a few bob by not getting a cabin. Managed half an hour of scowling lorry drivers before caving in and getting a cabin. We now stick to the Dover - Calais route and usually end up spending some time in the NE corner of France even if heading south.

How strange we have been using the Newhaven ferry for 40 years. The last 15 years with a Motorhome we have been across 20 to 30 times. Never seen what you describe, hardly ever see any lorry drivers a few in the cafeteria the rest are in the Lorry Drivers lounge. Not even a problem during Covid.

Big advantage for us is not only often cheaper than Dover but living 20 miles from Newhaven if going down the west side it saves us around 400 miles on a round trip.

 

[Brains]

Just looked at the distance from Dieppe to irun 933km and Calais to irun 1086km, so 153km more. You save around 95 miles.
Not enough to matter to me when your looking at the distance to Portugal, but certainly a route to consider.

or 1,266 km Hoek of Holland to Irun. which is actually the shortest route overall.

Ipswich is only 20 miles just down the road from Harwich
You are 130 miles (each way) to Dover

 

[1967bowesj]

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