How safe is Caen ferry port?

[South_Wales_Lady]

In France at the moment, sadly turning our thoughts to making our way back up to Caen. In the past, we've stayed overnight in the port ready for the early ferry - is that still a safe option?

 

[On the road again]

Stayed there last October. Not allowed in until last ferry has left( @21.30 I think) but there's plenty of space outside.No problems at all and, before embarking the next morning they were very thorough with all vehicles, including full check of insiide of MH's, and comprehensive search of all freight vehicles. Felt very safe and didn't see any suspicious 'lurkers'

 

[Madmag]

Hi. I started a thread about a month ago about our experience at Ouistreham in March this year. Sorry don’t know how to put the link on. I am afraid our story and another wasn’t as positive as some others. It would be worth a read.

 

[Mel]

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...istreham-caen-ferry-port.171093/#post-2745832

 

[Madmag]

Thanks Mel

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[South_Wales_Lady]

Thanks, we saw a few black males hanging round when we came off the ferry on arrival and kept on going another 30 km to an Aire before stopping, but given the 8.30am start coming back we would really prefer staying portside if possible. From all the replies, I'm gathering that it "should" be okay, given the security checks, not to mention our own. Has anyone had any bad experiences whilst overnighting at the port, like break-ins, or attempted ones, while asleep?

 

[Jenben]

We normally stop at Hermanville, it’s just a short drive to the ferry at Caen, camper contact 8297 , a free spot with a drive over drain next to a boulangerie and shop.

 

[Neil Bedwin]

I was at the port about three weeks ago and there were soldiers on duty and a lot of young males running after lorries. We ejected our French immigrant at passport control

We had stayed at Lion Sur Mer in a beach side house but there were a couple of MHs parked in the side roads next to the beach. It's probably a better place to stop overnight for the ferry and only 10 mins form the port.

 

[Littlewheels]

We came through 10days ago and there were at least 200 many in groups of 20/30 always close to Traffic Lights.
Best advise, arrive no more than 2 hours before Departure time and stay 20km away if you are early.
We’ve used this Route for over 40 years still good but what a shock to see what the locals have to put up with daily.

 

[Barclaybasher]

I always cross the Channel (both ways) with a full tank of diesel and fill up in France a good distance from the ferry port - same goes for any shopping

..............I just want to be on my way after disembarking

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[PeteH]

AH! the joys of "free movement" Eh?!

 

[BobtheBass]

Drove from the ferry yesterday and there were many groups of young black men hanging around on street corners, even a few miles from the port with police vans much in evidence watching them.

 

[South_Wales_Lady]

Quick update on this - we were on the 8.30am ferry on Sunday. Decided against the port itself or the Ouistreham aire, so tried a few other things - campsite Les Hautes Coutures in Benouville looked a good bet (20 euros) as the barrier opens at 6.30am but it had been bucketing down and they only had grassy pitches so we didn't want to take a chance on getting stuck and missing the ferry. Tried the aire at Colleville-Montgomery, that looked good but we've got a long van plus a trailer so a bit too tight for us, also grassy pitches again. Went to the aire at Hermanville next - that looked good too, but again there was a problem with our long outfit as the bays are standard car park size and we didn't want to take up four bays by parking across them. Ended up in Hermanville but outside the church - just a hundred yards or so away from the aire, nice big bays in a very quiet village. Well it was quiet until the bells started going berserk at 7pm and we were surrounded by loads of carloads of people going to church. Bells kept on going and we were on the verge of moving on but thankfully they stopped at 8pm and the cars all disappeared, so it was a quiet village again and a peaceful night. I don't know if we were 'allowed' to stop there but noone moved us on anyway and if they had we noticed arrows pointing to a few campsites just down the lane from where we were so we would have tried there. Bottom line is we didn't seen any youths there at all, in fact we didn't see any until we got to the port itself, and then only two or three. As has been said before, security was pretty tight, they checked our van and trailer twice before we could board, and then again when we arrived at Portsmouth. Boarding took a lot longer than usual as a result but hardly surprising. From our experience, I would say you'd okay provided you avoid Ouistreham aire and campsite like the plague! Thanks to everyone who responded, very helpful!

 

[FIDGET]

I second staying at Hermanville aire , free very safe , 10 min from ferry

 

[Dorwyn]

I second staying at Hermanville aire , free very safe , 10 min from ferry

Me too. But my sat nav sent me in the back road, very narrow, suggest go into Hermanville town first

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