Whether you’re planning to head to St Malo in France or are thinking of heading further afield, one decision you will need to make is how to get your campervan to Europe.
There will be two ways of doing this – the Eurotunnel or ferry, both of which have their own pros and cons. If you’re not sure which of the two you should be getting, fear not, as I’m sharing how to get to some popular European touring destinations and taking a look at ferry routes to Europe.
Don’t miss my tips for touring Europe in a campervan either – they’re bound to help you enjoy a stress-free experience in the run-up to your trip and once you’re abroad.
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Channel Tunnel
Find out more: chunnel.co.uk/camper
The quickest route, not necessarily the most economical. You drive to Folkestone, where you board the vehicle train. The train takes just 35 minutes to reach France.
Ferry
For France, Belgium, central and southern Germany, Italy, the Alps and eastern Europe, Dover to Calais is the ferry world equivalent of a McDonald’s drive-thru: quick, cheap(ish) and gets the job done.
The crossing is just 90 minutes, so barely enough time to stretch your legs, grab a coffee and watch the seagulls steal someone’s chips.
Western France
If you’re heading for Normandy, Brittany or the stunning west coast, do yourself a favour: avoid Calais and take the Portsmouth-Caen ferry.
Yes, it’s a four-hour crossing, but that knocks 200 miles and four hours of driving off your trip. Be honest – wouldn’t you rather be sipping a cold drink on deck than battling with impatient lorry drivers on the autoroute?
If you are thinking of a tour to this picturesque country but haven’t chosen where to pitch up yet, don’t miss our pick of the best campervan sites in France.
Northern Europe
If you’re heading north or east, to Scandinavia, Poland and the Baltics, forget Dover.
Instead, get yourself on a ferry to Amsterdam, Rotterdam or the Hook of Holland. It will save you a good 220 miles of driving, which means fewer fuel stops, less stress and no need to spend precious time in a French service station eating overpriced baguettes.
Spain
If you’re going to Spain, you don’t always want to be driving the whole way through France. Instead, book one of the Brittany Ferries crossings from Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao. These take 24 to 36 hours, but the ferries are floating hotels, with bars, cinemas and cabins.
Ferry routes to Europe
DFDS
Find out more: dfdsseaways.co.uk
- Dover to Calais
- Dover to Dunkirk
- Newhaven to Dieppe
- Newcastle to Amsterdam
Brittany Ferries
Find out more: brittany-ferries.co.uk
- Portsmouth to Le Havre
- Portsmouth to Caen
- Portsmouth to Cherbourg
- Portsmouth to St Malo
- Portsmouth to Bilbao
- Portsmouth to Santander
- Poole to Cherbourg
- Plymouth to Roscoff
- Plymouth to Santander
- Cork to Roscoff
Irish Ferries
Find out more: irishferries.com
- Dover to Calais
- Dublin to Cherbourg
P&O Ferries
Find out more: poferries.com
- Dover to Calais
- Hull to Rotterdam
Stena Line
Find out more: stenaline.co.uk
- Harwich to Hook of Holland
- Rosslare to Cherbourg
Before embarking on a tour, you’re going to want to make sure you’re making the most of the space you have in your ‘van – take a look at our tips on how to maximise the storage space in a campervan for ways to go about doing this.
After some more advice for getting the most from campervanning? Then head to our Go Campervanning: General Advice section for more great ideas!
Lead image: Getty Images
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