Daytrip to Dunkirk From London
#16
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#17
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During my next trip to London I am thinking about doing a daytrip to Dunkirk. The plan would be to take the train to Dover, hop on the ferry, spend a few hours in Dunkirk and return. Looking at the train and ferry schedules I could make it work although it might be a long day. Has anybody done this?
You can combine a few hours in Dunkirk with a bonus visit to Lille (well worth a stop) in a single day trip.
#18
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In years past, the cross-channel day trip of choice was to Boulogne, an interesting ancient town 30km south down the coast from Calais. Unfortunately since 2010 Boulogne hasn't had any cross-channel ferry services, which is a shame.
Ouch! That is a lengthy wait... for just one ship? I wonder if there's any sort of timetable.
Ouch! That is a lengthy wait... for just one ship? I wonder if there's any sort of timetable.
From a quick Google, most of the swing bridges work on schedules, but those over locks tend to be operated on demand. It's not like it's a major route or anything - the path along the sea wall is barely there!
#19
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It's Paris, as opposed to Dunkirk, but this website gives you an idea of how to travel as a foot passenger.
https://www.seat61.com/London-Paris-ferry.htm
Sadly, it's not as romantic or whimsical as it used to be. It's a right pain, involving several trains, shuttle buses and long walks. A timetable that doesn't join up, and expensive tickets.
https://www.seat61.com/London-Paris-ferry.htm
Sadly, it's not as romantic or whimsical as it used to be. It's a right pain, involving several trains, shuttle buses and long walks. A timetable that doesn't join up, and expensive tickets.
#20
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Basically, so few people want to do it these days because you have a train that goes directly through the tunnel instead, and flights to other places that cost tuppence ha'penny.
There are still port stations with connections (Harwich International, Pembroke Dock, Holyhead, Ardrossan Harbour, etc) but the services are a shadow of their former self (although the Harwich-Hook of Holland service is rather good - Hook of Holland Haven being on the Rotterdam metro if that conversion is complete.
I'm old enough to remember when there were stations at Dover Western Docks (aka Dover Marine), Folkestone Harbour, Newhaven Marine and Weymouth Docks, and correspondingly at Calais Maritime (effectively, you'd get off the boat and there'd be a bunch of railway carriages right opposite, on some tramlines), Boulogne Maritime, the wonderfully named Boulogne Aéroglisseurs (for the Hoverport) and Dieppe Maritime.
The journey down to Weymouth Harbour was pretty bizarre, as it involved coupling a diesel locomotive to the front of the (electric) train, and taking it down tramlines through the town to the harbour. In later years, with an infrequent summer service, it would be accompanied by railwaymen whose job it was to walk in front of the train and bounce cars that had parked too close to the tracks out the way.
There are still port stations with connections (Harwich International, Pembroke Dock, Holyhead, Ardrossan Harbour, etc) but the services are a shadow of their former self (although the Harwich-Hook of Holland service is rather good - Hook of Holland Haven being on the Rotterdam metro if that conversion is complete.
I'm old enough to remember when there were stations at Dover Western Docks (aka Dover Marine), Folkestone Harbour, Newhaven Marine and Weymouth Docks, and correspondingly at Calais Maritime (effectively, you'd get off the boat and there'd be a bunch of railway carriages right opposite, on some tramlines), Boulogne Maritime, the wonderfully named Boulogne Aéroglisseurs (for the Hoverport) and Dieppe Maritime.
The journey down to Weymouth Harbour was pretty bizarre, as it involved coupling a diesel locomotive to the front of the (electric) train, and taking it down tramlines through the town to the harbour. In later years, with an infrequent summer service, it would be accompanied by railwaymen whose job it was to walk in front of the train and bounce cars that had parked too close to the tracks out the way.
#21
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...if we're strolling down memory lane about crossing the channel I had the experience of using the Night Ferry during its later years
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_Ferry
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@stut brilliant link, have to copy/paste it into browser though as it is not hot (an observation, not a moan!) and it amazes me that 116 sad souls gave it the thumbs down! I miss BR for all its warts over the privatised money grab it has become now. Great link!
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Dover is awful. From Smeeth to Walmer we have to go right through Dover.
My sister witnessed a stabbing a few months ago while she was driving through.
Horrible place and all the seedy hotels look quite dodgy at best.
I am having a good day though.
My sister witnessed a stabbing a few months ago while she was driving through.
Horrible place and all the seedy hotels look quite dodgy at best.
I am having a good day though.
#25
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I last went to Dover with the Army. I think we were underarmed compared to the locals.
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I'm old enough to remember when there were stations at Dover Western Docks (aka Dover Marine), Folkestone Harbour, Newhaven Marine and Weymouth Docks, and correspondingly at Calais Maritime (effectively, you'd get off the boat and there'd be a bunch of railway carriages right opposite, on some tramlines), Boulogne Maritime, the wonderfully named Boulogne Aéroglisseurs (for the Hoverport) and Dieppe Maritime.
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I'm old enough to remember when there were stations at Dover Western Docks (aka Dover Marine), Folkestone Harbour, Newhaven Marine and Weymouth Docks, and correspondingly at Calais Maritime (effectively, you'd get off the boat and there'd be a bunch of railway carriages right opposite, on some tramlines), Boulogne Maritime, the wonderfully named Boulogne Aéroglisseurs (for the Hoverport) and Dieppe Maritime.
#28
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And, I was intrigued by the name of the loco, so found this that I found interesting: Captain Bill Smith RNR
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Boy, trip down memory lane, this. Have I not used those stations countless times when I was young... I could not recall "Boulogne Aéroglisseurs" as the name of the station though, as I suspect that it existed only in written French and not in spoken French, as even my Boulogne-resident non-English speaking French relatives referred to the thing as "l'hovercraft" (pronounced "l'overcraft", bien sûr ) rather than "l'aéroglisseur"
#30
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Ramsgate had the Ostend ferries, but only after the Jetfoil service from Dover ended. It traditionally only had the Dunkirk service.
Dover Western Docks, after Eastern Docks opened, had the boat trains and the fast ferries, including a separate hovercraft site. Otherwise, Dover Eastern docks and Folkestone (also with a boat train via a very awkward line at Folkestone Harbour) both competed for both Calais and Boulogne traffic.
Newhaven served Dieppe.
Dover Western Docks, after Eastern Docks opened, had the boat trains and the fast ferries, including a separate hovercraft site. Otherwise, Dover Eastern docks and Folkestone (also with a boat train via a very awkward line at Folkestone Harbour) both competed for both Calais and Boulogne traffic.
Newhaven served Dieppe.