Hi, have booked 2weeks in Benodet near Quimper in less then a month's time.
Driving from East Yorkshire to Dover - Calais (need a stop suggestion) then forward journey on the 2nd day.
Couple of quick questions after reading post after post in more confused now then I was before. Alot of the info is from posts from a few years back and I aren't sure if it's still applicable.
Firstly, our ferry leaves Dover at 14:45 (was thinking of leaving home at 06:00 will that be adequate time) was hoping to find somebody more experienced in London traffic than myself? Am I better getting some miles done the day before and leaving myself a shorter journey on the ferry day (Sunday)
Secondly, once we get off the ferry I was hoping to get an hour or so enroute before stopping for an overnighter, does anybody have any recommendations that are heading on the right route?
Thirdly 😂. I can't find a definite answer on the towing speed limits and whether I have to display speed limit stickers on the caravan? If I do are they in kph or mph?
Also...
Do I need a gas cylinder sticker on the van aswell? Is it not possible to get gas bottles in France that fit my UK regulator? Am I best to fill up before I leave!
Sorry for the questions, haven't towed in France before but visited a few years ago the towing bit is giving me headache 🤪
Thank you
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You do not need the towing limit stickers.
Be aware that the 90 kph limit on non dual carriageway roads was lowered to 80 kph last year
That is 50 mph. Not all signs have been changed!
Of course lower speed limit applies if sign posted such as 50 kph in built up areas
I am pretty certain there has been explanation of autoroute limits already
We stick at 60 indicated on autoroutes which is close to 90 kph.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
On a good day your 0600 departure from home will be OK , but who knows what the M25 will be like so set off at 0500 if you can. But it's up to you whether to set off the day before to give you a more stress free journey to Dover.
Once in France at 1715 French time I suggest you go 100 miles and stop overnight at Camping Sainte Claire at Neufchâtel en Braye . But book that now as it's a popular site.
That still leaves you 350 miles to Benodet on the next day which is enough.
Take care.
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Might look at doing a stop near south of Cambridge area the day before for the sake of £35 for a over nighter and have a lil bit of a headstart and a lay in.
Thank you re: the site in france that's what I was hoping to do I can handle another 2 hours off the ferry and break up the next day abit.
Hello Rob we over the years have used the caravan club site at welwyn garden city, there are a few places to get a good meal near by .on the Sunday morning with a bit of luck you should have a quiet run around the 25.when in France head to the sain't Claire site in neafchateau en bray approx 100mls south this is only about 5mins from motorway,it is used mostly as a transit site.About your gas try and make sure you are carrying enough as the French couplings will not fit ours.
We spend a couple of months a year over the channel. We have 2 6 kg calor bottles. I reckon to use 1 a year including our UK trips. I had 2 full ones this trip as one ran out just before coming over. We are in La Belle France at the moment! Back Tuesday.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
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If you are using the autoroutes you can make good progress. He really not as busy as UK. You do pay but they are very good. We have done 300 miles in a day with lunch stop. We both tow and sit at 60 mph. Cruise control is useful
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
There is a little cs site between willingham and Over just off the A14 it’s perfect for a stopover. We give ourselves 3 hours to get to Dover and unless there is an accident we get there with time to spare.
It’s called Longview. No shower block but great for overnighter. You come off at Bar Hill just before Cambridge.
I would second camping st Claire, it’s perfect. But as Netherton says. Book it. We turned up 2 weeks ago like we always do and it was full and so ended up with a long 9 hours day drive.
We live in North Yorkshire and two weeks ago, on a Sunday it took us less than five hours door to actually beimg on the train at Eurotunnel, but we weren't towing. Usually on Sunday the M25 is fine, but the A14 between the A1 and M11 is subject to weekend closure one way or the other, or this weekend in both directions so check the status on the day you're travelling.
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Rob, I have done Teesside to Dover in 5 hours before now but that was fluke. I personally would allow 8 hours from here usually.
If you have an option of stopping in England overnight, then go for that. Again, speaking personally, I would get prefer to get around the M25 the night before if I could. We've stayed at Blackhorse Farm (CAMC site) close to the tunnel before - they are geared up for people coming and going at all times.
For future trips, I would definitely consider Hull/Zeebrugge. Although it is expensive, it takes a lot of stress out going from closer to home, you are travelling whilst sleeping and Zeebrugge isn't actually that far from Calais. We tend to use that route and it is a nice part of the holiday; whilst not luxury, it is nice to have dinner on the boat, wake up and get breakfast as you are docking and then get ready for the onward journey earlyish in the morning having had a reasonable night's sleep.
Thanks for all the replies. I looked at hull Zeebrugge I live 10mins from ferry but it was £1000 my more for the crossing. Just couldn't justify it now doing a stop over at Cambridge the day before our crossing so got a Cambridge to Dover drive to do before a 14:45 crossing (can handle that with the kids 😂😂😂😂)
Thank you all. Fingers crossed, we come back still married 😂 and a car and caravan intact.