Overnight near Poole ferry port.

philj

For the first time in our travels to France we will be taking the ferry from Poole to Cherbourg. has anyone any advise on stop-over sites for the night prior to the morning crossing. Any advice would be really helpful and gratefully received. thanks in advance, Phil.

Wherenext

This request came up a while ago on this forum and I seem to remember that some people recommended the following site which is close to Poole.

https://www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk

I know that one the regulars on here, Bolero Boy has just this week stayed at Poole harbour itself but he has a Motorhome and I am not sure what the situation is regarding caravans. Someone will be along soon to advise no doubt.

Rufs

caravans are just fine at Poole harbour and legal, as i said on another post there is even a shower block and a nice  cafe in the morning that makes bacon butties, and the Brit Ferries duty check in staff come and bang on the side about 1 hour before  check in starts. South Lytchet is a great site but of course you have to pay, port is free and it is a large area so no problems

philj

Thanks very much for your responses , your info is gratefully received. sounds like the harbour will do just fine.

allanandjean

Hi Phil,

I have heard of many who Park overnight in the check-in lanes, after the ferry before yours has left, and BF have info on their website;

Parking
You cannot leave your caravan in the port car park.

For early morning sailings and late-night arrivals, you can park your caravan or motorhome overnight in the vehicle check-in lanes for £10. Your vehicle is parked at your own risk and should not be left unattended. No port facilities are open overnight. 

 Please call PHC on 01202 440220 for car parking assistance.

young thomas

we were on the dock a few days ago....only ones there! only 50 vehicles  travelling on wednesday so very quiet.

yes, some do park in the check in lanes but there are two dedicated overnighting lanes at the very far end of the dock.

...and its fine for caravans and MHs to overnight there. far better than having to pack up an hour earlier at Lychett Manor...

good luck

ScaniaMan69

Hi

We overnight quite often there, awaiting the fast craft to Guernseyl.

There's a review and photo's/directions on our blog.

Russl

cyberyacht

Whilst not Poole related, a number of members enquire about overnighting near Portsmouth and I have, in the past, suggested Port Solent. I discovered from my local Facebook group that “All motorhomes need a permit and must be booked in advance via port solent online links”.

However, if continuing along the service road to the end by the sea wall, you could probably avoid having to do this.

Oneputt

I park on the dock, arriving around midnight so never paid a fee

ScaniaMan69

Is that at Poole or Pompey?

Oneputt

Poole,  when I say dock I mean in the lanes to check in

DaveWisson81

Hi, I’m new to the forum. We pick up our first caravan on the 25th of Jan! I’ve been looking at the Poole Cherbourg crossing so the thread is of interest. My question is two fold. Firstly and most importantly did you feel safe staying overnight in the check in lane (we have two small children)?

 

Secondly what about the return trip, we live in Cheshire so not keen on the 4hour trip back home starting at 10pm.

 

Cheers

Oneputt

Feel perfectly safe on the checkin lanes which are adjacent to the normal overnight stay area with toilets and a cafe for the pre boarding bacon sarnie.  

On our return last September we stayed a couple of days just outside Cherbourg, the ferry terminal is about 15 minute drive.  We got the earlish ferry which gets in to Poole before 1300hrs

young thomas

for the outward trip, imho the dock is very safe.

for your return trip there is a caravan parking area signposted as ypu disembark...

ive not used it as we have a shortish drive home from Poole...

Kontikiboy

I only live 70 miles away and have used both in and out for years now.   I don’t fancy driving those country lanes after 10pm and manoeuvring my drive at home at midnight, so when taking the Cherbourg 18:30 and arriving at 21:45, we overnight in the terminal.       It was very unusual for BB to be the only one there earlier this month.    There are usually between 6 and 12 there when I go mid-Feb, both MHs and caravans and as others have said, very safe.     It is a busy port and does have security patrols moving about the whole place all night, and it is well lit.  I will be there 25 Feb this year.    Arrive about 1800, M&S dinner in the oven, couple of glasses of wine and a good book later.   Up at 0615 and move to the check-in lanes which open at 0630.     You then get moved to queue for the security check, which can be between 30 and 60 minutes, so we boil the kettle and have coffee.     Once on board, we always have a cabin, so shower first then an all day breakfast on board.  The wife just dug out the photos for the last two years and both times the channel was like a mill pond.   Great ferry service.   If you use it at least once a year every year it pays to join BF Club Voyager.     On joining it £75 to join and another £75 annual subscription.   But you get 30% discount on your ferry crossing and half price cabins.    Sometimes we don’t pay for the cabin at all.    We usually use the ferry a couple of times a year so it is very worth while.   Oh, and discounted breakfast!

Enjoy the experience and let us know how you get on.

BillC

Oneputt

Arriving and leaving Poole harbour is quite stunning

cyberyacht

Tricky entrance if you get the tide wrong in a yacht though.

Unknown

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

EmilysDad

I've only ever done that on a Grey Funnel Liner 

Kontikiboy

With a free glass of rum!    Me too.....

BillC

 

EmilysDad

The daily tot was before my time! 😉

Kontikiboy

Your just bragging now....   I had my last one on the day it ended, 31/08/70 in Singapore...