The scenic route
THERE’S something about cruising down the roads of Europe, window down, sun pouring in and not a care in the world. Take a seaside route along the cliffs and dunes of northern France, visit the rich medieval merchant towns and cities of Belgium or head into the peaceful, green interior of Holland.
Go farther if you want – Germany is but a short motorway hop away – but it’s not that you need to. There’s a perfect holiday, at a perfect price, just the other side of the Channel.
Ferries ply the 30-mile-wide seaway many times each and every day and with crossings from only 90 minutes, you’re soon where you want to be.
Not only that but you’ll be there with your car and what a boon that is when travelling with the family. Pile everything in with no worries about airline weight limits or even having to pack neatly. The children can relax with a book or a film – and you can even take the dog.
There are other options, too, whether you’re with family, friends or a partner. Strap on the bikes and enjoy an easy-going (and very flat) exploration of the Dutch canals or a meander around the idyllic lanes of Brittany.
Normandy has 310 miles of cycle paths such as the Veloscenic (part of a route that runs from Paris to Mont-Saint-Michel) and the Historical Route, taking in D-Day beaches and the Bayeux Tapestry.
There are also plenty of other ways to get active. Take the canoe, surfboards, golf clubs and walking gear. Even a tent – although there are plenty of luxurious campsites with both tents and mobile homes to rent.
And no matter how long you’re away, from a weekend to a couple of weeks, you can discover an area on your own (no need to book expensive excursions) and at your own pace. That lazy breakfast – French bread and honey, or those waffles they love in Holland – is part of the holiday. Not only that, ferry travel is part of the holiday, a voyage of discovery where sea views mix with decent restaurants, play areas and – on longer crossings – even cinemas. DFDS, holder of the world’s leading ferry operator award, sails from Dover to both Calais and Dunkirk and from Newhaven to Dieppe – up to 60 crossings daily over the three routes. There is also an overnight service from Newcastle to Amsterdam, as good for party getaways as for family adventures to the delightful countryside. With Dover-Dunkirk crossings from £35 for a car and up to nine people, this is the way to travel at bargain prices, making it worth nipping across for a couple of days (even the day!). And there’s so much within reach, whether it’s the beautiful beaches of Brittany or the history of Normandy, the joys of the Seine or the protected park land that follows its meandering route, sophisticated seaside towns such as Le Touquet or quaint villages. Hop in the car and a different country and lifestyle is only a short ferry ride away…
A perfect touring holiday begins by ferry, says NICK DALTON