Ferry from England to France and Spain

[William Garza]

Just saw a video about ferrys to Santander from Portsmouth..imagine that, almost a throw back to another time to arrive in Spain.
It is a back track for sure to SJPDP..but maybe an abreviated camino from there?

 

[Rozenn]

Yes The Brittanyferried sails from Roscoff in Brittany France to Plymouth( not Portsmouth ) and Santander ! Nice journey

 

[David]

It is the way I go to Camino, and very pleasant it is. From Santander there are regular fast and cheap buses, just a few Euros, (they are comfortable inter-city coaches really) to Bilbao bus station and change there for Pamplona bus station - arrive Santander, arrive Pamplona same day, a few hours later. One can start walking at Pamplona but at Pamplona bus station there are buses to Roncesvalles too and if really keen a taxi from Roncesvalles to St Jean is doable.
Also from Bilbao there is another express that avoids Pamplona and goes direct to Camino at Puente la Reina and then Estrella and on to Logrono.

Brittany Ferries have two departures terminals from the UK; Portsmouth and Plymouth - the ferries sail on different days.
There is a direct ferry to Bilbao but before the pandemic and they shut down you couldn't go as a foot passenger, had to have a vehicle.

The ferry is 24 hours and is quite cheap but you do have to book a cabin as well. It pays to book ahead as the cabins get filled up quickly as you book a whole cabin for yourself and once they are gone they don't take more passengers.

I have always thought that it could be more pleasant for North Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders to arrive UK, visit for a couple of days and lose the jet lag, then take the train down to either Portsmouth or Plymouth and arrive Spain that way. Who doesn't like a pleasant sea cruise???

 

[Rozenn]

Yes t is a wonderful way to travel to Spain
From France eventhough the headquarters of the company is in Roscoff , we have to go to Plymouth from Roscoff first ( this adds 8 hours to the trip)
The ferry to Bilbao for us here in Brittany is perfect if you have a car..( doesn’t take foot passengers !...
Too bad!
There was a Nantes Gijon
A few years ago too!
What is left to join north of Spain from the far west Finistère of Brittany?
Driving , flight Brest Barcelona Oviedo ( sometimes !)
Brest Paris by train or by plane and next day to biarritz or else ..

 

[Rozenn]

First time Camino. I flew to Paris, Bilbao and Alsa to Pamplona

 

[William Garza]

It is the way I go to Camino, and very pleasant it is. From Santander there are regular fast and cheap buses, just a few Euros, (they are comfortable inter-city coaches really) to Bilbao bus station and change there for Pamplona bus station - arrive Santander, arrive Pamplona same day, a few hours later. One can start walking at Pamplona but at Pamplona bus station there are buses to Roncesvalles too and if really keen a taxi from Roncesvalles to St Jean is doable.
Also from Bilbao there is another express that avoids Pamplona and goes direct to Camino at Puente la Reina and then Estrella and on to Logrono.

Brittany Ferries have two departures terminals from the UK; Portsmouth and Plymouth - the ferries sail on different days.
There is a direct ferry to Bilbao but before the pandemic and they shut down you couldn't go as a foot passenger, had to have a vehicle.

The ferry is 24 hours and is quite cheap but you do have to book a cabin as well. It pays to book ahead as the cabins get filled up quickly as you book a whole cabin for yourself and once they are gone they don't take more passengers.

I have always thought that it could be more pleasant for North Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders to arrive UK, visit for a couple of days and lose the jet lag, then take the train down to either Portsmouth or Plymouth and arrive Spain that way. Who doesn't like a pleasant sea cruise???

That is what the soft plan is, life is funny sometimes
I work nites exclusively so i dont think the

It is the way I go to Camino, and very pleasant it is. From Santander there are regular fast and cheap buses, just a few Euros, (they are comfortable inter-city coaches really) to Bilbao bus station and change there for Pamplona bus station - arrive Santander, arrive Pamplona same day, a few hours later. One can start walking at Pamplona but at Pamplona bus station there are buses to Roncesvalles too and if really keen a taxi from Roncesvalles to St Jean is doable.
Also from Bilbao there is another express that avoids Pamplona and goes direct to Camino at Puente la Reina and then Estrella and on to Logrono.

Brittany Ferries have two departures terminals from the UK; Portsmouth and Plymouth - the ferries sail on different days.
There is a direct ferry to Bilbao but before the pandemic and they shut down you couldn't go as a foot passenger, had to have a vehicle.

The ferry is 24 hours and is quite cheap but you do have to book a cabin as well. It pays to book ahead as the cabins get filled up quickly as you book a whole cabin for yourself and once they are gone they don't take more passengers.

I have always thought that it could be more pleasant for North Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders to arrive UK, visit for a couple of days and lose the jet lag, then take the train down to either Portsmouth or Plymouth and arrive Spain that way. Who doesn't like a pleasant sea cruise???

David
It is a soft plan to do so
For one, to acclamate my sinuses against whatever allergens in the air
Another is the time change, from here and SJPDP there is a 7 hour differential.
I think seeing a friend or two in london would be wonderfull!
As for a ferry, i dont get seasick so a passage is an adventure.
Well, to me everything seems to be an adventure..i can imagine a slight thrill at not seeing land for a minute so below decks ill go..lol!

And just imagining in a slight way,connecting the past passages by pilgrims to today.

And to imagine what adventures all the members have had, treading foreign soils, eating foods in other countries..in that country.
As for now?
Saving pennies and dimes for that day!

 

[Devon Mike]

I have travelled on Brittany Ferries from Plymouth to Santander several times. Then a bus to Uran, a short walk across the border into France to Hendaye rail station, then a train to Bayonne for the final journey by bus or train to SDPP.

After completing my Camino a bus directly from SdC back to Santander for the ferry return to Plymouth.

 

[David]

I have travelled on Brittany Ferries from Plymouth to Santander several times. Then a bus to Uran, a short walk across the border into France to Hendaye rail station, then a train to Bayonne for the final journey by bus or train to SDPP.

After completing my Camino a bus directly from SdC back to Santander for the ferry return to Plymouth.

Excellent!! - And, if arriving Hendaye a little late there is a small and cheap hotel right next to the station - a bit faded but ok.

 

[Devon Mike]

Excellent!! - And, if arriving Hendaye a little late there is a small and cheap hotel right next to the station - a bit faded but ok.

A couple of times I got to Hendaye a little late so with the weather being OK I slept outside the station locked entry door until the first train to Bayonne in the very early morning. So arriving in SJPP just after 9am I got my credential and walked straight off to Roncesvalles the same day.

 

[JLV]

Hello David,

You look familiar,are you the traveling Medic on the Camino?

 

[David]

Hello David,

You look familiar,are you the traveling Medic on the Camino?

I is he - but a first aider.