Another Newhaven-Dieppe-Newhaven ferry thread

[marcusjb]

I'm going to be on the 23:00 on the 15th as well.

The Flying Fish were super nice - we ordered food in advance to make their life easier last time.

I shouldn't be living in London by then, so not sure of exact travel plans - but likely that I will ride from London (unless the weather is as crazy as it got in 2015 (Brighton flooded etc.) where I was very pleased to get a text from Swisshat (with whom I was riding down to Newhaven) that morning suggesting we get the train to Brighton!).

[jack_your_body]

I'm on the lookout for any cancellations for the ferry out of Newhaven at 23:00 on 15th August and return from Dieppe at 23:59 (French time) on 23rd August.  I have secured a berth in a cabin (thanks Yanto) on this ferry but DFDS do not seem to be taking any more bookings for cyclists at these times.  Does anyone have any experience of risking it by booking on as a foot-passenger and hoping they'll accept the bike?

[veloboy]

Back in 2016 Swiihat and I rode to Tours (for Le Douze Cents 1200) via Newhaven-Dieppe ferry. We could not get any bike bookings, as all of the spaces had been taken up by London-Paris 24 hour!
We booked foot passenger tickets, and then resorted to dissmantling the bikes and packing them in pastic bags. Just before joining the shuttle-bus to the ferry, there was a luggage trolly, that we were instructed to put our packed up bags. They were secured in the hold for the duration of the crossing. While it was a total faa, it did allow us to get across and modestly cost us an hour's delay on either side packing up and reassmbling the bikes.

[jack_your_body]

I'm on the lookout for any cancellations for the ferry out of Newhaven at 23:00 on 15th August and return from Dieppe at 23:59 (French time) on 23rd August.  I have secured a berth in a cabin (thanks Yanto) on this ferry but DFDS do not seem to be taking any more bookings for cyclists at these times.  Does anyone have any experience of risking it by booking on as a foot-passenger and hoping they'll accept the bike?

As per Laid Back Rich up-thread I have also just booked onto these ferries by phone, no problem

Thu 15th August 2019 23:00 outbound
Fri 23rd August 2019 23:59 inbound

phone number is 0800 917 12 01

[zacklaws]

I'm booked in for the Newhaven - Dieppe ferry on the:-

14/08/2019 17:30, arriving Dieppe 22:30.

and Returning:-

24/08/2019 23:59, arriving Newhaven 04:00.

In 2015,  I was on the 23:00 ferry, but hoping to get a few hours sleep before I got to Dieppe was a non event. A load of Women, kids, young girls etc making a racket chattering away. Eventually, someone stood up and told them all to f****g shut up but it was to late, the damage was done. This year, I will enjoy the voyage, get to Dieppe, find somewhere to park and maybe something to eat, get some sleep and carry on driving down to the Hotel early hours Thursday morning.

The return journey, same as 2015 gives me a relaxed day around Paris area or where ever I fancy going to explore, maybe a battlefield, do some shopping, few hours sleep. Drive up to Dieppe through the night, then spend a day in Dieppe and more shopping and touring. Not to fussed about sleep as I will just park up in UK and have a sleep before heading home.

[S1966W]

Would anyone have any experience on how they disembark cyclists at Newhaven??

i.e before the cars & punters, or after, or mingled??

I will be trying to get upto London for the Sleeper and was wondering whether the 15.30 Newhaven arrival would see me being able to get up to St Pancras before 21.00. There is no sleeper on a Saturday so I will be going for the Friday option if possible. I think it's about 70 miles & don't think I'll make that by bike in the time available so will wimp out & try & jump a train.

Thanks for any advice

[wilkyboy]

Would anyone have any experience on how they disembark cyclists at Newhaven??

i.e before the cars & punters, or after, or mingled??

I will be trying to get upto London for the Sleeper and was wondering whether the 15.30 Newhaven arrival would see me being able to get up to St Pancras before 21.00. There is no sleeper on a Saturday so I will be going for the Friday option if possible. I think it's about 70 miles & don't think I'll make that by bike in the time available so will wimp out & try & jump a train.

Thanks for any advice

To me that sounds like a no-brainer — there's a new Thameslink service that goes Brighton to Cambridge via St Pancras — the entire journey from Brighton to Cambridge is about four hours, so sub-3hrs to St Pancras.  Or at least it used to — Mrs WB catches it regularly, as it stops in central London without needing to Tube it, but it doesn't seem to show up on The Trainline 

If not then the Brighton-Victoria takes just over two hours, and it's a pleasant enough ride (for London) from there to St Pancras, takes about 20-25 minutes.

[grams]

The Brighton line is closed for maintenance this week so if you were searching today you'll get funny options.

Brighton-Victoria should be about 70 minutes on a normal day. Brighton-St Pancras is 80-90 on a fast train.

[wilkyboy]

The Brighton line is closed for maintenance this week so if you were searching today you'll get funny options.

Brighton-Victoria should be about 70 minutes on a normal day. Brighton-St Pancras is 80-90 on a fast train.

Thanks, Graham — that explains it!   

Phew, I am going to need that train to get me home in August    edit: and to get me there on the 15th, too, of course 

[wilkyboy]

The ride back from Newhaven to Brighton station will be testing — it starts with a 70m 5% on tired and stiff legs.  But at least it's downhill or flat nearly all the way to Brighton from there

Also, for anyone riding from Brighton to Newhaven tempted to take the path along the bottom of the cliffs, be warned — it's concrete slabs with bumps every few metres, my hands were killing me by the time I had to climb back onto the coast road 

And the run-off at the foot of the cliffs is full of chalk, so my bike was sprayed white before I even got to France — trying to explain in bad French to the hotelier why I needed a bucket and sponge was "interesting" 

[jon.pavelin]

I'm on the same ferry out (15Aug,23:00) but coming back eye wateringly early (22Aug,12:00). A spot in a cabin on the way out would be luxurious, happy to contribute if still available! I'll be riding all the way to Trappes on Friday at a leisurely pace where i have a comfy room.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[jon.pavelin]

Also, i have a booking at the dieppe Egg Hotel on 15Aug2019 that i won't be needing if anybody is on the earlier sailing. Just get in touch.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Pichy]

I'm going to be on the 23:00 on the 15th as well.

The Flying Fish were super nice - we ordered food in advance to make their life easier last time.

I shouldn't be living in London by then, so not sure of exact travel plans - but likely that I will ride from London (unless the weather is as crazy as it got in 2015 (Brighton flooded etc.) where I was very pleased to get a text from Swisshat (with whom I was riding down to Newhaven) that morning suggesting we get the train to Brighton!).

If I can get an early enough train down from Embra and you’re still going to be setting off from that London Town, I’ll ride down with you.

[Adam]

Would anyone have any experience on how they disembark cyclists at Newhaven??

i.e before the cars & punters, or after, or mingled??

I will be trying to get upto London for the Sleeper and was wondering whether the 15.30 Newhaven arrival would see me being able to get up to St Pancras before 21.00. There is no sleeper on a Saturday so I will be going for the Friday option if possible. I think it's about 70 miles & don't think I'll make that by bike in the time available so will wimp out & try & jump a train.

Thanks for any advice

To me that sounds like a no-brainer — there's a new Thameslink service that goes Brighton to Cambridge via St Pancras — the entire journey from Brighton to Cambridge is about four hours, so sub-3hrs to St Pancras.  Or at least it used to — Mrs WB catches it regularly, as it stops in central London without needing to Tube it, but it doesn't seem to show up on The Trainline 

If not then the Brighton-Victoria takes just over two hours, and it's a pleasant enough ride (for London) from there to St Pancras, takes about 20-25 minutes.

Whenever I've used the ferry, cyclists have had to wait until last.

For the trains, you can do a bit of leap-frogging, by getting a fast Southern service from Brighton, changing at East Croydon (often from the same platform) and then a Thameslink train north to St Pancras.

Also, don't leave things like lights on your bike when on the ferry.

[yanto]

************CABIN SPACE AVAILABLE**************

Due to an unfortunate incident one member of our cabin's motley crew has had to withdraw from his bunk occupation, if a few hrs kip in a bed is preferred to slumming it on the floor or in an upright chair please contact me by PM for further details.

Cheers

Ian

PS, the unfortunate rider also has a ferry ticket which may be transferable, again PM me and I will give you his details.

[yanto]

I can confirm that the berth has been taken, I do not foresee it becoming available again, probably!

Ian

[wilkyboy]

Whenever I've used the ferry, cyclists have had to wait until last.

In 2015 on this sailing to Dieppe, cycles were allowed on first, or very near the front:

At the port there was a large gathering of cyclists heading for Paris and they quickly opened up a check-in lane just for us and processed us all through quickly.  It was quite a sight with all the bikes leant against the fence in the dark and riders milling around in hi-viz.  They sent us onto the boat first, and it was an unusual feeling to ride up the metal ramp and thru the boat to the far end, where we piled our bikes one on top of the other and tied them to the bulkhead with a couple of pieces of sketchy old rope!

https://www.16inchwheels.uk/2015/09/12/paris-brest-paris-getting-there/

[frankly frankie]

IME they don't allow riding up the ramp any more - as of about 2 years ago - H&S gone mad.  And on the flat deck inside the boat, beware pools of diesel/seawater mix - lethal even when walking.  But yes, when getting off the boat, try to hack your way to the front, could save a lot of time at the border check.

[Phil W]

But yes, when getting off the boat, try to hack your way to the front, could save a lot of time at the border check.

Or spy an empty lane and ride out of the port, ignore any whistles or shouting you can hear, and then wonder where everybody else is when further on in Dieppe.

[wilkyboy]

But yes, when getting off the boat, try to hack your way to the front, could save a lot of time at the border check.

Or spy an empty lane and ride out of the port, ignore any whistles or shouting you can hear, and then wonder where everybody else is when further on in Dieppe.

Yes, that was an amusing stunt 

[Phil W]

Whenever I've used the ferry, cyclists have had to wait until last.

https://www.16inchwheels.uk/2015/09/12/paris-brest-paris-getting-there/

Hadn't read that before.  Agree, there's that tension between a nice route you've chosen and group dynamics.  Agree about D915 east of Gisors.  Used that on the way back as it knocked off 10km or so. It wasn't the most pleasant road to cycle on with the volume of traffic.  The Avenue Verte is tarmac to Forges-Les-Eaux with a bit of gravel round there.  If you pick up the Avenue Verte up after Martin Eglise it cuts out the bity start. It's nice to cycle on.

Here's our Wed night sailing group on the Avenue Verte in the early morning rain.



Should be in the Dieppe - Rambouillet route thread really

[Phil W]

But yes, when getting off the boat, try to hack your way to the front, could save a lot of time at the border check.

Or spy an empty lane and ride out of the port, ignore any whistles or shouting you can hear, and then wonder where everybody else is when further on in Dieppe.

Yes, that was an amusing stunt 

It was my first ferry trip to France in a while, I'd got used to the Eurotunnel modus operandi.

[Tomsk]

Well I've booked the Thursday night outbound sailing and Friday night return. Just trains to work out, probably to Brighton and ride along the coast. Flying Fish meet up again sounds good, better check if it's quiz night.

Where did we have breakfast on Saturday morning, Phil W? Buddies Cafe? Near the Pier on Kings Road I think. Brighton is a 24-hour kinda town, bound to be something open when the ferry gets in so horribly early.

[I can't believe I'm thinking about a post-PBP, post-ferry breakfast!]

[Phil W]

Yes, Buddies sounds about right for the post PBP 2015 ferry breakfast with partygoers and bouncers. Seem to remember the cafe had glass panels round the outside of the seating area.  Was it Brian that was also with us?

[Krad]

Hello,

Finished my booking Ferry Thursday night 23:00 with Bike. No Cabin unless someone can offer a space. But probably too late.

Just need to plan the route down any ideas?