Hi,
Has anyone taken the ferry to Roscoff from Plymouth and then driven across France to Zurich/Switzerland?
Via Michelin and Google all use the drive across England cross the channel to Calais and then down to Switzerland. I have done this route and it is a long schlep across the south of England to Dover then you have to stay over night.
With the channel crossing you get a rest on the boat and then in theory the journey time through France is about the same. Has anyone been this route? What are the roads like? Is it tedious or more tedious than endless French motorway ?

Thanks in advance
GT

Hi! When I moved from Plymouth we decided it was cheaper and quicker to go via the tunnel. So no experience to share other than door to door (Plymouth to Solothurn) took us 16 hours with 2 or 3 short pee pee breaks. Have a great journey, which ever way you decide! :-)

i've been doing the roscoff to switzerland run for way over 30 years and personally would rather cruise the byways of france then any roads in the south of england.

oh, i don't use mways and take my time.

obviously no use to the modern day time is money brigade.

It depends where you are in Cornwall! If you are way down in the county then you will already have a bit of a drive to get to Plymouth, to pick up the Roscoff ferry.

However, I have done the trip from Cawsand (where I am from) via Dover/Calais (via the tunnel) and have found this by far the easier route. It could also be cheaper, bearing in mind the toll charges in France.

Portsmouth - Le Havre does an overnight ferry - and then it is about 900km to Zurich. Great restaurant for lunch at Avalon.

You'll be in Zurich early evening.

i have done it a few times as parents are in penzance...

plymouth roscoff is a good option as you can get a cabin etc BUT check prices first - i had a price of over £400!!! for a car and 2 people.

total distance for me was the same via calais or roscoff.

i would avoid the A303 though - far easier to go on the M5

i now prefer to go via calais

Have you tried from Cherbourg to Poole? I think Brittany Ferries does a fast service.

Did Roscoff route last year after holiday in Devon. The ferry was nice but we felt cabins were essential with 4 of us . This took price well over 500 Gbp. Dover Calais or even Dover Dunkirk( much cheaper but much less frequent) are so much cheaper . The run from Roscoff took 12 hours versus the 9 from Calais. We tend to drive this leg with very short caffeine etc stops, so 12 hours felt a lot harder.

I do not think I would like to do either run from Cornwall in one go but actually as long as it was not a terrible traffic day or time in UK I would go for the Valais route.

We have also done the Chunnel which is quicker but does not give you a chance to relax and gave a meal like the ferry.

Dunkirk to zurich is 8 hours comfortable in car and 11 Euros which is about 40 Euros under the Calais option as you run across Belgium and Luxembourg (cheap fuel stop).

Really nice route

Dover -> Dunkirk, Lille, Tournai, Mons, Namur, Luxembourg, Metz, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Basel.

I want to also reccommend this route. I booked about 2 months ahead for a visit in May, and I think we paid €80 single fare altogether, car + 2 people, inclusive use of first class lounge. A very nice roast shank of lamb, and sea view from the restaurant table. Low motorway toll charges, Luxembourg fuel was similarly priced to Switzerland.