help appreciated!

[Sean Harrison]

We're looking to make a first trip overseas this summer. Unfortunately, living in the very north east of Scotland, Dover for us is almost 3 days drive away so the only real options for a ferry crossing is Hull to Zeebrugge or Hook of Holland.

We are looking to go in June and would appreciate comments, suggestions, advice etc on what the crossing is like, where to go, suggestions on where to stay, posible pitfalls etc...

I would like to see some of the War sites (sights?) but other than that we have no real preference what we do - the important bit is the venture of going abroad with the 'van.

Apologies if this has been asked umpteen times before...

 

[MikeP]

The Rosyth Zeebrugge ferry leaves every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1700, and makes the return journey at 1800 the following day. The route is operated by Superfast Ferries. http://www.superfast.com/

OK, it takes 18 hours, but once you've had a good night's sleep you've only got the morning to kill, then you drive off at 1200. Similarly, on the return journey you get in to Rosyth at 1100.

Going in June you will have a huge choice of campsites, and most will be fairly quiet until the end of the month. I have camped in Belgium and Holland and always have a great time. Both are excellent for cycling.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website http://www.cwgc.org is probably a pretty good place to start.

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Sean,

We also live in the North East of Scotland, earlier in the year we went to Prague, using the Newcastle/Amsterdam ferry DFDS. The ferry was quite big with excellent facilites. I believe that if you can travel midweek at certain times the Van is free. Coming out of the port is simple direct onto the motorway network.

Val & Frank

 

[Val & Frank]

Sean,

I forgot to mention the war sites etc, currently I am tracing an uncle KIA in 1917. The war graves commission gave me the exact date he was killed, and the location of his entry on the Arras memorial. This memorial is I believe set out in Bays. On Bay 6 is the servicemen from The East Lancashire Regiment. Around 35000 men are listed on the memorial these men were lost without trace during the battle of Arras.

Val & Frank

 

[Sean Harrison]

Thanks for that - I didn't know about the Newcastle - Amsterdam ferry. That is useful to know and isn't a bad price.

I had considered the Rosyth - Zeebrugge crossing but found it to work out very expensive, although that needs balancing against the fact it is only a 3 hour journey from home.

 

[Robtel]

Sean,

We too live in Scotland but not as far north as you. We are only about 45 minutes driving time from Rosyth but find it far too expensive to use. Travelling on same dates and going to same sites we found that using Rosyth compared to Hull was going to be

 

[Charles_374240409]

Hi Sean

Just read your message, and you're probably booked up by now.

We are also travelling to France in June, and we've booked Dover to Dunkirk with Norfolk Line for