DFDS have decided to scrap the Harwich to Esbjerg route after almost 140 years.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-29353171

 

SWMBO, being from Hamburg, and I were cheesed off enough when DFDS scrapped the Harwich to Hamburg route back in 2002 but 'fine' we thought, 'they're doing Harwich to Cuxhaven'. A nice drive through the Altesland to Hamburg. They then scrapped that so instead we went Harwich to Hoek van Holland which was an awful route to Hamburg and a PITA if traffic was bad in Utrecht. So we decided to try Esbjerg. Esbjerg is an awful little town TBH but once out and into the Danish countryside a nice relaxing drive to near Flensburg (D) and then the German NSL to open the taps up and give it some beans to Hamburg.

 

Looks like now it'll have to be Calais from Dover and a schlepp through France, Belgium, Holland and up through Germany. Not looking forward to that now if I'm frank.

They (DFDS) cite costs brought in by new EU emissions regs for ferries BUT, how much sulphur will all those HGV journeys now pump out instead?

 

Not a rant as such, more a reminisence and anger at stupid (IMO) EU regs.

I recommend Dover Dunkirk for being a) cheaper and BEE) more of a break from driving.    Dunkirk is about 30 miles up the coast from Calais too.

I recommend Dover Dunkirk for being a) cheaper and BEE) more of a break from driving.    Dunkirk is about 30 miles up the coast from Calais too.

 

The nice thing about the mentioned routes, Jase was you had a cabin and a good nights sleep before disembarking then a few hours drive. We'll now need a hotel or something to rest I think :( We may try swapping drivers halfway the first time going Dover-Calais-Hamburg but a nice overnight crossing followed by breakfast and a shower made you feel refreshed.

 

Just checked Google maps; Soton>Dover (147m) 2hrs 29mins (in current traffic) and then Calais>Hamburg 7hrs 15mins (799km)

 

Don't fancy that in one hit :(

Aye - this year to the Ring opted to Premier Inn it near Dover which meant 2 250 mile trips rather than 1 500 mile trip broken up by a ferry trip.

 

I've done the overnighter Plymouth to Roscoff and agree you wake up much fresher next morning - as long as the sea isn't rough

 

 

I've done the overnighter Plymouth to Roscoff and agree you wake up much fresher next morning - as long as the sea isn't rough

 

 Bloody hell when that crossing is rough you spend your time in bed sliding up and down the bunk!

 

 Having just completed a 700 mile non-stop (barring food and fuel) trip to Wolfsburg I can sympathise with Lee's now stark choice of driving options. I have never felt so drained as completing the drive in one hit broken by the ferry and eating. Shared between two of us but I cannot sleep in a moving car so effectively spent twelve hours on the move. Antwerp is a fecking pain to get through as well

 Announced on local TV news last night ,its reopening next year with this outfit. http://www.reginaline.dk/index-uk.htm

We looked at going to Denmark this year since it's really one of our neighbouring countries. But driving to Harwich would take a whole day (so 2 days out of our holiday), we looked at Newcastle to Ijmuiden but then it was another day each way from Ijmuiden to Denmark so we ended up just takign the ferry from Newcastle to Ijmuiden and pootling round France, Netherlands and Germany.

 Announced on local TV news last night ,its reopening next year with this outfit. http://www.reginaline.dk/index-uk.htm

Thanks for that. Looked at the website and their Facebook page; whether they actually have a ship yet seems a bit ambiguous