Calais gets a bad press, but ride off the ferry and turn right and you are on the Côte d’Opale, one of the most dramatic coastlines in northern France. And inland, just 20-30km from Calais, you are in idyllic, pastoral countryside where there is hardly a car on the road. This is fantastic cycling country, far more relaxed than on our side of the Channel — they really respect bikes here. As cyclists count as foot passengers on a ferry, this is by far the cheapest way to get to France by bike . . . or any other mode of transport come to that.
Updates
We went over with SeaFrance a couple of months ago and Calais was gorgeous - beautiful sandy beaches with no one on them at all. They were offering deals for cyclists and we got 20% off. They're apparently giving completely free places next week for Bike Week - not sure if there are any places left but worth a try!
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