Dover disruption: alternative ways to cross the Channel

Travelling through Dover this weekend? It may be worth knowing your alternatives.

Protesters have threatened three days of disruption around the Port of Dover, potentially causing problems for passengers travelling between the UK and France.

Dover to Calais is normally one of the quickest and easiest ways to cross the Channel with a car, but it isn’t your only option.

If you’re concerned about delays, you can take alternative crossings from Folkestone, Newhaven, Portsmouth and Poole. And if you’re ultimately heading to Spain, you could avoid northern France altogether.

Here are the main alternatives to Dover and when switching routes might actually make sense.

Port of Dover in England.
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1. Take the Eurotunnel from Folkestone

If the ferries are the problem rather than the roads around Kent, the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais is the most obvious alternative.

Instead of boarding a ferry, you drive your vehicle onto a train at Folkestone and travel through the Channel Tunnel to Calais.

The actual Channel crossing takes around 35 minutes, making it considerably quicker than most ferry crossings.

However, there is an important catch. Folkestone and Dover share much of the same road network through Kent. If disruption is affecting the M20 or the wider area rather than Dover itself, switching to the Eurotunnel may not solve the problem.

Best for: Cars, motorhomes and travellers who want the quickest Channel crossing.

2. Newhaven to Dieppe

Heading towards western or central France? Newhaven to Dieppe can be a useful alternative to travelling through Dover.

The route crosses from East Sussex to Normandy, completely avoiding Dover and the Kent road network.

Dieppe also puts you much further west than Calais. Depending on your final destination, the longer ferry crossing can actually reduce the amount of driving you need to do once you arrive in France.

It’s particularly worth considering for journeys towards Normandy, Brittany and western France.

Best for: Normandy, western France, campervans and road trips where Calais isn’t particularly convenient.

3. Portsmouth to France

Portsmouth gives you several ways to cross to France without going anywhere near Dover.

Ferry routes connect Portsmouth with ports including Caen, Cherbourg and Saint-Malo, making the south coast a particularly useful alternative for travellers heading to western France.

The crossings are longer than Dover to Calais, but that isn’t necessarily a disadvantage.

An overnight ferry can replace a hotel night and a substantial drive through northern France. You can eat, sleep and arrive considerably closer to your destination the following morning.

Best for: Brittany, Normandy and western France, particularly for motorhomes and longer road trips.

4. Poole to Cherbourg

Poole to Cherbourg is another option for bypassing Dover altogether.

Cherbourg is well positioned for exploring Normandy and provides a useful starting point for journeys down the western side of France.

For travellers starting in southern or western England, driving to Poole can also make more sense than travelling east to Dover before driving west again once in France.

Best for: Travellers from the South West, Dorset and western England heading towards Normandy or western France.

5. Travel directly to Spain

If France is only somewhere you’re driving through on the way to Spain, you can skip the French drive altogether.

Ferries operate between the UK and northern Spain, including routes from Portsmouth and Plymouth.

These crossings are considerably longer, but they can remove hundreds of miles of driving, motorway tolls, and fuel costs.

For motorhome and campervan travellers in particular, comparing the total journey rather than simply the ferry ticket price can produce a very different result.

Best for: Spain, Portugal, motorhomes, campervans and longer European road trips.

Sometimes Dover isn’t the best route anyway

The shortest ferry crossing doesn’t always mean the shortest journey.

Dover to Calais is excellent if Calais is where you need to be. But if you’re travelling to Brittany, Normandy, western France, or Spain, another ferry route could significantly reduce your driving.

When comparing Channel crossings, look at:

  • Your drive to the UK departure port
  • Ferry crossing time
  • Your drive from the arrival port to your destination
  • Fuel costs
  • French motorway tolls
  • Accommodation needed during the journey
  • The number of hours you actually want to spend driving

A longer ferry can sometimes make for a shorter and considerably easier holiday.

Compare ferry routes from the UK to Europe

If your usual Dover to Calais journey isn’t looking quite so appealing, compare the alternative ferry routes between the UK, France and Spain.

From short Channel crossings to overnight ferries that take you hundreds of miles closer to your destination, there may be more options than you think.

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