Just booked Poole to Cherbourg fast ferry. 5hr trip and £170 return for me, mrs and bike. Good alternative if you are visiting west side of France or riding to Spain.
last year in mid sept , it was £145 return , cheap out expensive back , so i did DFDS from Dover for my normal £70 return.I have no idea why they were listed being so expensive compared to the year before but now normal price has been resumed.