Ferry, UK to Poland?????

[Sax]

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone can help. A pal and I are wanting to travel From N. Poland and then head South to Czech Rep & Slovakia. I have searched the Forums and the WWW but cannot find any ferries from UK to Poland. Am I guessing correctly that they do not exist? If so can someone advise on the quickest, shortest route there.

Cheers.

 

[Bryn]

The most straight forward would be Dover Calais.... then head East. It took us a couple of days to get to Berlin that way... 2004 tossers tour went to Berlin, Zagan, down to Krakow, then a hop across into Czech Rep, up into Germany and back to Calais. We were gone 8 days.

Depends what your itinerary is. You could also use the Harwich to the Hook of Holland. Cuts down the road miles a bit , but still slower IMHO.

Bryn

 

[Cheesy Mike]

Do Harwich-Esbjerg, ride across Denmark, across the bridge from Copenhagen to Malmo then get the Karlskrona-Gdynia or Nynashamn-Gdansk ferries into Poland. It can only add to the adventure.

Mike

 

[Shep]

You could also use the Harwich to the Hook of Holland. Cuts down the road miles a bit , but still slower IMHO.

Bryn

Catch the ferry at about 22:00, get there at 06.00 ish for a great early start, feeling fresh after a good nights sleep, its great!

Not done it for a few years now so the times may have changed a bit.

Shep

 

[Bødkerman]

Ferry Routes

Try this link as it may help plan a route.

http://www.directferries.co.uk/routes.htm

Esbjerg to Grenaa for ferries to Sweden is only about 3 hours and there is a bike only camping ground about 30 mins from Grenaa.

Bødkerman.

 

[Taff]

I've looked into this, as I will be going to Poland in May.

It would be useful if there was a crossing from the UK to Gdansk, but there isn't a direct ferry crossing from the UK, so I will be travelling from Harwich to Cuxhaven in Germany. From there the Polish border is only a couple of hours ride.

 

[Sax]

Taff,

I looked into that crossing but the "net" tell me the crossing isn't active. Is this just seasonal. Any help would be great, as that would be the route we're looking at.

 

[Sax]

Monsieur Fromage... Cheers for the info. Looking at the AIT website I'll need a carnet for Denmark. MAD. Is this true?

 

[Bødkerman]

Sax

Carnet for Denmark?....No, definitely not required.

 

[Taff]

Taff, I looked into that crossing but the "net" tell me the crossing isn't active. Is this just seasonal. .. that would be the route we're looking at.

Inactive? Bloody hope not. TBH I haven't booked mine yet, but that is the crossing that Dennis and PW took last May. I'd better look into it sharpish then, as all my routes, waypoints etc are based on me taking that route this May.

By the way while I'm in a lazy mood, which company operates that route?

 

[samwise]

DFDS did the Harwich - Cuxhaven route but it doesn't look like they run the route anymore according to their website.

 

[longdog]

I guess you could sail from Newcastle using DFDS ferries too.

 

[Taff]

Seem to be making some progress with this, but the Harwich - Cuxhaven route has definately been pulled. The Harwich - Hamburg route is for freight only, so going via Germany is out.

Cheesy Mikes suggestion of crossing to Esbjerg in Denmark, then riding across to Karlskrona and catching another ferry from there to Gdynia (nr Gdansk) sounds like a good plan, and not as expensive as first thought.

Having used DIRECT FERRIES to check times, prices etc, a return ticket from Harwich - Esbjerg for say 7th May 06 is £200.55. The ferry leaves Harwich at 6pm and arrives at Esbjerg at 12.00 noon the following day ie a 17 hour overnight crossing, staying in a 1 berth outside cabin (shower/wc). According to Mapsource, it will take 6 hours riding to get from Esbjerg to Karlkrona - giving ample time to see a bit of Denmark and Sweden and to catch the 9.00pm overnight ferry to Gdynia, arriving nr Gdansk at 7.00am - allowing a full days riding. The Stena Line website can't give a price for this crossing.

The return ferry (the following Saturday) leaves Esbjerg at 7.00pm and arrives at Harwich at 9.00am the next day ie a 15 hour overnight crossing, again staying in a 1 berth outside cabin (shower/wc). All times are local

 

[One Bloke One Mandolin]

'Cos I booked Harwich-Cuxhaven before they closed the route DFDS have given me my ticket for Harwich Esbjerg (one-way) for the same price £33.00. They've also given me an' my mate a cabin and £14 back towards petrol. Now that's a pretty good result. We ended up changin' our route to Tallinn, so now we're goin' Denmark, Sweden - ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and The Netherlands before returning to the UK via Hoek van Holland to Harwich.

Best of luck with your organisin', we're off mid June.

 

[Mark C]

Denmark, Sweden - ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and The Netherlands before returning to the UK via Hoek van Holland to Harwich.

Whats your timescale for this trip,

Sax and I have 18 days to play in April (sax possibly 25 days) and have narrowed it down to the 3 optons from Esjberg. South through Germany around to Gdansk, The Karlkrona route or the Stockholm to Tallin route.

Not sure on how to judge distances/ timetable of route as it's our first big trip.

 

[Sax]

Hi all, apologies for not getting back sooner, however I've been galavanting around Europe checking out Latvia & Italy, albeit on foot!!! I'm sure no-body would, but don't go to Latvia this time of year. It's was -26 degC ambient!!! Now have my own set of mohair underpants!! They were needed.

Anyway back to the thread; thanks for all the info, it looks like Mark C and I will be going for the Harwich-Esbjerg/Copenhargen/Malmo/Karskrona-Gdynia route; as long as he's happy. Seems a good route for beginers.

Now for biker friendly hostels and campsites (or good wild camp areas) in Poland and Czech Rep. Does anyone have any favourites?Without bears!! If so locat & gps would be great.

 

[One Bloke One Mandolin]

Denmark, Sweden - ferry from Stockholm to Tallinn - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and The Netherlands before returning to the UK via Hoek van Holland to Harwich.

Whats your timescale for this trip,

Sax and I have 18 days to play in April (sax possibly 25 days) and have narrowed it down to the 3 optons from Esjberg. South through Germany around to Gdansk, The Karlkrona route or the Stockholm to Tallin route.

Not sure on how to judge distances/ timetable of route as it's our first big trip.

We've got from 17 days. Tryin' to keep to around 250 miles a day with a couple of longer days when necessary an' a couple of days off. It's not much ridin' each day but then it is a holiday after all. We're hookin' up with a bike club in Lithuania for our middle weekend an' we're aimin' to get to our German clubhaus for their summer party the last weekend before returnin' home.
We're lookin' at stoppin' around Copenhagen, Jonkoping, Tallinn, Ootepaa, Riga, Kaunas (with a side trip to see the Frank Zappa statue in the capital Vilnius), Gierloz, Hel, Swinoujscie, Hannover an' finally Lingen. This is only a broad plan tho an' we'll just take each day as it comes