Lovely holiday destinations via ferry

[loveisagirlnameddaisy]

DP really doesn't like to fly (v claustrophobic) so we've tried to avoid it where possible. We cruised last year but I'm looking for something on land this year. I'm thinking northern France or possibly even northern Spain on the ferry.

Can anyone advise on destinations which are child-friendly, attractive etc and are also on the ferry routes or close by. And not too hot during the summer holidays. Happy to hire a car once in the destination. Thank you!

Bumping

This isn't quite what you're asking for, but have you considered the Channel Islands?

They are lovely, with plenty for children (especially Jersey)

Brittany is lovely fir young families. Or what about the Netherlands?

Brittany Ferries are really good, I think they go from Portsmouth or Southampton to St Malo. North Sea Ferries from Hull to Rotterdam for the Netherlands.

We did a lot of Brittany and Normandy when we were kids and can highly recommend them.
Northern Spain is also lovely - we got the overnight ferry and rented a house near Santander - one of the best family holidays we've ever been on

As a child i loved going to The Isle of White. I remember it being so exciting, with long sun soaked days on the beach. A trip around the ww2 museum (which was exactly the same as when it was a fully functioning listening station) im gonna speak to my dh about going.

The Wadden/Friesan islands off the coast Holland are amazing. We have been to Tershelling and one other who's name escapes me. We LOVED Tershelling.

Ferry to Dunquerke ( better than calais). Can't guarantee that the weather will be hot. We had a great time, bike riding, exploring etc. Very flat. Brilliant sand dunes

Who's bloody hell obvs meant whose! Long day!

Thanks to everyone for replying.

Stella, I had thought about Jersey but have done no further investigation. Is there enough to keep children occupied? I'm looking for recommendations of specific places /resorts as sometimes it can be hit and miss when you choose yourself from an area as large as Brittany (for example).

Milton, where did you go in Brittany?

Jersey is lovely, and Brittany too.

If you ferry from Portsmouth to Saint Malo with the car you have most of beautiful Brittany within easy reach.

Take your own car to Mull. Beautiful beaches & Tobermory if your DC are young.

Lucjam - I've never heard of the Wadden Islands - I want to go!

All of Brittany is beautiful. The south coast is slightly warmer I find. But the north coast has stunningly beautiful beaches, but weather more like Cornwall
Anywhere between st Malo and Roscoff is really nice. Most people who holiday there are self catering. You can book cottages through Brittany ferries or companies like Chez Nous. There are even places on sites like Air bnb now.

Jersey is very small, so it doesn't really matter where you stay, but the two places I'd suggest would be St Brelades Bay (especially one of the beach front hotels) or the Merton (bit brash, but excellent waterpark and extremely child friendly).

What sort of things do you like to do on holiday? There are really good beaches, water sports (surfing good off the Atlantic facing beaches), safe cycling (green lanes, speed limit 20mph), loads of museums (maritime particularly good), walks, other heritage/war stuff, two castles, Durrell zoo.

And unlike France/Spain/Netherlands, Jersey is not part of EU so you get duty free. You don't need to change money, and you can use pound notes again!

(I like the rose granite coast bit of Brittany (ferry friendly, north coast) but don't have recommendations for specific places to stay).

www.brittanytourism.com
Tourism site for Brittany to give you some ideas.

Do it squibble! Wish i could remember the name of the second one we visited. Tershelling was our favourite. The second one was really expensive but Tershelling not so. We stayed at the golden tulip "resort" in an apartment. We hired bikes when we got there, left our car on the mainland. When we arrived we got the bus to the hotel but it didn't stop by the hotel the hotel told me to ask driver to take us that way do he did, dropped us by the front door! All the locals were talking about us as the driver announced that he was doing a detour for the English! !!! Funny!

Locals are lovely. Some lovely restaurants. Highly recommend a trip. You can fly to schipol then train and ferry but we did ferry car ferry. let me know if you go would love to hear about it.

I like the sound of Tershelling. I'll add that to my list of possible destinations :)

Lucjam - I'm v tempted. There seem to be cheap flights from Southend to Groningen, just a train ride from the ferry. Thank you for mentioning it.

Bet the flight is only about 30 mins from Southend. Enjoy

Denmark.

Overnight ferry from Harwich. We had a fantastic holiday, camping in two different areas, with plenty of sunshine but not too hot.

Next year we fancy Northern Germany and perhaps some of the white-sand beaches and islands on the Baltic coast.

Denmark!!

The Vendee is really nice. Around La Rochelle or further south. Beaches, fun fairs, nice food. Zoo at La Palmyre.