Can someone explain Mont Saint-Michel to me?

[katycarr]

I am probably being very thick but I don't understand the information about high tides.

We are driving to the Dordogne from Cherbourg, we wanted to stay somewhere the night before getting the ferry home and we figured that Mont Saint-Michel would be a good choice.

We will have to leave at about 8 in the morning to get the ferry but dp is worried that if the tides are high we won't be able to just leave.

We are thinking of booking a hotel on the island, dp is now worried about parking. We read there is a car park but during a hugh tide you move to the causeway. But if we want to drive to the mainland while everyone is parked on the causway, is it not going to be a nightmare?

Thanks.

bump

Regardless of the tides, I wouldn't stay on the island the night before you are due to leave. Mont St Michel is a massive tourist and pilgrimage destination - it gets unbelievably packed with people in the summer. Walking up to the church through the narrow streets, you are just packed in with people all around you, shuffling up the slope. We went when our children were young (under 5) and to be honest it was an absolute nightmare.

The car parks are on reclaimed land on the shoreline either side of the causeway. I can see how it would be a nightmare if the tides were very high (didn't happen when we went) but to be honest the traffic congestion at all times of the day is incredible.

I'd stay somewhere local on the mainland and just go to visit if you want to see it.

We were in two minds about staying there for the reasons given above.

Someone at church told me it is beautiful at night though when and much less busy.

The day that we would be there is a high tide day.

Can you recommend anywhere else.

le bump

I think it depends on what you're after, really. There are plenty of lovely places nearby. I'm forever raving about Cancale, but that's because I love oysters and moules. Other options might include Granville, which is within easy reach of the main route to Cherbourg. Indeed many of the places between the two (Cancale and Granville, that is) are lovely.

If you were feeling particularly energetic (which I'm guessing you won't be after travelling all that way!) there's a lovely cycle route here (scroll to the bottom of the page - the route I have in mind is Loop 28, on page 22 of the PDF). Actually that website might give you some pointers, anyway.

As for the Mont itself - it is very, very beautiful but in high season, esp. as you only have a day there, I'd view it from a bit of a distance (from Genets, for example - mentioned on the bike map I linked to).

Oh - and if you just want to chill, quietly on a beach, look at Carolles. There isn't much there (other than a beach, lots of fab rockpools, a beachside creperie) but it's great for families who don't want lots of (artificial) bells and whistles.

It doesn't have a view of the Mont, however you do get views if you're travelling to it along the coast.

The whole holiday is quite chilled to be honest, we are camping in a key camp. DD has a pass for the PGL activities so we plan to just shag read lots of books. We are planning maybe every other day or so to take a drive out to somewhere but not far.

I will look at Cancale ( dd and I love oysters and moules) and Granville. We love cycling, so will definitely will have a look at that.

I realy really wanted to go to LeMont but maybe it is a short trip out of season, we are on the south coast so it would not be difficult.

I do quite fancy a beach day, our campsite is inland so that would make a nice change. So we will look at Carolles.

While I have your attention can I ask for somewhere to stay on the way down to break up the journey,

We will arrive at Cherboug and need to get to Le Bugue.

Sorry pressed send, the drive is about 8 hours. So we were thinking of driving for about 5 hours and then stopping.

i did mont st michel on a school trip. all i remember is the sweet shops, loads of them, all the way up, selling massive lollipops.

lol ruddy, I do have a church/ place of worship obsession which is my reason for wanting to go. All the guides do talk about the souveneir shops

Carolles would be lovely then, imo. You could stay in Granville if you fancied a town stay. The old bit is more, umm, olde worlde and pretty, the rest is quite resorty. If you're so inclined, the gardens at the Musee Christian Dior are blinking lovely. The museum itself is small but interesting - I liked it but then I left DP and DS on the beach

I'm not an expert on france at all, but i'll look at your likely route and see if there's anywhere I can recommend for the journey down

mont st michel is impressive but a nightmare. narrow streets full of sweet and tourist shops and just full of people. parking/tides shouldn*t be a problem but the traffic to and from is very slow. for beaches I would recommend the stretch south of granville.

Thanks Sonilla, dp and I have agreed that we are going to do a trip to Mont St Michel another time.

The slow traffic is a worry as we could miss our ferry.

I am just looking up Cancale now in my lonely planet.

I love plannign holidays.

katy - look at this I was surprised at how much ds (then 8yo) enjoyed it. It might be an option for a couple of hours if the weather isn't great. There's a fairly inexpensive creperie near it, and there are view from the botanical gardens over to the Mont.

(I'm on a roll, clearly)

Mont St Michel is lovely in autumn.

Thanks the boy, maybe we could go in the half term in October.

Dp likes Granville in terms of location for the ferry