Where We Are

Depending on your personal circumstances, such as where you are travelling from in the UK, if you are travelling with children, prefer a shorter journey time in the car or would like to arrive in France after some sleep, feeling refreshed to drive, there are many different routes to choose from.

The ferry ports of St. Malo and Caen are closest to Marolles with both routes leaving from Portsmouth. Journey times, once you are off the ferry and on French soil, are approximately 1.5 – 2 hours.

St. Malo, the overnight ferry, takes just under 9 hours and departs Portsmouth at 8.15pm.  The ability to enjoy a few drinks and some onboard food, before retiring to your cabin, will enable you to arrive in France refreshed and ready for your short drive to Marolles.

Caen, with a shorter ferry time of around 5hrs 45mins, also departs from Portsmouth and may be booked for both day and night time crossings, whichever is your preference.

Two further crossings from Portsmouth, also offered by Brittany Ferries, to the ports of Cherbourg and Le Havre have crossing times of 3 and 5.5 hours. With just a slightly longer drive time in France of 2.5 and 3 hours, these crossings offer great alternatives to the St. Malo & Caen routes and provide you with many options for ferry travel from Portsmouth.

Further East at the ports of Dover and Newhaven, both DFDS and P&O Ferries offer crossings to Calais and Dieppe which allow you to reach France in either 1.5 or 4 hours. The drive time from Dieppe to Marolles is around 3.5 hours and Calais will take around 5 hours.

Calais, as we all know, is also home to the French side of the Eurotunnel. Crossing from the UK approximately 50 times per day from Folkestone, the shorter journey time of around 35 minutes and the ability to remain with your vehicle makes this option a very popular route.  The drive time to Marolles, as with the ferry port of Calais, is around 5 hours. A pleasant drive, on easy to negotiate motorways,

For those who don’t fancy the sea, either above or below it, why not look at the option of flying and renting a car. The closest airport situated just 40 miles away is Rennes -Saint-Jacques with an average drive time of 1 hour to Marolles.

Below are some useful links which may aid you in your travel enquiries.

• https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/
• http://www.poferries.com/eu/portal
• https://www.directferries.co.uk/poferries.htm
• https://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/

Once you arrive in France and before you begin your journey, if you have a GPS system, google maps on your phone, or any other hand held navigation system, program it with this address:

La Blandiniere
Saint Pierre Des Landes
53500
France

This is actually our neighbour’s house but is recognised easier by hand held devices.  Please do not go in.  The address will bring you to the lane which leads to the lakes.  Follow the lane until you see a wooden bridge on your right, cross the bridge and follow the driveway which will lead you to the car park.

NOTE: We are situated between Fougeres and Ernee, just off the N12.  Do not drive into Larchamp village, it is about 7km away from the lakes. Keep on the N12 and look out for LA RABINE restaurant.  Turn right at LA RABINE if approaching from Ernee, and left if approaching from Fougeres, and continue straight on.  As you descend, you will see the lakes on your right hand side.  Cross the wooden bridge on your right and follow the driveway which leads to the car park area.

If you encounter any problems en route, please call Georgie’s French mobile +33 6 30 32 66 06 and Darren and Georgie will do their best to help guide you to the lakes.

Sat nav co-ords are for the lakes are:

48° 19’ 02.64”N,  1° 00’ 06.24”W

While you may be well versed at driving in France, below is a link to a useful webpage which details the documents and items you should carry, in your car, in order to remain legal and safe.  We suggest you take a look and familiarise yourself with this.

https://www.drive-france.com/checklist/