I want to visit Normandy (Omaha Beach) from Dover, England. Can this be done in a one-day trip and if so, what is the best way to do it without spending a fortune on private tours? For example, can the Hovercraft get you there? Train from Calis?

Any help most appreciated.

Realistically you cannot do it from Dover in one day, even if you have a car. The drive from Calais to the Beaches is a good half day.

Look into ferries from Portsmouth-Caen. There are overnight ferries, and hovercraft crossings which take I think around 3 hours. I don't think there are any direct trains from Calais.

There are buses from Caen to Omaha Beach - google it to find the timetables.

No hovercrafts anymore - they stopped years ago. It's probably too much to do this as a day trip from Dover - your far too far to the East of Normandy for this to work.. If you were starting off from the Portsmouth area, then yes its doable, but to get to Portsmouth from Dover will add a couple of hours eachy way. Similarly if you went across Dover - Calais and then went west in France.

Where are you starting from? If not Dover - it makes no sense to travel to Dover to get to Normandy. Look at a map of south England/the Channel/N France -- you will see Dover is nowhere near the Normandy Beaches.

You <i>could</i> manage it from other places . . . . So what is your actual itinerary?

Thanks for the replies, All. I can rearrange my travel to leave from anywhere in England. What is the best location to leave from if you only have a day? Train from London? (I have a BritRail pass.) Ferry from Portsmouth? If I can make a change to my plans, I may be able to stay over one night, provided I get back by evening next day. But I prefer one day if it is doable.

You really can't do this as a day trip, UNLESS you spent the night before departure in Portsmouth and woke very early to catch the 07:00 high-speaad ferry to Caen). This gets you into Caen at 11:45 (local time), but do check the timetable as it doesn't run every day. Then you need to get the 30-40 miles or so over to Omaha Beach - I've no personal knowledge of the local transport links, but would guess this will take about 1 hour each way. You could then spend a maximum 2 hours at the beach in order to have time to return on the 16:30 afternoon ferry to Portsmouth, arriving at 21:30. A gruelling day even if all goes to plan. If it was me, I'd definitely stay overnight in France and come back the next day.

Another thought: if you pass through Portsmouth try and make time to see the D-Day Museum and Tapestry - http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/


If so, take the train from London Waterloo to Portsmouth & Southsea. Get a taxi to the Continental Ferry Port (about 2 miles away). Take one of the Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Caen (pre-book this before on www.brittany-ferries.co.uk). If possible go on a day when the

Ooops, posted while still editing. Should read:-

You really can't do this as a day trip, UNLESS you spent the night before departure in Portsmouth and woke very early to catch the 07:00 high-speaad ferry to Caen). This gets you into Caen at 11:45 (local time), but do check the timetable on www.brittany-ferries.co.uk as it doesn't run every day. Then you need to get the 30-40 miles or so over to Omaha Beach - I've no personal knowledge of the local transport links, but would guess this will take about 1 hour each way. You could then spend a maximum 2 hours at the beach in order to have time to return on the 16:30 afternoon ferry to Portsmouth, arriving at 21:30. A gruelling day even if all goes to plan. If it was me, I'd definitely stay overnight in France and come back the next day.

Another thought: if you pass through Portsmouth try and make time to see the D-Day Museum and Tapestry - http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/

Alternatively, book a cabin on Brittany Ferries' overnight ship from Portsmouth to Caen. You catch a train from London at about eight in the evening, a taxi to the ferry terminal, sleep across the channel and arrive in Ouistreham (on Sword beach) in the morning. There are buses from Ouistreham into Caen.