Ferry from Plymouth to Cherbourg
From Plymouth you have two Brittany Ferries options for Cherbourg, even though no ferry sails between the two ports directly. The direct Cherbourg sailing leaves from Poole, about two hours east of Plymouth by road, and is the quicker combination overall. Or sail from Plymouth itself to Roscoff and drive: Cherbourg is around three and a half hours away, which makes sense if you are touring Brittany before Normandy anyway.
Routes
There is no direct ferry on this route. To reach your destination, these are the crossings we recommend instead.
Our experience
We sailed from Saint-Malo to Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries as a family, and this day crossing felt much more like part of the holiday than just transport. Saint-Malo is a brilliant place to leave from, the views on departure are beautiful, and there was enough on board to keep the children busy during the crossing. It is not the fastest way to England, but if you are travelling from Brittany or western France, it is a relaxed and very logical route Between the UK and France.
Who sails the alternatives
The most practical routes are both operated by Brittany Ferries. Travellers can either sail directly to Cherbourg from nearby Poole or depart from Plymouth to Roscoff and continue their journey by road. This means there is no need to compare different operators, as both options are part of the Brittany Ferries network.
Map with suggested Plymouth – Cherbourg ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from Plymouth to Cherbourg, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
Onboard experience
The Poole–Cherbourg route is normally served by Barfleur, Brittany Ferries’ fastest conventional ferry to France. Travellers choosing Plymouth–Roscoff may sail aboard Armorique or the flagship Pont-Aven, both of which offer a wider range of facilities including restaurants, bars, lounges, shops and cabins. Armorique was originally designed specifically for the Plymouth–Roscoff route.
By car
Travellers looking to reach Normandy often prefer the nearby Poole–Cherbourg route, which offers one of the shortest crossings to northern France. Those heading towards Brittany may find that sailing directly from Plymouth to Roscoff reduces the amount of driving required after arrival.
Compare & book
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Still weighing up your options?
We have crossed the Channel to France more times than we can count, on most of the routes and with most of the operators. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.