Getting to Jersey and the other Channel Islands by ferry is easy. From France, Jersey, being a stone’s throw from mainland France, takes a mere 1 hour from St Malo to Jersey with Condor Ferries rapid service. From mainland UK, Condor Ferries sails from Poole or Portsmouth with the journey taking around 5 hours.
In a bid to start exploring some of the cool locations that UK ferries can drop you, we caught both the service from Poole to Jersey and on to St Malo in Normandy.
Ferry Travel
I love catching a ferry. It’s normally the start of a great adventure. Ferries are the very essence of island hopping, more often associated with our Mediterranean neighbours, than the UK. But we forget that we, as an island nation, have numerous ferry ports dotted around our shores. Albeit less glamorous than Capri, Mykonos or Santorini, UK ferries do link us to some pretty fabulous destinations – The Channel Islands being one of them!
Who doesn’t enjoy a ferry ride? Wind whipping your hair – off to adventures new!
Condor Ferry – St Malo to Jersey
From The Channel Islands, 100 miles off mainland UK and merely 15 miles from France, it’s easy to make the hop to Normandy on Condor. The ferry from Jersey to St Malo is an easy 1 hr 20 minutes. After 2 glorious weeks on Jersey and 4 nights on Sark we picked up the Condor Rapide ferry for the short ride over to St Malo.
TOP TIP: Catch the evening sailing & arrive at sunset in the stunning vieux port of St Malo. If you have time, try to schedule a night in St Malo. The old town is charming, the tiny streets bustling with life and laughter. The restaurants are excellent with tables (and red wine) spilling out onto the pavements. Do try the seafood – especially the moules!
We took our campervan over and managed to park up in a parking bay for the night before continuing our adventures down into France.
Catching the ferry from Jersey to St Malo is super easy and you’re there in no time!
The Channel Islands
Jersey
Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands at 45 square miles is the perfect family getaway. This sub-tropical island nearer the coast to France than the UK has glorious sandy beaches, thundering surf and is steeped in history. But what makes Jersey priceless is the seemingly lack of tourists. Blessed with empty beaches, unclogged roads and fabulous weather, it’s a no brainer for active families wanting to explore the boundaries of the UK.
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Sark
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Getting to Jersey from the UK
From the South-West getting to the Channel Islands is a cinch. Condor Ferries cruise from both Poole and Plymouth direct to Guernsey and then onto Jersey, linking the islands and mainland France on their Jersey – St Malo route.
Catch the ferry from Poole and you can be in Jersey in a mere 5 hours. Drive direct to Poole Harbour along the A350 cutting out the traffic choked promenade. After a quick check in we drove onto the Condor ‘Liberation’ ferry, kids frothing with excitement.
Poole is a beautiful port to leave from. Bursting with yachts of every description, it has a distinct riveria feel to it as the Liberation cuts between the islands of Sandbanks and Purbeck, where billionaire pads look over million dollar views.
Cruising past the fat pads of Studland, leaving Poole Harbour
Right: Kids can chill out in a movie room complete with bean bags
And – if you didn’t know the Channel Islands has it’s own microclimate – often basking in sunshine whilst the rest of the UK slumps under cloud. So if you’re in the blues after another scorching bank holiday comes to an end, have a look at The Channel Islands to book your next family break. Getting to the Channel Islands has never been easier.
Whilst The Family Freestylers were guests of Condor Ferries, our opinions, as always are entirely our own.
Related articles:
Camping on the island of Sark, Channel Islands
2 comments
Does the condor go everyday from St. Malo to Jersey, Channels Islands in February??? Or specific days???
Hi Wanda, they only go on specific days through the winter. I had a quick look – it seems the ferry will go on Fri, Sat and Sunday during February 2020 but check your dates here https://www.condorferries.co.uk/ferry-routes-ports/plan-your-journey/timetables