UKC

Im thinking of going to font in a couple of weeks and am wondering the best mode of tranbsport. Would it be cheaper to use public transport all the way or would that slightly limit my options once their. Drivinf down is an option too, but has anyone done that if so how much including ferry and petrol, roughly?

cheers

In reply to Robert Russell: have done it sriving, cost for ferry is per car, so the more people in it the better, we paid £170 for ferry. petrol cost- look up the distance on multimap and x by your usual fuel costs, also remember about £20 motorway tolls dover-font.
public transport may be cheaper if only one of you, but assume you be carrying tent, bouldering mat etc, may be hard work, and obviously not having a car at the other end may limit options, although people do manage. maybe you could join up with other people?

In reply to Robert Russell: Getting the train to font is fine, direct from the garde de nord, however depending on the length of your stay i think you will be a bit limited as to areas to get too without some other form of transport! as only a couple of areas are within walking distance of the town of font (e.g. Mont ussy etc)

In reply to Robert Russell: where are you based in the UK, ferry is about £60 return dover-Calais, book the cheapest times, and you can still use any as long as its not too busy, not sure how far to font from calais but I think its a 3-4 hour drive well thats how far is was from me in belgium, so best part of a tank of petrol, and petrols a similar price to the UK. So Id say, depending where you are in the UK, £150 +

In reply to Iain Ridgway: Oh yes forgot about tolls, drove down to the central massif from north germany and they were a considerable part of the expense.

In reply to Robert Russell:

i think its about the same cost for one person to fly and hire a car out there as for one to drive over, take the ferry and have the car at the other end. The ferry gets cheaper the more people you put in whilst flying obviously doesn't. I'm definitely driving next time as hire cars are a pain in the arse.
Pete

In reply to Iain Ridgway: oops it wont be £60 now will it, this was just before easter so no idea what it will be like, I found P&O the cheapest.

In reply to Iain Ridgway: Nice, im leaving from the west country. Isnt petrol over their dirt cheap? Im going with another chap so hopefully we'll be splidding everything 50 50. An how about driving around font, is it qeuit easy to navigate with a basic guide book or am i looking at hours of boneing up on the net just to sort of a camp site??

Actually if you could recommend me a good first time spot or some essential areas that have treated you well in the past that would be cool. Areas of fantasic quality would be arwsome too, I dont wont to become dissapointed by our friend Mr Polished!

cheers

In reply to Robert Russell: no it isnt, I was still spending 50 - 60 euros for a tank of petrol.

Even in luxembourg petrol is now at about a euro a litre.

I didnt head down that way just getting across the chanel, as I was working in belgium but looked at going down to font before I quit work.

In reply to shoelace: The train to Font (avon) goes from the Gare Du Lyon.

You can walk from Font (avon) to Cuvier / apremont in about an hour and hitching isn't too hard either.

If you get to Milly (la MUs) campsite you can walk to most of the trois pignons within 30 minutes.

In reply to Robert Russell:
With two people from the west country a ferry is definately the cheapest option plus you get flexibility there. Our ferry cost us £90 return, we've just booked.

WRT driving around font, a guidebook (Fontainbleau Climbs is the ubiquiteous one, though Jingo Wobbly supposedly have a new one out any day now) is handy and detailed map (1.25000) is very useful, though not essential. La Musadiere is the usual campsite for many climbers though it is also the most expensive.

WRT Areas of fantastic quality, well all of font is quite brilliant, unfortunately the frenchies' liking of pof means that many of the starting footholds on lots of the boulders are horribly polished, it's something you have to live with. Personally my favourite area (though I've only been to four!) is Cul du Chien, though you won't be alone there!

In reply to Robert Russell: good warm up areas are apremont bizons, bois rond, 91.1, JA Martin, Roches aux sabot.

In reply to Robert Russell:

Go by car, it's much handier. Speedferries are down to less than £50 at the moment. If there are two of you it's the cheapest way. Once you get there it's handier with a car, you can do without but it'll stop you just having a look round the area, going for a drink or a meal in town and so on.

Question of if you like driving or not I suppose.

In reply to Bruce Hooker:
Yeah Im a keen driver. Anynews on this new font guide due in the next couple of days? Surely someones had a copy for an early review or something!