Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Naples, Italy Photo: Wix Media Journey Time: requires overnight stop in either Paris or Turin/Milan Sample timetable: Depart London 10.22am, arrive Paris Gare du Nord 1.47pm, departs Gare de Lyon at 3.18pm arrives Milan at 10.07pm. Overnight in Milan then take any number of trains from Milano Centrale to Naples (journey time just over 5 hours) Changes: 2 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon and same station change in Turin or Milan Frequency of Departures: 20/day Carbon emissions: 57.5kg (flight would be 277.5kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer). How to transfer between train stations across Paris . You can either stay overnight in Paris and take train to Turin or Milan to change to Naples, or take train straight to Turin/Milan, stay overnight in either of these cities and take train next morning to Naples. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). Stopover hotels in Turin or Milan If you decide to break the journey and stay overnight in Turin or Milan, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both stations. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Torino Porta Susa, Italy Hotels near Milan Porta Garibaldi, Italy On arrival at Naples station Benvenuto a Napoli! It may be the spiritual home of pizza but there are lots of other things to eat, see and do in this high energy city, including royal palaces, castles and ancient ruins. One of the best ways of getting around the city is to use the Naples Pass , which provides discounts and other benefits for visiting museums, events and using public transport around the city. Here's a handy video that shows how it works: Buon Viaggio! If you're looking to travel further afield, Naples is also the gateway to the ancient city of Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. See more routes to Italy and across Europe in our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Lisbon, Portugal for onward connections to the south of Portugal and the Algarve. Photo: Wix Media Journey Time: fastest from 21 hours 59 mins Sample timetable: Depart London 7.55am, arrive Lisbon 7.30am the following morning Changes: 2 Transfer: 1. Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare Montparnasse and 2. Change at Irun (Hendaye station) on the French/Spanish border for the overnight sleeper train to Lisbon Estação do Oriente Frequency of Departures: 6/day Carbon emissions: 10 .95kg (flight would be 251.59kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change trains twice - in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse, which can take about half an hour on the Paris metro (though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer) - see our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris ; and then change trains at Irun on the French/Spanish border to take the overnight sleeper to Lisbon Estação do Oriente. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare Montparnasse. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare Montparnasse Miss your connection? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). On arrival Bem-vindo a Lisboa! Lisbon offers a complete, comfortable transportation network. Probably the most common way to get around the city is the Lisbon metro . The outstanding work by the artist Maris Keil represented on the walls of the underground stations revived the Portuguese of the "azulejo" (glazed painted tile) and is considered a touristic attraction itself. Lisbon's underground train network is constantly evolving towards a fully accessible service, currently providing full accessibility in 36 stations out of 56, excellent attention to customers that need it and technologies and carriages adapted to visual disabilities. The metro runs from 6.30 am and 1 am daily. Don't miss the Trams, a Lisbon's iconic transport that is part of the city's identity and a must activity for everyone that visits the Portuguese capital. Tram 28 consists of a network of fifty wooden, vintage cars with capacity for 20 seating and 38 standing people. Their route is a 40 min journey through some of the main monuments, sights, and the old, narrow streets in Lisbon. Check the route and plan the places you'd like to stop at during the journey, you can get off the car and get in the next one (every 15 mins). If you are visiting Lisbon during peak season, consider the alternative option for sightseeing by Tram as Tram 28 carriages are likely to be full: Lisbon Tram Tour . There is a local bus service provided by Carris company, which can be the best way to get to different places around the city. Check bus timetables, fares, and accessibility . Hotels near Lisbon train station (Estação do Oriente) For destinations outside Lisbon, one of the best options is Express buses , which offer cheap journeys from and to many destinations around Portugal. Another comfortable, relatively cheap way is to take the train. There are ten railway stations in Lisbon: Gare do Oriente (modernist station at the east of the city with connections to the other stations and a metro line), Santa Apolonia (the oldest station, ideal for a number of attractions in Lisbon and long distance trains to Madrid and Paris), Sete Rios (north location, good for long distance buses and trains to Faro, Setubal and other destinations, and with a metro line), Rossio Station (centric and connected to city bus, metro and tram), Cais do Sodré station, Sintra station (connects to Rossio Station, Oriente, Entrecampos, Sate Rios and Campolide), Campolide, Cascais and Roma-Areeiro stations. You can get a Lisboa Card which provides free use of the metro, trams, buses, and Elevadores, plus discounts and free entry to many sights, museums, and tours (includes a free guide to Lisbon). Tenha uma boa jornada! See our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Florence, Italy Photo: Wix Media It is possible to travel from London to Florence with just an overnight stop en route if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris and then change stations for the train to Milan followed by the train to Florence. The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence has a long and rich history: home to such great figures as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Dante – not to forget the powerful Medici family – Florence has been influential in shaping the modern world. Today, it remains one of Italy’s major cities and one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. With a host of celebrated sites, from the glorious dome of the Duomo and the shop-lined Ponte Vecchio bridge, to the world-renowned Uffizi and Pitti galleries, Florence is not short of sights for the visitor. Its elegant streets, squares, and palaces invite you to stroll, or to linger over Tuscan cuisine served up with the region’s celebrated olive oil. Flight-free travel from London to Florence: Journey Time: requires overnight stop in either Paris or Turin/Milan Sample timetable: Depart London 10.22am, arrive Paris Gare du Nord 1.47pm, departs Gare de Lyon at 3.18pm arrives Milan at 10.07pm. Overnight in Milan then take any number of trains to Florence (journey time just less than 2 hours) Changes: 2 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon and same station change in Turin or Milan Frequency of Departures: 28/day Carbon emissions: 33.8kg (flight would be 257.9kg)* Car hire at Florence SMN Railway Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer). How to transfer between train stations across Paris . You can either stay overnight in Paris and take train to Turin or Milan to change to Florence, or take train straight to Turin/Milan, stay overnight in either of these cities and take train next morning to Florence. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). See more routes to Italy and across Europe in our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner Stopover hotels in Turin or Milan If you decide to break the journey and stay overnight in Turin or Milan, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both stations. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Torino Porta Susa, Italy Hotels near Milan Porta Garibaldi, Italy On arrival at Florence station Benvenuto a Firenza! There's lots of information about sustainable travel in Florence at Sustainable Florence . Most visitors coming by train will arrive directly at Florence’s Santa Maria Novella (SMN) railway station, on the north-western edge of the city centre. However, there are two other stations in the city, Firenze Campo Marte and Firenze Rifredi: it is possible you may have to make a change at Rifredi to arrive at SMN, but this should be covered by your train ticket (for no extra cost) – check with the train operator in case of doubt. Central Florence is compact, and much of it is barred to through traffic, so walking is a great option for getting around and enjoying what the city has to offer. Alternatively, you could choose to hire a bike – taking advantage of the flat terrain and quiet central streets (outside the centre, there is however traffic to contend with) – the city’s official tourist website offers a list of different cycle hire providers in Florence . For longer journeys across and around the city, you may need to take advantage of the city’s bus system. ATAF , the bus operator, provides information, maps, timetables and a journey planner in English, including basic tickets, valid for 90 minutes, and various other options are available. If you’re going to spend several days in Florence, and intend to head to several of the city’s museums and attractions, you might want to consider investing in the Firenze Welcome Card , which provides discounts on many cultural and commercial activities in the city as well as in surrounding towns and villages. Buon Viaggio! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Copenhagen, Denmark. It is possible to travel flight-free by train from London to Copenhagen in about 15 hours by travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras via Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg. Boats at Nyhavn harbour, Copenhagen. Photo: Richard Hammond ‘Wonderful, wonderful Copenhagen,’ goes the song, and maybe the famous lyrics have got it right: this is where charming, traditional Danish architecture and cobbled streets combine with cutting edge design and a forward-thinking attitude to city life and the environment. A walker and cyclists’ paradise, Copenhagen is equally brimming with design boutiques, galleries, hip cafés, and much more. From the Royal Palace and Tivoli gardens to a contemporary city beach and a full spread of museums and art collections, the Danish capital is nothing if not diverse: a bustling metropolis with friendliness and compact scale of a small town. Train from London to Copenhagen: Journey Time: about 15 hours Sample timetable: Depart London 7.34pm , arrive Copenhagen at 9.34pm the following evening Changes: 3 Transfers: 1. Quick same-station change of platform within Brussels Midi station; 2. Quick same-station change of platform within Cologne station; 3. Quick same-station change of platform within Hamburg station Carbon emissions: 52.7kg (flight would be 270.9kg)* Car hire at Copenhagen Railway Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Take an afternoon or evening Eurostar to Brussels Midi station (or if you're coming from the East of England, take the ferry from Harwich to Hoek van Holland and then train to Brussels) where you stay overnight then in the morning take the high-speed Thalys or ICE trains to Cologne where there's an easy same-station platform change to take another train to Hamburg and then on to Copenhagen. Keep an eye out on the platform at Brussels, Cologne and Hamburg for the handy guide to the layout of incoming trains, which shows you where your carriage will arrive into the station so you can make your way to the correct part of the platform before the train arrives.   Alternatively, you could take a morning Eurostar to Brussels to change (withing the station) to the train to Hamburg where you stay overnight then catch the mornign train to Copenhagen, arriving about 1.30pm.] Stopover hotels to break the journey in Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Brussels, Cologne or Hamburg while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near Brussels Midi, Cologne and Hamburg railway stations. Here are hotels conveniently nearby: Hotels near Brussels Midi ; Hotels near Cologne Central station ; Hotels near Hamburg station. Find a hotel near Brussels Midi Railway Station See also our Green Traveller's Guide to Brussels and Green Traveller's Guide to Cologne Hostel Kohn, one of several eco-friendly places to stay in Cologne. Photo: Hostel Kohn Miss your connection? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection on a high-speed train because of a delay on the preceding high-speed leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. On arrival in Copenhagen Velkommen til København! Located by the Tivoli gardens on the southern edge of the city centre, Copenhagen Central Station is the point of arrival for international (and most national) train services. It is within walking distance of many sights and places to stay – but is also on the metro line and served by numerous buses. It has a range of facilities, including a post office, supermarket, bakery, cafes, shopping centre, baby changing facilities, bathrooms, showers, luggage storage and a lost-and-found office. There are some excellent hotels close to the station, see below: Hotels near to Copenhagen's train station (Station Kobenhavn) The centre of Copenhagen is relatively compact and very pedestrian friendly (the principal shopping artery, Strøget, is one of world’s longest pedestrian streets), so exploring on foot is a viable and inviting option. However, for longer journeys, the city has an excellent integrated public transport network. A range of tickets (from single journeys, to multi-trips and day passes, for different zones) are available for use across the transport network, information on this is available on the Visit Copenhagen website: full ticket and fare information for Copenhagen . The two principal modes of transports likely to be useful for visitors are the metro and S-trains - the rail overground network; this site in Danish includes a network map . With such a clear and comprehensive train network, you are unlikely to need to use the city’s buses – but Movia, the bus operator offers some useful information on buses in Copenhagen in English . If you intend to visit many of the city’s major museums and sights, and will be travelling by public transport a lot, consider investing in a Copenhagen Card , which gives free admission to over 75 attractions, unlimited bus, train and metro travel, and various other discounts – you can choose to buy a card for 24, 48, 72, or 120 hours. Here's a useful video guide to how it works: Copenhagen is famous for cycling: one of the world’s leading cycle cities, forty percent of commuters in the Danish capital travel by bike every day, on an ever expanding network of segregated cycle tracks, on-street cycle lanes, and super bikeways. Though there is currently no longer a cycle share programme, there are plenty of places to rent a bike in Copenhagen and Visit Copenhagen offers a wealth of information on cycling in Copenhagen for visitors. Here's more information on Copenhagen's bike culture . The Opera House, Copenhagen. Photo Wix Media For more train routes in Europe, see Green Traveller's Flight-Free Train & Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Utrecht in The Netherlands. Utrecht is like Amsterdam without the crowds. Photo: Richard Hammond It is possible to travel by train from London to Utrecht in less than four hours by taking the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Rotterdam where you change trains for Utrecht. Home to the Netherlands' top university, Utrecht is primarily a student city, oozing with youthful energy and enthusiasm. It's the perfect destination for a city break, with some great places to eat and drink. Drift past street performers and canalside cafes by canoe, explore the city on an illuminated night walk or pedal your way to the tranquil botanical gardens... think of it like a mini Amsterdam but without the crowds. Train routes from London Map courtesy of Eurostar Flight-free travel from London to Utrecht: Journey Time: from 3 hours 56 mins Sample timetable: Depart London 11.04pm, arrive Utrecht 4.28pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Quick same-station change of platform within Rotterdam station Frequency of Departures: 12/day Carbon emissions: 12.0kg (flight would be 114.9kg)* Car hire at Utrecht Centraal Railway Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Take the Eurostar to Rotterdam station where there's an easy same-station platform change to board the local intercity train to Utrecht Centraal. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Rotterdam If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Rotterdam while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near Rotterdam Centraal. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently nearby: Hotels near Rotterdam Centraal . For more rail journeys from the UK to Europe, see our Flight-Free Journey Planner On arrival Welkom in Utrecht! You can e xplore the city's unique canals by boat – Utrecht’s Oudegracht is a curved canal that runs through the city. Utrecht is the national headquarters of Netherlands Railways, and therefore home to the Dutch Railway Museum. For more information on where to stay and eat, and things to do, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Utrecht There are plenty of hotels close to Utrecht Central Station: Hotels near to Utrecht Central Station: ( booking via booking.com ) Goede Reis! * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Lyon, France. Parc de la Tete d’Or; Lyon Tourist Office/Marie Perrin It is possible to travel from London by train to Lyon in less than 5 hours by taking the Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris where you change stations to catch the train to Lyon. Lyon is one of France’s under-sung glories. Dramatically built around two rivers, it has a wonderful natural setting and is a dynamic, innovative city. As well as lots of excellent restaurants there is a wide range of cultural attractions, from absorbing museums to an impressive opera house and ballet venue. Train from London to Lyon: Journey Time: from 4 hours 41 minutes Sample timetable: Depart London St Pancras on Eurostar at 11.04am, change stations in Paris, arrive Lyon 5.00pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon Frequency of Departures: 14/day Carbon emissions: 18 .51kg (flight would be 243.9kg)* Car hire at Lyon Station: Yes Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a quarter to get the connection). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to 'Lyon Part-Dieu' station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed TGV train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more routes in France and elsewhere in Europe, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Lyon Part Dieu station Bienvenue à Lyon! Most international and mainline trains arrive at Lyon Part-Dieu, which is in a modern office district to the east of the city centre: it is a transport hub with trams, buses, and a station on line B of the metro. Some mainline intercity trains also arrive at Lyon Perrache, on the southern edge of the city centre, served by trams, buses, and line A of the metro – it is also within walking distance of much of the centre, including the principal Place Bellecour square. There are plenty of hotels close to the station, see below: Hotels near Lyon Railway Station (Part Dieu) We recommend hotel this reservation service for checking availability and booking a stopover hotel because you can read hundreds of reviews from people who have recently stayed in these hotels, slept in the rooms and eaten in the nearby restaurants. We've tried it out ourselves and found it makes choosing and booking a stopover hotel a doddle. We hope you do too. Getting around Lyon The old town and central shopping district (Presqu'île) are relatively compact and walkable, however Lyon is quite a large city and you are likely to need to make use of its comprehensive transport network at some point. Operated by TCL (in English, link includes a journey planner and timetables), you can take your pick from the metro, trams, trolleybuses, buses, and - in a quirky flourish - funicular railways. The metro consists of four colour-coded lines criss-crossing the city, and is integrated with funicular services up from Vieux Lyon (old Lyon) to the Fourvière and St Just hills. Additionally, there are five modern tram lines, and a network of 135 bus and trolleybus routes. TCL provides a map of the metro, tram and principal bus routes; as well as a detailed map of transport routes in Lyon and various other Lyon transport maps (in French). A huge range of tickets and fares exist depending on your needs, TCL offers full Lyon transport ticket information. If you plan on visiting several museums or attractions, and will be making use of the public transport network, it could be a good idea to invest in a  Lyon City Card  – offering unlimited travel plus free or discounted entry at numerous places and attractions across the city, for one, two, or three days In additional to its impressive public transport network, Lyon proudly lays claim to being the first French city to introduce a bike-sharing scheme, known as  Vélo’v . You can hire a bike at any of over 340 stations across the city, before returning it to another station close to your destination – Vélo’v has an interactive map of stations (double click to find the nearest to any point on the map) as well as a map of cycling routes across Lyon. For more information about places to stay and eat in the city, plus local attractions and other things to see and do, see Green Traveller's Guide to Lyon : Bon Voyage! * Data for carbon emissions

It is possible to travel from Scotland to Europe without flying; by taking the ferry (either in a car or as a foot passenger), by coach or by train, or, more typically, a combination of these. The only passenger ferry operating between Scotland and continental Europe ceased the route between Rosyth and Zeebrugge in 2010. However, ferry services from Newcastle and Hull are accessible by train from Scotland via Carlisle and Berwick-upon-Tweed. There’s also a cheaper option to connect to the Hull and Newcastle ferries from Scotland by coach, although this takes longer than the train. The North Sea ferries then head east to Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Hook of Holland from where you can head deeper into Europe. For detailed information to how to take public transport to the ports at Newcastle and Hull, see Green Traveller's Guide to travelling as a foot passenger from the UK to Europe . Images: DFDS ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam Coach and and train services from Scotland need to use the Channel Tunnel to cross The Channel, so you have to factor in the time it takes to get south. If you take the train, once on the other side of the tunnel, you’re then connected to the European high-speed rail network, which can whizz you to many European capitals and beyond within hours. Our team has tried and tested many of the routes and so we have tried to summarise all the available options in this post based on our experience. From Scotland to Europe by Ferry By ferry via Newcastle to Amsterdam The ferry port closest to the Scottish border that connects with Europe is Newcastle, from which DFDS takes foot passengers on its 17.00 overnight sailings to Amsterdam. Journey time: 15.5 hours (overnight) Timings: Departs Newcastle 17:00, arrives Amsterdam 9.45am. The additional journey time for those travelling from Edinburgh would be around 2.5 hours - allowing around 1.5 hours for the Edinburgh-Newcastle train plus 30 minutes for the transfer bus to the International Ferry Terminal. DFDS buses operate from Berwick Street opposite Newcastle Central Station to the ferry terminal at times to coincide with its sailings. Bus tickets must be bought in advance online or over the phone. Travelling from Glasgow to the International Ferry Terminal would take from around 3.5 hours by train and bus and from Aberdeen, 5 hours. Adding at least an hour for check-in this takes the total journey times to approximately: Edinburgh to Amsterdam: 19 hours Glasgow to Amsterdam: 20 hours Aberdeen to Amsterdam: 21.5 hours Facilities on board the ferry: bars, restaurants, casino, cinema and kids club Sleeper Cabins: take from 2-5 people, and, unlike most ferry operators that insist dogs are kept in cars or kennels, there are cabins suitable for up to two dogs to travel alongside their owners. Luggage: There’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a charge of £5 each way, and those without wheels can hop onto a coach on arrival at the port of Ijmuiden to travel the 25 miles into central Amsterdam. Other info: DFDS offers a ‘mini cruise’ option, which includes breaks in Amsterdam from five hours to two nights and include coach transfers at either end. From Amsterdam it’s easy to connect by rail to cities and regions across the Netherlands, as well as onto France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and beyond. By ferry from Hull to Rotterdam (The Netherlands) Scottish travellers willing to travel further south still along the east coast can travel with P&O Ferries overnight between Hull and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Journey time: 12 hours (overnight), with an additional journey time of between 8-11 hours for those travelling from Scotland by train, including the minimum 90-minute check-in for the ferry. On arrival at Hull station by train, there’s a bus that goes to the port from the adjoining interchange station. Number 70 operates from Paragon Interchange to the ferry terminal at 5pm and takes 15 minutes, but for more flexibility, a taxi is a good bet. These are the approximate total journey times by train and ferry from Scotland to the continent including bus transfers and 90-minute check-in: Edinburgh to Rotterdam/Amsterdam: 20 hours Glasgow to Rotterdam/Amsterdam: 20 hours Aberdeen to Rotterdam/Amsterdam: 23 hours Timings: Hull to Rotterdam departs 20:30 and arrives Rotterdam at 8:15 (9:00 at weekends) Facilities: Restaurants, bars, cinemas, a casino and kids play area. Sleeper Cabins: options range from a standard cabin, with a toilet and shower room, to a sea view cabin or a club cabin with extra space and a television - sleeping between two and five people per cabin. Luggage: There’s no limit on luggage, and you can travel with a pet and a bicycle. Pets are charged at £22 each way and must travel in a kennel. Bicycles are carried free of charge but only one is allowed per foot passenger booking, so a group travelling with multiple bikes need to make a separate booking per bike. You can book the ferry solely as transport, but for some, it’s the holiday in itself - a mini cruise out of Hull with P&O offers two nights on a ferry to and from Rotterdam with a day trip (which can be extended to an extra night) to explore the city between sailings. Themed mini breaks take this up a notch with entertainment such as live music or darts competitions onboard. Many passengers use Rotterdam as a gateway to Brussels, Antwerp or Paris but from either point, it is straight-forward to connect by rail to other destinations in the Netherlands and Belgium as well as Germany, Luxembourg  and France. Ferry tickets provided by Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports from the UK to Rotterdam. By ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland (The Netherlands) The shortest ferry route across the North Sea from the UK is from Harwich in Essex with Stena Line to The Hook of Holland (known as ‘Hoek van Holland’). From Scotland it takes from at least 6.5 hours to reach Harwich by train via London, or 14 hours by bus, the cheapest option. You can then choose to go across the North Sea either during the day or overnight. Journey time: it is a 7-8 hour crossing (day time or overnight) Here are approximate journey times not including an overnight stay for the morning ferry: Edinburgh to Hook of Holland: from 14.5 hours Glasgow to Hook of Holland: from 16 hours Aberdeen to Hook of Holland: from 18 hours The travel time from Scotland’s mainland cities to Harwich is between 6-10 hours plus the minimum 45-minute check-in. Trains stop at Harwich International Station, which is next to the ferry port. Unfortunately the Caledonian Sleeper train arrives in London too late to connect with a train to Harwich to catch the 9am ferry, as does the overnight bus from Glasgow to Harwich via Heathrow, so passengers from Scotland on the morning ferry need to consider overnight accommodation in London or close to Harwich. Although it’s a longer journey in the UK to travel down south, the total journey times via Harwich for the overnight ferry compare favourably to the ferries leaving from Hull to the Netherlands because of the shorter crossing. It ultimately depends on your final destination and preferred departure time, but it’s worth comparing both ferry options before committing. Timings: departs Harwich at 9am, arrives Hook of Holland at 17.15; overnight service departs Harwich at 23:00, arrives Hook of Holland at 08:00. Facilities: restaurants and bars, a cinema and shops. Sleeper Cabins: on the overnight ferry you can choose from a range of cabins, from a single inside cabin with television and ensuite bathroom to cabins for two, three, four of five people, including the Comfort Class cabins with sea view and complimentary minibar. Luggage: There’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers with bicycles pay an extra fee of £5 for adults and £2.50 for children and it costs £20 to bring your dog, which must travel in a kennel. Ferry sailing times and journey times can change so check the website for the latest times. From Scotland to Europe by Coach Travelling by coach is usually the cheapest way to travel to Europe from Scotland, but also the most lengthy.  Flixbus runs an intercity coach service from cities across Scotland, which now incorporates the Eurolines and Isilines bus companies, with services out of London Victoria. It offers destinations beyond the nearest cities in northern Europe - such as Vienna from London in 26 hours, Frankfurt in 13.5 hours and Prague in 24 hours. You can even travel as far as Bucharest - a 44-hour journey across six countries. Coaches go direct from Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh to London Victoria where you can change to its international coach services which go to many European cities, including Calais, Paris, Lille, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges. Here are a few sample journey times: Aberdeen to Paris: from 25 hours Aberdeen to Amsterdam:  from 26 hours Glasgow to Paris:  from 21 hours Glasgow to Amsterdam:  from 22 hours Edinburgh to Paris:  from 22.5 hours Edinburgh to Amsterdam:  from 22.5 hours Luggage:  You can take a hand luggage bag and medium-sized bag for the hold weighing no more than 20kg. Only folding bicycles are accepted. Facilities:  coaches are air conditioned and have free wifi, charging sockets, toilets, and on some journeys food and drink is sold onboard in addition to the refreshment stops. Alternatively, pack your own food and drink for the journey and/or make use of the stops that are made at service stations en route to stock up on supplies. National Express also runs an intercity coach service from cities across Scotland including Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh and from Inverness with Scottish Citylink services. The same luggage restrictions apply with one piece of hand luggage and one hold luggage up to 20kg. The cost varies depending on the route, time of year and so on, so check the coach operator’s website for fares. From Scotland to Europe by Train To access Europe by rail, travellers from Scotland must first travel to London before connecting to Eurostar services from London St Pancras International Railway Station. Here are a few journey times (times show the total duration of the trip, including allowing for sufficient time to walk to the Eurostar check-in from Euston or Kings Cross and for the 30/45-minute check-in time at Eurostar, based on appropriate times of connecting trains in to and out of London): Train from Edinburgh to Paris: 8 hours; Edinburgh to Amsterdam: 9.5 hours Train from Glasgow to Paris: 8.5 hours; Glasgow to Amsterdam: 10 hours Train from Aberdeen to Paris: 10.5 hours; Aberdeen to Amsterdam: 13.5 hours Trains from cities in Scotland are operated by a variety of rail companies into London - LNER runs trains from St Pancras up the east coast via Peterborough, York and Newcastle to Edinburgh, with some continuing on to Glasgow, Aberdeen or Inverness. Avanti West Coast operates trains on the other coast between Glasgow and Edinburgh via Birmingham and Manchester. These terminate at London Euston, which is a 10-minute walk from London St Pancras. Also terminating at Euston is the Caledonian Sleeper, an overnight rail service that connects London with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and beyond to some of the more remote Highland rail stations such as Aviemore. The sleeper arrives between 7-8am at Euston, and travellers should allow at least an hour and a half to get to St Pancras and adhere to the 30-minute Eurostar check-in (45 minutes at weekends). Eurostar runs direct services to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Lyon, Lille and Disneyland Paris (during the summer there’s a direct train to Avignon and Marseille and in the winter there’s an indirect ‘ Eurostar snow train ’ service vai Lille to Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-St-Maurice). You can buy through-tickets that start in Scotland and go beyond Eurostar’s destinations travelling with local operators. If you are travelling with a bike, check which routes accept bikes. The fee is around £30. Dogs are not permitted on Eurostar except guide dogs. Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . ============ Please note : The information on this page aims to give you a reasonable idea of train and ferry routes, times and tickets, in order that hopefully there’s enough detail to know what's available, how to plan an overland journey and where to book tickets. The information was up to date at time of publication, but services do change from time to time and we cannot take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies we provide. Always confirm details when you book with the relevant travel operator. If you are aware of any inaccuracies, we'd really appreciate being informed via our contact page so we can make the relevant changes to the information provided for the benefit of other travellers. Bon Voyage!

Here's my guide to those ferry services from the UK to mainland Europe that take foot passengers, how to reach the main ports by public transport, including how to transfer to the ferry check-in on departure (UK ports), and how to connect with local services on arrival for onward travel by public transport abroad. Walkway for foot passengers boarding the ferry. Photo: Richard Hammond Click on these links to go to the relevant section on this page: How to reach the main UK ferry ports by public transport Onward travel by public transport abroad See also my post on all the Map of international ferry services from the UK to Ireland and mainland Europe >> The good news is that you can travel as a foot passenger on many of the ferry services out of the UK and enjoy all the benefits of modern ferry travel – bars and restaurants, plenty of entertainment and facilities for families, comfortable overnight cabins and no bag restrictions. The ports on both sides of the crossing are well connected by public transport, so it’s easy to travel by bus or train to the ports in the UK, as well as disembark on the other side and continue the journey overland. Europe never felt so close! Check-in for foot passengers is usually at least 90 minutes before departure (though do check this at the time of booking with the operator), and it's best you travel only with luggage you can easily carry yourself. Some ports do not have lifts to access the ship and require you to walk up a ramp, an escalator or some stairs. The following services allow foot passengers: Brittany Ferries: Poole to Cherbourg; Portsmouth to Cherbourg; Portsmouth to St Malo; Portsmouth to Bilbao; Portsmouth to Santander; Plymouth to Santander; Plymouth to Roscoff; Portsmouth to Le Harve; Portsmouth to Caen. Brittany Ferries >> Stena Line: Harwich to Hook of Holland. Stena Line >> P&O Ferries: Dover to Calais; Hull to Rotterdam. Check-in time is 60 minutes before departure for foot passengers on P&O ferry services. Compare all cross channel ferries DFDS: Newhaven to Dieppe; Newcastle to Amsterdam. DFDS Seaways >> How to travel by public transport to the UK's ferry ports Here’s are the details of how to reach each of the UK's main ferry ports by public transport, including how to transfer to the ferry check-in for departure to mainland Europe. Travel to Newcastle Ferry Port by public transport Newcastle by train: Train to Newcastle Central Station from where there’s a shuttle bus (it departs from Bewick Street opposite the railway station) that takes 20–30 minutes to the port terminal that is timed to coincide with ferry departures. Newcastle by bus/coach: Coach to Newcastle coach station from where it’s a 5-minute walk to where the shuttle bus departs on Bewick Street opposite the railway station (as above). Travel to Hull Port Ferry Port by public transport By train or coach: Take either the train or coach to the Hull Paragon Interchange (home to the coach and railway station) from where there’s shuttle bus, which takes about 10-15 minutes to reach the ferry terminal building. Alternatively, there’s a taxi rank outside Hull Paragon Interchange for the 4-mile journey to the ferry terminal. Travel to Harwich Ferry Port by public transport Harwich by train: Harwich International railway station is immediately adjacent to the port, so it is a quick transfer from the train platform to the ferry check-in, and on the other side, it’s the same quick transfer off the ferry to the Hook of Holland railway station, which has train services to Rotterdam, Amsterdam and beyond. NB Stena Line sells a Rail and Sail ticket to Holland, known as the Dutchflyer , which is a combined train and ferry ticket from London Liverpool Street (or any National Express East Anglia station, such as Cambridge, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich) to Harwich International port, from where you can catch either the morning or overnight Stena Line ferry service to the Hook of Holland, and take any onward train to any station in Holland. Travel to Port of Dover by public transport Dover by train: Train to Dover Priory Station from where there is a regular shuttle bus service to Dover's ferry port terminal building, or you can take a taxi (5 minutes) or walk (15–20 minutes). Dover by bus/coach: Take a National Express bus (e.g. from London Victoria Coach Station) to the coach stop just outside Dover's ferry port terminal. If you wanted to travel onwards from Calais to Amsterdam, Bruges, Brussels or Paris you can board the coach at this stop in Dover (there is a coach ticket office next to the coach stop). Travel to Newhaven Port by public transport Newhaven by train: Train to Newhaven railway station from where it's a 3-minute walk to the ferry terminal building. Newhaven by bus/coach: There’s a local bus service from Brighton, Seaford, Peacehaven, Dover, Bexhill, Rye, Folkestone and Hastings to Newhaven bus stop, from where it’s a short walk to the ferry terminal building. Travel to Portsmouth Port by public transport Portsmouth by train: Train to Portsmouth Harbour Railway Station (it takes 85 minutes from London Waterloo and there are also services from London Victoria and Cardiff), from where it’s a 20-minute walk (or 10-minute taxi ride) to the ferry departure terminal. NB between May and September, there is a shuttle bus from Portsmouth & Southsea railway station to the ferry terminal. Portsmouth by Bus: The easiest way for foot passengers to reach the harbour is to take a National Express coach (e.g. from London Victoria), which stops right outside the ferry departure building. There are also local bus services to Portsmouth ferry terminal operated by Stagecoach (bus 20) and First Bus (buses 8, X4 and X9). Travel to Port of Poole by public transport Poole by train: Train to Poole Railway Station from where it's a 25-minute walk to Poole Ferry Terminal. Poole by bus/coach: Bus or coach to Poole Bus and Coach Station (in the Dolphin Centre) from where it’s a 25-minute walk to Poole Ferry Terminal. Taxis are available at most times from both the railway and coach stations. A shuttle bus runs between the passenger terminal and the ship for foot passengers. Travel to Plymouth Port by public transport Portsmouth by Train: There is a good rail service from major railway stations to Plymouth train station (it takes 3-4 hours from London Paddington) from where it's about a 20-minute walk to the Plymouth ferry terminal. By Bus: National Express runs coach services from London's Victoria coach station to Plymouth coach station from where it's about a 20-minute walk to the Plymouth ferry terminal. On board the Galicia ferry to northern Spain. Photo: Brittany Ferries Travelling off the ferry by public transport in Europe On arrival as a foot passenger, here's how to transfer off the ferry for onward travel on local public transport services . Onward travel by public transport in France Ferries arrive at numerous ports along the north coast, here's how to connect with local transport services, spanning from Calais in the east to Roscoff, Brittany in the far west. Public transport at Port of Calais It's about 3km (40 minute walk) from the ferry to Calais Ville railway station but there is a free shuttle bus (called 'Balad’in'), which takes you from right outside the ferry terminal to the city centre of Calais – it runs every 22 minutes in the morning and every 11 minutes in the afternoon, from 7am to 7pm. From Calais Ville there is a regular train service to Paris Gare du Nord (it takes just over 2 hours). Public transport at Dieppe, France From the ferry terminal, it's about a 25-minutes walk to Dieppe railway station or there's a shuttle bus that can take you there in about 5 minutes. From Dieppe, there's a train that goes to Paris via Rouen (journey time is just less than 3 hours). Public transport at Caen, France: Although the route is called Caen, the ferry port is at Ouistreham about 10 miles (16km) north of Caen. Thankfully, there’s an excellent shuttles bus service (Bus Verts du Calvados line 1), which is scheduled to meet ferry arrivals at the port and run to Caen’s main railway station and the city centre – the journey takes around 40 minutes. Gare de Caen (railway station) has services to many destinations throughout France, including Paris (journey time around 2 hours). Public transport at Cherbourg, France: It’s a few minutes’ walk to Cherbourg’s main railway station (follow the quayside south along the side of the harbour), a short taxi ride, or bus number 8 runs between the ferry port and the station. Gare de Cherbourg (railway station) is well connected to the French national rail network, with regular services to various local and long-distance destinations, including Paris (around 3 hours away). Public transport at St Malo, France: It is approximately 10 minutes’ walk to St Malo town centre or coach station and 25 minutes to the train station. Alternatively, it’s a short 3-minute walk to a bus stop (by the swimming pool ‘La piscine du Naye’) for a shuttle bus into town, which stops at ‘Gare Routière’ (bus station) just opposite the railway station in the modern part of St Malo, from where there are trains to the rest of France. Alternatively, there’s a taxi rank outside the ferry terminal. Public transport at Roscoff, France: The charming fishing port of Roscoff is a great entry point in France, especially if you’re travelling to Brittany, the Loire and Aquitaine. On arrival, it’s about a mile (1.6km), a 15-minute walk or short taxi ride to Roscoff railway station where there are trains to Morlaix for connections to Paris and high-speed TGVs to destinations across France. Onward travel by public transport in Spain Ferries arrive at two ports on the north coast: Bilbao or a little further west along the coast at Santander – for more information about the part of northern Spain that's known as 'Green Spain' (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country), see Green Traveller's Guide to Green Spain Public transport at Bilbao, Spain: The port of Bilbao is 10 miles (16km) north-west of Bilbao-Abando railway station, from where there are regular train services to major centres across Spain, including Madrid and Barcelona. There is no public transport direct from/to the ferry terminal, however there is a taxi rank outside the ferry terminal, or you could walk just under 2 miles (3km) to Santurtzi metro station to take the metro to Bilbao-Abando station (Santurtzi is the last stop on Line 2 and goes direct to Bilbao city centre). Public transport at Santander, Spain: In the heart of the city, Santander port is just one block along Avenida Castilla to Santander’s main railway station (a few minutes in a taxi) where there are trains running to major centres in the region and the rest of the country. Santander is the gateway to the Picos de Europa. The Pont Aven ferry to northern France. Photo: Brittany Ferries Taking a bike on a ferry as a foot passenger It's relatively easy to take a bike on a ferry as foot passenger for many of the routes out of the UK. You usually check in at the same time as other foot passengers and you then push (rather than cycle) your bike up the same vehicle ramp as that used by cars - there will be stewards on board to show you where you go with your bike and where to park and secure the bike during the crossing. Brittany Ferries and Stena Line don't charge extra for foot passengers to take a bike. Here's a handy video it has produced showing you how to board a Brittany Ferries ferry with a bike: P&O Ferries and DFDS Seaways have specific 'bike passenger' fares (for DFDS it's from £25 per person each way – see its website for details: Travel with your bike to France with DFDS ). Below is a video showing you how to board a DFDS ferry with a bike: Further Information for foot passengers There’s lots of information about ferry services from the UK on the website run by Discover Ferries – an industry body representing 13 ferry operators in the UK, Ireland and the British Islands. It includes the latest news from its members and information on changes to ferry regulations, such as those being rolled out post Brexit. It also runs campaigns, such as the Big Ferry Fortnight , usually at the end of March, which celebrates ferry travel and includes promotions, special offers and prizes. Keep en eye out on Green Traveller's social media channels @twitter @facebook for special offers during the ferry fortnight period. Travel as a foot passenger on a coach Flixbus: This international coach network is a relatively cheap and efficient way to travel by coach between the UK and continental Europe. You board the coaches in cities and then travel on the coach on the ferry for crossing the Channel or through the Eurotunnel. One of the biggest advantages of travelling by coach is that you are taken directly from city centre to city centre, so no worries about transfers, taxis or trailing luggage. Tickets from London to Paris are currently from £18 one way. For individual overland journeys to Europe, see our Flight Free Journey Planner ============ Please note : the information on this page aims to give you a reasonable idea of information for foot passengers on ferry routes in order that (hopefully) there’s enough detail to know what's available, how to plan a journey and where to book tickets. The information was up to date at time of publication, and although we will make every effort to update services provided, we cannot take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies we provide. Always confirm details when you book.

Editor's Note: please note this competition finished at 23.59 on 21 December 2020. Thanks to everyone who took part, shared our posts and their images. For those who are planning to visit Spain after lockdown in 2021 and beyond , w e wish everyone safe and happy travels. Post your favourite photo of eco adventures in Spain on social media for the chance to win a copy of Wild Swimming Spain. Here's a compilation video of eco experiences in five regions of Spain: We teamed up with Wild Things Publishing to offer a copy of this wonderful book to the winner of the best photo, which can be from anywhere in Spain - it could be a great landscape snap, seasonal food and drink, local culture and heritage, low carbon transport, low impact activities, on land or on water, local wildlife/biodiversity, or anything else that conveys sustainable travel. Keep an eye out over the next month for our #EcoSpain campaign on Twitter and Facebook featuring videos and photos about eco adventures in 5 regions: Aragón; Navarra; Castilla y León (provinces of León, Palencia and Burgos); Green Spain (Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria and Basque Country), and Catalonia. From now until 21 December 2020, the person who posts the best photo (judged by us) will receive a copy of Wild Swimming Spain (worth £15.99), written by Lola Culsán and John Weller (see their instagram page: @wildswimmingspain ). It's a fabulous book packed with ideas for outdoor swimming in the freshwater lakes and rivers of Spain: • Plunge into the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Picos de Europa’s glacial lakes • Discover the laid-back reservoir beaches of Andalucia • Explore the magical waterfall grottos of the Pyrenees • Swim in the secret pools of the Rio Tajo in Guadalajara Don't forget to tag your photos #EcoSpain . Good Luck! Here's a taste of some of the lovely images in the Wild Swimming Spain book: * Full terms and conditions

There are lots of ways to travel overland from South West England to Europe without flying. It is possible by rail, coach or ferry (in a car or as a foot passenger) or a combination of all three, from Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Taunton, Exeter, Bath, Bristol, and the rest of the west country. For instance, i n under six hours you could reach Paris from Bristol by train, or if you live on the south coast, you could reach Cherbourg in northern France by ferry in about the same time. Click on the following links to go to the relevant section on this page: By ferry By coach By train If you want to take your own car or plan to holiday in Brittany, Normandy or northern Spain without a car, there are numerous options from the various ferry ports along the south coast. You can catch a ferry with Brittany Ferries from Poole to Cherbourg and Plymouth to Roscoff or Santander, but the greatest choice of destinations is from Portsmouth, with services to Le Harve, Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo, Bilbao and Santander. Newhaven is connected to Dieppe with DFDS, but Dover has the greatest choice of sailings to France with 50 departures a day in peak season across the Channel. For Calais you can choose P&O Ferries or sail with DFDS, which also runs a route to Dunkirk. For detailed information to how to take public transport to the UK's ferry ports, see Green Traveller's Guide to travelling as a foot passenger from the UK to Europe . If you’d rather go by road or rail, coaches and trains heading to the continent both use the Channel Tunnel, so you have to factor in the time it takes to travel east to London. If you take the train, once on the other side of the tunnel, you’re then connected to the European high-speed rail network, which can whizz you to many European capitals and beyond within hours. From South West England to Europe by Ferry You can hop across the English Channel direct from two of the West Country’s major ferry ports - Plymouth and Poole. The routes to Santander, Roscoff and Cherbourg are operated by Brittany Ferries and take between 4.5 and 18.5 hours depending on the route and departure time. The fastest crossing is the day crossing from Poole to Cherbourg, in France, while the longest distance travelled is aboard the overnight ferry from Plymouth to Santander in Spain. Examples of total journey times including allowance for check-in and transfers where relevant: Exeter to Calais: 7 hours to go by car or train and then ferry from Dover Exeter to Cherbourg: 7/10 hours to go by car/train and ferry from Poole Exeter to Santander: 22.5 hours to go by car or train and then ferry from Plymouth You have an option to take the train to the ferry port in Portsmouth, which takes around 2.5 hours from Bristol or 4 hours from Exeter, for example. Departing Portsmouth gives you a wider choice of routes with Brittany Ferries, opening up Le Harve, Caen, St Malo and Bilbao by day or overnight ferry. Newhaven is the departure point for ferries to Dieppe, but it takes longer on the train - 4 hours from Bristol and 6 hours from Exeter, taking the total journey times to 9 and 11 hours respectively to Dieppe. In this case, driving to Newhaven or going by car through the Eurotunnel to Dieppe would be significantly more time efficient. If you want to travel from the West Country to Calais without flying, it’s as quick to take the train all the way via London as it is to drive to Dover and take the ferry across - both routes take from about 6.5 hours including transfers and check-in times. Here is a summary of the ferry routes from the south coast ports that are accessible from the West Country: Poole to Cherbourg with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 4.5 hours (9 hours for overnight return crossing) Timings: up to two return crossings per day in peak summer season. Leaves Poole at around 08:30 and arrives at 14:00, depending on the day and season Facilities on board: restaurant, bar, cafe, shop, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: from Cherbourg it is three hours to Paris by train but most people take a car as you can drive onto Normandy in just over an hour. Plymouth to Santander with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 18.5 hours Timings: one sailing per week departing on Sundays at 16:45, arriving in Santander at 12:15, returning Wednesdays Facilities on board: restaurants, bars, cafe, shops, pool, live entertainment, cinemas, spa, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: Brittany Ferries’ mini cruise package offers two nights on board the ship, Pont Aven on the journey out and back, plus two nights in Santander. For journeys on from Santander, the rail network works best if you want to head south, with Madrid a four-hour journey away and Leon 3.5 hours, but for east-west journeys, it’s best to travel by car or by bus with Alsa the leading coach company in the region. Plymouth to Roscoff with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 6-8 hours Timings: up to two return crossings per day in peak summer season with day and overnight options. Leaves Plymouth at around 08:00 and/or 22:00, depending on the day and season Facilities on board: restaurants, bars, cafe, shops, live entertainment, cinemas, children’s play area, pool and spa (on some crossings) Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: Roscoff is well placed for holidays in Brittany, Normandy and the Loire Newhaven to Dieppe with DFDS Journey time: 4 hours Timings: 3 daily sailings in both directions May-September (2 daily sailings at other times) Facilities on board: restaurant, bar, shop, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. F oot passengers can travel with a bicycle free of charge. Other info: you can travel by coach from Dieppe to Paris in 2.5 hours or connect to the intercity French rail network via Rouen Portsmouth to Le Harve with Brittany Ferries Journey time: day and overnight ferries take between 5.5 and 10 hours Timings: at least one daily departure, with up to two a day in the peak summer season. Departs Portsmouth 23:00 or 23:30, arrives Le Harve 8:00 or 08:30, with an extra seasonal departures - see website for details Facilities on board: small bar, self service restaurant, cinema, small shop and kids play area Sleeper Cabins: take from 2-4 people (6 berth on some ferries), including cabins suitable for a dog to travel alongside its owner Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: Le Harvre is the closest port to Paris by car. Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 6-7 hours Timings: daily departures in the peak summer season. Greatest choice of sailing times at 08:15, 14.45, 22:00 and 22:45 depending on the day and season Facilities on board: bar, restaurants, cinema, entertainment for adults and children, shops and kids play area Sleeper Cabins: take from 2-4 people and some ferries have cabins suitable for a dog to travel alongside its owner Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: from Caen you can connect to the high speed rail network in France via Le Mans or get to Paris by rail in two hours. Portsmouth to Cherbourg with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 3 hours Timings: daily departures in the peak summer season. Leaves Portsmouth at 09:00, arriving in Cherbourg at 13:00, with extra departures depending on the season Facilities on board: lounge with reclining seats, shop, cafe and bar Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: from Cherbourg it is three hours to Paris by train but most people take a car as you can drive onto Normandy in just over an hour. Portsmouth to St Malo with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 7-11 hours Timings: sailings every day during the peak summer season. Leaves Portsmouth at 20:15, arriving in Cherbourg at 08:15, with slight changes to timings depending on the season and some day crossings from St Malo Facilities on board: cinemas, cabaret and live entertainment, restaurants, bar, cafe, shopping Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: one of the boats on the route (Pont Aven) has a pool and leisure area. From St Malo you can drive to Brittany in 1.5 hours and the Dordogne in 6 hours. Otherwise by train you can get to Rennes in under an hour and Paris in three hours. Portsmouth to Bilbao with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 24-32 hours Timings: up to three return crossings each week. Leaves Portsmouth at 08:45, 12:00 or 22:30, depending on the day and season. Sundays sailings offer two nights onboard Facilities on board: restaurants, bar, cafe, shopping, pool, spa, cinema, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins including a cabin that accommodates a pet alongside its owners Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: opt for a Tuesday daytime crossing aboard the ‘no-frills’ ships, Baie de Seine or Connemara, for a more affordable crossing. Some crossings offer whale and dolphin spotting with the ‘ ORCA wildlife officers’. As with Santander, the Alsa coach service is best for onward journeys by public transport unless you are heading south by train towards Madrid. Portsmouth to Santander with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 24-32 hours Timings: two return crossings each week. Leaves Portsmouth at around 08:45 or 17:00 depending on the day and season Facilities on board: restaurants, bar, cafe, shopping, pool, spa, cinema, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins including a cabin that accommodates a pet alongside its owners Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: opt for a ‘no-frills’ ship for a more affordable crossing, which operates during peak season - check the Brittany Ferries website for details. Some crossings offer whale and dolphin spotting with the ‘ ORCA wildlife officers’. For journeys on from Santander, the rail network works best if you want to head south, with Madrid a four-hour journey away and Leon 3.5 hours, but for east-west journeys, it’s best to travel by car or by bus with Alsa the leading coach company in the region. Dover to Calais with P&O Ferries Journey time: 1.5 hours Timings: up to 2 3 daily sailings in both directions, depending on the time of year Facilities on board: food court, restaurant, cafe, bar, shop, kid’s club Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle free of charge but must book the bicycle in advance with one bicycle per booking so groups with multiple bicycles need to make separate bookings. Other info: there are four ticket types from Saver to Premier, which give you varying flexibility, wifi access and lounge access. Only passengers travelling with a car can bring their pet. Tickets provided by Direct Ferries. NB. when you book a ticket, the vehicle page is automatically populated to show a car, to change this to foot passenger select 'edit', and then from the drop down vehicle menu select 'Foot Passenger'. Select 'save' and then 'show times'. Dover to Calais with DFDS Journey time: 1.5 hours Timings: up to 30 daily sailings in both directions, depending on the time of year Facilities on board: restaurant, cafe, bar, shop, kid’s play area, free wi-fi Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage and no extra cost to bring bicycles with a vehicle Other info: DFDS does not accept foot passengers on its Dover-Calais route - only those travelling with a vehicle. A ‘ Flexi ticket’ allows you to travel up to 72 hours either side of your original booking, subject to availability. Passengers can bring their pet at a cost of £15 each way. For onwards travel, Calais is on the Intercity rail network with the option to connect to towns including Boulogne, Lille, Amiens and Arras on the TER network. Dover to Dunkirk with DFDS Journey time: 2 hours Timings: up to 24 daily sailings in both directions, depending on the time of year Facilities on board: restaurant, cafe, bar, shop, kid’s play area, free wi-fi Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage and no extra cost to bring bicycles with a vehicle Other info: DFDS does not accept foot passengers on its Dover-Dunkirk route - only those travelling with a vehicle. A ‘ Flexi ticket’ allows you to travel up to 72 hours either side of your original booking, subject to availability. Passengers can bring their pet at a cost of £15 each way. Dunkirk is well served by public transport - buses around the town are free and the train station is on the Intercity network with trains to Paris taking 2.5 hours. From South West England to Europe by Coach Although travelling by coach is typically the most economical way to get to Europe without flying, it can be a challenge from parts of the West Country due to the distances involved - from Penzance in the far west of Cornwall to London alone is an 8.5 hour journey with National Express. However, the coach network has good coverage along the north and south coasts of the West Country and journeys that begin east of Exeter are significantly faster owing to the M5 and M4 motorway connection to London. Here are a few sample journey times including a change in London: Bristol to Paris: from 13.5 hours Bristol to Amsterdam: from 15 hours Exeter to Paris: from 14.5 hours Exeter to Amsterdam: from 17 hours Penzance to Paris: from 18 hours Penzance to Amsterdam: from 21 hours National Express services terminate in London Victoria from where you can change to its international coach services which go to many European cities, including Calais, Paris, Lille, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges. Luggage: You can take a hand luggage bag and medium-sized bag for the hold weighing no more than 20kg. Only folding bicycles are accepted. Facilities: coaches are air conditioned and have wi-fi and USB charging points as well as toilets and while no refreshments are sold onboard, you can pack your own food and drink for the journey and stops are made at service stations to stock up on supplies. Another European coach operator is Flixbus, which now incorporates the Eurolines and Isilines bus companies, with services out of London Victoria. It offers more destinations than National Express and beyond - such as Vienna from London in 26 hours, Frankfurt in 13.5 hours and Prague in 24 hours. You can even travel as far as Bucharest - a 44-hour journey across six countries. The same luggage restrictions apply with one piece of hand luggage and one hold luggage up to 20kg, and bikes can be taken on the bike rack from E9 per journey. Buses have free wifi, charging sockets, toilets, and on some journeys food and drink is sold onboard in addition to the refreshment stops.  The cost varies depending on the route, time of year and so on, so check the coach operator’s website for fares. From South West England to Europe by Train To travel from the West Country to Europe by rail, you need to go via London to connect to Eurostar’s international rail network out of London St Pancras International Railway Station. Here are a few journey times (times show the total duration of the trip, including allowing for sufficient time to transfer from Paddington or Waterloo to the Eurostar check-in and for the 45-minute check-in time at Eurostar, based on appropriate times of connecting trains in to and out of London): Train from Bristol to Paris: 5.5 hours Bristol to Amsterdam: 6.5 hours Train from Exeter to Paris: 6.5 hours Exeter to Amsterdam: 8 hours Train from Penzance to Paris: 10 hours Penzance to Amsterdam: 11.5 hours The journey time from Penzance to London by train is around 5.5 hours. Despite its position on the western tip of England’s rail network, it can take longer to reach London from parts of north Devon or Somerset, because they are served by branch lines with less frequent trains. Most of the London-bound rail services that start in the West Country pass through Reading and terminate in London Paddington. However, from places such as Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth in the south of Dorset, and in the case of some Exeter services, trains terminate at London Waterloo. From Paddington or Waterloo it’s about a 20 minute journey on the London Underground to St Pancras. Eurostar runs direct services to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Lyon, Lille and Disneyland Paris (and during the summer a direct train to Avignon and Marseille and the winter there’s a direct ‘ski train’ service to Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-St-Maurice). You can buy through-tickets that start outside of London and go beyond Eurostar’s destinations travelling with local operators. If you are travelling with a bike, check which routes accept bikes. The fee is around £30. Dogs are not permitted on Eurostar except guide dogs. Train tickets provided by Trainline: ============ Please note : The information on this page aims to give you a reasonable idea of train and ferry routes, times and tickets, in order that hopefully there’s enough detail to know what's available, how to plan an overland journey and where to book tickets. The information was up to date at time of publication, but services do change from time to time and we cannot take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies we provide. Always confirm details when you book with the relevant travel operator. If you are aware of any inaccuracies, we'd really appreciate being informed via our contact page so we can make the relevant changes to the information provided for the benefit of other travellers.

There are several ways to travel to Italy from the UK without flying thanks to Eurostar's service from London connecting with a variety of high-speed train services from either Paris or Lille to northern Italy. The good news is that you can reach cities such as Turin and Milan as well as lakes Como and Garda in the north of Italy within a day from London. The following morning you can then whizz down by train to further destinations in Italy , including Rome, Florence and Naples, to the Amalfi Coast, and across by ferry to the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. Important: The Paris–Milan line has been blocked due to a landslide in the French Alps and is likely to remain so until Spring 2025. An alternative route is to go from Paris via Switzerland (changing at Geneva, Lauranne, Basel or Zurich) to Milan. If you leave on one of the early Eurostar departures from London St Pancras you can get to Milan the same day. There is also a slower route to Italy by ferry from Harwich in the East of England to Rotterdam in The Netherlands and then onward by train to Italy, or alternatively, if you live in the North of England or Scotland, you could take the ferry from Newcastle or Hull to The Netherlands an then onward by train to Italy. For detailed information to how to take public transport to the UK's ferry ports, see Green Traveller's Guide to travelling as a foot passenger from the UK to Europe . I have tried to summarise all the available options in this post based on my experience. On arrival in Italy, there are plenty of options at rail terminals for onward travel by rail and bus. It's a lovely journey by train to Italy. Photos: Eurostar and Wix Media By train from the UK to Italy Route 1: Via Paris It is possible to travel by train to Italy in a day from the UK. The fastest route is to take the Eurostar from London St Pancras International Railway Station then change in Paris to catch one of the many high speed TGV trains to Turin and Milan in northern Italy. For instance, you could catch the 10.22am Eurostar and reach Turin at 9.18pm and Milan at 10.07pm. You could also take any Eurostar to Paris and stay overnight in the French capital and then catch one of the high-speed TGV trains to Italy the following day. See our detailed guides for sample departure and arrival times and transfers in Paris: Train from London to Milan (the arrival station is 'Milan Porta Garibaldi') Train from London to Turin ('Torino Porta Susa') Train tickets provided by Trainline: Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . In Paris, you have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a half to get the connection, though you could get an earlier train and spent a bit more time in Paris, e.g. have lunch at the wonderful Train Bleu Restaurant in Gare de Lyon). At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to Torino Porta Susa station, which continues to Milan Porta Garibaldi . See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey en route (either on the outward journey and/or on the way back) and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris, there are lots of lovely places to stay in Paris conveniently near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord, Paris (where Eurostar arrives from London) Hotels near Gare de Lyon, Paris (for your departing train to Italy the following day) Return journey back from Italy to the UK via Paris As with the outward journey via Paris, you can travel back from Italy to the UK in a day by train via Paris. For instance, you could take the 6.00am train from Milan or the 7.39am from Turin to Gare de Lyon, transfer across Paris to Gare du Nord to catch the Eurostar and arrive back in London at 4.37pm. Route 2: Via Lille If you prefer not to cross Paris to change trains, then the option of simply changing trains in Lille could be for you. It requires a simply same-station change of train in Lille down to Lyon where you stay overnight (there are plenty of hotels very close to the station in Lyon - see below), and then in the morning you can take a ' Frecciarossa' high-speed train to Turin and Milan. These Frecciarossa trains are run by Trenitalia (the Italian railway operator). Hotels near the railway station in Lyon ( for your departing train to Italy the following day) Lyon is a great place to stop over en route to Italy Onwards by train through Italy from Turin and Milan There are onward trains from Turin and Milan to destinations throughout Italy. It's just a short onward journey to both Lake Como (Como San Giovanni) and Lake Garda (there are two stations on Lake Garda (it's a big lake!): Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda). In fact, both lakes can reached in the same day from London – just take the onward train from Turin or Milan –Lake Como is just 50 minutes from Milan and Lake Garda is about an hour and half from Milan. See our guides to how to travel to the following destinations, with sample schedules and transfers, all the way from London: Train from London to Rome Train from London to Florence Train from London to Naples Return journey back from Italy to the UK via Lyon and Lille As with the outward journey via Lille and Lyon, you can travel back from Italy to the UK by train via Lyon and Lille (you can actually do the return journey in one day). For instance, you could take the 6.25am train from Milan or the 7.11am from Turin to arrive in at Lyon at 11.08 then take the 11.35am train to Lille arriving at 3.48pm to catch the 4.48pm Eurostar and arrive back in London at 5pm – or if that's a bit tight (remember you'll have the 45-60min check in time for Eurostar), you could catch the 7.35pm Eurostar arriving in to London at 7.57pm. By ferry and train from the UK to Italy There are three options to go by ferry: i. From Harwich in the East of England to The Netherlands and then onward by train to Italy. The ferry service is Stenaline's integrated Rail & Sail initiative, which combines a rail ticket to Harwich with the cost of the overnight ferry over to Hoek van Holland (Rotterdam). The joy of this trip is that as well as the excellent on board facilities on the ferry (including restaurants and cabins) it's just a short walk from Harwich railway station on to the ferry, and also on arrival off the ferry at Hoek van Holland to the departing train. On arrival at Hoek van Holland you can take the train to Amsterdam and then onwards to Munich (arriving in the early evening) and then catch any number of trains to Italy, including an overnight sleeper train to Venice (from where you can take trains to Florence, Rome and Naples). ii. From Hull to The Netherlands and then onward by train to Italy. P&O operates an overnight cruise ferry from Hull to Hoek van Holland (Rotterdam) from where you can take the train via Amsterdam and the sleeper from Munich to Venice (see above). Tickets provided by P&O ferries: iii. From Newcastle to The Netherlands and then onward by train to Italy. DFDS Seaways run an overnight cruise ferry from Newcastle to IJmuiden (Amsterdam) from where you can take the train to Munich and then the sleeper to Venice (see above). Tickets provided by DFDS Seaways: The slow route to Europe, by overnight ferry from Harwich, Hull or Newcastle to The Netherlands ============ Please note : The information on this page aims to give you a reasonable idea of train and ferry routes, times and tickets, in order that hopefully there’s enough detail to know what's available, how to plan a journey and where to book tickets. The information was up to date at time of publication, but services do change from time to time and we cannot take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies we provide. Always confirm details when you book with the relevant travel operator. If you are aware of any inaccuracies, we'd really appreciate being informed via our contact page so we can make the relevant changes to the information provided for the benefit of other travellers.

There are lots of ways to travel overland to France from the UK without flying thanks to a variety of train , coach , car ferry and foot passenger ferry services from southern England. Our team has tried and tested many of them and so we have tried to summarise all the available options in this post based on our experience. The good news is that if you're travelling on foot, then on arrival at many of the ports and railway stations in France, there are plenty of options for onward travel by rail and bus throughout France . Furthermore, it's fast becoming feasible to take an electric car to France - the infrastructure is improving all the time with charging networks being rolled out at terminals and there's currently a huge expansion of charging facilities throughout France. Less Carbon, More Fun! Photos: Eurostar, Brittany Ferries and Wix Media By train from the UK to France It is easy to travel by train to France in a day from the UK. The fastest route is to take the Eurostar from London St Pancras International Railway Station to either Lille Europe (1 hour 22 mins) or to Gare du Nord in the French capital Paris (2 hours 16 mins). Both these stations are hubs to onward travel throughout France. In Lille, all the trains leave from the same station you arrived at from London, while in Paris, although some onward trains leave from Gare du Nord (mostly Thalys trains for Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands ), most trains for destinations in France leave from five other stations dotted throughout the capital: Gare de l'Est (which is just a few minutes walk from Gare du Nord), Gare de Lyon, Gare d’Austerlitz, Gare Montparnasse, Gare de Bercy, and Gare Saint Lazare . For instance, if you want to travel down to Nice, you have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line. If you're not used to Paris, transferring train stations may seem daunting but in practice the connections are pretty seamless –s ee our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. For more information about train travel to specific places in France, see our step-by-step guides for how to travel from London to the following: How to travel by train from London to Lille How to travel by train from London to Paris How to travel by train from London to Nantes How to travel by train from London to Valence How to travel by train from London to Avignon How to travel by train from London to Marseille How to travel by train from London to Bordeaux How to travel by train from London to Bayonne How to travel by train from London to Toulouse How to travel by train from London to Nice How to travel by train (and ferry) from London to Corsica How to travel by train by Ski Train to the French Alps How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . Stopover hotels to break the journey in Lille or Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Lille or Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay conveniently near the Eurostar arrival station in Lille Europe (Lille) and Gare du Nord (Paris). Hotels near Lille Europe: Hotels near Gare du Nord: By Coach from the UK to France The major coach operators from the UK to France are Flixbus, which runs coach trips from Manchester, Birmingham and London to multiple cities in France, and National Express, which runs a service from London to Paris (nationalexpress.com); if you’re travelling from outside London, you can travel to London to connect with the international service. National Express also runs coaches from most major cities in the UK. Luggage allowance is one medium sized suitcase and one piece of hand luggage per person. As with coaches operating in the UK, there’s free Wi-Fi, charging sockets, and onboard toilets. You can also book Flixbus and National Express tickets through Omio (omio.co.uk), which also sells tickets for Eurolines, which works with 29 coach companies throughout Europe (eurolines.de). Foot Passenger Ferry Services from the UK to France The modernisation of ferry services has revolutionised the experience of travelling across the English Channel. Especially for longer overnight crossings to the continent where you can travel in style on spacious ships, enjoy fine dining in la carte restaurants, spa treatment rooms, and comfortable en suite cabins, so on arrival you feel refreshed for the onward journey. There are also plenty of facilities to keep children entertained during the crossing, including soft play areas, games rooms, live entertainment and cinema. Europe has never felt closer. There are several operators that run ferries from southern England to northern France that cater for foot passengers. The ports on both sides of the crossing are well connected by public transport, so it’s easy to travel by bus or train to the ports in the UK, as well as disembark on the other side and continue the journey overland. One of the easiest crossings on foot is to go from Newhaven to Dieppe because there's such an easy transfer from the railway station in Newhaven on to the ferry. On arrival in Dieppe, you can either walk about 25 minutes to the railway station or there's a shuttle bus that can take you there. If you prefer to travel from elsewhere on the south coast of England, there are departures from Dover, Poole, Portsmouth and Plymouth with a variety of operators. For detailed information to how to take public transport to the UK's ferry ports, see Green Traveller's Guide to travelling as a foot passenger from the UK to Europe . The main ferry services from the south of England to northern France are as follows: Dover Dover to Calais: 5 sailings per day (for foot passengers) with P&O Ferries NB. although there are also sailings from Dover to Calais with DFDS Seaways (10 sailings per day), and Irish Ferries (4 sailings per day) they do not allow foot passengers. NB. There is also a ferry from Dover to Dunkirk (12 sailings per day with DFDS Seaways) but it is not available for foot passengers. Tickets provided by P&O Ferries. NB. when you book a ticket, the vehicle page is automatically populated to show a car, to change this to foot passenger select 'edit', and then from the drop down vehicle menu select 'Foot Passenger'. Select 'save' and then 'show times'. Newhaven to Dieppe 21 crossings per week with DFDS Seaways Portsmouth to Caen, Cherbourg or St Malo Portsmouth to Caen: 3 sailings per day with Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to Cherbourg: 1 per week with Brittany Ferries Portsmouth to St Malo: 1 per day with Brittany Ferries Ferry tickets provided by Brittany Ferries ( NB. To book as a foot passenger , choose the ' on foot' option from the vehicle selection drop-down selection on step 1 of the ferry booking process) : Poole to Cherbourg 1 sailing per day with Brittany Ferries Ferry tickets provided by Brittany Ferries ( NB. To book as a foot passenger , choose the ' on foot' option from the vehicle selection drop-down selection on step 1 of the ferry booking process) : Plymouth to Roscoff 1 sailing per day with Brittany Ferries Ferry tickets provided by Brittany Ferries ( NB. To book as a foot passenger , choose the ' on foot' option from the vehicle selection drop-down selection on step 1 of the ferry booking process) : Onward journeys by public transport from France's ferry ports When you disembark from the ferry there are plenty of local public transport services for onward travel. For step-by-step instructions for how to transfer from the ferry on to local services at all the major arrival ports in France, see our Guide to travelling as a foot passenger from the UK to Europe . By car from the UK to France Cars can be taken on all the major ferry routes described in the foot passenger section above, as well as the Dover to Calais route run by DFDS and Irish Ferries (neither take foot passengers on this route) and on the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, which takes just 35 minutes from Folkestone to Calais (there are up to four departures an hour at peak times). Tickets for LeShuttle (Eurotunnel) provided by Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different times through the tunnel. Driving electric cars from the UK to France You can also take an electric car on the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle - there are rapid chargers for universal electric and hybrid cars, as well as dedicated Tesla chargers, at both terminals so you can recharge before you head through the tunnel on either side. Electric car hire: There has been a huge increase in the production of electric cars in recent years and many of the large car rental companies, such as Enterprise, Avis, Europcar, and SIXT now hire electric cars in France, see: Enterprise: https://www.enterprise.co.uk/en/car-hire/vehicles/fr/cars/electric.html Avis: https://www.avis.co.uk/drive-avis/fleet/prestige/uk/Electric Europcar: https://www.europcar.co.uk/en-gb/p/car-rental/fleet/type/electric SIXT: https://www.sixt.com/magazine/fleet/electric-cars-pros-and-cons Do make sure you hire a car that has the appropriate mileage per battery that’s relevant for your use. Public charging networks provide a mixture of slow, fast and rapid charging points operated by either a national or regional network, so do check the location of the charging points as well as the charging time and payment methods. The car hire company may be able to advise on this when you hire the car – some may have arrangements with energy partners and can provide you with a charge card that you can use at a number of locations in France. Charging electric vehicles in France: Electric vehicle (EV) charging networks are expanding very quickly across France. As in the UK there are different companies providing chargers, but the market is much more fragmented on the continent – if you think it’s complicated in the UK, in France and across Europe there is a bewildering number of providers. In most cases, you need to log in using a network RFID card, a key fob or an app, some of which need to be pre-loaded with funds. Chargers that accept a contactless debit or credit card are still not widespread. Thankfully, there are aggregators who can provide an RFID card that works on several different networks, reducing the number of cards or apps you need to obtain. As in the UK, there are chargers at many motorway service areas and are also generally found where cars are likely to be parked for a while, such as supermarkets, shopping centre car parks, hotels and tourist attractions. The Automobile Association has a handy guide to recharging in Europe, including the latest information on the charging networks in France and breakdown cover for electric vehicles in Europe. The situation is changing rapidly, so it’s always worth checking the AA’s website again just before you embark on a journey in Europe. Also, keep an eye on the website zap-map.com for the latest news about electric vehicles and the expansion of charging networks throughout the continent. ============ Please note : The information on this page aims to give you a reasonable idea of train and ferry routes, times and tickets, in order that hopefully there’s enough detail to know what's available, how to plan an overland journey and where to book tickets. The information was up to date at time of publication, but services do change from time to time and we cannot take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies we provide. Always confirm details when you book with the relevant travel operator. If you are aware of any inaccuracies, we'd really appreciate being informed via our contact page so we can make the relevant changes to the information provided for the benefit of other travellers. Bon Voyage!

There are many ways to travel to Spain from the UK without flying thanks to a variety of train and ferry services from the south of England. On arrival in Spain, there are plenty of options at rail and ferry terminals for onward travel by rail and bus. Spain has one of the most comprehensive high speed networks in the world, so it's easy to travel quickly by train to the major cities. For detailed information to how to take public transport to the UK's ferry ports, see Green Traveller's Guide to travelling as a foot passenger from the UK to Europe . Photos: Eurostar and Brittany Ferries By Ferry from the UK to Northern Spain Brittany Ferries runs overnight ferry services for foot passengers (and cycle bikes) across the Bay of Biscay from Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander (it also runs a service from Portsmouth to Bilbao though it is not for foot passengers). These luxurious ferries are like going on a mini-cruise, the dining is first-class, there are lots of facilities to keep the kids happy, extremely comfortable sleeping cabins. And you may see whales and dolphin on the crossing - the Bay of Biscay is one of the best places in Europe to spot these magnificent marine animals. ==== See our Guide to How to travel by public transport to the UK's ferry ports  in our section on Travelling as foot passenger from the UK to Europe ==== The stunning beaches along the coastline from Santander. Photo: Christopher Willan Route: Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander Journey Time: 20-24 hours (can vary by up to an hour due to tidal conditions) Sample timetable: Departs Portsmouth 5pm, arrives Santander the following day at 5.30pm. Departs Plymouth 3.45pm, arrive Santander the following day at 1.15pm. Frequency of Departures: Portsmouth-Santander 2 per week (journey time is 24 hours); Plymouth-Santander 1 per week (this is the fastest service - takes 20 hours) Car hire at Santander: Yes Route: Portsmouth to Bilbao ( not for foot passengers ) Journey Time: 33 hours 30 minutes ( it's a two-night crossing ) Sample timetable: Departs Portsmouth at 9.30pm on Sunday and 7.30pm on Thursday for 2-night crossings arriving at 8am on Tuesday or Saturday morning. Frequency of Departures: Portsmouth-Bilbao 2 sailings each way per week (journey time is 24 hours) Car hire at Bilbao: Yes Ferry tickets provided by Brittany Ferries (NB. To book as a foot passenger , choose the ' on foot' option from the vehicle selection drop-down selection on step 1 of the ferry booking process): On arrival at Santander ferry terminal The ferry terminal lies just one block along Avenida Castilla to Santander's main train station - if you have too much to carry, it's just a minute in a taxi. Santander's train station is well connected to the Spanish rail network, with trains running to major centres in the region and the rest of the country. Santander is the capital of Spain's verdant Cantabria region (part of the wider 'Green Spain' region, along with the Basque Country, Asturias and Galicia), with rugged mountain ranges and a beautiful stretch of coastline including the stunning Picos de Europa mountains. On arrival at Bilbao ferry terminal The port of Bilbao is 10 miles (16km) north-west of Bilbao-Abando railway station, from where there are regular train services to major centres across Spain, including Madrid and Barcelona. There is no public transport direct from/to the ferry terminal, however there is a taxi rank outside the ferry terminal, or you could walk just under 2 miles (3km) to Santurtzi metro station to take the metro to Bilbao-Abando station (Santurtzi is the last stop on Line 2 and goes direct to Bilbao city centre). For ideas of where to stay, great locally run restaurants, heritage attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Green Spain . Here's a video we produced about a trip Green Traveller made to Green Spain: Video produced by Green Traveller Productions By Ferry from mainland Spain to the Balearic Islands There are plenty of ferry services that travel out to the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The main hub for Mallorca and Menorca is Barcelona, though there are also ferries (in addition to Barcelona) for Ibiza and Formentera that depart from Valencia (3–4 hours by train from Barcelona), Denia (6–7 hours by train from Barcelona). The ferry port in Barcelona is about 2.5 miles (4k) from Barcelona Sants railway station, about 10-12 minutes in a taxi, but you can get there easily by metro in about 15 minutes, taking the L3 (green) line from the metro station at the station (known as 'Sants Estació') to Drassanes from where it's a couple of minutes walk to the ferry's check-in desk. Ferry tickets provided by Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports in Spain to the Balearics. Barcelona to Mallorca and Menorca There are two ferry operators (Balearia and TransMed) that run an overnight ferry from Barcelona to Palma (Mallorca), which takes 8-9 hours, typically leaving around 10–11pm and arriving about 6am, and from Barcelona to Ciutadella  (Menorca) , which typically leaves at around 9.30pm and arrives 6.30am (though do check these timings with the operator) . Balearia also operates a daytime fast ferry (3 hrs 30 mins) from Barcelona to Alcudia in the northerwest of Mallorca, which also stops at Menorca en route; typically it leaves at 4.30pm and arrives in to Alcudia at 8pm. Barcelona, Valencia, Denia to Ibiza and Formentera There are two ferry operators (Baleria and TransMed) that run an overnight ferry from Barcelona , which takes 8-9 hours, typically leaving around 10pm and arriving about 6am (though do check the latest timings with the operator); the ferry from Valencia takes about 5 hours; and the ferry from Denia takes just 2-3 hours. It 's just 30-minutes by interisland ferry from Ibiza to Formentera (the interisland ferry also runs between Mallorca, Mallorca and Ibiza), but there are also direct ferries from the mainland to Formentera, see our guide to: How to travel overland from the UK to Formentera, Spain By ferry from mainland Spain to the Canary Islands There are two ferry routes from mainland Spain to the Canary Islands, from Huelva (near Seville) operated by Baleria, and from Cadiz, operated by Armas Trasmediterránea. The ferries from Huelva run to the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (which takes about 40 hours) and stop at the Port of La Luz in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria en route, while the ferries from Cadiz run to most of the main islands, including Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Palma, Lanzarote and Tenerife, taking 28–35 hours. Ferry tickets provided by Direct Ferries, which allows you to search and compare prices for the different operators and routes from the mainland ports in Spain to the Canary Islands. By train from the UK to Spain It is possible to travel by train to Spain in a day from the UK. The quickest way is to go by Eurostar to Paris and then travel on one of the direct services from Paris to the border town of Hendaye (France), which borders will Irun in the Basque Region of Green Spain – the quickest you can do that journey from Paris is 4 hours 53 minutes. For instance, you could take the Eurostar departing London St Pancras at 08.01, arrive Gare du Nord at 11.24, then transfer across Paris to Gare Montparnasse ( see our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris ) to catch the 12.33pm train to Hendaye arriving 4.47pm. From Hendaye, you can take the train across to San Sebastian in just 30 minutes. There are also multiple other connections between France and other areas in Spain, such as between cities such as Lyon and Marseille to Barcelona. From the UK, the fastest route to Barcelona is to take the Eurostar from London St Pancras International Railway Station then change in Paris to catch the high speed train to Figueres, Girona and Barcelona. From Barcelona there are trains throughout Spain, including to Madrid and south to destinations such as Cordoba, Seville and Malaga . En route to Spain, you have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a half to get the connection, though you could get an earlier train and spent a bit more time in Paris, e.g. have lunch at the wonderful Train Bleu Restaurant in Gare de Lyon). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a TGV high speed train to 'Barcelona Sants' station. For more detailed information about the journey and arriving in Barcelona, see our guide to How to travel by train from London to Barcelona Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through (and catch the day time train the following day down to Barcelona), there are lots of lovely places to stay in Paris conveniently near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord >> Hotels near Gare de Lyon >> For details of travel to Ibiza from Barcelona, see our step-by-step guide: Train and ferry from London to Ibiza, Spain ============ Please note : The information on this page aims to give you a reasonable idea of train and ferry routes, times and tickets, in order that hopefully there’s enough detail to know what's available, how to plan an overland journey and where to book tickets. The information was up to date at time of publication, but services do change from time to time and we cannot take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies we provide. Always confirm details when you book with the relevant travel operator. If you are aware of any inaccuracies, we'd really appreciate being informed via our contact page so we can make the relevant changes to the information provided for the benefit of other travellers. * Data for carbon emissions

If you’re looking for a quick win to reduce the carbon footprint of your ski holiday this winter, the good news is that it’s possible to reach many European ski areas by train instead of plane. Daniel Elkan and Katie Bamber provide the low down on the low-carbon route to the slopes. The low carbon route to the slopes. Photo: Swiss Tourism While Eurostar may no longer be running its direct ski train to Bourg St Maurice for access to the popular Tarentaise valley resorts, in its place is an indirect service that involves simply a platform change at Lille Europe. And plenty more ski resorts can be accessed by taking regular scheduled crosschannel services and changing in Paris for high-speed TGV connections. Or, after travelling to Brussels or Paris, you can board a NightJet sleeper train bound for destinations in Austria. Some resorts in France and Italy can be accessed by sleeper-trains too, with more overnight services planned over the coming years. If you travel to the Alps on the Friday overnight (and back on the Saturday night), you can fit in two extra days’ skiing on the relatively quieter Saturday changeover days without having to pay for the extra nights’ accommodation. When you arrive on the Saturday morning, once you’ve wiped the sleep from your eyes, you can hit the slopes before lunch; and on the final Saturday, the departing train isn’t until the evening so you can fit in a full days’ skiing. With a generous baggage allowance and free ski carriage, the train is a great lowcarbon way to travel to the slopes. Click to view a PDF of the full rail-ski map And then there’s the scenery. You’ll be swapping airport queues and baggage reclaim for café bar carriages and comfortable seats to enjoy views of the countryside and mountain vistas – it’s a surefire way to make the journey part of the holiday. Eurostar's Snow Train from Lille to the French Alps. Photo: Eurostar Five resorts reachable by train in Europe ANZÈRE, SWITZERLAND The French-speaking Swiss canton of Valais is frequently bathed in sunshine and has panoramic views, ranging from the Mont Blanc massif to the Bietschhorn. Here, you’ll find the south-facing Anzère, a relatively modern mountain-village with a family-friendly feel. There are 13 ski lifts giving access to 58km of pistes, which stay uncrowded and peaceful. STAY: A clever pellet-fired heating system heats 80% of Anzere’s accommodation, including the three-star apart-hotel Hotel Eden ( edenresort.ch ). This friendly property gets five-star reviews and has its own Escape Room activity to try, too. EAT La Boîte à Fromage ( restaurantlaposte.ch/ le-boite-a-fromage) is a cave-like restaurant serving Swiss-cheese specialities produced by herds that graze the local slopes. The cheeses for the fondues, for example, are from cows on the Serin mountain pasture and Ayent dairy, and it’s all accompanied by Valais wines. DO: With the famous panorama of Anzère as a backdrop, use axes to climb the unpredictable face of the icefall in the resort’s Icepark. There’s expert guidance from experienced climbers and 12 different routes to try. GET THERE BY TRAIN: Depart London St Pancras on Saturday on the 09:31 Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord. Change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 14:18 TGV, changing at Lausanne to arrive at Sion at 19:24. From there it’s 20 minutes by bus or taxi. Family board TER near Chamonix. Photo: Daniel Elkan LES GETS, FRANCE Les Gets is a family favourite resort that shares a lift pass with neighbouring Morzine, both part of the vast 650km Portes du Soleil ski area that straddles the French-Swiss border. Loved for its wide, cruisey pistes, Les Gets has slopes for every skier and big mountain views all round. The village is pretty with a pleasant mix of restaurants and bars. The resort has a new illuminated night walk, Alta Lumina ( Altalumina.com ), that takes you on an immersive adventure through the forest. STAY Cosy Hotel Marmotte (hotel-marmotte. com) at the foot of the slopes has an Edelweiss label, awarded for exemplary management of energy, water, waste and noise. EAT Restaurant La Piste Noire (restaurantlapistenoire. com) has reinvented itself by moving from French classic bistro food to 100% vegetarian cuisine, with dishes such as butternut ravioli and homemade lemon linguini. DO In the company of their Nordic dogs, Justine and Didier organise excursions suitable for anyone keen to be at one with both nature and canine company ( lapattenordic.fr ). GET THERE BY TRAIN Depart London St Pancras on the 09.31 Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord; change to Paris Gare de Lyon and take the 12.14 TGV to Bellegarde, then the 17.15 TER train to Cluses, arriving at 18.52. From there it’s 40 minutes by bus or taxi. Making the journey part of the holiday en route to the slopes. Photo: Eurostar LA PLAGNE, FRANCE Made up of no less than 11 villages, La Plagne is a resort with huge appeal. The ski area is shared with neighbouring Les Arcs and Peisey- Vallandry, giving 425km of slopes to explore, where even beginners can enjoy gentlebut- high-altitude blue runs. For advanced powder hounds, there’s excellent off-piste tree skiing, too. Sustainable initiatives include a partnership between recycling centre Antropia and up-cycled clothing specialists One Tree, repurposing winter jackets previously used by mountain professionals for skiers to use again ( onetreeatatime.fr ). STAY Residence W2050 (w2050-belleplagne. com) in Belle Plagne is a new high-end accommodation renovated from a former hotel, using locally sourced materials with a focus on insulation to minimise heat loss. EAT Created by brother and sister Damien and Soizic, Joya in La Plagne Centre (joyalaplagne. com) specialises in sourcing products from as close to home as possible, including Tomme, Beaufort and Raclette cheese created on the slopes of neighbouring Peisey-Vallandry and honey from Aime la Plagne beekeeper Hugo Pellicier DO At La Plagne’s Olympic bobsleigh track, holidaymakers can try piloting a bobsleigh. This thrilling experience lasts a full day and includes instruction from French former bobsleigh champions. GET THERE BY TRAIN Depart London St Pancras at 09:01 on the new Eurostar Snow service, changing at Lille Europe to arrive at Aime la Plagne at 17:58. From there the transfer takes 20-40 minutes by bus or taxi. Les Menuires, France. Photo: les3vallees/David Andre LES MENUIRES, FRANCE Celebrating its 60th anniversary this winter, Les Menuires boasts high-altitude ski-in/ski-out accommodation and a convenient starting point for exploring the 600km Three Valleys ski area. With 85% of local slopes above 1,800 metres, it’s a snowsure bet and has gained a reputation as an affordable resort. The entire snow grooming fleet now runs on HVO synthetic fuel – gleaned from 100% renewable sources, it’s palm-oil free and is manufactured from waste fats and used vegetable oils. STAY Stylish hostel Ho36 ( ho36.com ), in Les Menuires, has ski-in/ski-out access and is well rated for its eco-friendly approach to mountain accommodation. EAT La Trantsa in neighbouring Saint Martin de Belleville serves home-produced tomme and ricotta cheeses from its farm. DO Freedive in the 1ºC water under the ice of Lac du Lou (you can even do it at night by headtorch), then head inside the mountain refuge for a warming dinner. GET THERE BY TRAIN Depart London St Pancras at 09.01 on the new Eurostar Snow service, changing at Lille Europe to arrive at Moutiers at 17.30. From there it’s 25 minutes by bus or taxi. ALPBACH, AUSTRIA Some years ago, postcard-pretty Alpbach was voted the most beautiful village in Austria in a TV poll. Arrive here and it’s obvious why: charming, rustic, wooden chalets line the streets, and the effect is stunning. There’s a laid-back vibe with wintersports aficionados loyal to an authentic village that has never forgotten its farming roots. The sizeable 145km of ski terrain is ideal for intermediates looking for fun on the mountain fuelled by hearty lunches. In the evenings, the town has some cute, friendly bars and plenty of Tyrolean eateries. STAY Alpbach has 12 eco-certified places to stay. One of these is the four-star Superior Hotel Der Böglerhof ( boeglerhof.at ), whose outdoor pool has magnificent mountainside views and an infrared cabin, Finnish sauna, bio sauna and steam bath. EAT Hotel Post ( post-alpbach.at ) has a menu that focusses on fresh products from the region, including butter, eggs, cheese and bread, in recipes that have been loved and eaten in Alpbach for generations, and now given an innovative twist. DO Alpbach has several tantalising toboggan runs. The longest leads from the Reither Kogel via the Panorama Trail to Reith im Alpbachtal, a distance of 6.9km. GET THERE BY TRAIN Take the 15.04 Eurostar to Brussels- Midi, arriving 18.05, then the 18.25 ICE to Cologne, arriving 20.15. Then take the 21:45 Nightjet sleeper train to Jenbach arriving 08:53. From there it’s 20 minutes by bus or taxi. ===== For more information on taking the train to the slopes, see snowcarbon.co.uk

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Lausanne, Switzerland. Lausanne's famous wooden bridge. Photo: Greentraveller It is possible to travel by train from London to Lausanne in about 8.5 hours if you take the Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris Gare du Nord then change to Paris Gare de Lyon and catch the train to Lausanne. Lausanne is the fourth largest city in Switzerland, famous for its location on Lake Geneva and for being the home of the International Olympic Committee's headquarters. Train routes from London connecting with TGV Lyria rail services in Switzerland: Map courtesy of Eurostar Flight-free travel from London to Lausanne: Journey Time: about 8.5 hours Sample timetable: Depart London 7.12am, arrive Lausanne 3.40pm Changes: 1 Transfer: Paris Gare du Nord to Paris Gare de Lyon Frequency of Departures: 5/day Carbon emissions: 4.51 kg (flight would be 117.81kg)* Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? You have to change stations in Paris from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, which can take about half an hour on the Paris RER line (it's only two stops, though we recommend you leave at least 50 minutes for the entire transfer - you have about an hour and a quarter to get the connection). See our guide to How to transfer between train stations across Paris . At Gare de Lyon, you board a Lyria high speed train to Lausanne station. Stopover hotels to break the journey in Paris If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Paris while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near both Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyon. Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently near these stations: Hotels near Gare du Nord Hotels near Gare de Lyon Miss your connection in Paris? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection between high speed trains because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed Lyria train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. Whenever you’re connecting, always remember to validate your onward train ticket at the machine on the platform before departing (these are often coloured yellow). For more overland routes to Switzerland, see our Flight-Free Train/Ferry Journey Planner On arrival at Lausanne station There are lots of hotels near to to Lausanne train station, see below: Hotels near Lausanne station Gute Reise! * Data for carbon emissions

As part of our series of Green Traveller's Guides to European cities, here we focus on Avignon, the gateway to Provence in the South of France. Ancient cobbles, gothic church spires, arched bridges sweeping over the Rhône, medieval ramparts (still intact) encircling the old city: it’s easy to see why people flock to Avignon. But alongside all this historical splendour – of the Palace of the Popes and the Place d l’Horloge – Avignon is a modern, living, breathing city, with a vibrant theatre scene (the city is transformed during July’s annual Theatre Festival), an extraordinary gastronomic legacy, and a relaxed pace of life befitting a city which basks in sunshine 300 days a year. Quietly respectful of its historical past, Avignon is also making great efforts to plant itself firmly on the environmentally-conscious map, catapulting this UNESCO world heritage site into a new, greener era. The city’s eco-conscious attitude has even influenced the city’s main annual attraction, the Avignon Theatre Festival: ‘Acting for the Environment’ is an environmentally-aware campaign designed to minimise the festival’s impact by reducing energy consumption and waste, providing electric shuttle services, and promoting responsible tourism. This guide aims to highlight some of the city's greenest places to stay in Avignon, including a fabulous hotel with cookery school and Michelin-starred chef, a lively hostel serving great regional wines in the downstairs bar, and a welcoming B&B, just a stone's throw from the train station. We've also included some recommendations for places to eat, from laid-back cafés where you can curl up with a book and a cuppa and a generous slab of cake on the side, to a bright and fun restaurant specialising in cheese: try the goat’s cheese herb gratin for starter, or the roasted duck with Manchego sauce for afters. There are also some fabulous wine cellars to explore. Plus we've included a sprinkling of local attractions in Avignon, from markets housed in the famous Les Halles where you can pick up wonderful local produce, to fascinating museums and lovely green spaces. We've also selected a handful of activities in Avignon such as walking tours, wine tasting, and festivals and events. Practicalities Getting to Avignon: See our guide to How to travel by train from London to Avignon (year round) and How to travel by direct train (summer only) to Avignon Getting around Avignon by public transport Avignon is a relatively small city so it’s easy to get around. If you arrive at the SNCF Avignon Centre station on Boulevard Saint-Roch, which is just outside the city’s medieval walls, so you can walk in just a few minutes from the train’s arrival platform right into the heart of the city. If you’re travelling down on the high-speed TGV from Paris or Lille, you’ll arrive at the TGV Avignon station, which is a few miles out of town, but there is a shuttle bus that takes about 15 minutes to get into the Avignon town centre and costs just a couple of Euros. The main bus station is a few minutes walk from Avignon Centre station and has about 60 services that link with the surrounding towns. You can also pick up a bike from one of 17 of the city’s self-service bike hire scheme ‘Vélopop’ - they're free for the first half hour, then it costs a Euro for every hour. You can also hire bikes at Provence Bikes (website is in French only) on Boulevard St Roch (tel. +33 (0) 490 279 261) or Day Tour . You can also pre-order to pick up bikes at the TGV Avignon station (3km outside of the town) from Holiday Bikes (tel +33 0810 808 609). Onward Travel: Avignon is the gateway to Provence: from Avignon TGV station, high speed trains run south to Aix en Provence, Marseille, Toulon, St Raphael (for St Tropez), Cannes, Antibes, Monaco-Monte Carlo, and Nice. Where to eat in Avignon 100% organic, 100% homemade, 100% chic, Theias is part restaurant part deli part tea rooms and is worth a visit at any time of day: stop by for morning brunch, a refreshing afternoon cup of tea (there are 30 different types to chose from) and a slab of cake, or enjoy a more serious gastronomic experience after dark. The owners are utterly committed to respecting the environment by using only the highest quality, freshest natural ingredients and products whilst providing a relaxed, stylish atmosphere to enjoy it all in. Curl up with a book in an armchair or people watch from the terrace. It’s centrally located, too – just opposite Les Halles. Le Vache a Carreaux - as the cow in the name would imply - is a small, characterful restaurant has a menu dedicated to cheese. Hidden in a cellar down a cobbled backstreet it’s not an obvious address, but it’s close to the centre of everything, and inside it’s bright and fun, with attentive staff and a lively atmosphere at all times of the day. Try the goat’s cheese herb gratin for starter, or the roasted duck with Manchego sauce for afters. The staff are understandably proud of their impressive 300-strong wine list and are happy to recommend and talk through some options with you. Eating at Planetalis won’t play on your environmental conscience – a contribution from each purchase goes towards organisations helping to protect the environment. With the motto “Experience the original taste”, it’s no surprise that everything at this restaurant is organic and sustainably sourced from local growers – from ingredients to decor. Food is tasty, uncomplicated and good value – try the Planetalis burger with crispy pancetta, Fontina cheese and truffle aioli, or a classic Caesar salad. The atmosphere is unfussy and the décor is as simple as the food: green walls and neat tables and chairs on wooden floors give a fresh, easy feel to the place. Burgers aside, eating here could be one of the healthiest choices you could make during your stay in Avignon! Le Grande Café - you can’t beat the location, at the foot of one of the towers of the Palais des Papes. The restaurant’s former life as a warehouse life has been gently disguised – and to great effect. Huge mirrors hang on exposed brickwork, big open spaces are broken up with low-hanging lights. Come for simple, Provencal-inspired food, with hints of the Mediterranean. A popular choice with sightseers and locals alike, buzzing at all times of the day. Things to do to in Avignon OK, so the 1970s building of Les Halles isn’t the most romantic market venue in Provence, but that matters little – here it’s most definitely all about the food. And there’s plenty of it. Around 40 producers and suppliers set up stall every day, showcasing the best of local, seasonal food and drink – cheese, olives, wine, organic breads, tapenades, meats and seafood, the list is endless. Catch cookery demonstrations from leading local chefs, enjoy a spot of wine-tasting any day of the week, or sample tasty morsels and soak up the atmosphere. A lively place, not to be missed. For a slice of museum culture, head to the Museum Angladon, a beautiful townhouse which is home to a collection of works by some major artists from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, including Van Gogh, Picasso and Cezanne. Both the collection and the house were donated to the public by the owners, Jean and Paulette Angladon-Dubrujeaud, who inherited the collection from Jacques Doucet (1853-1929), the well known collector and supporter of the arts. It’s a small, intimate setting, with some interesting sketches that give you a real insight into the lives of the artists. Stock up on local goodies from the markets and head to one of the city’s loveliest green spaces: Ile de Barthelasse is Avignon’s ‘green lung’, a little piece of Provence countryside just a stone’s throw from the busy city centre. Jump on a boat (free) which ferries people to the island (5 mins) – it’s the perfect place to while away an afternoon with a blanket and picnic hamper. If you’re feeling energetic follow the towpath along the banks of the island for some spectacular views of the Palace of the Popes and the Pont Saint-Benezet (of Sur le Pont, d’Avignon fame), explore the myriad pathways that crisscross the island by bike, or go horse riding and soak it all up from the saddle. Visiting a venue dedicated to celebrating the humble vegetable might not seem an obvious thing to do when visiting an historical city, but Epicurium – Europe’s first fruit and vegetable museum – is a fascinating, educational and fun way to spend an afternoon. There are impressive vegetable gardens, nature trails through the orchards, and exhibits demonstrating man’s use of fruits and vegetables in agriculture, food and industry, promoting values such as health, education and respect for the environment. There are year-round cookery classes and gardening workshops, too. What better way to round off a tour of the Palace of the Popes than by enjoying a local tipple in the Pope’s wine cellar. There’s a variety of different options available to you, from wine-tasting for novices, to wine and chocolate tastings for the more adventurous. The friendly, helpful staff will help you get to know 55 different wines from the region. Get to know the local way of life in Avignon on a Daily Life walking tour , which takes in some of the shops, cafés, bakeries, and lesser-known monuments and parks that you won't find on the tourist maps. It’s a great way to get away from the swarms of sightseers and chat with some of the locals whilst you sip a coffee, jostle for space in the queue for baguettes, or stroll around the park. If you cherish the simple things in life, this is an excellent way to see the real Avignon. If you're in Avignon in July, don't miss being part of ‘ Festival Off ’, Avignon’s legendary Avignon Theatre Festival’s lesser-known sister event. Hundreds of theatre and circus troupes, performing artists and dancers, both amateur and professional, (with some very famous names amongst them), take over the centre’s cafes, chapels, pavements and courtyards in a colourful explosion of theatre, music and dance, with thousands of performances - many impromptu - across the city centre. And finally... get your hands dirty and enrol on a cookery course against the backdrop of Avignon’s bustling food market Les Halles. Local chef Julian Charvet has spent the past four years working on Concept Chef which aims to combine traditional local produce with exciting new recipes. The course kicks off with a ‘Discovery Workshop” exploring the market food stalls picking up ingredients, then it’s back to the Concept Chef HQ to concoct recipes, and prepare and taste your dishes under the guidance of Julian. Morning courses are also available for children. Where to stay in Avignon Just a stone’s throw from the train station is La Violette - a lovely homely B&B. Rooms (one with balcony) have pastel-coloured walls, pretty floor tiles, antique lace, and family pieces dotted around. Expect a warm welcome from Isabelle and family – they are a wealth of information on the surrounding area and will happily help you plan your itinerary. Isabelle will leave breakfast for you outside your door, too (there’s space for you to prepare your own if you prefer). A comfortable, relaxing place to stay, and only 5 minutes walk from Avignon’s buzzing centre. Address: 26 avenue de la Violette; +33 (0)4 90 86 12 83; www.avignonlaviolettebb.fr Escape the heat and bustle of city life amid fountains, hammocks and century-old plane trees at Lumani - a little pocket of peace in the centre of medieval Avignon. Owners Elisabeth and Jean have stamped their creativity – beautifully – all over the place: there are piles of art and architecture books and walls covered in art, and musicians will love the soundproofed workshop. Rooms are simply furnished, breakfasts are organic – there’s even a working organic mill on site. Expect to pay up to €170 during high season; not the cheapest B&B in town but worth every cent. Address: 37 rue du Rempart St. Lazare; +33 (0)4 90 82 94 11; www.avignon-lumani.com . La Mirande is for serious foodies: there’s the Michelin-starred chef (whose culinary delights mix tradition with an environmental conscience), an award-winning cookery school, tea rooms serving organic pastries, and gastronomy events for guests: one ‘theatre-inspired’ evening combines cookery demonstrations, storytelling and a game of petanque! The hotel, at the foot of the Palace of the Popes, is one of Avignon’s most distinguished, so expect luxury and top class service at every turn. Spacious rooms have beautiful wallpaper, the finest linen, antique pieces, piles of fluffy towels, heavenly smellies in glistening bathrooms. It's quite pricey, but a great choice if you want to splash out. Address: 4 Place de l’Amirande; +33 (0)4 90 14 20 20; www.la-mirande.fr. All images provided by Avignon Tourisme.

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the direct train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Marseille, France. For more information about where to stay in Marseille, as well as tips on local restaurants, markets, museums and how to get around the city by bike and public transport, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Marseille . Editor's Note: This service has been put on hold since the pandemic. For year-round services to Marseille via Lille, see our guide to how to take the train from London to Marseille . Please note this direct train is a Summer Service only (22 May-7 September 2020) Journey Time: 6 hours 26 minutes Sample timetable: Only departure is from London at 7.19am, arriving Marseille at 2.45pm Changes: None, it is a direct train Frequency of Departures: 3-4 times per week Carbon emissions: 15 kg (flight would be 311.1kg)* Car hire at Marseille St Charles station: Yes What's the journey like? It's a direct train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Marseille St Charles station in the heart of the city. On board Eurostar, there’s a bar-buffet carriage that sells a range of hot and cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including champagne, as well as snacks and wholesome, hearty dishes. For those with standard premier tickets, light refreshments are served at your table, including a fresh, light, healthy meal, tea, coffee and soft drinks, and a glass of wine or beer. It’s about 30 mins from London to the Channel Tunnel, then, after about 20 minutes, you emerge for the onward journey whizzing down through the beautiful countryside of France, passing picturesque French villages and along the Rhône Valley to Marseille (it stops briefly at Avignon to let passengers off). This direct service is a fast and efficient way to travel from London to Marseille in the summer. On arrival at Marseille St Charles station Bienvenue à Marseille! A city without too many airs, Marseille has a life and energy that more manicured destinations lack. The spectacular old port at its centre is surrounded by pavement cafes, restaurants and bars, and overlooked by an iconic hilltop church. Detour into the old quarter of Le Panier or the hippyish Cours Julien and you’ll find atmospheric architecture, bustling markets and some of the country’s most down-to-earth inhabitants. There are lots of hotels near to the station, see: Hotels near Marseille St Charles train station . Various eco-districts are also in development across the city, with renewable energy, greywater recycling schemes, tree planting projects and bike paths part of the plans. The most high profile of these lies within the Euroméditerranée district; a 480-hectare urban renewal project between the commercial harbour, the Vieux Port (Old Port) and the TGV station. The city is gradually moving towards a more sustainable future. With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, many public buildings in the city are being equipped with solar panels; it's said there are more roofs here than in any other city in France. Getting around Marseille Marseille has an excellent public transport network. From Marseille Saint Charles train station there are trams, metro and buses that take you around the city centre and to the main harbour and port, see: Marseille public transport timetables and routes (French only). Marseille’s handy City Pass is an allin package including free entry to many of the city's museums, a boat trip to the Château d'If, a trip on the Petit Train, reductions on certain other excursions, and unlimited travel on the buses, metro and trams. It is valid for one (€22) or two (€29) days. See Marseille Tourism for more information. From outside the station, you can pick up a bike from the city’s bike hire scheme Le Vélo . Book a direct (summer only) train ticket to Marseille >> ( tickets provided by Eurostar - bookings available 280 days before date of travel) Bon Voyage! See our Flight-Free Rail and Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the direct train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Avignon, France. Editor's Note: This service has been put on hold since the pandemic. For year-round services to Avignon via Lille, see our guide to how to take the train from London to Avignon . Please note this direct train is a Summer Service only (from 22 May-7 September 2020) Journey Time: 5 hours 49 minutes Sample timetable: Only departure is from London at 7.19am, arriving Avignon at 2.08pm Changes: None, it is a direct train Frequency of Departures: 3-4 times per week Carbon emissions: 13 kg (flight would be 295.5kg)* Bike hire at Avignon TGV station: No, but there is a city bike hire scheme in the city centre Tickets provided by Trainline: What's the journey like? It's a direct train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Avignon TGV station just outside the city. On board Eurostar, there’s a bar-buffet carriage that sells a range of hot and cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including champagne, as well as snacks and wholesome, hearty dishes. For those with standard premier tickets, light refreshments are served at your table, including a fresh, light, healthy meal, tea, coffee and soft drinks, and a glass of wine or beer. It’s about 30 mins from London to the Channel Tunnel, then, after about 20 minutes, you emerge for the onward journey whizzing down through the beautiful countryside of France, passing picturesque French villages and along the Rhône Valley to Avignon (the train continues to Marseille). This direct service is a fast and efficient way to travel from London to Avignon in the summer. Here's a short video we filmed to show what it's like to travel by train to Avignon: Shuttle bus from TGV Avignon to the centre of Avignon. Photo: Richard Hammond On arrival at Avignon TGV station Bienvenue à Avignon! The TGV direct train from London arrives at Avignon TGV, which is a few miles outside the town . Thankfully, the station is linked to the city centre by the ‘TGV Navette’ bus (right) (it's free for Eurostar ticket holders). This drops you off in front of the city’s downtown station, Avignon-Centre. From here, all points central are walkable, but it is a hub for transport around the city and the sights of the surrounding area. Avignon is the gateway to Provence - it's an atmospheric mediaeval city of honey-coloured buildings and winding streets, crowned by the dramatic Papal Palace. Its compact centre nestles between intact city walls, and the famous bridge still juts halfway out into the Rhône. This is the dream of France – quiet squares to relax in a café, delicious provençal cuisine, fine local wines; and many a place to buy a baguette and wander around the ancient streets – with all the joys of Provence on the doorstep. For more information about Avignon, including information on some great places to eat, hotels and things to do, see Green Traveller's Guide to Avignon . Getting around Avignon The compact centre of Avignon lies within its ancient city walls, and is easily walkable, with only limited traffic. If you do need or want to take a longer journey, or to one of the outlying towns, villages, and attractions, there is a good local bus network and a new tram system opened in 2019. Transport in Avignon is operated by ORIZO, their website is in French only, however it does feature detailed information about the Avignon transport network . Tickets for a single journey cost 1,30€ (valid for one hour), with a ‘carnet’ of ten tickets for 10,50€ and a day pass at 4€. The Avignon area boasts 110km of segregated cycle paths – impressive for the city’s small size – and there is also a self-service bike sharing scheme called Vélopop operating across Avignon. You can take a bike from one docking station and return it to another when you reach your destination – for only 1€ per day (0,50€ for each half-hour of usage); here's a useful map of vélopop stations . You can also hire bikes at Provence Bikes on Boulevard St Roch or pre-order to pick up bikes at the TGV Avignon station (3km outside of the town) from Holiday Bikes. For more information about where to stay in Avignon, restaurants and things to do, see ou: Green Traveller's Guide to Avignon Bon Voyage! See more overland routes to France in our Flight-Free Rail and Ferry Journey Planner * Data for carbon emissions

Green Traveller's Guide to taking the train from London St Pancras International Railway Station to Hamburg, Germany. Winter scene. Photo: Wix Media Journey Time: from 8 hours 37 mins Sample timetable: Depart London 9.01am, arrive Hamburg 7.14pm Changes: 2 Transfer: Quick same-station change of platform within Brussels Midi station and another at Cologne Hbf railway station Frequency of Departures: 11/day Carbon emissions: 23.1kg (flight would be 130.5kg)* Train tickets provided by Trainline: Tickets provided by Trainline, which allows you to buy tickets for multiple train operators in multiple European countries. It does charge a small booking fee, but offers several useful facilities, such as a free email alert service to let you know as soon as bookings open for your chosen route so you can snap up the cheapest tickets when they become available. How to book train tickets as part of a package with accommodation If you want someone to book the whole journey for you or combine it with staying in hotels en route, get in touch with the travel agent Byway through its page for booking enquiries . What's the journey like? Take the Eurostar to Brussels Midi station where there's an easy same-station platform change to board the high-speed Thalys or ICE trains to Cologne. Keep an eye out on the platform at Brussels for the handy guide to the layout of incoming trains, which shows you where your carriage will arrive into the station so you can make your way to the correct part of the platform before the train arrives.   On arrival at Cologne, you then have to change trains to take the Intercity train to Hamburg (a journey of about 4 hours). Stopover hotels to break the journey in Brussels and Cologne If you want to break the journey and stay overnight to see a bit more of Brussels and/or Cologne while you're travelling through, there are lots of lovely places to stay near Brussels Midi and Cologne Hbf railway stations (we've stayed at Hostel Koln , which is about a 20-minute walk from the railway station). Here are some examples of hotels that are conveniently nearby: Hotels near Brussels Midi and Hotels near Cologne Hbf Hostel Kohn, one of several eco-friendly places to stay if you want to stop off in Cologne en route to Hamburg Miss your connection? Don’t panic. Railteam’s ‘Hop on the Next Available Train’ service means that if you have missed your connection because of a delay on the preceding leg of your journey, you’ll automatically be put on the next available high-speed train. NB Remember to get your ticket stamped by your Train Manager. For more overland train routes to Germany, see our Flight-Free Train & Ferry Journey Planner On arrival Willkommen in Hamburg! By the banks of the River Elbe in northern Germany, Hamburg is a waterfront city with lots of great cafes, restaurants, shops, theatres, museums, galleries, and a vibrant nightlife scene. There are lots of hotels near the train station, see below: Hotels near Hamburg's train station We sent writer Anna Shepard by train to Hamburg, here's what she had to say: "Before setting off for a weekend in Hamburg, I told my German neighbours where I was headed. “There are lots of parks and expensive cafes, but it's not as fun as Berlin," they told me. "Why don’t you go there?” Everyone knows you can have a good time in the country's eclectic capital, but I wanted something different. And my interest was piqued by Hamburg's reputation as Germany’s greenest city, with fantastic public transport, bike-loving citizens and fairtrade boutiques." Read her full review: Hamburg, Germany's greenest city? Gute Reise! * Data for carbon emissions

There are many ways to travel overland from the UK to The Netherlands without flying; by taking the ferry (either in a car or as a foot passenger), by coach or by Eurostar, or, by car through the Eurotunnel. One of the most popular routes is the shortest ferry journey, which goes from Harwich (on the east coast of England) to the Hook of Holland (on the west coast of The Netherlands) from where there is a seamless connection with rail services to Rotterdam, Amsterdam and the rest of the country. There are also longer ferry services across the North Sea from Newcastle and Hull, or if you want to go by train, the Eurostar has a direct service from London St Pancras station to Amsterdam in under 4 hours. Click on the links below to the go directly to the relevant section on this page: Ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland Ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam Ferry from Hull to Rotterdam Eurostar from London to Amsterdam Coach from the UK to The Netherlands Car via The Channel Tunnel to The Netherlands Foot passengers: For detailed information to how to take public transport to ferry ports, see our Guide to travelling as a foot passenger from the UK to Europe . Images: Stenaline Peter Mild, DFDS room and restaurant, ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam, Flixbus coach service, Eurostar to Amsterdam By ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland, The Netherlands The shortest ferry route across the North Sea from the UK is from Harwich in Essex with Stena Line to The Hook of Holland (known as ‘Hoek van Holland’). From Scotland it takes from at least 6.5 hours to reach Harwich by train via London, or 14 hours by bus, the cheapest option. You can then choose to go across the North Sea either during the day or overnight. Journey time: it is a   7-8 hour crossing (day time or overnight) Here are approximate journey times not including an overnight stay for the morning ferry: Timings:  departs Harwich at 9am, arrives Hook of Holland at 17.15; overnight service departs Harwich at 23:00, arrives Hook of Holland at 08:00. Facilities:  restaurants and bars, a cinema and shops Sleeper Cabins:  on the overnight ferry you can choose from a range of cabins, from a single inside cabin with television and ensuite bathroom to cabins for two, three, four of five people, including the Comfort Class cabins with sea view and complimentary minibar. Luggage: There’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers with bicycles pay an extra fee of £5 for adults and £2.50 for children and it costs £20 to bring your dog, which must travel in a kennel. Ferry sailing times and journey times can change so check the website for the latest times. From Newcastle to Amsterdam by Ferry DFDS runs an overnight service for foot passengers from Newcastle to Amsterdam, departing at 17.00 Journey time: 15.5 hours (overnight) Timings: Departs Newcastle 17:00, arrives Amsterdam 9.45am. If you're travelling by train, there's a transfer bus from Newcastle railway station to the International Ferry Terminal. These DFDS buses operate from Berwick Street opposite Newcastle Central Station to the ferry terminal at times to coincide with its sailings. Bus tickets must be bought in advance online or over the phone. Facilities on board the ferry: bars, restaurants, casino, cinema and kids club Sleeper Cabins: take from 2-5 people, and, unlike most ferry operators that insist dogs are kept in cars or kennels, there are cabins suitable for up to two dogs to travel alongside their owners. Luggage: There’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a charge of £5 each way, and those without wheels can hop onto a coach on arrival at the port of Ijmuiden to travel the 25 miles into central Amsterdam. Cruise: DFDS offers a ‘mini cruise’ option, which includes breaks in Amsterdam from five hours to two nights and include coach transfers at either end. From Amsterdam it’s easy to connect by rail to cities and regions across the Netherlands, as well as onto France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and beyond. By ferry from Hull to Rotterdam South of Newcastle, P&O Ferries runs an overnight ferry between Hull and Rotterdam. Journey time: 12 hours (overnight), plus the minimum 90-minute check-in for the ferry. On arrival at Hull station by train, there’s a bus that goes to the port from the adjoining interchange station. Number 70 operates from Paragon Interchange to the ferry terminal at 5pm and takes 15 minutes, but for more flexibility, a taxi is a good bet. Timings: Hull to Rotterdam departs 20:30 and arrives Rotterdam at 8:15 (9:00 at weekends) Facilities: Restaurants, bars, cinemas, a casino and kids play area. Sleeper Cabins: options range from a standard cabin, with a toilet and shower room, to a sea view cabin or a club cabin with extra space and a television - sleeping between two and five people per cabin. Luggage: There’s no limit on luggage, and you can travel with a pet and a bicycle. Pets are charged at £22 each way and must travel in a kennel. Bicycles are carried free of charge but only one is allowed per foot passenger booking, so a group travelling with multiple bikes need to make a separate booking per bike. Cruise: You can book the ferry solely as transport, but for some, it’s the holiday in itself - a mini cruise out of Hull with P&O offers two nights on a ferry to and from Rotterdam with a day trip (which can be extended to an extra night) to explore the city between sailings. Themed mini breaks take this up a notch with entertainment such as live music or darts competitions onboard. Many passengers use Rotterdam as a gateway to Brussels, Antwerp or Paris but from either point, it is straight-forward to connect by rail to other destinations in the Netherlands and Belgium as well as Germany, Luxembourg  and France. Train from the UK to The Netherlands Eurostar runs a direct services from London St Pancras to Rotterdam (3 hours 13 mins) and Amsterdam (3 hours 52 mins). Do check your ticket to find out the latest recommended time to arrive before your train departs - it can vary quite a lot, from 45 minutes (for Eurostar Premier) to up to 90 mins (for Eurostar Standard). On board Eurostar, there’s a bar-buffet carriage that sells a range of hot and cold, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, including champagne, as well as snacks and wholesome, hearty dishes. For those with standard premier tickets, light refreshments are served at your table, including a fresh, light, healthy meal, tea, coffee and soft drinks, and a glass of wine or beer. It’s about 30 mins from London to the Channel Tunnel, then, after about 20 minutes in the tunnel, you emerge for the quick onward journey through the beautiful countryside of northern France and Belgium, on to Rotterdam and then Amsterdam. Eurostar's direct service from London to Amsterdam is less than 4 hours. Photo: Eurostar There are a myriad reasons to visit Amsterdam: this compact capital packs a big punch when it comes to history, art, architecture, and contemporary chic. A relaxed, liberal vibe pervades and there is no shortage of cosy cafés, stylish boutiques, and appetising restaurants in which to enjoy all the city has to offer. Whether you’ve come to discover the latest in design, to visit some of the world’s great art collections, to indulge in some of the city’s less salubrious pleasures, or just to stroll and admire the traditional houses reflected in Amsterdam’s many canals – there’s something for just about everyone at any budget. For more information on Amsterdam, including hotels, restaurants and markets selling fresh local produce, museums and other attractions , see our Green Traveller's Guide to Amsterdam : Coach from the UK to The Netherlands Travelling by coach can be the cheapest way to travel across to The Netherlands.  Flixbus , which now incorporates the Eurolines and Isilines bus companies, runs services across the UK to London Victoria from where you can join its international coach service for several cities in The Netherlands, including Amsterdam , Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht . The coaches have free wifi, charging sockets, toilets, and on some journeys food and drink is sold onboard in addition to the refreshment stops. The cost varies depending on the route, time of year and so on, so check the coach operator’s website for fares. Flixbus also had a trip tracker so you can see where your coach is on its journey. Luggage:  You can take a hand luggage bag and medium-sized bag for the hold weighing no more than 20kg. Only folding bicycles are accepted. Facilities:  Coaches are air conditioned and have wi-fi and USB charging points as well as toilets and while no refreshments are sold onboard, you can pack your own food and drink for the journey and stops are made at service stations to stock up on supplies. Bikes: Bikes can be taken on the bike rack from €9 per journey. The distinctive green colour of the Flixbus coaches National Express , which runs lots of intercity coach services throughout the UK, has teamed up with BlaBlaCar to run intercity coach services (go to the National Express international website ), including to cities within The Netherlands. The same luggage restrictions apply with one piece of hand luggage and one hold luggage up to 20kg. Car from the UK via LeShuttle to The Netherlands The quickest way to cross the channel in a car is via LeShuttle (formerly known as Eurotunnel Le Shuttle) through the Channel Tunnel (it takes just 35 minutes), from where you can then drive over to the Netherlands via northern France and Belgium. Departures leave from Folkestone and arrive in to Calais in France. There are up to four departures an hour so typically you don't have long to wait before you board the shuttle. At the terminal in Folkestone, there are food outlets and duty free shopping, and even pet exercise areas. Electric car charging for LeShuttle: The terminals at LeShuttle do have charging facilities for electric cars. At Folkestone there are four 210 kw EV Box Modular Engie Ultra Rapid chargers, while at the Calais terminal there eight 210 kW ultra rapid chargers. There are also Tesla Superchargers at the terminal buildings on both sides of the Channel. NB. all electric car chargers are at the main terminal building in Folkestone, not at the Folkestone Flexiplus lounge car park. Cars entering Le Shuttle. Photo: Getlinkgroup/Le Shuttle ============ Please note : The information on this page aims to give you a reasonable idea of ferry, train, coach and car routes, times and tickets, in order that hopefully there’s enough detail to know what's available, how to plan an overland journey and where to book tickets. The information was up to date at time of publication, but services do change from time to time and we cannot take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies we provide. Always confirm details when you book with the relevant travel operator. If you are aware of any inaccuracies, we'd really appreciate being informed via our contact page  so we can make the relevant changes to the information provided for the benefit of other travellers. Bon Voyage!

There are lots of ways to travel from Wales to Europe without flying - by train, coach, ferry (in a car or as a foot passenger) or a combination of all three. By and large, for journeys to France by ferry, it’s quickest to travel overland from Wales to the south coast of England to catch ferries across the English Channel, unless you live close to Holyhead in North Wales - where it’s possible to take the Holyhead-Dublin ferry then take a ferry to Cherbourg, but with a journey time of at least 22 hours, it’s still often easier to head to Poole, Portsmouth, Plymouth, Newhaven or even Dover. From these south coast ports, Europe is your oyster. You can catch a ferry with Brittany Ferries from Poole to Cherbourg and Plymouth to Roscoff or Santander, but the greatest choice of destinations is from Portsmouth, with services to Le Harve, Caen, Cherbourg, St Malo, Bilbao and Santander. Newhaven is connected to Dieppe with DFDS, but Dover has the greatest choice of sailings to France with 50 departures a day in peak season across the Channel. For Calais you can choose P&O Ferries or sail with DFDS, which also runs a route to Dunkirk. Getting to the south coast ferry ports by public transport is cheapest by coach, with journeys from Cardiff, for example, taking between 5.5 and 7.5 hours to reach the south coast ports. The same journeys by train take 3.5 to 5.5 hours, and while Dover is the furthest away it can take under 4 hours to reach because of the high speed rail line from London. From mid and north Wales, you need to add at least two hours to these coach and rail times with many services travelling via Birmingham or London to reach the south coast ferry ports. For detailed information to how to take public transport to the UK's ferry ports, see Green Traveller's Guide to travelling as a foot passenger from the UK to Europe . If you want to get to the Netherlands from Wales without flying, the Harwich-Amsterdam ferry is an option but it’s much quicker to take the Eurostar train via London or the Dover-Calais car ferry and drive. If you’d rather go by road or rail, coaches and trains heading to the continent both use the Channel Tunnel, so you have to factor in the time it takes to travel east to London. If you take the train, once on the other side of the tunnel, you’re then connected to the European high-speed rail network, which can whizz you to many European capitals and beyond within hours. Our team has tried and tested many of the routes and so we have tried to summarise all the available options in this post based on our experience. From Wales to Europe by ferry Examples of total journey times including allowance for check-in and transfers where relevant: Cardiff for ferry to Calais: 6.5/7 hours to go by car/train and ferry Cardiff for ferry to Cherbourg: 6.5/7.5 to go by car/train and ferry (from Portsmouth) Cardiff for ferry to Santander: 22/23 hours to go by car/train and ferry (from Plymouth) Swansea for ferries from south of England: add a further 30-60 minutes to the above journey times. You can sail with Brittany Ferries during the day or overnight from Poole, Portsmouth and Plymouth with journeys taking between 3 and 11 hours depending on the route and departure time. The fastest crossings are to Cherbourg from Portsmouth and Poole. The Le Harve offers more budget ‘no-frills’ day and overnight ferries that have limited entertainment onboard and a more simple restaurant. The Caen route has the greatest choice of day or night sails. For access to northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands, there is a vast choice of services from Dover to Calais and Dunkirk with P&O Ferries and DFDS, but only the former accepts foot passengers on these routes. Portsmouth to Le Harve with Brittany Ferries Journey time: day and overnight ferries that take between 5.5 and 10 hours Timings: at least one daily departure, with up to two a day in the peak summer season. Departs Portsmouth 23:00 or 23:30, arrives Le Harve 8:00 or 08:30, with an extra seasonal departures - see website for details Facilities on board: small bar, self service restaurant, cinema, small shop and kids play area Sleeper Cabins: take from 2-4 people (6 berth on some ferries), including cabins suitable for a dog to travel alongside its owner Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: Le Harve is the closest port to Paris by car. Book a ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre >> Portsmouth to Caen with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 6-7 hours Timings: daily departures in the peak summer season. Greatest choice of sailing times at 08:15, 14.45, 22:00 and 22:45 depending on the day and season Facilities on board: bar, restaurants, cinema, entertainment for adults and children, shops and kids play area Sleeper Cabins: take from 2-4 people and some ferries have cabins suitable for a dog to travel alongside its owner Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: from Caen you can connect to the high speed rail network in France via Le Mans or get to Paris by rail in two hours. Book a ferry from Portsmouth to Caen >> Portsmouth to Cherbourg with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 3 hours Timings: daily departures in the peak summer season. Leaves Portsmouth at 09:00, arriving in Cherbourg at 13:00, with extra departures depending on the season Facilities on board: lounge with reclining seats, shop, cafe and bar Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: from Cherbourg it is three hours to Paris by train but most people take a car as you can drive onto Normandy in just over an hour. Book a ferry from Portsmouth to Cherbourg >> Portsmouth to St Malo with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 7-11 hours Timings: sailings every day during the peak summer season. Leaves Portsmouth at 20:15, arriving in Cherbourg at 08:15, with slight changes to timings depending on the season and some day crossings from St Malo Facilities on board: cinemas, cabaret and live entertainment, restaurants, bar, cafe, shopping Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: one of the boats on the route (Pont Aven) has a pool and leisure area. From St Malo you can drive to Brittany in 1.5 hours and the Dordogne in 6 hours. Otherwise by train you can get to Rennes in under an hour and Paris in three hours. Book a ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo >> Portsmouth to Bilbao with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 24-32 hours Timings: up to three return crossings each week. Leaves Portsmouth at 08:45, 12:00 or 22:30, depending on the day and season. Sundays sailings offer two nights onboard Facilities on board: restaurants, bar, cafe, shopping, pool, spa, cinema, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins including a cabin that accommodates a pet alongside its owners Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: opt for a Tuesday daytime crossing aboard the ‘no-frills’ ships, Baie de Seine or Connemara, for a more affordable crossing. Some crossings offer whale and dolphin spotting with the ‘ ORCA wildlife officers’. As with Santander, the Alsa coach service is best for onward journeys by public transport unless you are heading south by train towards Madrid. Book a ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao >> Portsmouth to Santander with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 24-32 hours Timings: two return crossings each week. Leaves Portsmouth at around 08:45 or 17:00 depending on the day and season Facilities on board: restaurants, bar, cafe, shopping, pool, spa, cinema, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins including a cabin that accommodates a pet alongside its owners Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: opt for a ‘no-frills’ ship for a more affordable crossing, which operates during peak season - check the Brittany Ferries website for details. Some crossings offer whale and dolphin spotting with the ‘ ORCA wildlife officers’. For journeys on from Santander, the rail network works best if you want to head south, with Madrid a four-hour journey away and Leon 3.5 hours, but for east-west journeys, it’s best to travel by car or by bus with Alsa the leading coach company in the region. Book a ferry from Portsmouth to Santander >> Poole to Cherbourg with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 4.5 hours (9 hours for overnight return crossing) Timings: up to two return crossings per day in peak summer season. Leaves Poole at around 08:30 and arrives at 14:00, depending on the day and season Facilities on board: restaurant, bar, cafe, shop, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: from Cherbourg it is three hours to Paris by train but most people take a car as you can drive onto Normandy in just over an hour. Book a ferry from Poole to Cherbourg >> Plymouth to Santander with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 18.5 hours Timings: one sailing per week departing on Sundays at 16:45, arriving in Santander at 12:15, returning Wednesdays Facilities on board: restaurants, bars, cafe, shops, pool, live entertainment, cinemas, spa, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: Brittany Ferries’ mini cruise package offers two nights on board the ship, Pont Aven on the journey out and back, plus two nights in Santander. For journeys on from Santander, the rail network works best if you want to head south, with Madrid a four-hour journey away and Leon 3.5 hours, but for east-west journeys, it’s best to travel by car or by bus with Alsa the leading coach company in the region. Book a ferry from Plymouth to Santander >> Plymouth to Roscoff with Brittany Ferries Journey time: 6-8 hours Timings: up to two return crossings per day in peak summer season with day and overnight options. Leaves Plymouth at around 08:00 and/or 22:00, depending on the day and season Facilities on board: restaurants, bars, cafe, shops, live entertainment, cinemas, children’s play area, pool and spa (on some crossings) Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Fo ot passengers can travel with a bicycle for a small charge each way. Other info: Roscoff is well placed for holidays in Brittany, Normandy and the Loir e Book a ferry from Plymouth to Roscoff >> Newhaven to Dieppe with DFDS Journey time: 4 hours Timings: 3 daily sailings in both directions May-September (2 daily sailings at other times) Facilities on board: restaurant, bar, shop, children’s play area Sleeper cabins: 2-4 berth cabins Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle free of charge. Other info: you can travel by coach from Dieppe to Paris in 2.5 hours or connect to the intercity French rail network via Rouen Book a ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe >> Dover to Calais with P&O Ferries Journey time: 1.5 hours Timings: up to 2 3 daily sailings in both directions, depending on the time of year Facilities on board: food court, restaurant, cafe, bar, shop, kid’s club Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage. Foot passengers can travel with a bicycle free of charge but must book the bicycle in advance with one bicycle per booking so groups with multiple bicycles need to make separate bookings. Other info: there are four ticket types from Saver to Premier, which give you varying flexibility, wifi access and lounge access. Only passengers travelling with a car can bring their pet Dover to Calais with DFDS Journey time: 1.5 hours Timings: up to 30 daily sailings in both directions, depending on the time of year Facilities on board: restaurant, cafe, bar, shop, kid’s play area, free wi-fi Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage and no extra cost to bring bicycles with a vehicle Other info: DFDS does not accept foot passengers on its Dover-Calais route - only those travelling with a vehicle. A ‘ Flexi ticket’ allows you to travel up to 72 hours either side of your original booking, subject to availability. Passengers can bring their pet at a cost of £15 each way. For onwards travel, Calais is on the Intercity rail network with the option to connect to towns including Boulogne, Lille, Amiens and Arras on the TER network. Book a ferry from Dover to Calais >> Dover to Dunkirk with DFDS Journey time: 2 hours Timings: up to 24 daily sailings in both directions, depending on the time of year Facilities on board: restaurant, cafe, bar, shop, kid’s play area, free wi-fi Luggage: there’s no limit on luggage and no extra cost to bring bicycles with a vehicle Other info: DFDS does not accept foot passengers on its Dover-Dunkirk route - only those travelling with a vehicle. A ‘ Flexi ticket’ allows you to travel up to 72 hours either side of your original booking, subject to availability. Passengers can bring their pet at a cost of £15 each way. Dunkirk is well served by public transport - buses around the town are free and the train station is on the Intercity network with trains to Paris taking 2.5 hours Book a ferry from Dover to Dunkirk >> From Wales to Europe by coach Travelling by coach is usually the cheapest way to travel to Europe from Wales and is relatively straight forward thanks to the M4 motorway, which runs east-west from south Wales to London. For journeys starting in North Wales, coaches tend to travel via Crewe, Birmingham or Manchester. For more information on these, take a look at our guide for flight-free travel from the North of England to Europe . Here are a few sample journey times including a change in London: Coach from Cardiff to Paris: from 15.5 hours; Cardiff to Amsterdam: from 17 hours Coach from Swansea to Paris: from 17.5 hours; Swansea to Amsterdam: from 19 hours Coach from Newport to Paris: from 15 hours; Newport to Amsterdam: from 16.5 hours Most coach routes serving mid and west Wales start in Aberystwyth or connect through here via local services. From Aberystwyth coaches either run directly east through Shrewsbury to London and Birmingham, or head south via Swansea, Cardiff and Newport to London. National Express services terminate in London Victoria from where you can change to its international coach services which go to many European cities, including Calais, Paris, Lille, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, Brussels, Antwerp and Bruges. Luggage: You can take a hand luggage bag and medium-sized bag for the hold weighing no more than 20kg. Only folding bicycles are accepted. Facilities: coaches are air conditioned and have wi-fi and USB charging points as well as toilets and while no refreshments are sold onboard, you can pack your own food and drink for the journey and stops are made at service stations to stock up on supplies. Another European coach operator is Flixbus, which now incorporates the Eurolines and Isilines bus companies, with services out of London Victoria. It offers more destinations than National Express and beyond - such as Vienna from London in 26 hours, Frankfurt in 13.5 hours and Prague in 24 hours. You can even travel as far as Bucharest - a 44-hour journey across six countries. The same luggage restrictions apply with one piece of hand luggage and one hold luggage up to 20kg, and bikes can be taken on the bike rack from E9 per journey. Buses have free wifi, charging sockets, toilets, and on some journeys food and drink is sold onboard in addition to the refreshment stops.  The cost varies depending on the route, time of year and so on, so check the coach operator’s website for fares. Coach tickets provided by Flixbus: From Wales to Europe by train To travel from Wales to Europe by rail, you need to go via London to connect to Eurostar’s international rail network out of London St Pancras International Railway Station. Here are a few train journey times (times show the total duration of the trip, including allowing for sufficient time to transfer from Paddington to the Eurostar check-in and for the 45-minute check-in time at Eurostar, based on appropriate times of connecting trains in to and out of London): Train from Cardiff to Paris: 6 hours; Cardiff to Amsterdam: 7.5 hours Train from Swansea to Paris: 5.5 hours; Swansea to Amsterdam: 9 hours Train from Newport to Paris: 6 hours; Newport to Amsterdam: 7 hours In north-west Wales, services start in Holyhead and onwards to Chester and Crewe to connect with rail routes in the North of England and onto London. For mid Wales, branch lines connect to Shrewsbury then onto Birmingham and finally London. On both of these routes your train would terminate in London Euston, from which it is a 15-minute walk to St Pancras. Rail services in south Wales run from Fishguard on the south-west tip of Wales through Swansea, Cardiff and Newport via Reading into London Paddington. From here it’s a 20 minute journey on the London Underground to St Pancras. Eurostar runs direct services to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Lyon, Lille and Disneyland Paris (and in the winter there’s a ‘ski train’ service via Lille to Moûtiers, Aime-la-Plagne and Bourg-St-Maurice). You can buy through-tickets that start outside of London and go beyond Eurostar’s destinations travelling with local operators. If you are travelling with a bike, check which routes accept bikes. The fee is around £30. Dogs are not permitted on Eurostar except guide dogs. Train tickets provided by Trainline: ============ Please note : The information on this page aims to give you a reasonable idea of train and ferry routes, times and tickets, in order that hopefully there’s enough detail to know what's available, how to plan an overland journey and where to book tickets. The information was up to date at time of publication, but services do change from time to time and we cannot take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies we provide. Always confirm details when you book with the relevant travel operator. If you are aware of any inaccuracies, we'd really appreciate being informed via our contact page so we can make the relevant changes to the information provided for the benefit of other travellers. Bon Voyage!

A new rail service between Malaga and Barcelona launches this Sunday, 15th December, connecting two of Spain's most popular cities in 5 hours, 50 minutes. Tickets are on offer from €22.20 one way. Sunset over Malaga port. Photo: Wixmedia The new train route is run by low-cost private operator Iryo (a consortium between train company Trenitalia and Spanish airline Air Nostrum), providing one daily departure each way between the cities, seven days a week. The train is scheduled to leave Barcelona at 11.50am and arrive in Malaga at 5.42pm. En route, the train will stop at Cordoba, Madrid and Zaragoza. Tickets are currently on offer from €22.20, €44 and €64 one way on its weekday services, depending on the class of ticket. The standard ticket (which rises to being from €26.20 at weekends) is known as 'Inicial', while the other two are 'Singular Only You' (billed as being for 'entrepreneurs and companies for space to travel') where you can select individual or teamwork tables, and 'Infinita Bistró' - that includes a bistro dining service. Tickets are already on sale for the 15th December onwards, as well as for journeys in 2025 from the Iryo website: iryo.eu The service is part of a number of rail connections that link the north and south of Spain. Spain operator Renfe already runs a high-speed AVE service between Barcelona and Malaga that has a journey time of just under 6 hours, in addition to multiple daily options for travelling via connections in Madrid. Watch our video guide to Spain: For trips on where to find characterful accommodation, delicious local, seasonal food, places of interest and a range of low impact outdoor adventure, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Spain .

As part of our Green Traveller's Guide to Spain , we've picked out a selection of places to stay across the country. Contributing writers: Paul Bloomfield, Ginny Light, Richard Hammond Google map: shows the location and details of all the places to stay, local food and drink, nearby visitor attractions and activities in our Green Traveller's Guide to Spain : Green = Places to stay Blue = Food & drink Yellow = Attractions Purple = Activities Hospederia Valle Del Jerte, Extremadura A converted former olive oil mill in the village of Jerte with 28 bedrooms, the best of which overlook the cobbled town square or terraces of cherry tree groves in the hillsides behind. Indulge the regional produce with the hotel’s four-course cherry menu with such imaginative uses of the fruit as creamy cherry rice with millefeuille of sea bass with Iberian ham or Jerte cherry semifreddo. The restaurant has glass windows floor to ceiling overlooking its gardens and infinity pool. hospederiasdeextremadura.es Hotel Rural Abadia de Yuste, Extremadura A 15-bedroom hotel in a 16th Century restored abbey in Yuste, a pretty town and best known for the Monastery of Yuste, where Charles V, Roman Emperor, retired and died. It starts from around £60 a night and has a sunny terrace, outdoor pool, courtyard and restaurant. There’s original features throughout and restored furniture from the abbey though it is best known for its food. All bread and pastries are made on site and the chef, Rubén Homero, celebrates sustainable cooking ‘the only part of the pig we don't eat is the grunt’ he told us and many of the dishes make use of leftovers - the region's most popular is migas extremeñas, which makes yesterday's bread into breadcrumbs to fry up with pieces of leftover ham and pimentón spice, which is like paprika and widely produced in the region. abadiadeyuste.com El Jardin de Las Delizias, Extremadura A Glorious glampsite on an ecologically cherry farm in the heart of the spectacular Jerte Valley. Each of the three Mongolian yurts (Sky, Fire and Earth) have a private garden – it's a place to disconnect from modern day life and reconnect with nature. Owners Leti and Jose have installed a charging point for electric cars, and there's a pool with wonderful views over the hills and valley. eljardindelasdelizias.com Parador de Jarandilla de la Vera, Extremadura Housed in the splendid castle-palace of the 16th Century Counts of Oropesa, close to the Tiétar and Jerte rivers, this luxury Parador has preserved the original moat and towered walls as well as a two-storey Gothic gallery in the inner courtyard. No wonder Charles V chose this as his refuge after his abdication before settling permanently in the nearby Yuste monastery. The restaurant specialises in the region's food – expect acorn-fed Iberian ham from the Dehesa de Extremadura, as well as cheeses, vegetables and paprika from La Vera. Nearby are Casa de Don Luis de Quijada, the medieval Parral bridge, and the church of Santa María de la Torre, an old Templar fortress from the 12th century.   www.parador.es Hotel Dona Major, Frómista, Palencia, Castilla y León In the historic centre of Frómista (Palencia) – in the heart of the French Camino de Santiago – the 12-room hotel is named after Queen Doña Mayor (Muniadona of Castile), founder of the Monastery of San Martin and its Romanesque church, circa 1066. There's a strong commitment to green energy throughout: the electricity for the pool, restaurant and smart, unfussy rooms comes via 26 solar panels on the roof and renewable green energy sources, there's solar thermal for the hotel's hot water, modern aerothermal equipment for air-conditioning, and wood pellet fire places. Cyclists can store bikes in a small bike storage house. hoteldonamayor.com No Mad Green Hotel, Castilla y León A 22-room eco boutique hotel in the town of Molinaseca on the Camino de Santiago (Bierzo region) 5 kilometres from Ponferrada. The emphasis is on 'noble' materials, such as wood, glass and iron, along with rattan and wicker, with lots of natural light flooding the rooms. There's a zero-waste policy for the restaurant area (expect filtered water in glass bottles) as well as plastic-free rooms. If you can stir from the relaxing environment, there's a range of local activities, such as wine-tasting and electric biking. no-mad-hotel.es La Alquería de Valverde country house, Castilla-La Mancha A characterful, rustic country house (with several double rooms and a separate self-catering apartment) in the village of Zarzuela de Galve in Valverde – an area of the Sierra Norte Natural Park renowned for its black architecture, near the mountains that separate this Guadalajara region from Segovia at the foot of Pico Ocejón. There's a commitment to sustainability throughout, will all cleaning products made with organic products, a comprehensive recycling system, and a breakfast packed with homemade pastries, jam, crushed tomato and oil. Pets can stay in the Rural Apartment El Cotorrito. laalqueriadevalverde.es Al Viento del Ocejón country house, Castilla-La Mancha A charming rural house – built in black slate, that's close to Pico Ocejón and the Sierra Norte Natural Park , just 120 kilometres from Madrid. There are two floors with 6 simple double rooms (all with bathrooms), an independent kitchen (and outdoor charcoal barbecue), dining room with panoramic views, and a cosy living room with a fireplace for the winter. There's a range of outdoor activities nearby, including a well-signposted network of hiking trails and mountain bike routes through forests and across streams, as well as places to go canoeing. In winter there's cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. alvientodelocejon.com Cantalojas campsite, Castilla-La Mancha A wonderful campsite at the gateway to the Sierra Norte National Park that's the only place allowed for camping in this area. There are pitches for tents and motorhomes with electricity plug-in plus four modern bungalows that sleep up to six, two of which welcome pets. It has a super restaurant on site, offering seasonal, fresh cooked food and a frequently changing menu under the friendly and efficient management of Maria. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers takeaway with dishes including salads, grilled meat and regional specialities. campinglosbonales.es Casas Benali, Comunidad de Valencia Owners Daniel and Martine have fused modern Scandinavian style with ancient Arabesque to create a remarkable rural retreat among 68 hectares of land just one hour southwest of Valencia. Three smart rustic houses (packed with wooden furniture, wool and leather) can be hired individually or by a group (of up to 28 people) with private pool, garden, retreat studio, and covered terrace and large multi-functional workspace for workshops. There is a range of organised activities, including wine tasting and cookery, while the adventurous can go talking up to castle Xátiva (a twin fortress high above Xátiva), hiking to waterfalls and canyoning. casasbenali.com Watch our video about Spain: Ecohotel Nos, Galicia A bucolic farmhouse B&B on the shore of a lake 45 minutes' drive from Lugo. Owners Sietske and Tariq have lovingly restored the main house and five ensuite bedrooms in the building across the courtyard. Period features such as wooden beams and thick stone walls remain while each rooms is unique with striking artwork and furniture made by local craftsmen. Guests are invited to wander the organic gardens, laze in hammocks or star gaze thanks to the light pollution-free skies. A vegetarian breakfast of homemade and locally sourced produce includes Galician cheese, yoghurt and honey, while a an evening meals of tapas, or ‘pintxos’ can be prepared if ordered in advance. casacabaza.com EcoFarm Asturias This ‘glampsite’ may be off the grid but it is only 40 minutes drive from Oviedo and there’s no skimping on the luxury. There are three choices - the caravan that sleeps four overlooking wild woodland with a mini kitchen and composting loo and the yurt that sleeps five and has a simple field kitchen with a deck and hammock. Then, the cabana that sleeps up to six. It is a traditional rural building where animals would have slept below and the shepherd above. Water comes from a private spring and solar powered phone chargers and showers are available. Guests can self cater and order ahead for a veg box, eggs, potatoes, a fresh bunch of herbs, plus there’s barbecue facilities using home produced charcoal from the farm’s sweet chestnut coppice. Evening meals can be provided for €15 for adults, half price for kids, offering dishes such as chicken with olives, lemon, honey, ginger and coriander.   ecofarmasturias.org Casa Zalama, Cantabria When Casa Zalama’s six bedrooms are full, its occupants increase the population of the village, San Pelayo, by 50%. This is countryside life in the slow and peaceful lane, yet Santander and Bilbao are just an hour’s drive away. The house is rustic and traditional and surrounded by a pretty garden with plenty of spots to unwind. There is also a self catering cottage that sleeps four with its own kitchen and garden area. Breakfast and dinner is home cooked and much of it homegrown including traditional rustic Spanish dishes, perfect for the surroundings - antique reclaimed furniture, baskets, woodwork hanging on thick stone walls. casazalama.es Eco Hotel Mundaka, Basque Country Mundaka is a world famous surf destination thanks to its left-breaking wave, considered the finest in Europe in its category, and reaching up to four metres high. Mundaka also boasts a pretty harbour and is in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve, which includes beaches, forests, rivers and islands. The Eco Hotel is in the centre of town and 300 metres from the beach. It has simple but bright ensuite 19 single, double or triple rooms and stands strongly by ecological principles including solar power, smart water use and minimal use of chemicals. It has a dining room offering a locally sourced breakfast, a surf school and gelateria in season. hotelmundaka.com La Rectoria de Sant Miquel de Pineda, Costa Brava, Catalonia There’s a touch of Scotland in this beautifully restored 12th-century former rectory in volcanic La Garrotxa Natural Park. The house itself is decidedly Catalan, albeit imbued with a contemporary flair, its wood beams, whitewashed walls and tiles augmented with clever design touches such as ancient doors repurposed as bed headboards. But tartan blankets, a range of single malt whiskies and events including a Burns Night supper reflect the Caledonian heritage of one half of the pair who own and run this wonderful guesthouse – Scot Roy Lawson and his Catalan wife Goretti. Seven homely bedrooms (doubles and twins that can be combined for families) have views across oak-wooded valleys and hills. Fine dinners are available, along with secure bike storage – the house sits alongside the Ruta del Carrilet greenway cycle trail between Olot and Girona. larectoriadesantmiquel.com Mas Ardèvol, Falset, Costa Daurada, Catalonia An idyllic rural house amid ten hectares of land in the green hills above Porrera. It specialises in traditional Priorat food, including fresh produce from their own vegetable garden, oil, and wine. There are two rooms inside the main house while outside there are three spacious thick-walled rooms and a natural swimming pool - perfect for a plunge on a hot day. Indulge in a variety of treatments, including a massage and body moisturising using natural ingredients, such as organic olives and hazelnuts. If you can tear yourself aware from the tranquility, nearby are the sundial route in Porrera and the Montsant mountain range. masardevol.net Mas Garganta, La Garrotxa, Catalonia A beautifully renovated 14th Century farmhouse on a hill overlooking the D'en Bas valley close to the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park in the Catalan Pyrenees. Run by the affable Inis, it's about as homely as you could imagine, and in a ridiculously picturesque setting. There are 12 simple, comfortable bedrooms at the ‘casa rural’, a wonderful farmhouse kitchen with huge fireplace, a lovely pool, and mountain views from every angle. We visited in the winter, and despite the evening chill and the roaring fire indoors, we couldn’t tear ourselves away from the valley views and instead sat out on the terrace feasting late into the night. masgarganta.com Casa Las Chimeneas, Las Alpujarras Your hosts' enthusiasm and local knowledge really stands out - from walks and attractions to cookery courses, writing, painting and yoga retreats, and wildlife walks, they'll ensure you get the most out of your trip, leaving you free to soak up the relaxing atmosphere. The kitchen in this charming little restaurant attached to the guesthouse of the same name is the domain of Soledad and Conchita, who rustle up a choice of dishes for dinner each evening. Vegetarians aren’t short-changed, with at least one tempting option for each of the three dinner courses – perhaps ajo blanco  (chilled almond and garlic soup) followed by stuffed aubergines with goats cheese and rounded off with a sinful fig cake produced by baking supremo Andrew. There’s a well-chosen selection of Alpujarran wines to wash it all down, and a terrace with sweeping views south towards the Med. laschimeneas.com   Viña y Rosales, Las Alpujarras Tucked in the hillsides of Las Alpujarras, this mansion house is a haven of relaxation. There are four large guest rooms and a garden with several terraces packed with herbs, fruits, vegetables and flowers (it's called after the beautiful roses and vines). Nothing is too much trouble for the lovely hosts; it's the perfect place to rest and enjoy some wonderful food after a day outdoors in the spectacular surroundings – it's on the scenic GR7 mountain route of the stunning Alpujarras. alpujarras.alojamiento.raya.org   Hotel Rural Almirez, Las Alpujarras This small family-run hotel prides itself on being 'your' hotel, and you'll certainly feel at home here. Surrounded by almond groves and the owners' organic vineyard, tuck into traditional Alpujarran dishes lovingly prepared by 'grandma Teresa', and sip wines from the vineyard as you take in the stunning view. Choose from 15 trails that run the Sierra Nevada National Park, which is also a Biosphere Reserve (see Outdoor Adventure Activities in Spain ). hotelalmirez.es   Can Marti, Ibiza, Balearic Islands A beautiful, authentic and organic farmhouse in a quiet and idyllic spot in the unspoilt north of the island. This tiny oasis is a ten-minute walk from the nearest village, Sant Joan and located in the very heart of the Área Natural de Es Amunts, yet close to the fabulous beaches notched into the rugged coast line in tiny bays covered with white sands. In such a tranquil place you can’t quite believe you are in Ibiza if your impression of Ibiza is a really busy, noisy place – come here and see a completely alternative side to the island. Switch everything off and just be in the moment – pick some figs, commune with the ducks, geese and donkeys and relax by the pool, watching the dragonflies swoop across the glassy surface to the song sung by the native frogs. canmarti.com Casbah Formentera, Formentera, Balearic Islands The name may conjure the hustle and bustle of North Africa’s souks but all is calm and serene at this leafy hotel, less than 10 minutes’ walk from Migjorn beach. Set within a pine grove, Casbah Formentera’s beautifully landscaped gardens are home to a swimming pool, and a gazebo set up for outdoor massages, while sweeps of bougainvillea and hibiscus line the paths between its bedrooms. The restaurant is a destination in its own right; diners come to linger over octopus croquettes or expertly cooked steaks in its magical indoor-out setting. hotelcasbahformentera.com Ecocirer, Majorca, Balearic Islands Six rooms in an historic turn of the century family-run townhouse in the village of Sóller near the northwest coast of the island. Bike-friendly – Sóller is surrounded by world-famous cycling routes – there's storage for bikes and maintenance facilities, and the owners offer cycling packages with personalised routes. It's also a mecca for foodies: every Saturday morning, you can join a cookery lesson using the ingredients from the garden to then enjoy over a Mediterranean style lunch. The food is plant-based, seasonal – organic, vegan and vegetarian recipes change daily. using home-grown fruit and vegetables. Recycling is also top of the billing here – the owners says that "every element in our home is 100% recycled". Each piece "the result of a long process of research, restoration and creativity". https://ecocirer.com/ Lanzarote Retreats, Lanzarote, Canary Islands A popular family-run eco retreat in the northeast of the island, offering a range of accommodation, either within its own eco village in Arrieta or at holiday villas, cottages and apartments elsewhere on the island. The eco village, designed to be an "off-grid eco-retreat" has stone cottages, large yurts, and villas catering for families, couples and groups. According to the owners, its solar energy powers its desalination plant which meets most of its energy needs, while the remainder is provided by wind energy and gas. There's a host of activities on offer from yoga and pilates to windsurfing, wine tasting and guided tours and hiking. https://lanzaroteretreats.com Finca Casa de la Virgen, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands Two country houses (the two-storey 19th Century main house sleeps 6, the single-storey cottage sleeps 4) within the floodplain of a 17,000 square metre country estate inland in the north of the island that's home to the Canary Island bellflower, a symbol of the island's endemic flora. Relax in the informal grounds – rich in biodiversity – then explore the area's mountains, gorges and laurel forests, great for day hikes and birdwatching in the Doramus Rural Park. fincacasadelavirgen.com == For nearby places to eat, visitor attractions and activities, see our Green Traveller's Guide to Spain

The Green Traveller Digest Welcome to my latest round up of news, features and comments on green travel. This newsletter is written by me, Richard Hammond, the founder of Green Traveller. If you'd like to receive the newsletter by email, please subscribe here . Editorial: This month, I've been hearing how both Spain and France (the two most visited countries for UK tourists) have been developing more options for sustainable transport. Spain has been embracing the ‘open access’ liberalisation of the European rail network. There's no doubt that increased competition among rail operators (especially on high profile routes throughout Europe) has led to improved services and reduced ticket costs. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the high-speed line between Barcelona and Madrid, which is now served by four operators, including AVE (operated by Spanish Railways, Renfe), and Iryo (a joint venture of Trenitalia & Air Nostrum using Italian-designed Frecciarossa trains), and two low-cost operators OUIGO (a subsidy of French Railways, SNCF), and Avlo (a subsidiary of Spanish Railways, Renfe). Single tickets for the 2.5 hour, 386 mile journey can be snapped up for as little as €7. I've written more about this in my article: All aboard the train in Spain . At World Travel Market, I met with Marina Ferrari, the recently-appointed French Minister for Tourism Economy, who told me about the work of ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition), and how there are plans to develop cycling throughout the country, including e-bikes as well as hydrogen powered bikes, at national, regional and local levels. Mrs Ferrari also explained at WTM how France has plans to increase rail and coach services: “We’re working with SNCF to ensure more tourists use trains – but we’re also working to introduce more coaches. If you put 50 people on a coach, then you’re saving 15 cars on the road”, she told TTG's Daniel Pearce: Olympic legacy continues for France with focus on rail . (Congrats to TTG who were awarded this week as the Independent Publishing Company of the Year at the PPA Independent Publisher Awards) Earlier this year, I returned to Calabash Caye in Belize where I worked as a volunteer on a marine conservation project for Coral Cay Conservation in the 1990s. It was heartening to hear from Eldon August, a tourism conservation officer for the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, about how conservation has evolved since my time there and that the reef system is now being protected to promote the 'blue economy'. I travelled with the travel journalist Meera Dattani who has written two wonderful features on community based travel - one on nature conservation and another on local food, see: Green Traveller's Guide to Belize Green Travel News News from COP29 Carbon Brief has produced a handy guide to the key outcomes agreed at the UN climate talks in Baku Train to Cop: From Blighty to Baku Kudos to Carbon Jacked who travelled overland from the UK to COP29 in Azerbaijan. 10 countries, 3400 miles, 100 hours. Train to the slopes Travelski’s Express train service to the Alps has announced it will again be running this winter from London on Saturday mornings (from 21st December) and returning the following Sunday with daytime train travel in both directions and 8 nights of accommodation (to facilitate a full 7 days of skiing) as standard. The line-up of resorts has expanded to include Chamonix and La Clusaz, as well as Tignes, Val d’Isère, Val Thorens, Méribel, Brides les Bains, Courchevel, Les Ménuires, Les Arcs, La Plagne and La Rosiére. Eurostar has also announced that it will also again be running its indirect service – Eurostar Snow – where customers change at Lille for onward connection to the French Alps on a Eurostar continental train calling at Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers, Aime-La Plagne, Landry and Bourg-Saint-Maurice. For more info on taking the train to the slopes, see: How to take the train to Europe's Ski Resorts by Snowcarbon's Daniel Elkan. European Sleeper extends to Prague Overnight train service European Sleeper has extended its route from Brussels to Berlin to continue to Prague, via Dresden and Bad Schandau. The night train, which includes a bike carriage, also stops in in Děčín and Ústí nad Labem in the Czech Republic, for the Elbe Cycle Path and the Czech Switzerland Crest Trail. "We are truly thrilled to be launching the new route to Prague less than a year after launching our first direct service from Brussels to Berlin", said Elmer van Buuren, Co-Founder, of European Sleeper. "Our goal is to add a new route each year so we can continue to contribute to a more integrated and sustainable European transportation network". Madeira gains green seal The Portuguese archipelago of Madeira has been given a green seal of approval for its commitment to sustainable tourism. Independent auditor EarthCheck visited and evaluated the island group to assess its alignment with 12 key areas, including the preservation of its cultural and natural heritage, as well as the balanced enhancement of its environmental, social, cultural and economic dimensions. FlixBus Launches First London – Cambridge Electric Coach Service Coach operator FlixBus has launched a 100% electric long-distance coach service between Cambridge and London. The electric vehicle, launched in partnership with Whippet and Zenobē, will run between Cambridge city centre, Trumpington Park and Ride, London Finchley Road and Victoria Coach Station. Andreas Schorling, Managing Director of FlixBus UK said: "Following our launch of England and Wales first electric coach service, we're thrilled to be trialling another zero-emission service as we build the largest coach network in the country." According to the company, the vehicle, provided by Pelican Yutong, will save 167kg of carbon emissions per day driven - two round trips - on the route compared to the average diesel-fuelled coach. First Bus signs five-year partnership with Flixbus , boosting daily services across the South-West of England and expanding routes in northern cities including Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle. Keswick becomes virtual railway station Keswick has become a “virtual railway station” with visitors now able to buy a combined ticket covering rail and bus travel to Keswick in the Lake District. Even though it doesn’t have a railway station, Avanti West Coast has added Keswick as a destination on rail journey planners so just one ticket covering travel across both modes of transport can be purchased to travel there. The creation of a virtual railway station means people can view the timings of the train and bus departures, as well as book a single fully integrated ticket for their entire journey. Available for travel on the West Coast Main Line, the ticket can be used on Avanti West Coast’s services to Penrith (gateway to the North Lakes) and Stagecoach’s X4 and X5 bus service to Keswick – preventing the need for multiple tickets and transactions. Customers select ‘Keswick Bus’ as their destination when booking via Avanti West Coast’s website and app or at ticket offices, to receive one ticket for their complete journey. Inntravel low carbon trips Specialist operator, Inntravel , which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, is highlighting a series of low carbon self-guided trips either on foot or two wheels. Last year it partnered with carbon consultancy ecollective to give each and every one of its 300 holidays a carbon score. Examples include a food-filled break in Aracena where guests are given a glimpse of Spanish rural life, a cycling holiday in Bordeaux and St Emilion, and a walking holiday in Germany’s Bavarian Alps, which has a carbon score of just 7kg per person per day. Ecotourism and Regeneration in Catalonia The Catalan Tourist Board has produced a map of 30 ecotourism areas [pdf] where visitors can stay in eco-friendly accommodation and take part in outdoor adventure seeing wildlife in its natural habitat while contributing to biodiversity conservation. It also provides information for four kinds of ecotourists: passionate, curious, intrepid and family. Accommodation includes Hotel Molí de la Torre – a converted textile mill in Costa Barcelona, and Cerdanya Ecoresort in the Catalan Pyrenees. Long haul flights: the elephant in the room Celeste Hicks of the Aviation Environment Federation has written a comment piece about efforts to reduce the carbon emissions of short haul and long haul flights, in the light of Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcement of a 50% increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD) on certain private jets. In her article, she references a report by Dobruszkes, Mattioli and Gozzoli, which showed that "flights of less than 500km account for 26.7% of flights, but only 5.2% of fuel burnt; while flights of 4000km or more account for just 5.1% of flights, but 39% of fuel burnt". Celeste concludes "It seems that there is no other option but to push for all the solutions at once – including behaviour change, modal shift for short-haul AND a huge increase in investment for technological advances". ===== News from Green Traveller Green Traveller's Guide to Spain We've published a Green Traveller's Guide to Spain , which aims to showcase the best of the country’s year-round low impact experiences, encouraging visitors to use the country's extensive rail network and travel in a slower more meaningful way, stay longer and make the most of locally run activities. Video of Green Traveller's Guide to Spain The guide includes feature articles illustrated by our own professionally taken photos and video, which we've produced with the support of the Spanish Tourist Office in London. Manuel Butler, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London, says: "This video showcases a variety of Spain’s sustainable highlights, including the impressive natural landscapes and how best to enjoy outdoor adventures. It also shows some of the incredible cuisine that Spain has to offer, spotlighting the experiences available through local producers and artisans. Promoting lesser-known gems, it offers a look into how travellers can delve into the history and culture of the destinations visited. Through this collaboration with Green Traveller, the Spanish Tourist Office hopes to encourage geographical diversification, off-season travel and true cultural immersion, providing inspiration for a responsible visit to Spain." Green Traveller's Guide to Belize We've produced a Green Traveller's Guide to Belize . I travelled there to film travel journalist Meera Dattani who has written two wonderful features on community based travel - one on nature conservation and another on local food. During the trip we met with Eldon August, a tourism conservation officer for the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association. Describing our time with Eidon, Meera writes: "As we walk and talk, he tells me about the importance of the mangrove ecosystem for flood protection and providing a haven for juvenile species, to the seaweed farms offering alternative livelihoods to fishermen with its beauty and health benefits (‘mariculture’). "Our walk leads us across the hammock bridge and to the trail’s bird tower. I don’t think I’d ever taken in such a sight. As I turn my head, I’m treated to a 360-degree view of miles of mangroves, broken up only by the blue hues of the Caribbean Sea. Seeing something with your own eyes reinforces what you’ve just learnt, and you realise just how important it is to protect it." Green Traveller's Guide to Nouvelle-Aquitaine We've produced a Green Traveller's Guide to Nouvelle-Aquitaine showcasing a range of accommodation, places to find seasonal, organic food, sights of interest and low impact activities. The guide has followed a week I spent in Nouvelle-Aquitaine with sustainable comms guru Nicola Forsyth. We travelled by train from London to Bordeaux (Eurostar, then just two hours from Paris) to spend three days seeing the sights in the city before heading out by train and electric bike to explore The Dordogne Valley, including sampling a stage of La Flow Vélo – a new 350km cycle trail that runs from the Dordogne to the Atlantic coast, passing through the Perigord Limousin Regional National Park and Angouleme, along the Charente River and the towns of Cognac, Saintes and Rochefort. The Hautes Alps - the other side of the mountain I've written about a trip I made with my family by train to the Haute Alps – a lesser-known region of the French Alps – to try out a series of outdoor mountain activities with Undiscovered Mountains who run multi-activity holidays throughout the area. Read the article (watch the video below): The other side of the mountain The Green Traveller magazine The latest issue of our magazine The Green Traveller features: Get the Picture - responsible photography in The Farne Islands, by Diana Jarvis Overland travel to Greece, by Rhiannon Batten Postcard from Korvemaa, by Rebecca Miles Menu from Catalonia, by Paul Bloomfield Wild Swimming in Extremadura, Spain, by Ginny Light Brave New World of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, by Richard Hammond and Nicola Forsyth Mountain Highs in the Hautes Alps, by Richard Hammond Community-based conservation in Belize, by Meera Dattani ...and much more!

A beautifully restored vintage caravan in two acres of woodland close to the Glastonbury festival site, Frome, Wells and Bruton. Photos: Kym Grimshaw Photography In a nutshell: An upcycled off-grid caravan in woods in a beautiful part of Somerset, 7 minutes drive to Vobster Quay open-water swimming and diving, 15 mins drive to Glastonbury Festival site, and within easy reach of Frome, Bruton and Wells. Rooms:  1 (sleeps 2, plus babes in arms), plus sofabed for one child; in addition, there is a separate cabin across the meadow for two older children (or further adults) Price:  From £95/night, minimum stay 2 nights, includes all linen, kitchen essentials (teas, coffee, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper) and a welcome hamper (eggs, butter, milk, homemade bread and biscuits plus local cider or apple juice). Meals:  Self-catering. Pub serves decent food in village 10-minute walk; the excellent Talbot Inn and well-stocked village shop are both in nearby village of Mells, 5-minute drive. Open:  Easter to October Facilities:  Kitchen, Washroom, including hot shower Good for Green:  Off-grid; Hot water for shower provided by biomass. Walkers welcome; Cyclists welcome ==== Our Review of The Scrumpling The Setting The word Scrumpling is an old Somerset name for ' “misshapen apple”, which reflects the setting of this vintage caravan: in two acres of private woodland and meadow adjacent to the owner's family home in the heart of cider country. There's private off-road parking, from where you walk 50 yds along a curving woodchip path to the hideaway in the woods. The Rooms The cosy caravan has a king-size bed, open shelving and a green velvet sofabed. Large windows let the dappled woodland light flood in. There are lots of books, games and art materials and a telescope if want to investigate the magical night skies in this part of the world. The Food There's a cute kitchen shed just a few metres from the caravan, which is equipped with a two-ring gas hob, coolbox, large drinking water container and all the usual crockery, cutlery and pans for cooking. >> Travel Writer Sarah Baxter stayed at the Scrumpling while researching for her article about the Somerset Food Trail, read here article in the i paper: Somerset Food Trail The Activities On site, guests have the run of the two-acre site to themselves, there are hammocks in a little glade in the woods, and an outdoor table and chairs for breakfasts and dinners, a campfire, and deckchairs overlooking a large pond. It's a 10-minute walk across some fields to the village where there's a pub selling decent food, and it's just 5 minutes by car to the famous village of Mells where there's a village shop and the excellent Talbot Inn . The site is 15 minutes to the Glastonbury Festival Site at Pilton, and just over 10 minutes to Frome where there's a famous independent market on the first Sunday of every month. It's also very convienient for anyone wishing to go open water swimming or scube diving at Vobster Quay Open Water Activity Centre . Eco-friendly initiatives The Scrumpling is off-grid (the owner can charge devices if you’re stuck but there is generally no WiFi, heating, electric lighting or electricity across the site) - the emphasis is very much on getting back to nature. Top tip If you're looking to go walking, the site is just off the East Mendip Way and close to the Mendip Hills – Cheddar Gorge is popular but Ebbor Gorge is slightly quieter, and handy for a pint of cider at the Queen Victoria Inn, in Priddy , on the way home. Verdict Perfect for a Somerset escape, whether you're out walking the Mendip Hills or wanting a rural escape that's close to the historic towns such as Frome, Glastonbury and Wells. >> See also the view of the Scrumpling by Emma Bradshaw . >> The Scrumpling was named in the Guardian's 10 of Britain’s best vintage caravan stays . How to book Contact owner Rhiannon via her website www.thescrumpling.co.uk/book-now Or call Rhiannon on: 07976 729113 Mention ' Green Traveller ' to Rhiannon when you book and receive receive a freshly baked treat during your stay! == Disclosure: The Scrumpling is run by Rhiannon, wife of Green Traveller's founder, Richard Hammond.