Poole to St Malo Ferries
Ferries from Poole
Poole has a rich maritime history and is home to the largest natural harbour in Europe. At the peak of its popularity in the 18th century Poole was one of the busiest ports in Britain, and ferries still run from Poole to France and the Channel Islands.
During the Second World War Poole was one of the main ports of departure for the D-Day landings of the Normandy Invasion, serving afterwards as a base for allied forces in Europe. Much of the Old Town area of Poole was destroyed by bombing, but redevelopment began in 1950s and whole tracts of dilapidated buildings were replaced with modern housing and public facilities.
Since the 1970s Poole has seen increasing use as a port of departure for cross channel passenger ferries, with up to seven crossings per day in the summer months. Brittany Ferries run a year-round ferry service from Poole to Cherbourg, while Condor Ferries run a seasonal catamaran ferry service to Saint Malo.
Poole is also a pleasant destination if you have time to spare before your ferry crossing. Away from the ferry terminal visitors will find the original quay lined with traditional pubs, listed building and warehouses converted to modern apartments.
Ferries to St Malo
Located at the mouth of the Rance estuary on the North East coast of Brittany, Saint Malo is a useful gateway for holiday makers looking for shorter direct ferry to Brittany than that offered by the longer ferry journey to Roscoff.
Unlike some other ferry ports Saint Malo is a holiday destination in itself. Although historically associated with pirates, Saint Malo can trace its origins back to a monastic settlement founded early in the 6th century. These days you're not likely to see many pilgrims though - todays tourists come to explore the historic fortified town or visit Saint Malos famous aquarium.