The Poole to Cherbourg ferry has stopped running
Brittany Ferries ended its Poole to Cherbourg service in October 2026 — three weeks earlier than the 31 October date it had announced in July — and moved the ship, Barfleur, to Rosslare–Cherbourg from 12 October. The company's replacement for Channel crossings to Cherbourg is Portsmouth to Cherbourg; Portsmouth to Caen and Portsmouth to St Malo also serve Normandy and Brittany. Source: www.connexionfrance.com, checked 2026-10-18.
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Other ways to get from Poole to Cherbourg
| Option | Journey time | Frequency | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth to Cherbourg ferry | 3h 15 | 2 / day | Brittany Ferries, DFDS. still sailing |
| Portsmouth to Caen (Ouistreham) ferry | 6h | 3 / day | Brittany Ferries. still sailing |
| Portsmouth to St Malo ferry | 11h | 1 / day | Brittany Ferries. still sailing |
| Fly London → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) | — | — | For Paris and the north of France. Compare flights → · Car hire at Paris Charles de Gaulle → |
| Fly London → Rennes (RNS) | — | — | For Rennes and inland Brittany. Compare flights → · Car hire at Rennes → |
Read more: Flights to Paris from the UK — compareflights.co.uk (our sister site).
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The Poole to Cherbourg ferry
Poole to Cherbourg is Brittany Ferries' south-coast crossing to Normandy, sailing from one of Europe's largest natural harbours. The ship, the Barfleur, takes about four and a quarter hours by day, an easy daytime hop that avoids the M25 and the Portsmouth approaches if you live in the South West or central southern England. Cherbourg, at the tip of the Cotentin peninsula, is a gateway to western Normandy, the D-Day country and the road south into Brittany. Poole's terminal is reached off the A31 and A35 and is just across the water from the New Forest, so it is a relaxed start to a French holiday. The crossing carries cars, motorhomes, motorcycles and foot passengers, with seasonal sailings concentrated in spring, summer and early autumn.
- Daytime crossing of about four and a quarter hours
- Avoids the M25 and Portsmouth traffic for South West travellers
- Cherbourg opens up western Normandy and Brittany
- Poole is right beside the New Forest
Where the ferry leaves from and arrives
Arriving in Cherbourg? Book a car in Cherbourg →
Staying in or around Cherbourg
Ports & operators on this route
Poole to Cherbourg ferry — common questions
Is there still a Poole to Cherbourg ferry?
No. Brittany Ferries ended Poole to Cherbourg in October 2026 and moved Barfleur to Rosslare to Cherbourg from 12 October 2026, according to aFerry's report of the operator update.
Related ferry routes
Other routes from Poole
Other routes to Cherbourg
Where these facts come from
Checked by the CheapFerries editorial team on 18 October 2026. Operators change timetables, fares and rules, so confirm details for your sailing when you book.
- brittany-ferries.co.uk www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/ferry-routes/ferries-france/poole-cherbourg/about
- connexionfrance.com www.connexionfrance.com/news/brittany-ferries-to-end-two-uk-france-routes-and-sell-two-ferries/799888
- cyprusshippingnews.com cyprusshippingnews.com/2026/10/09/brittany-ferries-move-barfleur-to-rosslare-cherbourg-route/