How to get here
Full directions from Loches and for the final few kilometres will be sent to you following payment for your holiday.
FERRY
Travelling by ferry from England offers several options, but most depend on balancing cost plus time spent on the ferry against driving time in France. It is also advisable to book your ferry crossing as early as you can for the best possible price.
Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries overnight to Caen or Saint Malo (get on the modern Mont St Michel ferry if possible!) can bring the driving time down to around three hours, although motorway driving – indeed any driving - in France is less stressful on uncongested roads than in England. With a leisurely stop or two this would ensure arrival at your destination at the ideal mid-afternoon time when your cottage is ready and available.
To visit the Brittany Ferries website please click here
P&O Ferries run from Dover to Calais or Boulogne and driving time is around six hours, almost all of which is on motorways. Portsmouth to Le Havre with LD Lines is good value and cuts the drive to around 4 hours.
To visit the P&O website please click here
Another alternative is car-only carrier SpeedFerries.com who sail from Dover to Boulogne in around one hour. It is advisable to book over the net to avoid a telephone booking fee, but fares can be very competitive. Enquiries can be made on 0870-2200570.
To visit the SpeedFerries.com website please click here
DIRECTIONS
If you require printed directions for your route in France then we suggest the Michelin Online Route Planner Europe website or Mappy.com or RAC Route Planner as the best way to plan your road route to us in the Loire Valley.
Fly cheaper with Ryanair
BY AIR
Ryanair fly almost daily from Stansted to Tours Loire Valley airport. The flight takes around an hour, but by booking early via the internet you can secure some extraordinarily good deals. Ryanair also fly from Liverpool & East Midlands to Limoges which is under 2 hours drive away. Fly-Be also go from Manchester & Newcastle to Limoges, or Southampton to Angers (Loire) which is around one hour away.
To visit Ryanair.com website please click here
CAR RENTAL
Car rental is available in the car park immediately outside the Tours airport terminal building, but it is advisable to pre-book, possibly with your flight for the best deal. Le Moulin de Boutineau is then only about 40 minutes drive away. If you come from the airport and use the A10 (follow signs to Bordeaux, off at exit 23 for Loches) to avoid going into Tours, remember to have a euro cash for the toll-gate.
BY TRAIN
The high-speed TGV train
France’s famous high-speed TGV rail service has a network linking over 60 destinations across the length and breadth of France. You can book direct to Tours (St Pierre des Corps station) from London via this website.