France via the landbridge

Was looking at going to France for the first time this year in July. The cost direct sailings with Stena or Irish ferries to France run from the ridiculous to absolute crazy - July is the only time the other half can get time off work. Had a look at going through the UK and eurotunnel and the cost is much more realistic, about half the cost of Stena and less than a third of irish ferries - don't know how they can justify their prices. There's a bit more driving but that wouldn't bother me and still making a saving allowing for the 3xtra cost of diesel
Just wondering has anyone used this route and is there any gotchas traversing the UK now that they've left the eu

We did it many times in the past, we had family to visit on the way in England, and I'm so glad I don't have to do it anymore. Whichever route you choose, the drive through England is usually awful, and then you've a lot more driving to do in France to get further south. So, IMHO, the cost of fuel and the hassle factor makes going directly from Dublin, Rosslare or Cork is so much easier....

Irish ferries was €2300 going out on the 5th July and coming back on 26th, Stena working out around €1600, they've really hiked the prices. Ferry to UK €500 and euro tunnel €350. Its for 3 weeks so I was thinking of breaking the journey for a day in the UK both ways

I've just booked irish Ferries Cherburg - Dublin for €423 sailing 16th June. IIRC the mid July price was about €580 or something like that. Those prices include a four berth cabin and the flex booking.
Your €2300 seem very wrong, check again.
As for driving landbridge, after my last experience of UK traffic in 2020 I wouldn't even consider it unless it was to include visiting family and relatives.

hi joberg. We only ever go via UK now. Have been doing it for over 15 years. We leave Derry and go to Stranraer on an evening boat. Then we have a kip in Scotch corner before heading down M1 to chunnel. We shop during the year in Tesco so always get the chunnel rtn crossing (close to ) free with their tesco voucher scheme. So it is a no brainer. The Stranraer crossing for us is around £450. So for a few tanks of diesel, its still a no brainer. I strongly recommend doing the UK outward leg as an overnight drive to avoid motrway congestion, especially Dartford/M25 on way to Folkestone. Also we always head to Alps before heading to the sun so we go down eastern farnce/Lux anyway, so the trek from Cherbourg to Eastern France is not needed. Family prices of IF/Stenna to France are not affordable for us as we have to travel in peak season as we still take the kids and we are both teachers.

Thanks for the info, especially about the traffic that's great. We are caught for july as well. Can't go before the 5th and have to be back by the 27th. I checked the IF prices direct for thev2 of us and its just €2500, its extortionate

After a bad direct crossing from Rosslare I always did the landbridge until last year, the main reason was the dogs and what was or wasnt required for the pet passports and did a direct sailing again. I need to start thinking about this summer but what you are saying about prices is mad

Forgot to add that we used stena for the landbridge and booked it as such with them and it was a lot cheaper than booking each part separately

Ferry prices and prices in France are getting out of hand as they did in the late 80s ,we stopped going to France then and went on package and self build holidays for over 20 years after that , maybe on the cards again after this year

Can only find Stena landbridge fares for 2021 on their website.

Any one got a link to this years fares?

Thanks