Travelling to the Mill

We have gathered together, as well as we can, all the many options on how to get to the Mill from various different departure points.

The information here will be continually revised as we get further information and feedback from travellers.

For people coming from the south of England, it seems quite clear that the best option is for people to get together in small groups and  share the expenses of putting a car on a ferry, either at Folkestone to Calais or from Newhaven to Dieppe and sharing the cost of the ferry, petrol and bits and pieces.

When calculating how many cars to use, don’t forget the luggage.  I suspect four per car, is about right.

If however a complete group can get together from one start-point then the hire of a door to door coach becomes a good possibility.

This and the other facts that we have assembled so far, are set out below:

Directions and Travel options from the UK

By rail to Calais:

Using the London Eurostar:
The easiest and quickest way is to take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Calais (59 minutes). Booking in advance can work out as cheaply as £27.50 each way when booking well in advance.

For Eurostar bookings Tel: 0870 6000 777 or go to Eurostar.com
Once in Calais our private mini-bus can meet group travelers at a pre-arranged time. The 90-minute journey to the Mill costs £25 per person each way for a group.

NB. Alternatively, by booking well ahead the current fare all the way to Paris Nord is £59 [e.g. 11.10.09 to 16.10.09], one can then get to Aumale from the same station using the TER 847843 change at Beauvais TER 847547 for €19,40,  Sunday frequency from Paris Nord is limited to 08:01 ar 10:04, 17:33 ar 20:05, 19:01 ar 21:23 and weekdays 07:41 ar 10:01, 11:18 ar 13:44, 17:18 ar 19:45].

Other options as a foot passenger include using the various ferry services operating from Dover, Newhaven and Portsmouth. For a comprehensive overview of pricing see www.directferries.co.uk/england.htm The typical cost for a return trip without a car is currently £24 (Sept 09).

With a private vehicle:

1. For the Channel tunnel, Folkestone [www.eurotunnel.com] is 1.5 hours drive from London, typical cost for a return journey  for a car with 4 people works out to approx £124 return [i.e. £15.50 per person each way].
2. Using the channel ports

Ferry:
Newhaven to Dieppe is a 4 hour crossing, The Mill Retreat centre is located only 35 miles east of Dieppe, for ferry details and prices see www.transmancheferries.co.uk 0800 650 100. [e.g. Car + 4 travelling 3/10/09 to 10/10/09 £130].

Travel from other ports can easily be arranged using: www.directferries.co.uk/england.htm

Using hired transport from the UK:

Mini buses can be hired economically from companies such as Kendall and are fully insured for use on the continent www.kendallcars.com Tel 020 8542 0403; they provide 7 and 9 seater options.

Other companies include Capital and Sixt with branches all across the UK. Hendy can provide a 17 seater that is the maximum legal seating allowed for a vehicle without a provided driver. [www.hendy.co.uk/Vehicle_Rentals/Minibus_Hire/17_seat_minibus.aspx]. The minibus option from London or any other UK location is both quick and economical for groups travelling to the centre using the Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais.
The tunnel journey of 35mins means that arrival to the centre takes only two hours overall. For groups greater than 17, try www.coqachhireconnections.co.uk 0846 434 123, they will provide various quotes to include a driver.

Road Directions

If you have chosen your point of entry into France you can for example use www.multimap.co.uk: Calais [or Dieppe] to 80430 [post code], the trip of 157km from Calais port takes approx 1hr40 using the main A16. For Sat nav: Enter City/town: Montmarquet (Lafresguimont-Saint-Martin) and then street: Breteuil and then choose: anywhere, this will take you directly to the Mill Retreat Centre or  Town: Montmarquet (Lafresguimont-Saint-Martin) and Street:  Breteuil and post code: 80430  latitude = 49.794563, longitude = 1.751204. Our location is 1 mile north of Aumale. It is best to choose the town and street name rather than the post code.

From Aumale

Once you have arrived in Aumale drive straight through, heading north with the church on your left.  Follow the signs to InterMarche.  Cross over a main road and the railway line.     Once you have passed InterMarche on your right,  keep on the main road (ignoring the sign bearing right to Montmarquet). The road is signed at this point to Le Treport. After less than a mile there is a turning to the right to the ‘Beaucamps’ and immediately after this you will see the Ferme de Breteuil on your left.  The entrance to the Mill is just before the Farm on the left.  There is a white sign with Mill Retreat Centre, Moulin de Breteuil painted on it (a new blue sign is due to go around the end of March).  Take the entrance between the white bollards, immediately after the sign and continue down the drive with the farm on your right.  Through the gates  you will find the Mill.

The Mill Retreat Centre
Moulin de Breteuil
Route Treport (D316)
Montmarquet
80430 Nr. Aumale, FRANCE

Air Travel

The closest international airports are Beauvais (Paris) and Charles de Gaulle.

Ryanair is the major budget airline flying to Paris Beauvais. In terms of European destinations they currently provide a service to and from Glasgow, Dublin, Shannon, Barcelona, Marseille, Bremen, Milan, Pisa, Rome, Venice, Oporto, Alicante, Girona, Madrid and Stockholm. [Typical fares Madrid Beauvais return for €75 30.9.09 to 7.10.09]
[Milan (Orio al Serio) €40 same dates]

Getting to the Retreat Centre from Beauvais airport by train:

There is a shuttle between the airport and the train station, it costs €4 per person and takes 15 minutes. From the station you can get to Aumale direct in 53 mins.

[e.g. using regional trains numbered like TER No 847535 see site www.ter-sncf.com/Picardie for fares approx €9.80 ~ weekday frequency is 4 trains per day 07:34 arriving 08:38, 09:07 ar 10:01, 12:43 ar 13:44, 18:44 ar 19:45. Sunday freq. is 3 trains: 09:10 ar 10:04, 19:02 ar 20:05, 20”27 ar 21:23]

Getting to the Retreat Centre from Beauvais by Taxi, Minibus or Bus

Taxi – up to 8 people with bags 70 euros all hours – www.taxialbarmarla.com 06 80 82 99 98 Monsieur Bazetoux. Email: taxi.albamarla@orange.fr

also taxijoann 06 70 17 42 51 www.taxijoann.com 85 euros from 7am to 7pm and 115 euros, out of hours - info@joanntaxi.com

Minibus – 16 people 200 euros – Ste Transferts Voyageurs Montataire 03 44 53 65 62 www.transferts-voageurs.com transferts-voyageurs@hotmail.fr

Bus – 35 people Emille Longfier 440 euros elongfier@voyages-grisel.fr Autocars Grisel 03 44 47 66 18.

For people wishing to hire a car:

Ryanair and Hertz have a partnership www.ryanair.hertz.com

Alternatively try www.carhire3000.com or  www.novacarhire.com/car-hire/France/Beauvais_Airport.htm

Multimap directions to the centre from Beauvais airport are available from this web address [1hr 8 mins]: www.multimap.com/directions/?qs_1=Beauvais+airport&countryCode_1=FR&qs_2=80430&countryCode
_2=FR&mode=driving&optimizeFor=time&mapData=916

UK and Long Haul using Charles de Gaulle Airport:

Easyjet fly from London Luton, Bristol, Liverpool and most of the major European airports. [e.g. £46 return Luton to Paris 11.10.09 to 16.10.09] Other major carriers and many budget airlines [such as flybe.com] also service the major international and transatlantic hubs. For a comprehensive overview that includes departures from the US try www.cheapflights.com

Getting to the Retreat Centre from CDG airport by train:

On arrival to CDG 2 use TGV to change at Paris Nord to Aumale via Beauvais, e.g. TER 847507 2hrs39 mins ~ see sites www.trains-horaires.com/horaires/recherche www.sncf.co.uk/
also helpful is www.tgv.co.uk ~ local taxis from Aumale to the centre are easily available  www.taxialbarmarla.com .

Getting to the Retreat Centre from CDG airport by hire car:

The major car rental companies such as www.hertz.comwww.avis.com offer great deals and one-way rentals.

Also noteworthy are www.Europcar.co.uk and www.carhire30000.com

Getting to the Retreat Centre from CDG airport by mini-bus or bus:

Minibus for 8 people 185 Euros (24 Euros p.p if 8 present), for 16 people 350 Euros (or 22 euros if every seat is used) Contact – M. Houna and Mme Labet.  Transferts-voyageurs@hotmail.fr 03 44 53 65 62

Bus for 35 people:  weydev travel www.weydev.com 08 10 00 03 09 email contact@waydev.com

An alternative is to take the TGV from CDG to Paris Nord, therafter using the regional TER rail link – change at Beauvais.

Multimap directions to the centre [trip takes 1hr 56mins] are available from: www.multimap.com/directions and type in CDG to 80430.

Please see our Faq section for more information.