Ferry farewell after decades of Channel crossings

When the car ferry Barfleur sails out of Poole Harbour on Monday, it will mark the end of more than three decades of sailing between the Dorset coast and Normandy.

Brittany Ferries announced earlier this year that the route would be ended and the ferry sold as part of its plans to cope with financial challenges.

Countless travellers have embarked on holidays, school visits or day trips, while for anyone living and working within sight of Poole Harbour, the ship has been a regular sight.

Barfleur is due to arrive in Poole on its last sailing from Normandy on Sunday at 21:45 BST before departing for the final time at 08:30 on Monday.

Named after the small fishing port in Normandy, Barfleur entered service between Cherbourg and Poole in April 1992.

While it was being built at the Kvaerner Masa-Yards in Finland, it was actually lengthened from its original design by nine metres because of the increasing popularity of the Poole-Cherbourg route at the time.

The £53m vessel initially sailed under the branding of Brittany Ferries' Truckline subsidiary for freight transport.

However in 1999 it started to operate as a traditional passenger ferry service and was repainted in Brittany Ferries' passenger fleet colours.

Its route from Poole's ferry terminal takes it across what is one of the world's largest natural harbours - passing the National Trust's Brownsea Island before heading to the harbour entrance at Sandbanks and across Swanage Bay, bound for Normandy.

Catherine Clarke from Bournemouth is one of many who remembers embarking on the Barfleur as a child for family holidays and school trips.

"It's just the most iconic route. There is no other crossing as beautiful - leaving Poole, passing Brownsea Island, the excitement of seeing the glamorous houses at Sandbanks and waving at people on the chain ferry.

"You felt your holidays started the moment you stepped abroad. The food was amazing - it's like you're already in France.

"It felt like Normandy was our next door neighbour."

She credits a trip to see the Bayeux Tapestry on a family holiday as inspiring her to pursue a career as a historian.

Her last trip on board was with her own family in August, but she does see the vessel leave the harbour every day as she does the school run.

"It's that lovely moment of memory and imagination - you remember all the holidays and good times.

"It's part of the rhythm of the day.

She admitted to shedding a tear, knowing the route its being ended.

"It really feels special to people - there is a lot of love for Barfleur."

The vessel has also made the news over the years.

In 1999 angry farmers protesting against the French ban on British beef tried to storm Poole Port after French lorry-drivers arrived on the Barfleur.

Barfleur has also had to navigate choppy economic waters. In a blow to Poole Port, the route was withdrawn in March 2010 but resumed on a trial basis in March 2011.

It was ended for a second time in October 2011 with the operator blaming the "depressed state of the economy".

However after a period leased to DFDS on the Dover-Calais route, it was reinstated once again for Poole-Cherbourg crossings in March 2013.

The route into Cherbourg was close to the Cotentin Peninsula and the Utah Beach landing site on D-Day in 1944.

The ferry has hosted veterans and their families taking emotional journeys back to Normandy to mark anniversaries of the landings which marked the start of the liberation of Europe and the end of World War Two.

In 2025 five travelled on Brittany Ferries Barfleur, hosted by the Spirit of Normandy Trust, along with others who sailed from Portsmouth.

Like the rest of the travel sector, cross-Channel ferry services suffered during the Covid pandemic and Barfleur was laid up in Caen for the best part of two years until April 2022.

With the repercussions of the pandemic still being felt and with passenger number yet to recover, Brittany Ferry's announced in June that it was scrapping the route and selling Barfleur.

The company said that although it has repaid half of its Covid support loan, significant debt remained, alongside new costs from the The European Union Emissions Trading System despite major investments in greener ships.

The date of the final departure was brought forward as Barfleur had to be moved to the Cherbourg-Rosslare route after its alternative back-up, Commodore Clipper, had suffered a gearbox failure which meant it had been temporarily withdrawn from service.

Christophe Mathieu, CEO Brittany Ferries, apologised for the "disappointment" caused to passengers using the Poole-Cherbourg service.

"It has been a privilege to serve the Poole-Cherbourg route since 1986.

"But we should be clear that we will still sail to Guernsey and on to France in our fast craft from Poole, even if we must say an early adieu to a much-loved vessel and direct services from Poole to Cherbourg."

Barfleur has been a regular sight sailing across Poole Harbour, passing Old Harry Rocks on the Purbeck Coast. Some of the places to watch the final departure of from the shoreline include:

• Baiter Park - A view across Poole Harbour with Brownsea Island in the background (Parking at Harbourside Park Car Park)

• Sandbanks Ferry - The Barfleur passes close to the chain ferry at the opening of Poole Harbour, about 20 minutes after its departure time. Spectators can get a close-up view before it makes a sharp turn towards the Channel (Parking at Sandbanks Surface Car Park)

• Studland - On the other side of the entrance to Poole Harbour, Barfleur will be visible from Shell Bay Beach (Parking at National Trust Shell Bay Beach Car Park)

• Swanage - Sailing along the Purbeck coast, Barfleur has been a familiar sight crossing Swanage Bay as it heads towards the open sea