Paris to London on gravel, with the Channel under sail

When Charlie Codrington of Hidden Tracks Cycling discovered SailLink, he saw a route in it. Paris to London on gravel, around 550 km, with the Channel crossed under sail between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Dover. That route is now L'Échappée, a self-supported gravel ultra running from 22 to 25 May 2027, and our boat sits right in the middle of it.

L'Échappée, a Paris to London gravel ultra

L'Échappée is a timed, self-supported gravel ultra. Riders leave the Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil in Paris, known as La Cipale, and make their own way north to Boulogne-sur-Mer. They cross to Dover with us, then ride through Kent to the finish at Herne Hill Velodrome in south London. There is no support vehicle and no luggage transfer. Where you sleep and how hard you push is your call, as long as you reach Boulogne in time for a sailing.

Places are limited to 24 riders, because that is what two of our crossings can carry, with their bikes. Charlie rides it too. Entries, the full rules and the rider briefing are on the L'Échappée page on Hidden Tracks Cycling.

A Paris to London gravel route through Boulogne

The Avenue Verte and most organised London to Paris rides cross the Channel between Newhaven and Dieppe, and the classic road route takes the ferry from Dover to Calais. Charlie's line heads straight north out of Paris through the Bois de Vincennes, onto the forest roads and farm tracks of Picardy and the Somme valley, and up to the coast at Boulogne. On the English side it picks up the North Downs and the Pilgrims' Way before the run into south London.

If you would rather tour than race, our London to Paris route takes another line: the Avenue Verte to Dieppe, the Vélomaritime along the Côte d'Opale to Boulogne, then NCN1 from Dover. Both routes meet at the same pontoon.

Why we said yes

SailLink exists so that people travelling by bike can cross the Channel under sail, with their bike, without worrying about the logistics. Charlie wanted to build a cross-border bike and sail adventure that nobody else on the ultra calendar offers, and he convinced us on the first call. He is a rider before anything else, and you can feel the adventure in everything he plans.

What we liked most is that the crossing stays part of the ride. Riders take in both countries in one continuous journey, with a few hours at sea halfway through a very long effort.

"The crossing is what links the two halves of the adventure. You keep riding, only now the sea is doing the rolling."
Joris, SailLink

Checking in at Boulogne

You check in at the SailLink departure point in Boulogne-sur-Mer marina. The first 12 riders to check in take the first sailing, and everyone else sails the following day. Your French time stops at check-in, and your British time starts when you leave Dover. Departure times follow the tide and the weather, so the exact cut-off will be confirmed in Charlie's rider briefing once our 2027 timetable is set. If the weather keeps a boat in port, the event rules on the Hidden Tracks page explain what happens next.

The French border police check passports at the marina. Passenger details are sent to them ahead of the crossing, and the check takes ten minutes at most. If you are not a British or Irish citizen, you need a UK ETA, or a visa depending on your nationality. We check every passenger's ETA in our system a few days before the crossing, but apply as early as you can.

Your bags come off so the bike can be lifted aboard. Every bike then travels inside the cabin, strapped down and out of the wind and spray, even when all twelve are on board. At Dover you roll it back down the pontoon and ride on.

A few hours at sea, halfway to London

The crossing takes around four and a half hours on average, and our fastest so far took 2 hours 18 minutes. None of it counts towards your time, so use it however you like.

You can lie down and sleep, eat, and use the toilet on board. There are no sockets, so arrive with a charged power bank for your GPS and phone. Keep wet kit packed away, because the cabin is shared and the passenger next to you will thank you for it.

When conditions suit, the crew offers passengers the chance to hoist the sails, take the helm and see how we navigate the Dover Strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. You can also just ask. Nobody is ever made to join in. What usually fills the cabin, though, is riders telling each other where they have been, which tracks they took and how the night went.

Where to wait in Boulogne

Hôtel Monsieur Georges faces the pontoon, so you can sleep and eat a few metres from the boat. La Matelote is the other place we would send you for a proper meal. For coffee, Café Proqua is part of the Accueil Vélo network and used to cyclists turning up with loaded bikes. If something needs fixing, CyclesPassion at 18 Place Louis Lumière is a short ride from the marina.

Dover and the road to Herne Hill

SailLink arrives in Dover marina, in the centre of town. From there, L'Échappée crosses Kent and the North Downs to Herne Hill Velodrome. If your ride ends in Dover, Dover Priory station is five minutes away by bike, with high speed trains to London St Pancras in just over an hour.

Riding it the other way, London to Paris

L'Échappée goes north, but the crossing works just as well heading south. Our boat leaves from Dover marina, in the centre of town, so you ride straight to the pontoon without going near the ferry terminal.

If you are spending the night in Dover first, the Dover Marina Hotel sits on Waterloo Crescent, facing the harbour. So many of our passengers were staying there anyway that we set up a partner rate with them. Write to us before you book and we will pass it on. For coffee, The Salty Dog Harbour Café has opened in the old clock tower building on the marina, a few steps from where we tie up. Show your SailLink booking confirmation at the till and they take 10% off. If your bike needs work before the crossing, Bikes Spares Repairs is the place to go in Dover.

Once you land in Boulogne, the Vélomaritime starts at the top of the pontoon. If you need to reach Paris quickly, the TER from Boulogne-Ville to Paris Nord takes around 2 hours 40 minutes. Bikes travel free, but you have to reserve a bike space on SNCF Connect.

That last point matters for British riders on L'Échappée too, who first have to get to the start in Paris. If our 2027 timetable has a Dover to Boulogne sailing a day or two before 22 May, you could sail over, take the train from Boulogne to Paris and reach La Cipale having already crossed the Channel once under sail. We will confirm it as soon as the dates are set.

Plan your own Paris to London by bike

L'Échappée has 24 places, and an ultra is a particular way to ride. If you would rather plan your own Paris to London, at your own pace and on your own dates, start with our London to Paris route guide and join the newsletter. Our 2027 sailing dates come out this winter, most likely towards the end of the year, and subscribers receive them 48 hours before everyone else.

Questions we often get

What is L'Échappée?

A self-supported, timed gravel ultra of around 550 km from the Vélodrome Jacques Anquetil in Paris to Herne Hill Velodrome in London, organised by Hidden Tracks Cycling from 22 to 25 May 2027. Riders cross from Boulogne-sur-Mer to Dover under sail with SailLink. It is limited to 24 riders.

How does the Channel crossing work on L'Échappée?

Riders check in at Boulogne marina. The first 12 take the first sailing, the others sail the next day. Riding time stops at check-in and restarts when you leave Dover.

Where is my bike during the crossing?

Inside the cabin, strapped down and out of the spray. Bags come off so the bike can be lifted aboard.

Can I charge my GPS or phone on board?

No, there are no sockets on board. Bring a charged power bank.

Do I need an ETA?

Yes, unless you are a British or Irish citizen, or need a visa instead. Apply as early as possible.

Can I ride it the other way, from London to Paris?

Yes. We sail from Dover to Boulogne too. From Boulogne marina you can follow the coast on the Vélomaritime, or take the TER to Paris Nord with a free reserved bike space.

When can I book SailLink for 2027?

Bookings open this winter, most likely towards the end of 2026. Newsletter subscribers get the new dates 48 hours before we announce them publicly.