Finish NCN1 at Dover.
Cross the Channel by bike,
under sail.
NCN1 north to Scotland, or EuroVelo 4 south to Boulogne. The crossing is here, by sail, bikes aboard
Cycle Dover to France: NCN1 doesn't end at Dover.
Dover Marina is the southern terminus of NCN1 (the British section of the North Sea Cycle Route, EuroVelo 12) and the departure point of SailLink. These two facts, combined, make it one of the most significant junctions in European cycle touring. Whether you arrive from Scotland or from Boulogne, the next chapter of the journey starts here.
For British cyclists heading south on NCN1, Dover is not a full stop. It is the moment the route leaves Britain and joins the European cycle network. SailLink crosses to Boulogne Marina in around 4h30 on average, where EuroVelo 4 connects west along the Atlantic coast and south towards Paris. You do not need to stop cycling. You need to board a boat.
For European cyclists coming from France, Belgium, the Netherlands or beyond, Dover is where the continent becomes an island. NCN1 begins at the marina gate and runs 2,034 km north to Shetland. Louis reached Orkney. The same pontoon, the same marina, the same crossing, around 4h30 on average, in the other direction.
Finished NCN1? Cross to Europe.
You have cycled the length of Britain. You are at Dover Marina. SailLink departs from the same pontoon. Around 4h30 later you are in Boulogne-sur-Mer, where EuroVelo 4 connects south to Paris and west along the Atlantic coast. Britain to France, without dismantling your bike or queuing at a terminal.
Book the Dover crossingCycle to England without flying
You are on EuroVelo 4, on the North Sea Cycle Route (EV12), or riding up from France, Belgium or the Netherlands. SailLink is the sailing crossing between Boulogne Marina and Dover Marina, the lowest-impact way to reach Britain by bike and join NCN1, with no flight and no car.
See the European connectionsCycling Dover to Orkney, stage by stage.
NCN1 follows the east coast of Britain. It takes diversions inland through cities and valleys, but returns to the sea often enough to earn its reputation as one of the finest touring routes in Europe.
The southern terminus of NCN1. SailLink departs from the same marina. Roll off the boat and onto the route, or roll onto the boat at the end of it. White Cliffs visible from the water.
The first stage follows the Kent coast past Deal Castle before turning inland to Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of England's great cities.
Through Rochester with its Norman castle, along the Thames. The Lee Navigation towpath offers a traffic-free route into London.
The flattest section. Sutton Hoo, the Norfolk Broads, vast Fens skies. A landscape that cycling was made for, with the North Sea always to the right.
Whitby Abbey on the clifftop. The dramatic North Yorkshire coast, the most physically demanding section south of Scotland.
Lindisfarne on Holy Island, reachable by causeway at low tide. Long empty beaches, Bamburgh Castle. Arguably the finest stretch of the whole route.
Across the Scottish border through the Borders countryside to Edinburgh. Castle, Old Town, and the Firth of Forth before heading north.
North through the Cairngorms and the Moray Firth to Tain, then to Thurso. Ferries from Scrabster to Kirkwall (Orkney) and onwards to Shetland continue to the northern edge of Europe. Louis reached Kirkwall: the Shetland ferry ran only once a week and didn't fit his schedule.
NCN1 GPX files, ready for your GPS.
Load the route straight into Komoot, Garmin, Wahoo or your app of choice. Start and finish align with Dover Marina, the SailLink berth, so the track connects directly to your crossing by sail.
Getting to Dover Marina from London
By train from London St Pancras (High Speed, ~1h) or London Victoria (~1h45) to Dover Priory Station. 10 minutes by bike from the station to the marina. Bikes accepted on Southeastern services, free and without reservation outside peak hours.
Starting NCN1 from the marina
NCN1 is signed from Dover Marina. Look for the blue and white Sustrans signs. The first section follows the coast past Deal Castle to Canterbury, around 27 km. A gentle start on mostly flat terrain after the arrival from the sea.
Finishing NCN1 at Dover Marina
If you are riding south from Scotland, Dover Marina is the finish line. SailLink can take you onward to Boulogne, where EuroVelo 4 continues to Calais, Cap Blanc-Nez, and the Atlantic coast of France. Or simply take the train back to London.
Best time to ride NCN1
May, June and September offer the most reliable weather across the whole length of the route. SailLink operates April to October, which covers the best of the season at both ends. Book the crossing before planning the rest of the trip.
NCN1 is Britain's section of the North Sea Cycle Route.
EuroVelo 12 runs from Shetland to Bergen, Oslo, Copenhagen, Hamburg, Amsterdam, Brussels and Boulogne-sur-Mer. NCN1 is the British leg of this continental route. SailLink is the link between EV12 and EuroVelo 4 across the Channel.
Cycling Dover to France, answered.
Can you take a bike on a ferry from Dover to France?
Yes. SailLink is a sailing ferry built for cyclists, running between Dover Marina and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Bikes travel inside the boat, protected from salt and spray, with no need to dismantle or bag them. You roll on and roll off. Capacity is up to 12 passengers and bikes per crossing, so booking ahead is recommended.
Is there a sailing ferry from Dover to France?
Yes. SailLink runs a wind-powered catamaran between Dover Marina and Boulogne-sur-Mer, the first scheduled passenger sailing ferry on the route. The crossing takes around 4h30 on average, depending on wind and tide. It sails from April to October, city marina to city marina.
Where does NCN1 start and end?
National Cycle Route 1 runs roughly 2,034 km along the east coast of Britain, from Dover in the south to northern Scotland, continuing by ferry to Orkney and Shetland. It is the British section of the North Sea Cycle Route (EuroVelo 12). Dover Marina, the southern terminus, is also where SailLink departs for France.
How can I cycle to England from Europe without flying?
Cycle the Vélomaritime (EuroVelo 4) or EuroVelo 12 north to Boulogne-sur-Mer, board SailLink with your bike, and arrive at Dover Marina where NCN1 begins. No flight, no car, and no dismantling your bike. It is one of the lowest-impact ways to reach Britain by bike from the continent.
How long does the Dover to Boulogne crossing take?
Around 4h30 on average. SailLink is powered by wind and tide, so the exact duration depends on conditions on the day. When the wind is with us the motor goes quiet and the boat sails; the crossing time is never guaranteed in advance.
Do you need a car to use SailLink?
No. SailLink is a foot-and-bike crossing from one city marina to another, Dover to Boulogne-sur-Mer. There is no vehicle deck and no car required. It is designed for cyclists and foot passengers travelling light.
"I finished NCN1 in Dover, walked my loaded bike directly onto SailLink, and woke up the next morning in Boulogne. The transition from one country to another should always feel that natural."
A note for European cyclists
NCN1 is mostly on-road, not on dedicated cycle paths. European cyclists used to the separated infrastructure of Dutch, Danish or German cycle routes may find the transition surprising. Louis, who crossed from Boulogne with SailLink and rode the full route to Orkney in 2025, put it plainly: there are almost no separated cycle paths outside the cities.
A few things to know before you go: Some sections run on unpaved tracks, fine on a gravel bike but harder on a road bike. Road surfaces are inconsistent across the whole length of the route, with potholes and rough patches a regular feature. And on at least one memorable stretch, Louis encountered an overgrown lane where brambles had closed in on both sides. Come prepared for all of it.
None of this takes away from the scenery, the pace, or the satisfaction of the route. It just means arriving with the right bike (gravel or sturdy touring), solid tyres, and realistic expectations about British road infrastructure. The village pubs appearing at exactly the right moment more than compensate.
A word of thanks
Thank you, Louis.
Louis was a SailLink passenger in 2025. He crossed from Boulogne, rode NCN1 to Orkney, came back on French national television, and then took the time to answer our questions in detail. The honest notes on this page (the road surfaces, the brambles, the gravel track sections, the correction from Shetland to Kirkwall) come directly from him. Adventures like his are exactly why SailLink exists. We are grateful.
Louis
French cyclist · Dover to Orkney · 2025"I crossed from Boulogne on SailLink and stepped onto British soil at Dover Marina with everything I needed. Four thousand kilometres later, I was in Kirkwall, in Orkney. The crossing was not the start of the trip. It was the trip."Louis, 2025, NCN1 northbound from Dover
The full story. NCN1 from London to Dover, then under sail to France.
France Télévisions followed Louis's journey from London south on NCN1 to Dover Marina, aboard SailLink across the Channel, and back to France. The report that put SailLink on French national television.
© France Télévisions