Dorset to Brittany
Poole to St Malo ferry
Cross by day from Dorset to the walled city, with St Peter Port on the way
- About six hours on the high-speed Voyager, including the Guernsey stop
- Sailings on several days a week - not a daily route
- Daytime crossing to Brittany, with the Channel Islands as a bonus view
- Condor Ferries, the sister brand of Brittany Ferries
- All details without guarantee
Table of Contents
The crossing at a glance
Poole - St Malo is the scenic route to Brittany: Condor Ferries' high-speed Voyager leaves Dorset in the morning, calls briefly at St Peter Port on Guernsey, and lands you under the ramparts of St Malo about six hours later - all in daylight. It is the counterpart to the overnight Portsmouth boat: faster hull, shorter day, and the Channel Islands as a bonus view from the deck.
The route sails on several days a week rather than daily, so start with the timetable and build the plan around the sailing days.
Getting to Poole and checking in
Poole's compact terminal sits on the harbour, signed from the A31/A350. The morning departure means an early start from further afield - from London allow a good two and a half hours. Check-in closes before departure; the deadline in your booking confirmation is the one that counts, with extra margin for vehicles.
On board
The Voyager is a fast craft: airline-style and lounge seating, café-bar, deck space at the stern - and a ride that follows the sea state more directly than a conventional ship's. The Guernsey call breaks the trip neatly in two; passengers for St Malo stay on board. No cabins, none needed: this is a daytime crossing by design.
Vehicles, bikes and pets
Cars and motorbikes travel, booked by real dimensions; foot passengers are welcome, and bicycles are carried. Pets travel with advance booking. Because the crossing ends in France, the full GB-to-EU rules apply on arrival: passports, EU customs limits, and for dogs the animal health certificate - the FAQ walks through them.
Arrival in St Malo and onward travel
The fast-ferry terminal sits at the foot of the walled city, and arriving by day makes the most of it: intra-muros and its ramparts are a short walk from the ship, with the whole of Brittany behind them - Dinard across the Rance, Dinan half an hour south, Mont-Saint-Michel under an hour east. And if the Guernsey stop tempted you on the way past, the Channel Islands guide shows how a stopover fits into the same journey.
Tickets, fares and changes
Fares move with season and sailing day, and the binding total appears in the booking step. Compare the whole stage against the Portsmouth night boat: the fast ferry saves the cabin but spends a day at sea, the cruise ferry spends the night and hands you a full first day in France. Change terms follow your ticket type; the prices page sets the routes side by side.
Poole - St Malo
The daytime way to St Malo
Poole - St Malo is the fast-ferry counterpart to the Portsmouth night boat: Condor Ferries - Brittany Ferries' sister brand - runs the high-speed Voyager in about six hours, with a short call at Guernsey on the way. It sails on several days a week rather than daily, so the date decides the plan.
The reward is a daytime arrival in one of France's great harbour towns, ramparts first.
- Departure
- Poole Harbour, Dorset
- Arrival
- Saint-Malo, Brittany (via Guernsey)
- Crossing
- About 6 h incl. Guernsey stop
- Operator
- Condor Ferries
Next departures
All details without guarantee. The operator's departure time and your booking confirmation are authoritative. Direct Ferries →
FAQ Poole - St Malo
Frequently asked questions
Questions about the Poole - St Malo crossing.
How long does the crossing take, and why via Guernsey?+
About six hours including the stop at St Peter Port on Guernsey - a fast daytime run, against the overnight cruise of the Portsmouth route. High-speed schedules move with tide and weather, so your booking confirmation carries the authoritative times.
Does it run every day?+
No - it sails on several days a week, up to around eight return sailings across the St Malo programme in season. If your date has no sailing, the overnight Portsmouth - St Malo boat runs most days of the year.
Who operates the route?+
Condor Ferries - since the 2025 reshuffle the sister brand of Brittany Ferries, with the high-speed craft of the old Channel Islands fleet. Booking runs as on every route here: check the departures, continue to the booking step.
Can I take a vehicle, or travel on foot?+
Yes - cars and motorbikes travel on the Voyager, booked by size; foot passengers are carried too. Note the fast-ferry realities: less luggage space than a cruise ferry, and a livelier ride in a swell. For motorhomes and rough forecasts, the Portsmouth ship is the steadier choice.
What about passports, customs and pets?+
Entering St Malo means entering France: full passport checks, EU customs limits, and for dogs the animal health certificate. The Guernsey stop on the way stays inside the Common Travel Area - it only becomes an entry point if you disembark there, which the route happily allows as a stopover.
Ready for the daytime run to Brittany?
Check which days sail in your week and continue to the booking step.