Dunkirk parking

[barryd]

I had everything planned for the start of next weeks France trip with a quick stop at Dunkirk to pick up some Reglu Sims at E. Leclerc before heading through Belgium to Bastogne. Just doing some streetview and I think the E. Leclerc in Dunkirk is a roof top car park with a very low height entrance so no chance of taking the van in there. Im thinking I am going to need to park up for an hour or so, get the bike off and go on that. I thought of the large free Aire at Bergues about six miles out of town but is there anything better and easier nearby?

Looking at them on Search for sites there are a few around the ports etc but they all look a bit dodgy to me. Not sure what the situation is like round there now as regards security. I wonder if Bergues might be the best option.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We stayed here (on s4s) 50.987370, 2.122740 it's about 30 mins from le clerk in dunkirk, we didn't stay on the aire but across the road here across the road wild camping a few vans there once when we went 50.989122, 2.123807

 

[Scotia]

There is parking overnight past the Dunkirk visitor centre, a park and display, think three levels which are roads around the parking area. It is policed so get a ticket.

 

[TJBi]

I had everything planned for the start of next weeks France trip with a quick stop at Dunkirk to pick up some Reglu Sims at E. Leclerc before heading through Belgium to Bastogne. Just doing some streetview and I think the E. Leclerc in Dunkirk is a roof top car park with a very low height entrance so no chance of taking the van in there. Im thinking I am going to need to park up for an hour or so, get the bike off and go on that. I thought of the large free Aire at Bergues about six miles out of town but is there anything better and easier nearby?

Looking at them on Search for sites there are a few around the ports etc but they all look a bit dodgy to me. Not sure what the situation is like round there now as regards security. I wonder if Bergues might be the best option.

If you're thinking of going from Dunkerque to Bergues, how about the Leclerc there, with its large open-air car park?

E.Leclerc BERGUES - QUAÃDYPRE · route Nationale, 59380 Quaëdypre, France

âââââ · Hypermarket

maps.app.goo.gl

Parking at Dunkirk would be crazy, because you'd be on the wrong side of the English Channel.

Dunkirk · Faversham

Faversham

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[barryd]

Thanks. It looks like there is a large Carrefour not far from the E. Leclerc on the outskirts of Dunkirk with an open car park. That might be a possibility

 

[barryd]

If you're thinking of going from Dunkerque to Bergues, how about the Leclerc there, with its large open-air car park?

E.Leclerc BERGUES - QUAÃDYPRE · route Nationale, 59380 Quaëdypre, France

âââââ · Hypermarket

maps.app.goo.gl

Parking at Dunkirk would be crazy, because you'd be on the wrong side of the English Channel.

Dunkirk · Faversham

Faversham

maps.app.goo.gl

Bloody hell! How did you find that? ChatGPT and E.Leclerc website are totally crap! That might be a much better bet! If I luck out there I can then take the bike into "Dunkerque" centre.

I was hoping for one with an actual phone section though so I could get some help. I think the one in Dunkerque has that but maybe not that one.

Cheers

 

[barryd]

But will they have the height barrier up or down?

At least if we use that one at Bergues its not far from the Aire. I want to get a wiggle on the first day and visiting a French supermarket can seriously mess up your schedule.

 

[Canalsman]

CR Loon-Plage is a pleasant place to stop.

 

[runnach]

CR Loon-Plage is a pleasant place to stop.

Named after a broad speaking Aberdonian male.

 

[edina]

We stayed here (on s4s) 50.987370, 2.122740 it's about 30 mins from le clerk in dunkirk, we didn't stay on the aire but across the road here across the road wild camping a few vans there once when we went 50.989122, 2.123807

Is that the same place as the WC app one Kev?

 

[jacquigem]

Never had a problem at Bergues , in fact it is/was a favourite stopover .Haven't been for a couple of years though?

 

[simonk3358]

I had everything planned for the start of next weeks France trip with a quick stop at Dunkirk to pick up some Reglu Sims at E. Leclerc before heading through Belgium to Bastogne. Just doing some streetview and I think the E. Leclerc in Dunkirk is a roof top car park with a very low height entrance so no chance of taking the van in there. Im thinking I am going to need to park up for an hour or so, get the bike off and go on that. I thought of the large free Aire at Bergues about six miles out of town but is there anything better and easier nearby?

Looking at them on Search for sites there are a few around the ports etc but they all look a bit dodgy to me. Not sure what the situation is like round there now as regards security. I wonder if Bergues might be the best option.

Stayed here last week 51.0370156, 2.3667866. There is a car park on the dockside. But is on the actual dockside that the parking is best as the car park has painted small spaces. It is very near E Leclerc. A Belgian van had stayed for 3 nights. Bergues is also very good the town is lovely for a stop over as we also stayed the night - big aire no services apart from bins.

 

[TJBi]

Bloody hell! How did you find that? ChatGPT and E.Leclerc website are totally crap! That might be a much better bet! If I luck out there I can then take the bike into "Dunkerque" centre.

I was hoping for one with an actual phone section though so I could get some help. I think the one in Dunkerque has that but maybe not that one.

Cheers

FWIW, I can't find any reference on the Leclerc website to an Espace Culturel in any of the Dunkerque area stores.

 

[barryd]

FWIW, I can't find any reference on the Leclerc website to an Espace Culturel in any of the Dunkerque area stores.

Their website is a bit naff. The one in Dunkerque centre I thought had one but if I can get the sims at Burgues ill see if I can just set it up myself

 

[TJBi]

Their website is a bit naff. The one in Dunkerque centre I thought had one but if I can get the sims at Burgues ill see if I can just set it up myself

Not complicated to set up. Remove SIM card from carrier (pushing out the correct size for your device). Turn off device. Insert into SIM-unlocked device. Turn on device. Your telephone number is sent to you by SMS.

There may be texts and possibly even a call encouraging you to set up ongoing payment. Simplest to ignore these and just pay for subsequent months online by card prior to expiry of current credit unless you wish to keep the SIM active for many months. You would need to set up an online account if you wished to manage the SIM (for example, changing the package for a subsequent month), but not simply to credit for a further month of the same package.

 

[jann]

We always head for Bergues. Not too far.
Lidl supermarket in walking distance.
Very good market Monday morning.
Interesting town to walk round.

 

[TJBi]

But will they have the height barrier up or down?

At least if we use that one at Bergues its not far from the Aire. I want to get a wiggle on the first day and visiting a French supermarket can seriously mess up your schedule.

Unfortunately, the height barrier is likely to be in place. I've asked the store about suitable parking for motorhomes and they have confirmed that they can offer nothing for vehicles over 2.8m in height.

 

[alcam]

There last week Dunkirk aire was full . Stopped in Gravelines . 6 miles from ferry

 

[barryd]

I'll start a proper "Hank the Tank epic adventures" thread tomorrow but in the end we never stopped and Dunkerque or Bergues for SIMs. The schedule just looked like it would get Fubared and as we were heading back into France south of Luxembourg the next day I left it until this morning. What a feckin PIA. Not only did they want both passports (Two sims) but also an address which I had read they might ask for and I had one but then couldn't find on my phone. I ended up just googling any campsite address and they accepted that. We then had to go through it all again for the second SIM for Michelle. Then there was a massive conflab about numbers and I think they were wanting to know if I wanted any French number or my number transferring. So I frantically started typing stuff into Google Translate. We were at the actual till for over half an hour! Worra carry on.

Anyway I just stuck them in and they just worked. Loads of text messages and ill need to figure out how to top them up before 30 days time but not as easy as people have said to buy them (Thionville)

 

[TJBi]

Glad to hear that they're up and running. No need to complicate matters. I've always given them my photocard driving licence for them to use my home address (easier than dictating it as it would generally mean spelling out each word).

Topping up is easy. Just go to https://www.reglomobile.fr/ and scroll down to

Rechargez votre compte​

... simplement et rapidement pour payer votre forfait ou celui d'un proche.

Click on "Je recharge" and then use the left-hand section to specify mobile number, amount of credit that you wish to add for that number, tick the Conditions of Use checkbox and proceed to the card payment section. You can top up any time before expiry of your current term.

Repeat for second number.