With P&O Ferries offering you the chance to cross the English Channel for as little as £30 one way, for a car and up to nine people, some of you might be tempted to consider taking advantage of some of the fantastic beaches surrounding Calais. John Hillman looks at the choicest few.

France enjoys a coastline filled with wonderful beaches and, contrary to popular opinion, you don’t have to go all the way to the south of the country to find them.

Even as your ferry coasts in to Calais harbour you can’t help but notice the luxurious curve of rich sandy beach that adorns the front of the town. You’ll also find a wealth of fine local fish restaurants to sample during your stay.

But it is a bit further down that coast where the real beach life begins, starting in the quintessentially Gallic coastal resort of Wissant.

This old fishing village still has that classic old French feel to it and has the added bonus of being so close to England you won’t have to switch your phone over to expensive roaming charges to call home.

The beach in front of the town used to be home to a traditional wooden fishing boat called a flobart, but today you are much more likely to find it populated with the multi-coloured canvass sheets of wind and kite surfers who flock to Wissant every year, making it one of Europe’s most popular wind and kite surfing destinations.

Those of you looking for a beach experience that’s more elegant than extreme should continue down the coast a little bit further until you reach Wimereux. This tranquil town boasts a natty combination of chichi seaside restaurants and gently rolling sandy beaches, a perfect place for a restful weekend.

P&O Ferries can help you on your way to the beaches of Pas de Calais with the Dover to Calais service starting from just £30 for a car and nine people. From Calais it is only a short drive or train ride along the coast.

Image credit: Adrien Paris

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