Roadtripping to Wales – Ferries, Orangina & Vegan Pub Vibes

K-Girl + Benzino
May 19
2 min read

The car was packed, the dog was hyped, and we were officially off. Our goal: reach Calais by evening, catch the early morning ferry, and roadtrip our way into a new kind of adventure — Wales, of all places!

Calais – Pizza, Orangina & a Shady Hotel

We made it to the sea just in time for a sunset walk along the beach. On the horizon? The UK, already teasing us from across the water.

We booked ourselves into what can generously be described as a “charming” hotel near the port and treated ourselves to a very questionable pizza. But no complaints — Katharina was glowing. Why? She found an Orangina, and with one sip, she was instantly back in her childhood. Total highlight of the day.

5:30 AM Wake-Up & the Ferry to Dover

Alarms rang at 5:30 AM (yikes) to catch our 8:05 ferry.Pepe, our four-legged travel buddy, had to stay in the car during the crossing, so we made him a super cozy nest to chill for the 1.5-hour ride. At passport control, Katharina even got to scan Pepe’s microchip herself — a very official dog-parent moment. A quick flash of the passports, and onto the ferry we rolled.

(Check out our: Travel to Wales with your dog guide)

Crossing the channel on a boat always feels like you’re being gently shipped into another reality. We were officially in road trip mode.

First Stop in the UK: Samphire Hoe Beach

Once we landed in Dover, all three of us needed to breathe some fresh air and stretch our legs. One of the first beaches we saw on the map was Samphire Hoe, and it turned out to be a gem. A quick walk, some salty air, and a very happy dog.

Shortly after, Katharina claimed full nap rights and passed out across the car seats like a pro.

Testing the water at Samphire Hoe. — Testing the water at **Samphire Hoe.**

The Not-So-Fun Part: British Traffic

Let’s just say... it was a looooong drive. Way too much traffic, way too little patience. We powered through with Costa Coffee pit stops, basic highway snacks, and a few tired car singalongs.

First Stop in Wales: The Queen’s Inn – A Vegan Pub Dream

Finally, we made it to our first Welsh destination: The Queen’s Inn, famous for being Wales’ first all-vegan pub. What a culinary kick-off!Big win for Katharina, who took on the challenge of finding the best vegan food in Wales. The Queen’s Inn did not disappoint — hearty pub food, no meat in sight, and loads of flavor plus the mandatory pint.

If the rest of the trip turns out like this first stop, we’re in for a treat. 🍻🍔🌱