Flights
Ryanair offer cheap flights to Pau from Stanstead, Bristol to Pau also Birmingham to Biarritz.
The flights to Biarritz which isn't too far away is worth considering mixing your holiday by flying to Pau and have a week with us and a few days in Biarritz and it is possible to depart from there, leave your hired car there and still fly back to Stanstead.
Ferries
The one that suited us the best was the Portsmouth to St Malo. It departed from Portsmouth at 8.00pm giving you time to have a relaxing meal, entertainment and good nights sleep all fresh for an early start in the morning. 460 miles to Lae de Haut on good roads and under no pressure to arrive early.
We usually arrived by 6.00pm but we know the way.
On the return journey we always book into a hotel for the night and have a meal in St Malo. It is worth spending a few days there. (Please do check the ferry times as it is a few years back since we used it)