Departures: Book ahead of time

LE SHUTTLE beneath the Channel Tunnel may not yet be operating, but a book intended to help travellers on it is published this week. The Villages of Northern France by Andrew Sanger (Pavilion Books, pounds 9.99), sponsored by Le Shuttle, does have an unfortunate introduction: 'Rain or shine, Le Shuttle takes about 35 minutes.' Nevertheless, it is a worthwhile guide for motorists looking for the pretty way through the the countryside between Argoules in Western Picardy to the Route des Vins in Alsace.