Ferry to Scotland
Ferries to Scotland
The number of international routes to Scotland is limited. From the European mainland you travel via England: the crossing from Amsterdam to Newcastle is the closest option. Scotland has had no ferry of its own to the Continent since Rosyth to Zeebrugge stopped carrying passengers in 2010; a Rosyth to Dunkirk revival is being worked on but is not bookable.
Ireland or Northern Ireland to Scotland?
There are several options from Northern Ireland. You can sail from Larne and Belfast to Cairnryan in Scotland, the busiest sea link between Ireland and Britain.
If you’re travelling without a vehicle, you can also take a small but fast ferry from Ballycastle to Islay or Kintyre. Check out the map on this page for all the crossings available.
You can use the booking module and select Scotland as your destination to find all the crossings to and within Scotland. If you want to sail from the continent to Hull or Newcastle you can play around a bit and select the UK.
Ferry Map: ferry routes to Scotland.
Use the interactive map to find the right crossing and ferry company. You can zoom in and out and view the routes in the ports.
Stena Line and P&O Ferries operate large ferries between Larne, the Belfast area, and Cairnryan. This is the shortest possible crossing from Ireland/Northern Ireland to the UK when travelling by car.
Alternatively, you can travel from Northern Ireland (or Belfast specifically) to Scotland on a smaller, fast ferry designed for foot passengers only. This route takes you towards the Scottish Hebrides.
Crossings to Scotland
Ferry to Scotland guide
From Northern Ireland to Scotland
Although Cairnryan is little more than a few houses along the road, most travellers from Northern Ireland choose these crossings. From here you continue by car; Glasgow is about two hours away. Our Belfast to Scotland guide compares Stena Line from Belfast with P&O from Larne.
For a summer trip to Kintyre or Islay without a car, Kintyre Express runs a small, fast passenger boat from Ballycastle to Campbeltown and Port Ellen. It is seasonal and weather-dependent, so check the current timetable before you plan around it. Tickets are booked directly with Kintyre Express.
Ferry from Mainland Europe to Scotland
If you’re looking for a ferry to Scotland from continental Europe, you’ll need to travel via England. The most direct route is the Amsterdam (IJmuiden) to Newcastle ferry with DFDS. From Newcastle the Scottish border is about an hour and a quarter away, Edinburgh about two and a half hours.
The alternative is the Rotterdam to Hull ferry with P&O. Scotland is a good deal further from Hull: about three and a half hours to the border and five to Edinburgh. Stena Line’s Hook of Holland to Harwich route is the third North Sea crossing, but Harwich is a long way south if Scotland is your destination.
You can also book a ferry from France to the southern parts of the UK, but be aware that it’s still a very long drive if your final destination is Scotland.
The Scottish islands: Hebrides
Do you want to travel to the islands in the northwest of Scotland? Then check out the following guides: Ferries to Hebrides and ferries to the Outer Hebrides.
For the northern isles, NorthLink sails from Aberdeen and Scrabster to Orkney and overnight from Aberdeen to Shetland, and Pentland Ferries crosses from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope.
Popular Scotland to Hebrides connections
Other Scotland-Related Guides
In the past, there were still existing connections from, for example, Norway to Scotland (read our indirect guide), but nowadays, you have to travel via the Netherlands, France, or through the Eurotunnel when you travel from the south.
Indirectly to Scotland: France and Holland to the UK
We’ve written extensive travel guides for people who want to travel to the UK from France or to the UK from the Netherlands. If that’s the way you want to reach Scotland, those guides will help you choose the proper connection.
As mentioned above, though: The Amsterdam to Newcastle connection might be the best option if you want to travel in this direction.
Our take
From the Continent we would always sail to Newcastle rather than Hull if Scotland is the destination; we have done the Amsterdam to Newcastle crossing ourselves and the hour and a quarter to the border the next morning is nothing after a night in a cabin. Across the North Channel the choice is simpler than it looks: Cairnryan is the port either way, and Stena’s Belfast day trip from £20 and coach day trip to Glasgow are the cheapest ways to try the crossing. And if you are going for the scenery rather than to get somewhere, Oban to Craignure made our list of Europe’s most beautiful ferry rides.
Travel tip: To Scotland book early
The prices for the ferries rise sharply as the boats fill up. Especially during peak season, the ferries and parking decks fill up quickly. Therefore, book far in advance and avoid high costs, this is especially valid for the connection from Amsterdam to Newcastle.
Yes. From Cairnryan you can travel to Larne and Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Yes. If you leave from Larne or Belfast you can reach Scotland directly and travel further to other cities in Scotland.
While there is a lot of demand for this route (for instance Glasgow to Dublin) there is no connection going from Glasgow to Ireland or Northern Ireland. In Glasgow, there are only smaller transport ferries active to pass the River Clyde in Scotland.
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- Relevant Blogs
Ferry Guides for Scotland
Everything you need to know before booking your ferry trip
All crossings to Scotland
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