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Ferry to Scotland

Ferries to Scotland

The number of international routes to Scotland is somewhat limited. For example, from the European mainland, youโ€™ll need to travel via England. The crossing from Amsterdam to Newcastle is the closest option for reaching Scotland.

Ireland or Northern Ireland to Scotland?

There are several options from Northern Ireland. You can sail from Larne and Belfast to Cairnryan in Scotland, a popular route with around 1.8 million passengers per year.

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

Cairnryan-Larne

P&O
40 Miles
2 Hours
Up to 6 times per day
From: £30.00

Cairnryan-Belfast

Stena Line
44 miles
2h 15 mins.
Up to 6 times per day
From: £36.00
Popular
dfds seaways ferry

Newcastle-Amsterdam

DFDS
368 miles
17 hours
Once per day
From: £56.00
Popular
p-o ferries

Hull-Rotterdam

P&O
237 miles
11h 30 mins.
Once per day
From: £164.00
Fast Ferry
kintyre express

Ballycastle-Port Ellen

Kintyre Express
29 miles
1 Hour
Up to 5 times per week
From: £60.00
Fast Ferry
kintyre express

Ballycastle-Campbeltown

Kintyre Express
31 miles
1h 30 mins.
Up to 5 times per week
From: £80.00

From Northern Ireland to Scotland

Although Cairnryan is just a small road with a few houses, most tourists from Northern Ireland choose these crossings. From here, you can easily continue your journey by car.

For a short summer trip to Kintyre or Islay, you can opt for a small pedestrian ferry with Kintyre Express. From there, you can continue your journey by ferry to the Hebrides or the Firth of Clyde region. Tickets can be booked directly with Kintyre Express.

Cairnryan-Belfast

Stena Line
44 miles
2h 15 mins.
Up to 6 times per day
From: £36.00

Cairnryan-Larne

P&O
40 Miles
2 Hours
Up to 6 times per day
From: £30.00

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. From Newcastle, you can drive to Scotland in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

An alternative to the Amsterdam-Newcastle route is the Rotterdam-Hull ferry. However, Scotland is quite a bit further from Hull, with a drive time of approximately 3.5 hours.

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.

Popular
p-o ferries

Hull-Rotterdam

P&O
237 miles
11h 30 mins.
Once per day
From: £164.00
Popular
dfds seaways ferry

Newcastle-Amsterdam

DFDS
368 miles
17 hours
Once per day
From: £56.00

The Scottish islands: Hebrides

Do you want to travel to the islands in the northwest of Scotland? Then check out the following guides:ย Ferries to Hebridesย and ferries to theย Outer Hebrides.

Popular Scotland to Hebrides connections

Mallaig-Armadale

CalMac Ferries
5 Miles
30 minutes
Up to 8 times per day
From: £4.00

Tarbert-Lochranza

CalMac Ferries
12 miles
40 mins.
Up to 7 times per day
From: £4.00

Uig-Tarbert

CalMac Ferries
31 miles
1h 45 mins.
Up to 2 times per day
From: £8.00

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.

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 Nothern Ireland.

yes, if you leave from Larne of 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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Ferry Guides for Scotland

Everything you need to know before booking your ferry trip

All crossings to Scotland

John O Groats-Burwick

John O'Groats Ferries
7 miles
40 mins.
Up to 2 times per day
From: £18.00
Popular
calmac ferries

Ardrossan-Campbeltown

CalMac Ferries
34 miles
2h 36 mins.
Up to 3 times per week
From: £37.00

Ardrossan-Brodick

CalMac Ferries
13 miles
54 minutes
Up to 6 times per day
From: £5.00

Oban-Lochboisdale

CalMac Ferries
87 miles
5 Hours
Up to 5 times per week
From: £13.00

Oban-Craignure

CalMac Ferries
11 miles
48 minutes
Up to 7 times per day
From: £4.00

Largs-Cumbrae

CalMac Ferries
1 mile
10 mins.
Up to 6 times per day
From: £4.00
Fast Ferry
kintyre express

Ballycastle-Port Ellen

Kintyre Express
29 miles
1 Hour
Up to 5 times per week
From: £60.00

Gourock-Dunoon

CalMac Ferries, Western Ferries
3 Miles
20 Minutes
Up to 84 times per day
From: £4.00

Oban-Castlebay

CalMac Ferries
85 miles
5h 15 mins.
Up to 8 times per week
From: £18.00

Uig-Tarbert

CalMac Ferries
31 miles
1h 45 mins.
Up to 2 times per day
From: £8.00

Ullapool-Stornoway

CalMac Ferries
54 miles
2h 45 mins.
Up to 3 times per day
From: £12.00

Wemyss Bay-Rothesay

CalMac Ferries
7 miles
36 minutes
Up to 17 times per day
From: £4.00

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