By Ferry

Scotland’s only direct service to mainland Europe is operated by Superfast Ferries based at Rosyth in Fife, 10 miles from Edinburgh on the northern shores of the Firth of Forth, just over the Forth Road Bridge. The Superfast service operates daily to Zeebrugge in Belgium. This crossing takes 17½ hours.

In addition there are several continental ferry services to the north of England, within easy reach of the Scottish border, especially Newcastle. There is also a direct ferry link between Scandinavia and Shetland which operates during the summer.

Contacts are as follows:


Car Ferry Access To Scotland from the Continent

Belgium

Superfast Ferries: Zeebrugge - Rosyth
Tel: 0870 234 0870

P&O Ferries : Zeebrugge – Hull
Tel: 08705 980 333

Denmark
DFDS Seaways : Esbjerg – Harwich
Tel: 0871 522 9955

Smyril Line : Lerwick - Hanstholm
Tel: 00298 345 900

Faroe Islands
Smyril Line : Torshavn - Lerwick - Scrabster - Handtholm Tel: 00298 345 900

France
Britanny Ferries : Caen - Portsmouth, St Malo - Portsmouth, Cherbourg - Portsmouth, Cherbourg - Poole, Roscoff - Plymouth Tel: 0870 901 2100

LD Lines : Portsmouth - Le Havre Tel: 0870 428 4335

Condor Ferries : Portsmouth - Cherbourg, Weymouth - St Malo, Poole - St Malo Tel: 0870 243 5140

Norfolkline : Dover - Dunkerque Tel: 0870 870 1020

Transmanche Ferries : Dieppe - Newhaven, Le Havre - Portsmouth, Le Havre - Newhaven Tel: 0800 917 1201

SeaFrance Ferries : Dover - Calais Tel: 0871 22 22 800

P&O Ferries : Dover - Calais Tel: 08705 980 333

Speed Ferries : Dover - Boulogne Tel: 0870 22 00 570

Netherlands
P&O Ferries : Rotterdam – Hull
Tel: 08705 980 333

DFDS Seaways : Ijmuiden, Amsterdam – Newcastle Tel: 0871 522 9955

Stena Line : Hook of Holland – Harwich

Norway
DFDS Seaways : Kristiansand – Newcastle Tel: 0871 522 9955

Smyril Line : Bergen – Lerwick, Bergen - Scrabster Tel: 00298 345 900

Spain
Britanny Ferries : Santander - Plymouth Tel: 0870 901 2100

P&O Ferries : Bilbao - Portsmouth
Tel: 08705 980 333

To Scotland from Northern Ireland

P&O Irish Sea : Larne to Cairnryan
1 hr fast ferry, 1 hr 45 mins. conventional Tel: 0870 242 4777

P&O Irish Sea : Larne to Troon
1 hr 50 min Tel: 0870 242 4777

Stena Line : Belfast to Stranraer
1.75 hrs fast ferry, 3 hrs 15 mins. conventional
Tel: 08705 204 204

Ferry Travel within Scotland

As Scotland is surrounded on three sides by water and has about 790 islands, of which 130 are inhabited, ferries are a major means of transport. The islands can be divided into two main groups - the Inner and Outer Hebrides (also known as the Western Isles) off the west coast and Orkney and Shetland off the north coast. Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd operate the majority of ferry services on the Firth of Clyde and the Western Isles, sailing to 24 islands. They also operate mainland ferry services to the Cowal Peninsula between Tarbert (Loch Fyne) and Portavadie and between Gourock Pier and Dunoon Pier. Most services carry vehicles although some smaller ones only convey passengers.


Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd Tel: 08705 650000
Operate “Island Hopscotch” and “Island Rover” discount tickets

Western Ferries : Gourock - Dunoon Tel: 01369 704452

ASP SeaScot : Port Askaig, Islay – Feolin, Jura Tel: 01496 840681

Highland Council : Corran Ferry (Ardgour – Nether Lochaber)
Tel: 01397 709011

Skye Ferry : Glenelg – Kylerhea
Easter – Oct Tel: 01599 522273 / 522253

Services to Orkney and Shetland

NorthLink Ferries Ltd :
Aberdeen – Lerwick
Scrabster – Stromness (1 hr 30 mins)
Aberdeen – Lerwick (12 hrs 30 mins)
Aberdeen – Kirkwall (5 hrs 45 mins)
Kirkwall – Lerwick (8hrs 15 mins)
Tel: 08456 000449

Other services to and within the Orkney Islands

John O'Groats Ferries : John O'Groats - Burwick Tel: 01955 611353 (Foot Passengers only)

Pentland Ferries : John O'Groats (Gill’s Bay) – St Margaret’s Hope Tel: 01856 831226

Orkney Ferries Ltd. : Inter-island ferry routes Tel: 01856 872044


Other Services to and within the Shetland Islands.

Shetland Islands Council publishes a comprehensive transport timetable covering all services to and within the islands Tel: 08701 999 440