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Original poster

Sailing from Scotland to Belfast

40 replies

Lovethissun · 01/08/2019 14:01

We will be in Scotland during the holidays and we’re now thinking of travelling by ferry to Belfast
What is the best company and route to go from your experience Thanks ...

OP posts:
Luckymama2014 · 01/08/2019 14:05

Belfast is awesome so def make the trip! there wont be many options for travelling across so that wont be a problem!

itstimeforslime · 01/08/2019 14:07

I think you’ll only have p&o and stena to choose from.

The sailings are from either Cairnryan or Stranraer. Not sure if it’s both or either

audrose3 · 01/08/2019 14:09

I've just come back from a trip to Belfast. What a great city. We sailed from Cairnryan (nr Stranraer) on the Stena ferry. Really easy trip.

Huntlybyelection · 01/08/2019 14:09

Only p&o and stenaline do the sailings.

I think both sail out of cairnryan now. Stena is a nicer ferry and goes to Belfast.

P&o not as nice and goes to Larne so you have to still drive down (under an hour maybe 40 minutes now due to road uograde) to Belfast. But it is cheaper.

Check the price on a ferry comparison site, some give you cashback on quidco - we are going stena to Belfast soon and it was about £10 More than p&o but we are getting about £20 cashback.

That's about all there is to know tbh Grin

pegspurplecat · 01/08/2019 14:09

We've done the Cairnryan to Belfast route with Stena a few times and it is fine. It takes 2.25 hours. Never gone with P&O so cant comment.

Soapyb · 01/08/2019 14:13

Best to go from cairnryan to belfast with stenaline, you are only minutes away from the city centre by car. P&O will take you to larne which is good if you are travelling by car and want to take the scenic route up the north coast. Larne is a good 40 mins or so from belfast.

Arthrette · 01/08/2019 14:18

It can be cheaper to buy your own boat in Stranraer and make your own way overseas - check the classifieds once you're in town. A small dinghy might only be £40-£50 for all of you.

SlatternIsTrying · 01/08/2019 14:20

Don’t get your own boat! It’s a commercial shipping lane between us and Scotland.

thedevilinablackdress · 01/08/2019 14:23

Buy your own boat 😂
Now that would definitely be unreasonable.

Evilspiritgin · 01/08/2019 14:24

It will be cheaper going to cainryan leaving your car in the stena car park and getting a crossing as a foot passenger, if I remember rightly you can get a bus from the terminal in Belfast into the city, as a previous poster has said P&O sail into larne

Original poster
Lovethissun · 01/08/2019 15:04

So Stena seems to be the best option
Will get looking/ booking Thanks!

OP posts:
nornironrock · 01/08/2019 15:09

I'm from Belfast and have done this route many, many times.

My advice is to fly.

I hate boats, and that crossing in particular is notorious for being a little choppy.

Clangus00 · 01/08/2019 15:24

Stena don’t sail from Stranraer anymore.

Emotionalfuckwittake2 · 01/08/2019 15:28

We are in Belfast currently having sailed from cairnryan. It's a nice journey and easy enough 😊

PettyContractor · 01/08/2019 15:36

I genuinely thought this thread was going to be about a boat with actual sails.

A ferry is a bit disappointing.

TK421 · 01/08/2019 18:03

Arthrette

It can be cheaper to buy your own boat in Stranraer and make your own way overseas - check the classifieds once you're in town. A small dinghy might only be £40-£50 for all of you.

I trust you are joking as that is one of the most singularly idiotic suggestions I have read in a long time. The economics of it aside, it would be very dangerous unless you are an experienced sailor with yachting qualifications, knowledge of the tides and currents that can rip through the North Channel, and an appreciation of the weather.

Oh and would likely take you half a day to make the trip one way.

TK421 · 01/08/2019 18:07

Scratch half a day:

Approx 56 miles at average 8 knots (if you’re really lucky and know what you’re doing) in a dinghy = 7 hours.

hopeishere · 01/08/2019 18:09

Stena. I love getting the ferry. The upgrade to the lounge is worth it as well in my opinion.

Havanananana · 01/08/2019 20:29

Stena don’t sail from Stranraer anymore

Stena sail to Belfast from Cairnryan - which is 8 miles from Stranraer

brotherhoodofspam · 01/08/2019 20:38

We went 2 years ago with Stena and paid for most of it with a Tesco clubcard vouchers. Very comfortable get compared to others I've been on.

Crocodilesoup · 01/08/2019 20:41

Larne is handy if you are headed to the Antrim coast, as many visitors are. I've never found much between the boats. If it's a quick trip to Belfast definitely you want to sail to Belfast.

tobypercy · 01/08/2019 20:49

Don't forget to check your travel time from wherever you're staying to Stranraer. It may be a longer trip than you think - unless you're already quite close it's going to take you a full day each way, between the drive and the ferry, is your trip long enough to justify 2 days travelling for a side trip?

littlebird88 · 01/08/2019 20:54

agree with others saying about it being cairnryan and stena the best.
just watch the roads to cairnryan can be a nightmare. leave loads of time .
last check in 30 mins before sailing.

Seeingadistance · 01/08/2019 20:59

I thought the "cheaper to buy your own boat" comment was funny - having looked at the ferry prices last year - and a joke!

Lifecraft · 01/08/2019 21:11

It can be cheaper to buy your own boat in Stranraer and make your own way overseas - check the classifieds once you're in town. A small dinghy might only be £40-£50 for all of you.

Christ, you must have money to burn. £5 for a tub of goose fat to smear on and you can swim it in around 15 hours.

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