4 Boat Routes from Britain to Europe

In the age of budget airlines and the Channel Tunnel, there just aren’t as many of us out there considering the lost art of ferry travel.

Britain is an island and has some of the highest rates of tourist travel in Europe, but how many of us can remember the last time they got on a ferry? If you were a bit sick-sick you might remember? If it was when The Sun newspaper gave you a ticket for a £1 you might too. But sadly most of us might not recall that fateful trip to Dover. Maybe this is because Dover isn’t the only place to get across the water. So here are some other routes that might tempt you all back to the sea.

• Hull to Rotterdam

Hull hasn’t ever been that famous for helping out tourists. But P&O ferries operate a once a day seven days a week and usually sail from their port straight to the Dutch city of Rotterdam. Boats sail at 21.00 and are an overnight stay, arriving into Rotterdam just after 8.00am. Prices are very reasonable considering the journey length and, for one person and a car, they start at around £70 return.

• Newcastle to Amsterdam

Newcastle was once a thriving port but it now not quite as sea orientated. That isn’t to say it isn’t very well suited for those wanting to travel somewhere a little different in Europe without either hoping Newcastle airport flies there or having to travel some miles to the nearest airport. This one is operated by DFDS Seaways and normally leaves around 17.00pm and arrives into Amsterdam at 9.30am. For 1 adult travelling without a car it’s around £160 return.

• Portsmouth to Bilbao

If you’re thinking of going to sunny Spain for your holidays like the thousands of others in the UK over the summer months, then why not avoid all those thousands of people and hop on a P&O ferry from the Merchant Navy town of Portsmouth and then possibly venturing into the rest of Spain with your car when you get there. Bilbao is well worth a look while you’re there though and the famous Guggenheim museum is one of the best in Europe. Prices for 2 adults and a car start from around £400.

• Pembroke to Rosslare

Wales and Ireland were once much closer neighbours and in the short 3 and a half hour trip across the Irish Sea you’ll see how it once could have been. The Inishmore ferry leaves the south coast Welsh port of Pembroke twice a day and usually arrives into Rosslare in time for either dinner or breakfast depending on the journey. With a car and two passengers prices start from around £100 each way.

Photo of the sea taken from a ferry originally posted by Baston

Topic:  General Travel | 1 Comment
Tags:  Netherlands, Spain, transportation, UK

About the author

Phil is a freelance writer working on various writing and editing projects ranging from feature film scripts to travel writing. He enjoys writing from experience and sharing information on the many places he has visited over the years