Ferry Route Between Scotland and Europe

A direct ferry link between Scotland and mainland Europe is set to reopen next year.

Travelling from Scotland to other parts of Europe has limited options where travellers either need to take a flight or travel down to London to catch the Eurostar. But passengers may soon have another, climate-friendly option.

With travellers looking for greener ways to travel, a ferry holiday to Europe is a more environmentally friendly option than taking a flight. It is also a more unique mode of transportation that lets you breathe in the fresh sea air as you travel.

From April 2023, a ferry will operate between Rosyth, a small port 40 minutes from Edinburgh, to Zeebrugge, on Belgium’s northern coast.

The route carried passenger services until 2010, and freight until 2018 but it was shut down by a fire onboard one of the ships.

The new route will primarily be used for freight. However, the operator has hinted that travellers could soon be welcomed onboard, too.

Ferry Journey Time

The journey will take roughly 20 hours, with boats travelling at around 21 to 22 knots (around 40 km/h).

The route will initially be used for cargo alone. But the mayor of Bruges Dirk De Fauw has indicated that passengers will eventually be welcome.

“I’m happy to see an alternative to the old Zeebrugge-Hull link to the UK,” mayor De Fauw told local reporters.
“Rosyth is located not far from Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are cities with populations of 650,000 and 2 million respectively.
“[The new link] would be very important for tourism in Bruges and, by extension, in the whole of West Flanders”.
Bruges Dirk De Fauw

DFDS and Ptarmigan Shipping, the operators who would service the route, also hinted at this possibility.

“A further study is being carried out regarding the passenger business,” they said in a statement.

Ferries aren’t perfect for the planet as they often run on diesel and can spew dangerous particulates into the air. Nonetheless, they don’t produce nearly as much greenhouse gas compared to aeroplanes.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Talk to us in the comment section below.

Check out the deals we have found below and tell us your travel plans.

Check out the offers and discounts from:

And because of the pandemic, don’t forget to get your travel insurance, which will cover you for flight disruptions and pandemic related matters.

IaM can help with your visa application to Europe, the United States, the UK & other countries

If you need help with a US visa, a UK Visa, or a visa to Europe, including help with appointment booking obligations, IaM can help. For more information and advice on US immigration, UK immigration law and US visa applications or if you need any help or assistance please, reach out to your Visa Coordinator at IaM.

Some of our posts include affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of these products, we might get a small commission. For more information, check out our TOS.