Scotland to Northern Ireland Ferries

[POIDH]

Newbie here.

I'm planning a long weekend tour in Northern Ireland - it is an easy hop from Scotland to Belfast, then train up to Londonderry. Opens up some of the North West Ireland and Northern Ireland coast for a few days.

I think I'm too used to subsidided Calmac pricing.

The ferries seem 'odd' on costs.
- P&O require a car booking for a bike. One per booking. So we need two separate bookings. And you can guess the cost compared to just foot passenger. I'm currently ignoring as Larne isn't as well connected to the train either. Seems unfair a bike is charged at same rate as a car. If I did this, I may as well take the car with bikes inside and drive...
- Stena - Standard return with bike £100 - yet I can see day returns from £15 (excludes bikes) and adverts that suggest Returns from £35...but can't seem to book a cheaper price.

Any suggestions or experience of (particularly Stena) having sales or discounts at any time…?

[randonneur]

Its £10 each way for bicycles on Stena easily booked on website, similarly P&O were charging £10 last time I used them but from memory their website was less user friendly and booked through www.aferry.com

[PH]

Where in Scotland are you starting from? There's a direct coach from Glasgow to Belfast that accepts bikes. I haven't used it, though it was recommended it to me,. Also goes to Lurgan if you want to avoid riding out of Belfast.
https://hannoncoach.com/

[Jdsk]

Cycling UK have a summary page on ferries:
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/guide ... bike-ferry

It's a useful place to start. And they'll update it if anyone spots any errors.

Happy Christmas

Jonathan

[POIDH]

https://hannoncoach.com/

Perfect, thank you.

The new Ember electric buses take bikes, and they connect Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth and Dundee to Glasgow.
https://www.ember.to/

I've also found while searching that the Northern Ireland to Campbeltown ferry is due to restart.
https://kintyreexpress.com/

And of course we're getting DFDS restarting at Easter, Rosyth to Zebrugge...

That's a debate for me to head across to NI and Ireland this year.... And got me thinking of routes there too.

[Traction_man]

on the Kintyre Express ferry, I emailed in November to enquire about the plans for 2023 and got this reply

"Unfortunately at present we do not have a timetable set for this service but our team are working hard in organising this.

We cannot wait to share this with you all and hope to update you soon, Please keep an eye on our website for updates. "

I keep checking the website as I'd love to go from Ballycastle to Port Ellen next year sometime with the bike.

[Cowsham]

on the Kintyre Express ferry, I emailed in November to enquire about the plans for 2023 and got this reply

"Unfortunately at present we do not have a timetable set for this service but our team are working hard in organising this.

We cannot wait to share this with you all and hope to update you soon, Please keep an eye on our website for updates. "

I keep checking the website as I'd love to go from Ballycastle to Port Ellen next year sometime with the bike.

Me too

[PH]

https://hannoncoach.com/

Perfect, thank you.

The new Ember electric buses take bikes, and they connect Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth and Dundee to Glasgow.
https://www.ember.to/

Please report back with how you get on if you use that service to Belfast, it might fit in with some plans of mine.
I think the usefulness of coach travel for touring cyclists isn't as exploited as it could be. Quite often the cost between cities is little more than the ferry fare, this has been the case with several trips from London to Paris and Amsterdam.

The services from Edinburgh might also be useful to me, thanks for that. Though Edinburgh to Glasgow via Dundee might be a step too far for me!

[Cowsham]

https://hannoncoach.com/

Perfect, thank you.

The new Ember electric buses take bikes, and they connect Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth and Dundee to Glasgow.
https://www.ember.to/

Please report back with how you get on if you use that service to Belfast, it might fit in with some plans of mine.
I think the usefulness of coach travel for touring cyclists isn't as exploited as it could be. Quite often the cost between cities is little more than the ferry fare, this has been the case with several trips from London to Paris and Amsterdam.

The services from Edinburgh might also be useful to me, thanks for that. Though Edinburgh to Glasgow via Dundee might be a step too far for me!

Do you have the 60+ travel pass over in England and does it work here?

[Jdsk]

...
Do you have the 60+ travel pass over in England and does it work here?

There are various schemes:

https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-elderly-person-bus-pass

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-ad ... ncessions/

Jonathan

[PH]

Do you have the 60+ travel pass over in England and does it work here?

Were you asking me?
No, in England you get a bus pass at retirement age, so I have a few years to wait. Also, I'm not sure the national travel passes apply in the other nations, though I haven't checked.
But I rarely use buses and the coach services I do use don't seem to offer any age related concessions.

[PM999]

Concessionary bus passes are country specific in England, Scotland & Wales with a few limited border extensions. (Example - some local buses in Dumfries & Galloway terminate at Carlisle. A Scottish pass is valid on that service, either direction).

[Cowsham]

Thanks

[rualexander]

And of course we're getting DFDS restarting at Easter, Rosyth to Zebrugge...

Not definite yet, and freight only initially probably

[POIDH]

Concessionary bus passes are country specific in England, Scotland & Wales with a few limited border extensions. (Example - some local buses in Dumfries & Galloway terminate at Carlisle. A Scottish pass is valid on that service, either direction).

In Scotland, under 25's get free bus travel with Young Scot card. My three never pay for buses, and one is planning a bus tour of the inner Hebrides on his!

We've also got Flixbus now, and I saw one this morning with bike rack on. I've not looked at thier routes yet...

Shame DFDS and the Kintyre Express aren't confirmed.