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Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)

May 6 2023 | Tagged: United Kingdom, Border Crossings

I travelled from Dundee to Belfast for just £39. That's right, £39.

Scotland to Northern Ireland on a Stena Line Ferry.

​Using a deal on ScotRail, I travelled from Dundee by train and bus and then a final ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast for just £39. Scotland to Northern Ireland.

And to add fuel to the fire, it would be my first visit to Northern Ireland.
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)

buy me a coffee

My buddy Neil informed me of the deal which exists when booked on ScotRail.

If a combo ticket, from Greenock or Glasgow to Belfast for just £35, how much was it going to be from Dundee? A quick check, £39. In fact, you could go from Wick to Belfast for £41. An incredible deal. 

There were 5 stages:

1. Train: Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street.

2. Walk to Glasgow Central 

3. Train: Glasgow Central to Ayr

4. Bus: Ayr to Cairnryan Stena Line Terminal 

5. Ferry: Cairnryan Stena Line Terminal to Belfast

Here's my trip report, May 5 2023:
​

I booked online at ScotRail, paid by CreditCard, then went to the station to pick up the tickets.

Tickets Dundee to Belfast ScotRail

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Everything went very smoothly.

The 9:15 out of Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street:
Dundee to Glasgow Queen Street ScotRail
ScotRail Travel by train in Scotland
The 11:34 out of Glasgow Central to Ayr:
ScotRail Glasgow Central to Ayr
The connecting ScotRail bus to Cairnryan:
Ayr to Cairnryan bus
Arriving at the Loch Ryan Stena Line ferry terminal in Cairnryan:
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
Collect the boarding pass:
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
And boarding the ship:
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
Stena Nordica ferry
I was, like always, travelling economy, no £20 lounge upgrade, in with the masses for me.

Chips and a beer in the restaurant:
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
Make mine a Tiger beer
Enjoying the (border) crossing from Scotland to Northern Ireland:
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
First glimpse of Northern Ireland:
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
Arriving:
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
Arrived. Northern Ireland, my first visit here. 99th UN country:
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
Bus #96 into the centre. A single trip ticket costs £2.20. Paid on the bus, contactless. And an easy ride into town, last stop, Donegal Place.
Translink 96 bus Belfast
Border Crossing: Getting the Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry (Scotland to Northern Ireland)
There ferry departed at 15:30 and arrived on schedule at 17:45. Disembarkation was quick. There were no document checks. Northern Ireland is part of the UK.

Northern Ireland and Belfast welcomes you.

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Next Post:

​​My first visit to Northern Ireland

Previous Post:

​Arthur's Seat Hike Edinburgh​


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  • HOME
  • About
    • ABOUT Me
    • About the Blog
    • Where I've Been: World Travel Page
    • Notable Experiences
  • SITE INDEX
  • Destinations
  • ADVERTISE
  • BORDER CROSSINGS
  • DONATE
  • Travel Advice
  • ATM fees
  • CONTACT
  • Top 3 Fav Countries
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