Belfast ferry terminal foot passenger entrance.

The foot passenger entrance at Belfast ferry terminal.

Travelling by Ferry from Belfast to Scotland – A Guide for Foot Passengers

Travelling as a foot passenger on the ferry between Belfast and Scotland is a fantastic way to experience the scenic views of the Irish Sea. With four daily ferry crossings in each direction, there are a variety of options available to cater to your needs and budget. Let’s delve into these:

1. Rail & Sail Ticket

In our view, this is possibly the best option, particularly if your travel plans extend beyond Glasgow.

How it works: Start from Belfast by taking bus service 96 or a taxi to Belfast Port (approx. 20 minutes). After crossing the Irish Sea and disembarking at Cairnryan, a coach awaits to transfer passengers to Ayr railway station for rail connections to Glasgow, a journey totalling roughly 3 hours.

Cost: £35 for the Rail & Sail ticket to/from Belfast and Glasgow/Edinburgh. This price covers the ferry, coach, and train. If your journey extends beyond Glasgow, greater savings can be made. For instance, a ticket from Belfast to Leeds or vice-versa is priced at just £50. The cost of your taxi or bus from the centre of Belfast to the port is extra (£2.20 for the bus, approximately £15 for a taxi).

Rail and Sail coach waiting at the Cairnryan ferry terminal.

The Rail and Sail coach transfers you between Cairnryan ferry terminal and Ayr train station.

Pros and Cons: Integrated ticketing; however, the journey requires handling multiple transfers/connections: from taxi or bus, to ferry, to coach, then train.

Book via Scotrail or Trainline. Customers in Britain can have tickets posted to their home address or collect from any rail station. Customers in Northern Ireland travelling to Britain need to collect their rail portion of their ticket from Ayr station. More information on ticket collection options can be found here.

2. Citylink/Ulsterbus Coach

How it works: Begin with an Ulsterbus (NI) or Citylink (Scotland) coach from Belfast to the port or from Glasgow to Cairnryan. After the ferry journey, another coach awaits at the arrival port to complete the trip to the destination city.

Cost: £32. This includes the cost of the ferry.

Citylink coach heading to Glasgow from Cairnryan ferry terminal.

Pros and Cons: Reliable service. Requires a changeover between coaches.

Book tickets via the Citylink website.

3. Hannon Coach Belfast-Glasgow Express

How it works: This express service takes passengers from Belfast onto the ferry, and then, after arriving in Cairnryan, you continue on the same coach straight to Glasgow.

Cost: £43 each way. This fare includes the ferry journey.

Pros and Cons: Simplified process with minimal transfers – the same service takes you through most of the journey. Dependent on the coach’s schedule.

Tickets can be booked online via hannoncoach.com.

4. Booking Directly with Stena Line

How it works: From Belfast city centre or Glasgow, use bus service 96 or a taxi to get to Belfast Port (around 20 minutes). After the ferry crossing and arrival at Loch Ryan Port, Cairnryan, you’ll need to arrange further transport to Glasgow or Belfast.

Cost: Bus service 96: £2.20 for a single trip. Taxi: Variable costs based on the precise pickup location and prevailing traffic conditions. Stena Line ferry: £35. With the addition of onward transport charges to or from Glasgow, this method would typically emerge as the priciest.

Pros and Cons: Provides maximum flexibility given the broader selection of ferry crossing times. No direct transport to or from Glasgow is included. This can potentially increasing the total cost significantly, especially if taxis are the primary mode of transport.

Tickets are bookable through the form below.

Boarding the Ferry as a Foot Passenger

Boarding the Stena Line ferry as a foot passenger is designed to be a straightforward and efficient experience.

Stena Line recommends that passengers arrive at the terminal at least 45 minutes before the scheduled sailing time. However, if you’re traveling via the Citylink coach, its arrival at the port is timed to seamlessly align with the ferry’s boarding process.

On arrival at the terminal, there’s a short queue to swap your ticket (which might be the ferry segment of your Sail Rail or Citylink ticket) for a Stena Line boarding card.

Security checks are brief, involving a baggage x-ray and a walk-through metal detector, similar to what you’d experience at an airport. There’s no need to unpack any items from your bags for inspection though, so it’s quicker and much less hassle.

Before boarding, passengers can unwind in the designated lounge, where coffee facilities are available. Typically, boarding commences around 30 minutes prior to departure. From the lounge, it’s a walk of just a few hundred metres along the covered gangway directly onto the vessel.

Ferry lounge area with passengers watching television.

There’s plenty of space on board to sit down and relax during the crossing.

Facilities On Board the Ferry

The Stena Superfast VII and Superfast VIII ferries operate this route and offer a comprehensive range of amenities. Guests can choose from various dining and refreshment options and there’s ample seating to ensure a comfortable voyage during the approximately 2 hour and 20-minute crossing.

For those travelling with young children or pets, dedicated facilities are in place. For smokers, designated outdoor smoking areas are available.

Complimentary WiFi is provided onboard throughout the crossing. However, if you require faster connectivity, premium streaming services can be accessed for an extra fee. While mobile phone coverage is consistent throughout most of the journey, there might be moments when the connection switches to the ferry’s maritime satellite signal. It’s worth noting that using this satellite connection can incur substantially higher charges than regular roaming. Therefore, passengers are advised to disable international roaming on their devices before setting sail.

We based this guide on the Belfast to Cairnryan route with Stena Line, but foot passengers also have options on the P&O Ferries crossing between Larne and Cairnryan.