Page 222 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Scotland

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Travelling by Sea During the summer, John DIRECTORY
O’ Groats Ferries runs a
If you are travelling to Scotland from continental Europe by 40-minute passenger-only Caledonian
foot, car, coach or train, you will need to cross the English crossing to Burwick on South Discovery
Channel or North Sea by ferry or Channel Tunnel. Ferry Ronaldsay with a coach link to Tel (01397) 772167.
∑ caledonian-discovery.co.uk
services operate between several ports on the Continent Logo of a Scottish ferry company Kirkwall on Orkney Mainland.
Small passenger and car ferries
and Scotland and England, while the Channel Tunnel provides link Orkney’s nine large outer Caledonian
a nonstop rail link from France and Belgium. Fares between islands with Orkney Mainland. MacBrayne
ferries and the Channel Tunnel are fiercely competitive. Island- Island-hopping in Tel (0800) 066 5000.
Scotland
∑ calmac.co.uk
hopping by ferry is an enjoyable and economical way to visit Cruises
the beautiful islands situated off the coast of Scotland. Scotland has just under 800 DFDS Seaways
islands scattered off its coast­ A Caledonian MacBrayne ferry leaving the A cruise is a leisurely way to Tel (0871) 522 9955.
line, and travelling by ferry is a port of Mallaig see the many different Scottish
Services to England from wonderful way to experience islands. Caledonian MacBrayne ∑ dfdsseaways.co.uk
the Continent Eurostar
their rugged beauty. The islands NorthLink sails from Scrabster, offers various non-landing,
A network of ferry services can be roughly divided into two north of Thurso, to Stromness evening cruises departing Tel (03432) 186186.
regularly crosses the North Sea main groups: the Hebrides, on Orkney Mainland and direct from a number of locations ∑ eurostar.com
and the English Channel from situated off the west coast, and from Aberdeen to Orkney or to on the west coast. Eurotunnel
northern Europe to ports in the Orkney and Shetland, lying to Shetland. Another service links John O’ Groats Ferries offers Tel (08443) 353535.
UK. Of those travelling to the the northeast of the mainland. Orkney and Shetland. day cruises to Orkney Main land
north of England, P&O Ferries Caledonian MacBrayne has 30 Pentland Ferries also offers from John O’ Groats and ∑ eurotunnel.com
runs a daily crossing from ships, linking 23 of the westerly a car service to Orkney. This Inverness. These can be extended John O’ Groats
Rotterdam or Zeebrugge to isles to the mainland and to each runs between Gill’s Bay west of to include accommodation in Ferries
A car ferry travelling from Oban Hull, and DFDS Seaways runs other. Destina tions include Arran, John O’ Groats and St Margaret’s Kirkwall and a tour of the Tel (01955) 611353.
to Lochboisdale on South Uist from Kristiansand, Gothenburg Islay, Mull, Barra, Lewis, Harris, Hope on South Ronaldsay. This island’s historic sites by bus. ∑ jogferry.co.uk
and Amsterdam to Newcastle. Skye, Raasay, Coll, Tiree and Eigg. island is linked to Orkney It is also possible to take a
An alternative way to travel The summer timetable runs from Mainland via the Churchill cruise on some of Scotland’s NorthLink Ferries
Travelling to Scotland to Scotland from the Continent Easter to mid­October with a Barrier causeways. The vehicle lochs and rivers. Caledonian Tel (0845) 600 0449.
by Ferry
via England is the Channel reduced service for the rest of the capacity of this older ferry is Discovery offers six-day cruises ∑ northlinkferries.co.uk
There is no direct link between Tunnel, which links the UK year. Most of the routes have two limited to 46 and booking in along the Caledonian Canal
Scotland and the European with France. or three trips a day, but some advance is recommended. from Fort William to Inverness. P&O Ferries
continent. The closest service Passengers travelling have only one, so be sure to Tel (0800) 130 0030.
is to Newcastle in England from by coach or car board the call ahead and check. Single, ∑ poferries.com
Amsterdam (see below), a jour­ Eurotunnel train, and remain return and five­day tickets Pentland
ney of about 17 hours. From in their vehicle throughout the are available. Ferries
Newcastle there are frequent 35­minute journey from Calais In addition, there are two Tel (01856) 831226.
trains to Edinburgh or Glasgow. to Folkstone. For those travelling special travel tickets. Island ∑ pentlandferries.co.uk
From North ern Ireland, there is on foot, the Eurostar train runs Hopscotch tickets are valid on
a frequent service operated by frequent services between Paris, a choice of fifteen routes for Stena Line
Stena Line, which runs between Brussels and London. one month from the date of Tel (08447) 707070.
Belfast and Stranraer. P&O Ferries Any visitors from outside the the first journey. The Island ∑ stenaline.co.uk
also offers daily crossings European Union should allow Rover gives you the freedom Cruising on Loch Ness with Caledonian Discovery’s Fingal of Caledonia
between Larne and Cairnryan, plenty of time for immigration to choose your own route
just north of Stranraer. Check the control and customs clearance be tween the islands for 8 or 15 Car Ferry Route Information Days Last Check-In Journey Time
company’s website for details. at British ports (see pp206–7). consecutive days from the date
of the first journey. Although Aberdeen–Kirkwall (Orkney) (0845) 600 0449 alternate days 30 mins 6 hrs 30 mins
the Island Rover ticket is valid Aberdeen–Lerwick (Shetland) (0845) 600 0449 daily 30 mins 13 hrs
on all of Caledonian’s services,
it does not ensure a place on Ardrossan–Brodick (Arran) (0800) 066 5000 daily 30 mins 55 mins
any particular sailing, and it is Gill’s Bay–St Marg’s Hope (Ork.) (01856) 831226 daily 30 mins 1 hr
advisable to make vehicle Kennacraig–Port Ellen (Islay) (01880) 730253 daily 45 mins 2 hrs 10 mins
reservations.
NorthLink Ferries, a venture Kilchoan–Tobermory (Mull) (0800) 066 5000 Mon–Sun 30 mins 35 mins
between Caledonian MacBrayne Lerwick (Shet.)–Kirkwall (Ork.) (0845) 600 0449 alternate days 30 mins 5 hrs 30 mins
and The Royal Bank of Scotland
has ferry routes from the Mallaig–Armadale (Skye) (0800) 066 5000 daily 30 mins 30 mins
Scottish mainland to Orkney Oban–Castlebay (Barra) (0800) 066 5000 daily ex. Wed 45 mins 5 hrs 15 mins
and Shetland. All routes have Oban–Craignure (Mull) (0800) 066 5000 daily 30 mins 45 mins
large capacity purpose­built
roll­on roll­off ferries with Scrabster–Stromness (Orkney) (0845) 600 0449 daily 30 mins 1 hr 30 mins
modern facilities including Uig (Skye)–Tarbert (Harris) (0800) 066 5000 Mon–Sat 30 mins 1 hr 35 mins
restaurants, cabins, shop and
Passengers on the deck of a ferry leaving Tobermory on the Isle of Mull children’s play area. Ullapool–Stornoway (Lewis) (0800) 066 5000 Mon–Sat 45 mins 2 hrs 40 mins

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