Getting from Belgium to Scotland

Posted by Rebecca (New York, USA) on 07/01/08 01:53 PM

After a short stay in Antwerp I need to get up to Edinburgh on September 9th. I will have a Eurail pass for France-Benelux and a Britrail pass, so ideally I would like to make use of those.

If anyone can point me in the right direction in terms of ferries it would be greatly appreciated. I know working my way down to London via rail and then heading up to Scotland from there might be the best I can do, but ideally I would hop on a train in either northern England or anywhere in Scotland. My date of departure is not flexible, which seems to be a limiting factor as far as ferries go, as some only run a few times each week. Thanks in advance for any tips!

Posted by Tim

Minneapolis, MN, USA

07/01/08 02:04 PM

8700 posts

For complete ferry routes and fares go to www.directferries.co.uk.

Posted by Perry

Pearland, TX, USA

07/01/08 06:44 PM

852 posts

http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/gbr/tpl/hme/MaHomePage.htm

Hi Rebecca,
... above link is good for travel in New York or Antwerp... and it works for travelers by rail as well as afoot (hikers)and modes of travel in between. Just use your mouse to copy the above ViaMichelin link and then paste it into your Internet search box - finally, touch the ENTER key on your computer keyboard.
... Remember Rudolf Diesel (inventor of the diesel engine)? From an English Channel ferry he fell overboard --- and sadly, Mr. Diesel was not rescued. Please be careful! bon voyage! P

Posted by Pamela

New York City, NY, USA

07/02/08 04:44 PM

5678 posts

Friends of mine from the Netherlands travel to Newcastle on the ferry and then take a train north.

Pam

Posted by Sue

NE, MI

07/02/08 07:56 PM

57 posts

We kind of, just did what the previous poster posted.

We were going in the opposite direction. We took a train from Edinburgh Waverly to Newcastle. We then got on a DFDS Ferry bus, which took us directly to the Ferry Terminal. Overnight DFDS Seaways ferry to IJmuiden (don't know if that is spelled right. That is the Ferry terminal for Amsterdam. ) From there, the directions we were given were not correct and we ended up getting a lift from a stranger to Haarlem.

One day during the trip, we took the train from Haarlem to Bruges. It took 4 trains and 3.75 hours to get there and 3 trains and 3.5 hours to get back.

If you spend lots of time planning, it is possible, and could be pretty enjoyable, too.