How to Travel Between Ireland & Scotland
By Jamie Lisse
Even in one of the greenest golfing meccas in the world, the grass still might look greener on the other side -- Scotland. If you are in Ireland and want to get to Scotland, the Irish Sea separates you and only leaves two viable methods of travel. You can travel across the sea by ferry from Northern Ireland, or you fly from any of the airports in Ireland and land at an airport in Scotland. Due to the close proximity, either method is a fairly quick method of travel. You will need to have a valid passport to travel between Ireland and Scotland.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Take a train to Belfast or Larne in Northern Ireland if you are not already there. Ferries to Scotland only leave from these two cities. Book a train ticket at the Translink Web site (see Resources).
Determine which city you want to leave from or arrive in. As if August 2009, P&O Irish Sea Ferry has service from Larne, Ireland to Cairnryan, Scotland. Passage can take from an hour to 90 minutes. The Stena Line ferry offers service from Belfast, Ireland, to Stranraer, Scotland. Passage on a Stena Line ferry takes from 120 minutes to slightly less than 3 hours.
Book a ferry ticket online. Ferry tickets have to be booked online in advance on either the Stena Line or P&O Web site (see Resources). Be sure to print your confirmation as it acts as your ticket to get on the ferry. You must have it in order to board the ferry.
Determine which airport is closest to your location and most economical. There are seven regional airports in Ireland and four international airports. Airports in Ireland are Belfast City Airport, Cork Airport, Derry Airport, Donegal Regional Airport, Dublin Airport, Kerry International Airport, Ireland West Airport Knock, Galway Airport, Shannon Airport, Sligo Regional Airport and Waterford Regional Airport.
Determine your destination airport in Scotland. There are five international airports in Scotland that travelers from Ireland can fly into. They are Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow International Airport, Glasgow Prestwick and Aberdeen Airport.
Book a flight. Flights can be booked using a site such as Expedia or Travelocity or you can book directly with a European airline. Aer Lingus is the national airline in Ireland and offers flights to Scotland at low prices. Discount airlines, such as easyJet and BMI also offer low-cost flights from Ireland to Scotland. You'll need to check your golf clubs, so be sure they're in a container that allows for air travel.
About The Author
Jamie Lisse has been writing professionally since 1997. She has published works with a number of online and print publishers. Her areas of expertise include finance and accounting, travel, entertainment, digital media and technology. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English.
