Ferries Cairnryan

Cairnryan is a village in the South West of Scotland, on the eastern shore of the Loch Ryan sea loch. Located 10 km from the city of Stranraer and about 130 km from Glasgow, it is the perfect gateway for visiting Scotland!

If you want to reach Belfast, the lively city and capital of Northern Ireland, you can take a ferry all year round.

From Cairnryan ferries depart for Northern Ireland, for the port of Belfast. Up to 6 departures are scheduled per day. The crossing lasts only 2.15 hours, thus being the shortest connection between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

There are two ferry terminals in Cairnryan: one in the North and one in the South, about 2 km apart. In the North terminal, the ferry company Stena Line serves the route Cairnryan Belfast. The port features a large parking lot with up to 300 spaces. The Cairnryan terminal also offers a ticket office, restrooms/nursery and a gas station. Before departure, travellers can wait comfortably in the terminal's waiting lounge or at the coffee shop and enjoy the free Wi-Fi.

Cairnryan is a small village with a supermarket and some B&Bs to host travellers. Located 10 minutes from the town of Stranraer, visitors have access to many hotels, supermarkets, cafés, and restaurants.

Ferries to Cairnryan are a convenient way to discover Scotland, its wild nature and modern cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Start by visiting the nearby Stranraer with its castle, Castle Kennedy Gardens and the Rhins of Galloway peninsula, then head up the coast to beautiful beaches such as Finnarts Bay, Barassie and Ardrossan.

You can explore Galloway Forest Park, with its stunning hills and trails in the forest. The wildlife here is rich and amazing and, if you tour it by night, you can enjoy an incredible view of the starry sky.

Reach Glasgow, just a 2-hour drive away, with the ferries to Cairnryan. Glasgow is a vibrant modern city, a capital of culture boasting many world-class museums, including Kelvingrove Museum and Glasgow Science Centre, enchanting landmarks such as the Cathedral and George Square, and many restaurants and pubs for pure entertainment.

If you get on a ferry to Cairnryan, you cannot miss a visit to the fascinating capital Edinburgh! You should see its outstanding Castle and the medieval old town, as well as the numerous parks and the Pentland Hills for lovers of hiking and the great outdoors. You can take a walk up Carlton Hill or to Arthur’s seat, and admire an outstanding view of the whole city.

How to reach the boardings

Address: 24 Loch Ryan Port Belfast Way Cairnryan DG9 8RG

GPS coordinates: 54°59'6.1''N 5°2'5.2''W

The Cairnryan ferry terminal is about 10 km from the city of Stranraer, and it is well connected to it by public transport. From Stranraer station there are train connections to Glasgow and Edinburgh. Cairnryan Ferry Terminal is 1 hour from Ayr, 2 hours from Glasgow and around 3 hours from Edinburgh and is easily reached via the A77.