Five Budget Ferry Journeys

Taking the ferry, as well as being a wonderful way to travel (across the open sea and free from airport hassle) can also be very cost effective way to reach the continent. On our Ferry Journey Planner we provide detailed information on the most popular ferry routes between the UK, Ireland and continental Europe, including the cheapest fares for a single foot passenger, which can be as low as £7.90 (see Ferry from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight).

Here are some of the best bargain ferry options on offer:

1. SailRail to Ireland: SailRail is a fantastic initiative that has been put together by a group of ferry and train operators to offer cheap transport packages from destinations across the UK to destinations across Ireland, including the train from your UK (or Ireland) starting point to the port, the ferry crossing and the train leg from your arrival port to your final destination in Ireland (or the UK). Fares start as low as £27 from London to Dublin, £24 from Manchester to Dublin or £29 from Edinburgh to Belfast - for more information check out SailRail's website and Will Ross's detailed guide to How to take SailRail from the UK to Ireland.

With the Dutchflyer Rail Sail deal, you could be crossing on Stena Line's flagship Hollandica. Photo © Stena Line2. Rail Sail to the Netherlands: The same principles apply on Stena Line's dutchflyer scheme, which allows you to travel to cities across the Netherlands (including Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Hague) from NationalExpress East Anglia destinations, including London Liverpool Street (as well as Norwich, Cambridge, Ipswich and various other centres for onward connections), including the Harwich - Hook of Holland ferry crossing. Prices for the entire journey start at just £29 one way - for more information see the Stena Line Rail Sail website or Richard Hammond's blog post on the Dutchflyer to Holland.

3. Travel to Northern Spain with Brittany Ferries: If you want to experience the wonderful coastline of northern Spain, but you don't want to fly or endure a long drive through France, this is the trip for you. Brittany Ferries' luxurious ferry is like going on a mini-cruise, and you may see whales and dolphin on the crossing - the Bay of Biscay is one of the best places in Europe to spot these magnificent marine animals. The overnight crossing from Portsmouth to Santander offers the highest standards of comfort and a wide range of entertainment - as well as Brittany Ferries' renowned gourmet dining - as it speeds across the Bay of Biscay (look out for whales and dolphins) to the verdant mountains and sandy bays of Northern Spain. And the starting price (one way), which includes, of course, a night's accommodation, is just £47. Brittany Ferries also run a service from Plymouth to Santander, which starts at just £67 one way. For more information check the Brittany Ferries website.

4. Head to Denmark with DFDS: The ferry to Spain isn't the only bargain overnight crossing - for another voyage where the accommodation is included, try a trip to lovely Denmark. DFDS Seaways run a regular service from Harwich to Esbjerg, the gateway to the long sandy beaches of Denmark's west coast, and a city that is also well connected to the country's rail network for onward travel to Copenhagen and other destinations (including Sweden). Prices start as low as £43 one way - for more information check out the DFDS Seaways Harwich - Esbjerg webpage.

Bargain sailings to sunny Spain and pretty France with Brittany Ferries. Photo © Brittany Ferries5. Channel crossings to Cherbourg for Normandy, Brittany and beyond: There are a huge number of ferries criss-crossing the Channel on various routes between England and France, many of which offer very reasonable fares for foot passengers. But once again it is Brittany Ferries that come up trumps with their Poole-Cherbourg crossing. Starting at just £21, they whizz you across the Channel in just over two hours, and offer a range of facilities and entertainment in addition to their high quality cuisine. Cherbourg is an ideal gateway to the delights of Normandy and Brittany, as well as being well connected to the national rail network (Paris is just 3 hours away) - for more information see the Brittany Ferries website.