My traveling companions would much prefer to NOT have to fly from Edinburgh to Dublin. So, what is the estimated time to travel via coach or rail and ferry etc. across Scotland across the sea to Belfast and down to Dublin? Estimated costs? I have tried to find a conclusive answer, but have been frustrated.<BR>Thanks!

For what it's worth, my wife and I took a ferry (Caledonian - MacBrayne I think) from Glasgow to Dublin and it took about 7 hours. I think we paid roughly $120 apiece for the tickets. We drove from Edin. to Glasgow and it took about 2 hours.<BR><BR>Steve

I dare say Steve is MOST confused. CalMac does not sail Glasgow to Dublin. In fact there are no ferries from Glasgow to the Irish Republic. To get to Ireland from Scotland one must first get to southwest Scotland. The only routes are from Campbelltown (quite remote) to Ballycastle, or Stranrear to Belfast. <BR><BR>Shasson: Traveling across Scotland, catching a ferry and then a train to Dublin will not only take MANY hours basically an entire day, and then only if you make all you connections spot on. It will also be MUCH less expensive to fly.

Well, that's not quite right either. There is no ferry from Glasgow to Dublin- sure. But the Campbelltown/Ballycastle route hasn't functioned for the last 2 years- it MAY be back next year.<BR><BR>There are two operators out of Stranraer/Cairnryan to Belfast/Larne; and you can sail from Troon to Belfast

I paid 89 pounds for a car and two people for Belfast-Troon (one-way). It's about 2.5 hours. Driving from Belfast to Dublin will take about 2.5 hours on average, but since the geniuses that oversee Dublin's roads suddenly changed everything in Dublin, I've had people tell me it's taken up to 5 hours in the past week. I think it's around 40 miles from Glasgow to Troon, but don't quote me on that.<BR><BR>It's very easy to get prices and sailing times on the Internet.

The ferry companies from Scotland to Northern Ireland are www.poirishsea.com, www.stenaline.co.uk and www.steam-packet.com. The route with the best train connections would be from Stranraer (with Stena Line).