How can I travel to Northern Ireland with my campervan?
What do you need to know about travelling from GB to Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland (NI) is the smallest country in the UK and maybe because of its size, or perhaps due to location across the Irish Sea from Great Britain, it often gets overlooked.
How can you get to Northern Ireland?
Getting to Northern Ireland is actually really easy - a lot easier than we anticipated. The quickest way is to fly, however if you are reading this blog post then I anticipate that you will be looking to travel with your campervan, in which case you will need to travel by ferry. There is currently only one ferry route between England and Northern Ireland operated by Stena Line. The Liverpool Birkenhead to Belfast ferry crossing operates weekly with a scheduled sailing duration of about 8 hours. From Scotland, there are two ferry routes. P&O Irish Sea operates one route (Cairnryan to Larne which runs 7 times daily) and Stena Line operates the other route (Cairnryan to Belfast which runs 5 times daily). Alternatively, you can sail into Ireland and drive from Dublin.
How much was the ferry?
We travelled with Stena Line from Cairnryan, Scotland to Belfast, Northern Ireland. In total it cost us £405 for the ferry, but I was able to use £70 worth of Tesco Clubcard points (they triple in value) to deduct £210 from the total price. This left us with £195 to pay. You can use your Tesco Clubcard points if you opt to travel from Liverpool too. Typically it will cost £200 each way. Nutt Travel also offer very competitively priced ferry crossings to Northern Ireland.
How long is the ferry crossing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland?
It takes approximately 2hrs 15mins to travel to NI from Scotland and 8hrs from Liverpool. Both crossings run during the day and late into the evening.
Do you need a passport to Travel to Northern Ireland?
No. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, therefore you will not require a passport. We took our driving licenses in case we were asked for ID, but we weren’t on both crossings. When leaving GB we were asked to open the back of our van up, so they could see inside and they also used an inspection mirror to check underneath the van.
Do pet dogs need a pet passport?
At the time of travelling (and writing this blog), our pet dog Luna did not require a pet passport. This requirement has changed only very recently. On 15th September 2021, DAERA Minister Edwin Poots announced that checks on all pet dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from GB to NI would be suspended indefinitely while negotiations between the UK government and EU continue. You can read more information about the latest guidance here. It is advisable to check the situation regarding traveling with your pet between NI and GB well in advance of travel.
What side of the road do you drive on in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland remains like the rest of the UK and you drive on the left. The roads are generally good quality and the driving scenery is spectacular. Whilst Northern Ireland is smaller in size compared to the other countries in the UK, it certainly makes up for that with the diversity and quality of landscapes. Click here to see a snapshot video of the driving scenery in Northern Ireland.
Buy your Google Map guide to Northern Ireland here. It includes:
Campsite recommendations, overnight parking/chemical disposal points, must see attractions and towns, beaches, hikes, food and drink recommendations and blog post links.
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