Yes, Scotland and Ireland sit only about 20 km apart at the North Channel and are linked by short ferries and one-hour flights.
If you have ever typed “Are Scotland and Ireland close?” into a search bar, you are in good company. A glance at a map already hints at the answer: the two sit side by side at the north of the Irish Sea, separated by a slim strip of water. That narrow gap, plus dense ferry and flight links, means you can move between them in just a few hours.
From a traveller’s point of view, “close” also means door-to-door time. Ferries from south-west Scotland to Northern Ireland take around two hours, and direct flights between cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dublin and Belfast usually sit near the one-hour mark. Put together, those numbers turn a two-country trip into something that can fit inside a single holiday or even a long weekend.
How Close Are Scotland And Ireland Geographically?
On the map, Scotland occupies the northern part of Great Britain, while the island of Ireland lies just to the west. The stretch of sea between north-east Ireland and south-west Scotland is the North Channel, part of the wider Irish Sea. The tightest squeeze is between Torr Head on the Antrim coast and the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland, where the water gap is around 19–21 km; on clear days, headlands on each side can be visible from the other shore.
That is a shorter distance than many city commutes. The main ferry routes use ports slightly farther south, such as Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway on the Scottish side and Belfast or Larne in Northern Ireland, yet the sea crossing still takes roughly two hours. Once you factor in decent road links to Glasgow and Edinburgh on one side and Belfast and Dublin on the other, Scotland and Ireland feel less like separate corners of Europe and more like neighbouring regions.
Typical Distances And Travel Times Between Scotland And Ireland
The figures below give a feel for how close Scotland and Ireland are in practice. Distances are rounded and travel times refer to direct services in normal conditions.
| Route Or Pair | Approx Distance | Typical Travel Time |
|---|---|---|
| Torr Head (NI) – Mull of Kintyre (Scotland) | About 20 km sea gap | No regular passenger route |
| Cairnryan – Larne ferry | About 88 km by sea | Around 2 hours by ferry |
| Cairnryan – Belfast ferry | About 120 km by sea | Around 2 hours 15 minutes by ferry |
| Glasgow – Cairnryan by road | About 130 km driving | Roughly 2 hours by car or bus |
| Edinburgh – Cairnryan by road | About 210 km driving | Roughly 3.5 hours by car or bus |
| Edinburgh – Dublin flight | About 350 km flight path | Around 1 hour 10 minutes in the air |
| Glasgow – Belfast flight | About 175 km flight path | Around 45–50 minutes in the air |
When you zoom out, that means you can travel from a Scottish city to an Irish one in roughly the same time it takes to cross a large metropolitan area by car during rush hour. For many travellers, that counts as “close enough” to plan a single, fluid trip.
Are Scotland And Ireland Close For Short Trips?
Answering “Are Scotland and Ireland close?” on a map is one thing; answering it for a long weekend is another. The good news is that short breaks work well across the two, as long as you keep transfers tidy and avoid packing in too many bases.
Most visitors who only have three or four nights pick one country as a base and add a quick hop to the other. A classic pattern is to spend two or three nights in Edinburgh or Glasgow, then fly to Dublin for one or two nights before flying home. Another option is to fly into Dublin, travel overland to Belfast, and then take a ferry to Scotland for the final leg.
Weekend Combination Ideas
- Edinburgh and Dublin by air: Fly into Edinburgh, wander the Old Town and nearby Highlands day-trip spots, then take a one-hour flight to Dublin for pub nights, Georgian streets and live music before heading home.
- Glasgow and Belfast by ferry: Base yourself in Glasgow, then drive or take a coach to Cairnryan for the ferry to Belfast. Spend a night or two there for museums, the Titanic quarter and coastal drives, then sail back.
- Dublin in, Edinburgh out: Start in Dublin, travel north to Belfast, cross the Irish Sea to Scotland, and finish in Edinburgh. This loop works nicely for five to seven nights, with just one sea crossing in the middle.
Short trips work best when you treat the crossing as part of the adventure, not just a transfer. A morning ferry with sea views or a sunset flight over the Irish Sea can be a highlight rather than dead time between stops.
Ferries Between Scotland And Ireland
For many travellers, ferries are the clearest sign that Scotland and Ireland sit close together. Ports on both sides face each other across Loch Ryan and the North Channel, and sailings run through the day. The official travelling to Scotland from Ireland advice from VisitScotland lists regular ferries from Belfast and Larne to Cairnryan, with extra seasonal routes to Campbeltown and Islay, which underlines how busy this short stretch of sea can be.
Main Ferry Routes
Right now, the workhorse links for most visitors are:
- Cairnryan – Belfast: Stena Line runs frequent sailings between south-west Scotland and the Northern Irish capital, with crossings from about 2 hours 15 minutes. You arrive close to the city, so a taxi or local bus gets you into the centre in short order.
- Cairnryan – Larne: P&O Ferries runs this slightly shorter route to Larne, north of Belfast. It can suit travellers heading straight up the Antrim coast or connecting towards Derry and the north-west.
Both routes accept foot passengers and vehicles. That makes them attractive if you want to bring your own car or campervan, or if you prefer open decks and sea air over airport queues. The Cairnryan–Belfast ferry in particular is set up for fast turnarounds, with multiple crossings daily.
When A Ferry Works Best
A ferry makes the most sense when at least one of these applies:
- You want to drive your own car around rural Scotland or Ireland and avoid separate car hire in each country.
- You enjoy slow travel and like the idea of watching the Scottish coast fade behind you while the Irish shoreline grows ahead.
- Your base is already in south-west Scotland or Northern Ireland, so the port is closer than an airport.
For longer holidays, travelling one way by ferry and flying the other way can keep things flexible while still giving you that sense of crossing between the islands.
Flights Between Scotland And Ireland
If speed comes first, flying is the tightest answer to “Are Scotland and Ireland close?” Flight times between major cities are short, and multiple airlines operate on the busiest routes, which helps keep fares competitive outside peak dates.
Common Routes And Flight Times
Typical links include:
- Edinburgh – Dublin: Carriers such as Ryanair and Aer Lingus run direct flights with around one hour in the air. With airport time added, you still move between capitals in half a day or less.
- Glasgow – Belfast: Short hops to both Belfast International and Belfast City airports sit around the 45–50 minute mark, which feels closer to a bus ride than a long-haul flight.
- Other Scottish airports: Seasonal or occasional routes may run from regional airports, so it is worth checking current schedules if you live outside the central belt.
Pros And Cons Of Flying
Flying works well when you want to spend almost all of your time in cities. A quick hop lets you wake up in Edinburgh and have lunch in Dublin, or finish a Glasgow trip with a last night in Belfast before flying home from there.
On the other hand, flights come with the usual trade-offs: airport transfers, security lines and tighter baggage limits. If you are travelling with small children, carrying bulky hiking gear or planning to bring back a lot of souvenirs, a ferry can feel more relaxed, even if the crossing is longer.
Driving Routes Linking Scotland And Ireland
Driving highlights how close Scotland and Ireland sit once the sea crossing is in the middle of your route rather than a barrier. On the Scottish side, Cairnryan connects to the A77 and then the motorway network, so you can reach Glasgow in around two hours and Edinburgh in roughly three and a half. On the Irish side, motorways and main roads link Belfast to Dublin in around two hours, and Belfast to the Causeway Coast in even less.
If you hire a car, you drive on the left in both Scotland and Ireland, which keeps things simple. Some rental companies allow their vehicles on ferries, while others restrict this, so check those terms before you book. Factor in fuel costs, tolls in the Republic of Ireland and possible city low-emission zones when you compare driving with rail, coach or internal flights.
For many road-trip fans, the sweet spot is to pick up a car on one side of the Irish Sea, loop through your chosen routes there, cross by ferry, then drop the car before heading home by air. That way you get the freedom of driving without duplicate rental contracts.
Planning A Scotland–Ireland Trip By Travel Style
Once you know how close Scotland and Ireland sit on the map and in travel time, the next step is matching that to your travel style. A solo backpacker with a rail pass will use the short distance differently from a family with a hire car or a couple packing in two city breaks.
Short City Breaks
If you only have three or four nights, think in terms of “one base plus a hop.” Pick either Scotland or Ireland as your main base, then add a single crossing to taste the other side. That could be a Friday evening flight from Edinburgh to Dublin or a Saturday morning ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan with a night in Glasgow before heading back.
In tight itineraries like this, every transfer hour matters. Aim for direct flights at friendly times of day, or ferries that match your hotel checkout and check-in windows. That keeps the trip feeling smooth rather than rushed.
Longer Road Trips
With a week or more, you can treat the short distance between Scotland and Ireland as an invitation to roam. One popular loop runs Dublin – Belfast – Cairnryan – Glasgow – Highlands – Edinburgh – Dublin, with a ferry in the middle and a final flight home. Another option is to stay in the north, weaving between the Antrim coast, the Causeway, the Glens, then over to Galloway Forest Park and up into the west of Scotland.
Routes like these reward slow days on coastal roads, visits to castles and distilleries, and plenty of photo stops. The sea crossing becomes just one more scenic segment rather than a hard border.
Budget-Conscious Travellers
Those watching costs can still make the closeness of Scotland and Ireland work for them. Coach plus ferry combinations from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Belfast are often cheaper than flights, especially on dates with high airfares. Travelling as a foot passenger on ferries can also save money compared with taking a car, as long as you are happy to rely on buses and trains at each end.
Flexibility is your friend here. Mid-week sailings or flights often cost less than weekend options, and booking early for peak summer or holiday periods helps keep prices under control.
Best Options By Trip Type
The table below sums up how different travellers can use the short gap between Scotland and Ireland.
| Trip Style | Best Way To Travel | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| 3–4 nights in one base city | Direct flight between Edinburgh or Glasgow and Dublin or Belfast | Fastest transfers and more time in pubs, museums and city streets |
| 5–7 night two-country holiday | Fly into one country, ferry in the middle, fly home from the other | Time in at least two cities plus scenic sea crossing and coastal drives |
| Family trip with a car | Cairnryan ferries with your own vehicle or a hire car that is ferry-approved | No airport luggage limits and an easy way to carry outdoor gear or children’s kit |
| Backpacker or rail-pass traveller | Train or coach to Cairnryan, foot-passenger ferry, onward rail or bus in Ireland | Lower costs and flexibility to stop off in smaller towns along the way |
So, How Close Do Scotland And Ireland Feel When You Travel?
On paper, the narrowest point between Scotland and Ireland is around 20 km across the North Channel, and the most common sea crossings take a little over two hours. In the air, major city pairs sit less than an hour of flight time apart. Taken together, that makes the two neighbours feel much closer than many travellers expect before they look into the details.
By the time you have crossed the Irish Sea once, the question “Are Scotland and Ireland close?” starts to sound almost rhetorical. Whether you pick a quick capital-to-capital hop or a longer loop through coasts and countryside, the short distances and frequent links make it simple to treat both as one flexible playground for your next trip.