Wales Boat Trips & Ferries

Holyhead to Dublin Ferry

Today you've a superb choice of Ferry services from Holyhead to both Dublin, and just to the South of Dublin, Dun Laoghaire. Both Stena Line Ferries and Irish Ferries offer the route, and there's a choice of fast or slower cruise ferries to choose from. Increasingly visitors to Anglesey are taking day trips across to Dublin - and why not! You can also travel to Anglesey from Dublin for a day trip! If you hook into a fast ferry from Holyhead you could be in Dublin in not much over 2 hours (with your car as well!). Day trip prices are amazingly good value too (check the Holyhead to Dublin Ferry weblinks right for details). Special offers come up all the time!

A quick browse over the ferry weblink right (book ferries online), or on either the Irish Ferries or Stena Line Ferries website, and you'll soon realise that you could get to Dublin from Holyhead in just 99 minutes. Fast ferry services are evolving, catering well for the day trip market. If you're holidaying in Anglesey why not consider a day trip to Dublin (either with or without your car!).

Ferry journey times from Holyhead to Dubliin vary from 1 hour and 39 minutes to around 3 hours 15 minutes, dependent on which ferry you choose (there's a choice of Swift Ferries or Cruise Ferries). With two main ferry companies running the route from Holyhead to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire, prices are competitive, plus you've a choice of journey times - each company runs several ferries daily. (check the weblinks right for details).

As the ferries get faster, it makes day trips to Ireland from Anglesey a real option as you've got several hours in Dublin before return (or why not stop off for the night!). Crossings are really cheap if you're not taking your car! Check the weblinks right for details. For ferries to Rosslare, Ireland you'll need to book a ferry from Fishguard on the Pembrokeshire Coast (see weblink right for bookings).

Boat Trips to Wales Off Shore Islands

Wales has numerous off shore islands, many with regular boat trip services. Pembrokeshire is particularly rich for off shore island boat trip opportunities.

Just off shore from Tenby is pretty Caldey Island. Boat trips run every 15 minutes from Tenby's Castle Beach and Harbour beach areas from 9.30am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. They run on Saturdays too from mid May to mid September. Once on the island there's lots to do including twice daily guided walks round the island, exploring the old priory, admiring the views from the lighthouse as far as Lundy Island or taking it easy on Priory Bay's sandy beach. There's a Tea Gardens on the island, and all is delightfully peaceful. Head to the Post Office and Museum to find out more on the history of Caldey Island through the years.

Take a family adventure boat trip across to Ramsey Island (see weblink right and book online). Seal and Dolphin Safaris are on the menu from Goodwick on the Pembrokeshire north coast.

Birdwatching and wildlife lovers should take a boat trip to Skomer Island, a Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, and/or Ramsey Island, an RSPB Nature Reserve - both are off shore from the Pembrokeshire coast. See websites right for RSPB and Wildlife Trust links. Boats run regularly to both islands. To Skomer Island boats run daily from Martins Haven from 1st April to the end of October. For both Skomer and Ramsey Islands check the weblinks right for full details on boat trips and bird watching guided tours, and the spectacular choice of birds you can expect to see through all seasons! Check out also boat trips to beautiful Bardsey Island off the southern tip of the Llyn Peninsula. (weblink right for details). Boat Trips around the Gower Peninsula Coast (usually boarded from the Mumbles near Swansea) are also popular (details linked right).

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Cardiff Bay Boat Trips

why not view the Cardiff Bay area and harbour from the sea by hopping on a boat trip. Bay Island Voyages offer a choice of boat trips on fast cats ranging from quick 30 minute jaunts to two hour boat trips.

Check the Cardiff Cats Bay Voyage weblink right for details. Bay Island Voyages have a trailer near the Pierhead Building (you won't miss this - a striking red brick Victorian French Gothic building contacted for the Cardiff Municipal Railway Company courtesy of the Butes and designed by a Burges disciple).

The Cardiff Waterbus operates daily in Cardiff Bay, sailing between pretty Penarth, Cardiff's waterfront and Cardiff City Centre. You can charter a waterbus too for your group. Check the Cardiff Waterbus weblink right for details. Other sources of watersports on Cardiff Bay include Cardiff Bay Yacht club who offer cruising, angling, dinghy sailing training and more.

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