Your Essential Travel Guide To Scotland

Scotland is part of the UK but has always retained its own distinct identity as a nation and a country.

There are many Scottish symbols and traditions that are recognised across the world, such as tartan, bagpipes and whisky, but the country also has a strong history of ingenuity, art, and culture.

Header image credit:Scottish Viewpoint/ Visit Scotland

Scotland is a land of stunning scenery, historic cities and vibrant culture, with a strong identity all of its own. With DFDS ferries to Newcastle, it couldn’t be easier to travel to Scotland for a fantastic holiday seeing as Edinburgh is just a couple of hours’ drive from the port.

Scotland has long held a romantic quality for visitors, with its rugged mountains, remote castles and the sound of bagpipes drifting across misty lochs. This image may be true to some extent, but you’ll also find a vibrant modern country with bustling cities and an eclectic culture.

Image credit: Scottish Viewpoint/ Visit Scotland

Scotland has a rich history with plenty of interesting and beautiful cities, lochs and valleys. This small country also hosts a huge range of cultural events and sporting activites throughout the year.

Enjoy a comfortable crossing with DFDS, operating daily from Amsterdam to Newcastle and making it easy to explore the north of England. Bringing your car allows you to experience a fantastic road trip around and from Newcastle to Scotland without luggage limitations, reaching Edinburgh in just two and a half hours.

You can also take advantage of the direct train service from Newcastle to Edinburgh, with departures three times an hour and a travel time of just an hour and a half.

DFDS has one of the largest ferry networks in Europe, with four routes operating to the UK.

The English Channel ferry crossings are convenient and fast at highly competitive prices, meaning you can take your car with you and explore what the UK has to offer.

We did it! After being crowned ‘Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator 2024’ at the World Travel Awards earlier this year, we are delighted to announce we have retained our title as the World’s Leading Ferry Operator.

We were also once again recognised as having the best website in our industry – scooping both the European and World awards in 2024.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who voted, and to our passengers, colleagues and partners who contribute to our continued success – we couldn’t do it without you all.