Rail and Sail Tickets

One ticket. Multiple ways to travel.

Go far beyond your usual stop with a Rail and Sail ticket. Head for the wilderness of the Outer Hebrides, the history of Shetland or the buzz of Belfast – that one ticket holds the key to countless adventures.

Wherever you end up, a Rail and Sail ticket makes it simple – one ticket and no need to book in advance (unless you’re going to Belfast).

Forget about months of intensive planning, a Rail and Sail ticket means you can just get-up and go. Why not take an adventure today?

Unlock Rail and Sail
Buy your ticket

What's in it for me?

Unlock breaks

Unlock short breaks

Hear about bloggers Bridges & Balloons' trip to the Scottish Isles. Read more

Puffin

Unlock islands

Discover the islands with combined train and ferry pass Rail & Sail. Read more

One ticket for train and ferry means less hassle, more adventure. No need to book ahead, unless you’re going to Belfast.

Benefits

  • One ticket for train and ferry
  • Travel to Orkney, Shetland, Mull, the Outer Hebrides, Clyde coast and Belfast
  • No need to book in advance, but your ticket will be subject to availability based on ferry capacity
  • Available on all operators
  • Hop on and hop off as much as you like

Need to know

  • Only valid for Standard Class
  • Free travel for under 5s, and half price for children aged 5-15
  • There’s a £10 admin fee for changes or refunds
  • Senior and 16-25 Railcard discounts apply for Rail & Sail to Belfast

Your combined Rail and Sail ticket can take you to:

Orkney and Shetland

Travel from stations in Scotland to:

  • Kirkwall via Aberdeen
  • Kirkwall or Stromness via Thurso and Scrabster
  • Lerwick (Shetland Isles) via Aberdeen

We even include taxi transfer between Thurso and Scrabster. Book your taxi on 01847 893 434.

Mull, Skye and the Outer Hebrides

Travel from stations in Scotland to:

  • Craignure on Mull via Oban
  • Castlebay on Barra via Oban
  • Lochboisdale on South Uist via Oban
  • Armadale on Skye via Mallaig
  • Stornoway on Lewis via Inverness, and a coach from Inverness to Ullapool

The Clyde Coast

Travel from stations in Scotland to:

  • Dunoon (Cowal) via Gourock
  • Rothesay (Bute) via Weymss Bay
  • Brodick (Arran) via Ardrossan Harbour
  • Campbeltown via Ardrossan Harbour
  • Cumbrae via Largs

Belfast

Travel from any station in Scotland to Belfast via Ayr and Cairnryan.

During ongoing disruption at Ayr station, the Rail & Sail coach to and from Cairnryan will additionally serve Prestwick Town station to make connections easier. The coach will continue to call at Ayr, but customers are recommended to change at Prestwick Town for connecting rail services to and from Glasgow and other destinations.

Coach links to the Stena ferry at Cairnryan are included in your ticket price. You’ll need to book in advance and travel on the date shown on your ticket. Sorry, no pets allowed. Travel is subject to availability based on ferry capacity.

Please note: Rail & Sail to Belfast is not available for travel on Saturdays from 4th November until 9th December 2023, and on Saturday 23rd December 2023.

Book your tickets from:

  • The ticket office at a staffed station
  • By phone on 0344 811 0141
  • On-train when boarding at a station where no booking facilities are available
  • Online to Belfast and the Clyde Coast (Rothesay, Brodick and Dunoon)

No need to book in advance, unless you’re going to Belfast.

Then just keep hold of your ticket to display on each stage of your journey.