A new ferry route between Scotland and mainland Europe has been announced. Starting next year, there will be a ferry link between Rosyth and Zeebrugge, near Bruges.
The route will initially be for freight transportation when it launches in spring 2023. However, the mayor of Bruges has stated that passenger transportation is on the table.
Rosyth is approximately 17 miles out of Edinburgh, or around 40 minutes by car. It is also only a 50-minute drive away from Glasgow, making it a convenient spot for potential future holidays.
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Zeebrugge, meanwhile, is a port and seaside resort famous for its busy sea harbour. The Belgian destination features quality restaurants and fishermen’s pubs, and is only a 20-minute drive from the capital.
Speaking to Belgian news stations, Bruges mayor Dirk De fauw said: "I’m happy to see an alternative to the old Zeebrugge-Hull link to the UK.
"Rosyth is located not far from Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are cities with populations of 650,000 and 2 million respectively."
A statement from DFDS and Ptarmigan Shipping reads: “Ptarmigan Shipping and DFDS have signed an agreement with the intention to further investigate the possibility for a new ferry route between Rosyth and Zeebrugge with a target date being early 2023 for freight.
"This is all subject to the support we can get from the market and stakeholders, which will be our focus during the next few months. A further study is being carried out regarding the passenger business."
With people looking for ways to cut back on their carbon emissions, a ferry holiday to Europe is a more environmentally friendly option than taking a flight. It is also a more unique mode of transportation that lets you breathe in the fresh sea air as you travel.
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