Winter Sports Destinations You Can Reach By Ferry
Planning a winter getaway?
From skiing and snowboarding to walking and ice skating, if you’re looking to blow away the cobwebs with an active holiday, look no further than Discover Ferries' favourite winter ferry destinations.
Travelling by ferry is not only good value but allows you to take all your clothing and sports gear with you, without hefty baggage fees. Furthermore, taking your own car saves you from lugging heavy equipment around and helps you to get on the road quickly to reach your destination sooner.
Take a short break to one of Kent’s closest ski resorts
Skiliftkarussell Winterberg has more than 27km of slopes, 29 lifts and two toboggan lifts. Weekenders and short breakers can fit in more skiing and snowboarding by taking advantage of floodlit evening sessions, which keep slopes open until 10pm. With adult day passes from 45€ and plenty of low-cost accommodation options, it is also one of the most budget-friendly resorts in western Europe. It also offers free parking!
Skiliftkarussell Winterberg is less than 6h 30 min drive from the ports of Calais and Dunkirk or 4h 30min from the Dutch ports at Hook of Holland, Rotterdam and IJmuiden.
• Travel from Dover to Calais with DFDS, Irish Ferries or P&O Ferries, from Dover or Rosslare to Dunkirk with DFDS, or sail via The Netherlands with DFDS, P&O Ferries or Stena Line.
Swap St Moritz & Chamonix for this lesser-known French resort
Switch the slopes at Chamonix for La Clusaz, a small, pretty resort in Savoie featuring characterful wooden chalets and a main town square with bars, shops and fantastic restaurants. Less expensive and less crowded, this hidden gem also offers experiences including sunset descents, night-time dog sledding, ice floating in Lac de Confins and paragliding.
La Clusaz is conveniently close to the Autoroute Blanche, making it an 8-and-a-half hour drive from the ferry terminal at Calais and a slightly shorter car journey from the Normandy ports of Dieppe, Caen and Le Havre.
• Reach Calais with DFDS, Irish Ferries or P&O Ferries, travel from Newhaven to Dieppe with DFDS and sail to Caen and Le Havre with Brittany Ferries.
Try your hand at curling
Located in the Firth of Clyde is Ailsa Craig or “Fairy Rock”, famed as the main supplier of curling stones. Formed from an extinct volcano, the island produces some of the densest, strongest granite in the world. The stone’s unique low water absorption prevents cracking and erosion despite repeated contact with freezing water. The uninhabited isle is owned by a conservation trust as it is home to large numbers of birds including puffins and Europe’s biggest gannet colony. Ailsa Craig is visible from the neighbouring Isle of Arran, with private boat tours available. Extend the experience with a curling lesson at Glenapp Castle. It offers sessions that include 45 minutes of coaching from an accredited Royal Caledonian Curling Club coach, followed by a game and afternoon tea.
• Travel to Arran with Caledonian MacBrayne.
Mountain biking on the Isle of Man
The Isle of Man’s diverse landscapes and challenging peaks makes it one of the best places in the British Isles for mountain biking. Kick your trip off with a half day or full day guided mountain bike ride. You will get to meet fellow riders, learn some expert tips and build confidence to attempt some of the trails alone.
There are plenty of tracks that explore the island’s forests and open countryside. First timers should try the South Barrule Mountain Bike trails at Foxdale but for a more gruelling ride, seasoned cyclists should try the Witches Barrel figure of eight, which has over 2,800ft of climbing. Routes can be tailored to align with your technical ability, whether you are new to mountain biking or an experienced rider. Bike hire is available year-round in Douglas but when travelling by ferry, it’s easy to take your own across.
• Board the ferry to Douglas with the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
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Treasure hunting on the Isle of Wight
Add a little adventure to a winter trip across the Solent with geocaching. This GPS-based trail-finding activity challenges participants to find hidden ‘geocaches’ or containers, which hold small items and a log book to note when and where things are found. However, the real reward is discovering parts of the Isle of Wight that may otherwise go unexplored.
There are hundreds of caches hidden across the island’s diverse landscapes, from ancient woodlands to coastal coves. Use the Geocache app to plan a cycling or walking route that suits your group – pick a trail with easy-to-spot caches for young children or, wannabe detectives can choose a more mentally challenging route that requires puzzle solving. Our favourite is the five-mile circular route that goes through farmland to Newtown Bay – the only other way to reach this cache is by boat.
• Travel to the Isle of Wight with Hovertravel, Red Funnel or Wightlink.
Get your skates on in Belfast
Follow in the footsteps of Northern Ireland’s champion ice hockey team, the Stena Line Belfast Giants, and get out on the ice. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or just starting out, you can practice on the country’s only public Olympic-sized ice rink, Dundonald International Ice Bowl.
• Located just outside Belfast, the ice rink can be accessed by road or public transport from Stena Line’s Belfast ferry terminal. If arriving into Larne with P&O Ferries, it’s a 45 min drive.
Winter horse riding in Ireland
Experience the old country on horse back as our ancestors have done for millennia by riding from Dublin to Wicklow. The route takes in sights such as Guinness Lake, the ancient Glendalough monastic settlement and climb the Sally Gap – a historic crossroads in the Wicklow mountains that boasts phenomenal scenery.
• Sail to Dublin with Irish Ferries and Stena Line.
Snowshoe in Spain
While it might not be an obvious destination for winter sports, Spain should not be overlooked as a place to find peace in the peaks. The Picos de Europa mountain range offers traditional ski touring, walking and trekking but also snowshoeing. Opt for guided tours or follow self-guided routes to get the best views and encounters with nature. The area is home to the rare Cantabrian brown bear, the Pyrenean desman – a shy member of the mole family that resembles a mini duck-billed platypus – as well as eagles, vultures and alpine birds so there is plenty of wildlife to admire.
• Sail to Santander or Bilbao with Brittany Ferries and head into the mountains.
Board in the city?
For reinvigoration during a trip to London, head to Surrey Docks for water sports. The docks are a lot quieter in winter, giving you space to practise stand up paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking and windsurfing in the safety of the 1km water sport dock. Instructors are available to give lessons, and you’ll gain extra brownie points for braving the Thames in cooler weather!
• Sail with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers and alight at Greenland (Surrey Quays) Pier.
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