Rosyth to Dunkirk ferry: launch status and what we know
A direct Scotland to France ferry from Rosyth, near Edinburgh, to Dunkirk has been announced, funded and delayed several times. As of September 2026 it has not started. Below: what is confirmed, what is not, and the routes from Scotland that sail now.
Status in September 2026: not sailing yet
| Route | Rosyth (Fife, 20 km from Edinburgh) to Dunkirk (Loon-Plage) |
| Operator | DFDS, with Ptarmigan Shipping as the Scottish promoter |
| Passage time | About 20 hours |
| Planned frequency | Three round trips a week, passengers with vehicles plus freight |
| Announced start | 2025, then spring 2026, then late 2026; 2027 now looks more likely (Connexion, 18 September 2026) |
| Sticking point | A border control post at Rosyth for post-Brexit checks on food, animals and plants from the EU, and who pays for the passenger and customs facilities |
| Funding | About £6m pledged by the Scottish government and partners in 2026 |
Until DFDS opens bookings there is no timetable and no fare. This page is updated when a start date is confirmed.
Meanwhile: Scotland to the Continent by car
| Option | How | Time from Edinburgh to Dunkirk |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle to Amsterdam (IJmuiden) | DFDS overnight, 16 h 45 with a cabin, then 330 km to Dunkirk or straight on to your destination | Drive 2 h 30 to Newcastle, night at sea, 3 h 15 on the road |
| Hull to Rotterdam | P&O overnight, 11 h 30, then 255 km to Dunkirk | Drive 4 h to Hull, night at sea, 2 h 45 on the road |
| Dover to Dunkirk | Drive the length of England, 2-hour crossing | Drive 7 h 30 to Dover, 1 h at the port, 2 h at sea |
The best alternative from Scotland is Newcastle to Amsterdam: the least driving in Britain, an overnight crossing with the cabin included, DFDS like the planned Rosyth route, and it sails daily. For Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany it saves a day of driving. Hull to Rotterdam means 4 hours on the road first for the same kind of crossing. Dover to Dunkirk is the cheapest and most flexible crossing, but Edinburgh to Dover is 7 h 30 of driving; see prices and all routes side by side. Our review of the Newcastle crossing is on ferrygogo.co.uk.
Background
Rosyth had a ferry to Zeebrugge from 2002 to 2018, first with Superfast and Norfolkline, then with DFDS as a freight-only service until a fire ended it. The Dunkirk plan revived the idea after Brexit, with DFDS already operating Dunkirk to Dover and Dunkirk to Rosslare from the same terminal. Passenger handling at Rosyth, which has no terminal building, and the UK border control post are what the project has been waiting for since 2024.
Questions about Rosyth to Dunkirk
Can I book Rosyth to Dunkirk?
No, not in September 2026. When DFDS opens sales, the timetable and fares will appear on its own site and we will add them here.
Will it take foot passengers?
Unknown. The plan describes passengers with vehicles and freight; the other DFDS routes from Dunkirk are vehicles only.
Where is Rosyth?
On the north shore of the Firth of Forth in Fife, next to the Forth bridges, 20 km from Edinburgh city centre and 15 minutes from Edinburgh Airport.