Pembrokeshire Ferries to Ireland: Fishguard and Pembroke Dock

Pembrokeshire has two ferry ports to Ireland, both sailing to Rosslare Europort in County Wexford. They are the shortest crossings from Wales to the south-east of Ireland, which is why the county has been a way through rather than a destination for a very long time.

The two routes

Fishguard Harbour, at Goodwick, sits under the headland at the western end of Fishguard Bay. It is a Victorian harbour built for exactly this job, with a long breakwater and the railway running right to the quay.

Pembroke Dock loads from the waterfront in the town, on the Cleddau estuary, a short run downriver from Milford Haven.

Both cross to Rosslare. Sailing times, frequencies and fares change with the season and the operator, so take them from the operators' own websites rather than from any guide, including this one.

What the ports are actually like

Manage your expectations. These are working ferry terminals, not destinations. You get a check-in booth, a marshalling yard, a modest waiting area and a car park. There is no reason to arrive hours early hoping to be entertained.

That said, both sit somewhere worth a couple of hours if you build them into the day. Fishguard's Lower Town, a short way round from the harbour, is a small tidal quay that has been used for films more than once, and Fishguard proper is up the hill with shops and pubs. Pembroke Dock is a planned Georgian naval town with the dockyard walls and towers still standing, and Pembroke Castle is a few minutes up the road.

Foot passengers versus cars

Cars are straightforward: book ahead, arrive within the check-in window, sit in a lane, drive on.

Foot passengers need a bit more thought. Fishguard is the easier of the two, because Fishguard Harbour has its own railway station on the quayside, connecting to the West Wales line and on towards Carmarthen and Swansea. You can go train to boat without a lift.

Pembroke Dock's terminal is on the waterfront and the town's railway station is nearby rather than at the gate — walkable with light luggage, less appealing in weather with a heavy bag, and taxis in this part of the county need booking ahead rather than finding on the street.

Practical notes

The crossing is long enough that people treat it as part of the day rather than a hop. Take something to do.

Check current identity document requirements before you travel — what is needed depends on nationality and has changed in recent years, and it is not something to discover at the booth.

If you are catching an early sailing, staying locally the night before removes the risk of the drive. Fishguard, Goodwick, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven and Haverfordwest all have beds and are close enough to either port.

Allow more driving time than the map suggests if you are coming from England — the last stretch is single carriageway and slow. See getting to Pembrokeshire.

Using the ferry as an arrival

Plenty of people arrive here from Ireland rather than leave from here. If that's you, both ports put you within easy reach of the coast: Fishguard for the north and St Davids, Pembroke Dock for Tenby and the southern beaches.

More in practical information.