UNSURE where to head for your next getaway?
Why not ditch the plane and head off on a European ferry adventure instead?
Most of these routes tick off multiple destinations and you can save buckets on soaring air fares going by foot, car or train and sea.
Sophie Swietochowski has ideas to inspire you . . .
GOOD FOR: FOODIES
ROUTE: Sail Poole to Guernsey then on to Saint-Malo, Normandy before returning to Portsmouth or Dover.
IT takes just three hours to reach Guernsey via ferry — a big win if you’re travelling with youngsters.
Seafood and dairy are the food heroes here and there are plenty of seafront spots to sample them.
Le Nautique restaurant is renowned for its seafood, especially the oysters — you can pick up half a dozen for £12.50.
Expect even more plates of wonderfully fresh fish in Saint-Malo.
From this port city you can then make your way to some of Normandy’s top foodie hotspots, all within a couple of hours’ drive.
Bayeux, which is most famous for housing the historic Bayeux Tapestry, is crammed full of gorgeous apple orchards, hence why cider is a popular drink in these parts.
Ferme Lecornu is right in the city centre and offers a “Royal tasting” experience.
GOOD FOR: COASTAL VIEWS
ROUTE: Sail Holyhead to Dublin, return from Belfast (Larne) to Liverpool.
THE rail routes of Ireland are among the most beautiful in the world, offering simply stuinning views of the blustery ocean as you trundle along the cliffside tracks.
This ferry and train-hopping route requires no car — so make sure to celebrate your sustainability efforts with a Guinness or two.
You won’t be hard pushed to find a decent pour in Dublin, although Mulligan’s on Poolbeg Street repor-tedly serves the best — and it’s even attracted a few famous faces in its time, including John F Kennedy and Judy Garland.
Head from one Irish capital to another, catching the train to Belfast.
If you do just one thing here, make sure it’s a Black Taxi Tour that unearths the fascinating history of Belfast’s troubled past.
Then catch the train to Larne, where the scenery gets pretty spectacular — about six miles from the centre you’ll find The Gobbins Cliff Path, overlooking the often ferocious sea.
GOOD FOR: WILDLIFE
ROUTE: Sail Penzance to the Scilly isles – St Mary’s, then Bryher and Tresco, returning back via St Mary’s to Penzance.
KEEP your eyes peeled because your chances of spotting dolphins are always high in both Cornwall’s Penzance and the Isles of Scilly.
Once you’ve caught the ferry over to St Mary’s island, head to Peninnis Head which offers panoramic views of the ocean.
From this high perch you can watch bottlenose dolphins hunting in the choppy waters below.
Hop on the small ferry over to Bryher where even more magnificent coastal creatures await.
We’re talking grey seals, hermit crabs and even puffins.
Your best chance of spotting them is from now until July, so if you’re heading out there, it’s a good idea to pack a decent camera.
From here, make your way over to Tresco and catch some well-deserved downtime on the glorious beaches.
Pentle Bay has previously been named one of the best beaches in the UK thanks to its white sands and peaceful turquoise waters.
GOOD FOR: WHISKY CRAWLS
ROUTE: Sail from Ardrossan to Arran then to Kintyre, on to Cowal then to Wemyss Bay via Bute. If short of time, consider a single-destination option – Oban to the Isle of Mull is just 45 minutes each way.
SCOTLAND blends breathtaking scenery with world-famous whisky — what could be better?
Make your way from the mainland to the Isle of Arran, which has all the unspoilt beauty of the Highlands, but comes with ocean views.
The coastal road wraps all the way around the island in 55 miles and is well worth exploring — with the famous distilleries of Lochranza and Lagg.
Or save those tipples for your next stop in Kintyre peninsula and specifically Campbeltown, otherwise known as the Whisky Capital of the World, because it was once home to over 30 distilleries.
Stay sober enough to take in the views at Cowal and then Bute (sometimes known as the Madeira of Scotland), before finishing your adventure in Wemyss Bay where you can wander the gorgeous Inverkip coastal path.
For a different tasting experience, ferry over from Oban to the Isle of Mull, and sample picturesque Tobermory, home to a very fine single malt.
HOW TO BOOK: Direct Ferries has some excellent tools for planning routes.
The travel site has designed an interactive map that identifies the most convenient port for any journey, with links out to each individual ferry operator to book.
Prices vary per journey, but all ferry journeys mentioned above cost from under £100 per car.
See discoverferries.com.