Ferry from Portsmouth to Roscoff
From Portsmouth you have two Brittany Ferries ways to reach Roscoff, even though no ferry sails there directly from Portsmouth. The overnight sailing to Saint-Malo lands you about two hours from Roscoff by road and has the most departures. The direct Roscoff ferry leaves from Plymouth, roughly 170 miles west of Portsmouth: a shorter sea crossing, but a longer drive in England.
Routes
There is no direct ferry on this route. To reach your destination, these are the crossings we recommend instead.
Our experience
We sailed from Saint-Malo to Portsmouth with Brittany Ferries as a family, and this day crossing felt much more like part of the holiday than just transport. Saint-Malo is a brilliant place to leave from, the views on departure are beautiful, and there was enough on board to keep the children busy during the crossing. It is not the fastest way to England, but if you are travelling from Brittany or western France, it is a relaxed and very logical route Between the UK and France.
Who sails the alternatives
Brittany Ferries operates both recommended routes. Portsmouth–Saint-Malo is served by several cruise ferries throughout the season, while Plymouth–Roscoff is operated by ships including Armorique and Pont-Aven on selected sailings. Both routes accept cars, campervans, motorcycles and bicycles.
Map with suggested Portsmouth – Roscoff ferry routes
This map shows ferry routes from Portsmouth to Roscoff, with crossing times, fares and the ports they sail from. Tap a route for details, tap a port for its sailings, or zoom in for more.
Onboard experience
Portsmouth–Saint-Malo is operated by Brittany Ferries’ larger cruise ferries, offering cabins, restaurants, bars, lounges and outdoor decks on both day and overnight sailings. Plymouth–Roscoff usually has a slightly smaller onboard experience, although facilities still include restaurants, lounges and cabins on most departures.
Why Saint-Malo is often the better arrival port
Although Roscoff is the final destination, Saint-Malo is only around two hours away by road. Because Portsmouth offers more departures than Plymouth, many travellers gain extra flexibility by choosing the Saint-Malo route without adding much overall journey time.
By car
Drivers can either continue around 170 miles (275 km) west to Plymouth and take the direct ferry to Roscoff, or board in Portsmouth and drive around 125 miles (200 km) from Saint-Malo to Roscoff after arrival. The Portsmouth route usually offers more sailings throughout the season, making it the more flexible choice despite the longer drive in France.
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Still weighing up your options?
We have crossed the Channel to France more times than we can count, on most of the routes and with most of the operators. Tell us where you are starting and we will point you to the smartest way across.