The rise of slow travel: Why you should consider sail and rail over planes

Planes aren’t the only way to head off on your travels. Arlene Harris meets the holidaymakers choosing boats and trains for freedom, fun, less stress and lower emissions

Activists are asking the Irish and UK governments to encourage travellers to take more environmentally friendly means of transport.

Most Irish people of a certain age will remember the days when flying from Ireland to Britain was a very costly experience. Low-cost airlines were not a thing and, with a one-way flight costing several hundred euro, many opted instead for the lengthier — but much cheaper —car ferry.

It’s a different story today as there are currently 91 flights daily between Dublin and London alone — and while many of these can be purchased for the same, or not much more, than a national rail fare, the cost to the environment has yet to be seen.

With this in mind, Opportunity Green, founded by Aoife O’Leary, is calling on both the Irish and British governments to promote the use of ‘sail and rail’ and encourage people to consider taking a longer but more environmentally friendly route.

Aoife O'Leary, founder of Opportunity Green

“We are asking both governments to consider whether there is a better way and to support it,” she says. “The [boat and train] journey is very pleasant but it needs support to ensure it can run smoothly and that people know about it. Better connections from Dublin port into the city are a must as well. But, unfortunately, neither the rail nor the ferry companies really support ‘sail and rail’ right now. They offer it but it’s clearly not something they go out of their way to promote.”

The 41-year-old, who is from Dublin but lives in London, is no stranger to travelling by train and boat and, in fact, went for five years without flying anywhere at all. But when she does take a flight, usually for work purposes, she is very conscious about the impact it has.

“In work, our travel policy says that all flights must be approved by me, as CEO, and we report all our flights in our annual report,” she says. “When I do end up flying somewhere, I usually tag on a holiday at the end so there are no additional flights on top. But I don’t fly for personal reasons, and haven’t in seven years, although I did recently get married and my wedding ‘gift’ to my partner was one long-haul flight for our honeymoon.

“I travel home to Dublin from London about four times a year and I always sail and rail. I can’t remember the last time I flew home. The biggest reason for this is always climate — the science on climate change is utterly terrifying. In Ireland, the recent heat wave was something for people to enjoy but, in London, it was so bad that you couldn’t really go outside. Also, the number of people who died in the recent heatwave in France and Germany was shocking.

“Taking a flight is so easy and is the default [for most people] but, if you just take a step back and consider other options, they are usually not as bad as you think.”

Slow travel is the way to go

Sara Hurley, who grew up with overland/sea travel, agrees and says that she much prefers not having to wait in an airport, and the freedom of moving around on a train or a boat, and finds that, overall, an eight-hour trip from Dublin Port to London is “much more comfortable and enjoyable”.

Sara Hurley finds travelling by sea much more comfortable than by air

“As a child, my family would often take the boat to get to Sweden [to visit family] via Holyhead, and it was great,” she says. “In 2022, I went there and back within three weeks, journeying through six countries [stopping in three to visit friends]. I also travel by train across Ireland and wish it cost less and we had more lines because it is a great way to travel and more people should consider it as a first option.”

The 38-year-old has had many great experiences while travelling by train, including meeting people from all over the world, being randomly interviewed by The Washington Post about train travel, and just enjoying the journey.

“I find the whole experience of slow travel really profound and it has made me value my privilege in being able to travel across borders,” she says. “In a world where everything is so instant, it makes you value the time and cost.

“Air travel is heavily subsidised and is one of the most polluting industries, so there is no such thing as a low-cost flight. The cost on the environment and climate is high — it’s just heavily discounted by our own Government, when the cost of energy for the everyday consumer in Ireland is the highest in Europe. It just doesn’t make sense when you think about the big picture. Well, I guess it does, it’s just that the climate lobby is not as strong as the fossil fuel and aviation lobby.

“So for anyone considering this type of travel, I would say, ‘Go for it.’ What’s not to enjoy about bringing snacks, drinks, and a book, and having time to look at different landscapes rolling by? It’s a way to romanticise what is ordinarily a stressful part of a holiday, which can be a part of the adventure and experience instead.”

Airports can be a nightmare

Garry Walsh says that his friends “probably think” he is “an eco-nut” but absolutely loves “sailing the high seas while they are all flying”.

Garry Walsh: Although it takes more time, it's more comfortable and less hassle to get the ferry from Dublin to London

He says it can be as good value as a flight, particularly during the high season, and is a “lot easier than you would think”. And, although reducing emissions is the “number one reason” for choosing to sail rather than fly, he genuinely prefers the slower option.

“Flying and airports are stressful,” he says. “It’s much more pleasant to travel by ferry and train. You have far more personal space, you don’t have to deal with airport security, or worry about whether you packed any liquids. It also feels more like a journey and an adventure. I really love it.

“It can cost marginally more but not always. Particularly when you consider the hidden extras of baggage, seats, expensive airport meals, and additional transport like airport buses and taxis. My sail-and-rail trip to London this month is going to cost me a good bit less than the cost of flying.

“So, although it takes more time, it’s only a few extra hours to get to London when you consider the time you need to get to the airport, the wait there, and then the hassle of getting into the city centre. Spending a little bit more time reading a book on a comfortable train is no great hardship.

“It might take more days than originally planned but I like to think of it as part of the adventure. I love the feeling of unwinding, listening to music, while staring out at the shifting landscapes and getting lost in a good book. It’s what holidays are meant to be about.”

It’s easy to catch up on work

Megan Fitzpatrick agrees but says she uses the extra travel time to catch up on her work in science research, often putting in a whole day’s work on the train and boat from London to her native Belfast.

Megan Fitzpatrick finds that taking the ferry means you meet more people than taking a plane

She still flies when travelling outside Europe but says that, by taking the train where possible, it “balances out” the emissions from flights she takes.

“I think we have all gotten very accustomed to being able to fly frequently but I really do think it’s a privilege that not a lot of people around the world have,” she says. “In the West, we use up our portion of emissions much faster than the rest of the world, and I think we all need to take stock of that and try to reduce our impact where we can. But it’s also worth noting that sail and rail is often the cheaper option. I can get all the way from London to Belfast for £40 with a railcard, which beats flying pretty much every time.

“I think everyone freaks out about the time it takes but, honestly, it flies, pardon the pun. It works as a makeshift office for me but I also enjoy walking about, looking at the waves, or even going to the cinema.

“You also meet lots of people along the way. Everyone has their different reasons for travelling and you invariably get chatting about each other’s day and wherever people are going — you’d never get that in an airport.

“Also, I kind of hate the faff of airports — the security, the waiting, the busyness, and the delays. Sail and rail pretty much removes all of that, so it feels like a more peaceful, chill way to travel.”

O’Leary agrees and says that, along with all the benefits of slow travel, “you also get to feel smug about protecting the planet, so what’s not to love?”