Gap years can start with a ferry crossing

Not everybody who takes a gap year starts off by taking a plane journey to a far and distant land.

For those of us who prefer to keep our feet firmly on the ground - or at least out of the sky - the ferry represents a much more palatable option.

And with British travellers able to head to a number of European ports from the UK, there are still plenty of options for gap year travellers.

Following a short trip across the English Channel or North Sea, they either embark on a tour of the continent, or even jump on a train and head east towards Asia and north Africa.

But the ferry trip itself can be considered part of the fun.

Bill Gibbons, director of the Passenger Shipping Association, said sea travel has become more and more comfortable in the recent years.

He explained that operators have introduced luxury vessels and now offer gourmet meals on-board.

"Some ferry journeys offer an overnight crossing with en-suite cabins so you can arrive refreshed before a full day of driving ahead of you – the experience resembles more a mini-cruise than a simple crossing," Mr Gibbons added.

"With destinations including the coasts of northern Spain, Brittany and Belgium, and cities like Dublin, Cork and Belfast, Amsterdam and Copenhagen - but also Boulogne and Lille - easily accessible from the ferry terminals, much of Europe is reachable."

See the different gap year destinations on offer.