If you love travel but hate flying, this news could be music to your ears.

Brittany Ferries has announced a new route linking Ireland and Spain for the first time… and it will operate from Cork.

A new ship called the Connemara has been chartered to ferry passengers from the Rebel county to the pretty port city of Santander in northern Spain.

The crossing will take around 26 hours in total.

Kicking off at the end of April, the service will make two return-sailings a week, with booking due to go live by the end of January.

The Connemara, which is currently operating between Italy and Greece, will be chartered from Stena RoRo for an initial period of two years and will deliver an additional weekly return-sailing from Cork to Roscoff.

She will carry approximately 500 passengers per sailing, with space for 195 cars. Word has it there will even be a small allocation of pet-friendly cabins, so you can finally take your beloved pet on that family holiday.

Brittany Ferries is celebrating 40 year in Ireland, with its 14-hour Cork to Roscoff ferry route departing every Saturday for arrival in France on Sunday morning. This route uses the luxurious flagship ferry the Pont-Aven, which boasts comfortable cabins, restaurants, shops and onboard entertainment including a swimming pool and leisure area.

Time to start planning that summer sun holiday…