Has anybody driven across Ireland?

Has anybody driven across Ireland?

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Discussion

Sir Humphrey

Original Poster:

387 posts

122 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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Thinking of taking the car over to Ireland and driving to the west coast, would anyone recommend it? What are the roads/driving standards like?

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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Last tour I did was from Larne via Waterfoot, Glenariff Forest, Cushendun, Torr Head, Giants Causeway, Omagh, Kesh, to the border at Belleek. From there via Ballyshannon, Sligo, and Ballina, to the westernmost point beyond Keel on Achill Island. From there back to the N59 and Galway via Clifden.

Returned to Larne via Mountbellew, Dysart, Athlone, Cavan, (crossing the border 4 times in 7 miles! on the road to) Clones, Monaghan, Armagh, Portadown, M1, M2, A8,

The numbered roads are OK. However a few unplanned excursions were taken due to road closures, misreading the map, etc. Once you get away from the numbered roads, some of the lanes in the RoI are as rough as a badger's acensorede with a raised centre strip (sometimes with grass growing out of it like those in the remoter parts of Wales - e.g. http://goo.gl/WHsiwq). A proper sump killer in anything low. The other noticeable thing once you leave the main roads is a distinct lack of signposts compared with the UK.

Definitely worth it imo. One that should be on your bucket list is the N71 from Killarney to Bantry plus the Ring of Kerry.

The thing I still find slightly weird is suddenly seeing huge distances on road signs and passing a speed limit sign that says 100! Because I'm still driving on the left my brain isn't programmed to think in metric measurements.

ant leigh

714 posts

142 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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The coast roads and towns are great, my favourite being Galway.
However the drive across the centre e.g. Dublin/Athlone/Galway is a bit tedious IMO
Looking to do the WAW later this year or early next year, that looks a lot more interesting :-)

ianrb

1,529 posts

139 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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Motorway all the way from Dublin to Galway now isn't it?

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
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yes M4 then M6 - http://goo.gl/BHv4ud. I got the impression that the OP wasn't asking from that perspective though.

Sir Humphrey

Original Poster:

387 posts

122 months

Monday 23rd March 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice, I think we'll probably go in a loop from Waterford - Cork - Limerick - Galway - Dublin or the other way round, if we avoided motorways would we be stuck behind traffic or on horrible back roads? I have Sat Nav so no problem with directions but we will be going in a 350Z so hopefully avoiding single track lanes etc.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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Sir Humphrey said:
Thinking of taking the car over to Ireland and driving to the west coast,
Sir Humphrey said:
I think we'll probably go in a loop from Waterford - Cork - Limerick - Galway - Dublin or the other way round,
The only place on that list anywhere near the west coast is Galway!

Sir Humphrey said:
if we avoided motorways would we be stuck behind traffic or on horrible back roads? I have Sat Nav so no problem with directions but we will be going in a 350Z so hopefully avoiding single track lanes etc.
It depends on how inventive you choose to be. Whenever I plan on visiting unfamiliar territory I spend quite a bit of time beforehand using Google Streetview to 'drive' prospective routes. This gives you a pretty good idea of what the roads are like. What it can't really tell you is how much traffic you will actually encounter.

I'm not 100% clear whether you are doing a full loop starting and finishing in Dublin or whether your clockwise itinerary starts at Waterford in which case you may be intending to use the ferry to Rosslare then via Wexford.

If it is a complete loop go from Dublin to Waterford via the Wicklow Mountains National Park to Laragh. Then Rathdrum, Avoca, Aughrim, Carnew, Bunclody, Ballywilliam, to the N30

The direct route from Cork to Limerick is the N20 via Mallow but that would omit the best bit. Why would you want to do that? nono

I would go from Cork to Bantry as follows: N71 to Bandon, then the R586 via Drimoleague to rejoin the N71 south of Bantry. Take the Ring of Kerry from Kenmare to Killarney. Doing that means you'll miss out Molls Gap on the direct route (N71) but that can get quite busy in the peak tourist season.

From Killarney to Limerick I would pick Tralee/Listowel/Foynes rather than the direct route via Newcastle West. Limerick to Galway the long way round on N68/N67 instead of the M18/N18. Galway to Dublin via the M6/M4 with maybe a detour to Athlone on the way.

Or the whole lot the other way round. smile

Sir Humphrey

Original Poster:

387 posts

122 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Red Devil said:
It depends on how inventive you choose to be. Whenever I plan on visiting unfamiliar territory I spend quite a bit of time beforehand using Google Streetview to 'drive' prospective routes. This gives you a pretty good idea of what the roads are like. What it can't really tell you is how much traffic you will actually encounter.

I'm not 100% clear whether you are doing a full loop starting and finishing in Dublin or whether your clockwise itinerary starts at Waterford in which case you may be intending to use the ferry to Rosslare then via Wexford.

If it is a complete loop go from Dublin to Waterford via the Wicklow Mountains National Park to Laragh. Then Rathdrum, Avoca, Aughrim, Carnew, Bunclody, Ballywilliam, to the N30

The direct route from Cork to Limerick is the N20 via Mallow but that would omit the best bit. Why would you want to do that? nono

I would go from Cork to Bantry as follows: N71 to Bandon, then the R586 via Drimoleague to rejoin the N71 south of Bantry. Take the Ring of Kerry from Kenmare to Killarney. Doing that means you'll miss out Molls Gap on the direct route (N71) but that can get quite busy in the peak tourist season.

From Killarney to Limerick I would pick Tralee/Listowel/Foynes rather than the direct route via Newcastle West. Limerick to Galway the long way round on N68/N67 instead of the M18/N18. Galway to Dublin via the M6/M4 with maybe a detour to Athlone on the way.

Or the whole lot the other way round. smile
Its not 100% certain where we will go but we would definitely go to the West Coast at some point, if we do a loop it would be getting a ferry between Holyhead and Dublin and another one between Pembroke and Rosslare, the Cork-Limerick will probably be double the direct distance biggrin

Charlie1986

2,016 posts

134 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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We have a Irish Rep He is either a st driver ripping the company off or the roads are crap with some of the bills that keep coming in for his V60 mostly Wheels and tyres with pothole damage, His first car lost a battle with a deer.

But when I visited it was a lovely country and some amazing views

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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Red Devil said:
It depends on how I would go from Cork to Bantry as follows: N71 to Bandon, then the R586 via Drimoleague to rejoin the N71 south of Bantry.
out of interest, what do you have against the whole West Cork coast there?, Skibereen down to Ballydehob or even Schull

KrazyIvan

4,341 posts

174 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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I now live in Galway, 1st things 1st, people are really friendly. Roads are not always in great nick, driving can get a bit close as the locals will know the road well and won't slow down much on the tight country roads, which can leave visitors bracing for a crash that doesn't happen.

Galway is an excellent city with plenty of history in shopping. Clifden and the connermara area is stunning, heading north to Westport, then Sligo then Donegal is all well worth the time as well.

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
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Been over a few times on motorbikes. As said the roads are often rough, but the driving standards are fine & it's worth it in anything that isn't very low.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Hugo a Gogo said:
Red Devil said:
It depends on how I would go from Cork to Bantry as follows: N71 to Bandon, then the R586 via Drimoleague to rejoin the N71 south of Bantry.
out of interest, what do you have against the whole West Cork coast there?, Skibereen down to Ballydehob or even Schull
Nothing. However there is not much coast to be seen on the N71 between Bandon and Ballydehob. I'm not convinced that the R952/R951 loop to Schull and Durrus justifies the additional mileage either. Kerry and Connemara are far better imo.

Btw, if you're going to quote me I would appreciate it if you didn't edit my post. wink The words in bold are not mine!

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Red Devil said:
Hugo a Gogo said:
Red Devil said:
It depends on how I would go from Cork to Bantry as follows: N71 to Bandon, then the R586 via Drimoleague to rejoin the N71 south of Bantry.
out of interest, what do you have against the whole West Cork coast there?, Skibereen down to Ballydehob or even Schull
Nothing. However there is not much coast to be seen on the N71 between Bandon and Ballydehob. I'm not convinced that the R952/R951 loop to Schull and Durrus justifies the additional mileage either. Kerry and Connemara are far better imo.

Btw, if you're going to quote me I would appreciate it if you didn't edit my post. wink The words in bold are not mine!
they are, from the beginning of your post wink

poor effort on my part, I just wanted to only quote the bit I was talking about

Sir Humphrey

Original Poster:

387 posts

122 months

Tuesday 24th March 2015
quotequote all
Hooli said:
Been over a few times on motorbikes. As said the roads are often rough, but the driving standards are fine & it's worth it in anything that isn't very low.
I'd be going over in a 350Z, should be fine?

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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Hugo a Gogo said:
they are, from the beginning of your post wink

poor effort on my part, I just wanted to only quote the bit I was talking about
Cutting and pasting, eh nonojudgeredcardbiggrin

Sir Humphrey said:
Hooli said:
Been over a few times on motorbikes. As said the roads are often rough, but the driving standards are fine & it's worth it in anything that isn't very low.
I'd be going over in a 350Z, should be fine?
On the trip I posted about on page 1, I bottomed out twice. Both on well sighted minor single track roads while making progress 'Irish road rally style'. Something which, with hindsight, was probably not a good idea given that my car at the time was running with a 30mm suspension drop from stock!

I don't see why you would have a problem if you adapt to the conditions, but I have no experience with a 350Z to call upon.

vikingaero

10,256 posts

168 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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Last summer we drove from Maidstone to Carlisle (overnight), Carlisle to Cairnryan, Cairnryan to Belfast Ferry.

Stayed for one week in Bushmills and toured around (Belfast/Omagh/Port Stewart/Derry/Inishowen/Slieve League).

Then toured Donegal, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and back home via the Rosslare Ferry to Pembroke.

2,900 miles in 3 weeks.

Check out:

http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/wild-atlantic-way?gcl...

http://www.wildatlanticway.com/

Lots of tractors, lots of 40mph locals, lots of chillin', lots of overtaking opportunities so no real problem.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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vikingaero said:
Lots of tractors, lots of 40mph locals, lots of chillin', lots of overtaking opportunities so no real problem.
Some don't even get up to 4mph. wink



NNH

1,515 posts

131 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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Sir Humphrey said:
Hooli said:
Been over a few times on motorbikes. As said the roads are often rough, but the driving standards are fine & it's worth it in anything that isn't very low.
I'd be going over in a 350Z, should be fine?
No problem. We took a Cayman for a week in Ireland the summer before last, going to Cork, Tralee, Dingle, Galway and back via Dublin.

Edited by NNH on Wednesday 25th March 22:07

mikey k

13,011 posts

215 months

Wednesday 25th March 2015
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Good timing I've been contemplating this recently