Ireland trip recommendations
Discussion
Just booked a few days away for a road trip, in the MX-5.
Got a full day in IOM then two or possibly three days in Ireland.
Will be sailing into Belfast and departing from Dublin.
Looking for some great roads, beautiful viewpoints, interesting plces, nice eateries etc etc.
Not booked any accomadation for the Ireland section as yet so not tied to that. Only consideration is heading North to South.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks.
Got a full day in IOM then two or possibly three days in Ireland.
Will be sailing into Belfast and departing from Dublin.
Looking for some great roads, beautiful viewpoints, interesting plces, nice eateries etc etc.
Not booked any accomadation for the Ireland section as yet so not tied to that. Only consideration is heading North to South.
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks.
It's pretty quiet round here...Try posting in a good local forum such as http://www.reallymeansounds.com/ tho you will have to register to get into the members section.
As for roads newcastle/mournes area is lovely and has plenty of good roads and the antrim coast road is a must....stunning scenery and always on top driving road style articles, Start at larne and run right to portrush, go via torr head and stop at the rope bridge/giants causway etc on the way. Donegal is also lovely for scenery so check that out esp the south of the county around ardara/portnoo/rosbeg/killybegs etc. It's sort of the opposite direction to dublin but with the new road it's only 1.5 hours from belfast down to dublin anyway!
What sort of accommodation are you looking for? there's piles of b&b's everywhere or if you're looking something a bit more special for a night or 2 there's plenty of options eg http://www.castleleslie.com/
As for roads newcastle/mournes area is lovely and has plenty of good roads and the antrim coast road is a must....stunning scenery and always on top driving road style articles, Start at larne and run right to portrush, go via torr head and stop at the rope bridge/giants causway etc on the way. Donegal is also lovely for scenery so check that out esp the south of the county around ardara/portnoo/rosbeg/killybegs etc. It's sort of the opposite direction to dublin but with the new road it's only 1.5 hours from belfast down to dublin anyway!
What sort of accommodation are you looking for? there's piles of b&b's everywhere or if you're looking something a bit more special for a night or 2 there's plenty of options eg http://www.castleleslie.com/
Drive Belfast to Portstewart and the head to Larne via Ballycastle, Torhead and coast road to Carnlough. One of the best roads in the world on a clear day.
Stay overnight at the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough.
Day 2 head south to Carlingford via coastal routes taking in Donaghadee , Portaferry, catch ferry across to Strangford on through Ardglass and Newcastle heading South from there to an overnight in Carlingford.
Day 3 relaxing drive back to ferry.
Pray for good weather, more chance on the easterly coast (gulf stream looks after that)
Stay overnight at the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough.
Day 2 head south to Carlingford via coastal routes taking in Donaghadee , Portaferry, catch ferry across to Strangford on through Ardglass and Newcastle heading South from there to an overnight in Carlingford.
Day 3 relaxing drive back to ferry.
Pray for good weather, more chance on the easterly coast (gulf stream looks after that)
bobd said:
Drive Belfast to Portstewart and the head to Larne via Ballycastle, Torhead and coast road to Carnlough. One of the best roads in the world on a clear day.
Stay overnight at the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough.
Day 2 head south to Carlingford via coastal routes taking in Donaghadee , Portaferry, catch ferry across to Strangford on through Ardglass and Newcastle heading South from there to an overnight in Carlingford.
Day 3 relaxing drive back to ferry.
Pray for good weather, more chance on the easterly coast (gulf stream looks after that)
Sounds like a reasonable route to take. Just to add, although it is the same route. Newcastle, Kilkeel, Rostrevor, Warrenpoint, Newry then to Carlingford.Stay overnight at the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough.
Day 2 head south to Carlingford via coastal routes taking in Donaghadee , Portaferry, catch ferry across to Strangford on through Ardglass and Newcastle heading South from there to an overnight in Carlingford.
Day 3 relaxing drive back to ferry.
Pray for good weather, more chance on the easterly coast (gulf stream looks after that)
Although it is all coastal. Heading inland from Kilkeel towards Hilltown, Rathfriland then Newry is another.
Really though, if you pick any route off the main roads, they can all be pretty nice.
Same in Co Antrim, it's mostly coastal you've mentioned, but many of the roads inland are quite nice.
I guess another option might be head from Belfast to Enniskillen then maybe Donegal, and head south in the republic. I cant detail any routes, but you'll go through more little rural villages and countryside that way, down through the middle of Ireland.
If there was time, you could do Belfast and up around the Antrim coast, right around to Londonderry, Letterkenny and then head south via whatever route, Sligo, Carrick on Shannon or head out the West Coast etc
I do courier work all over the place, and it can take me random places at times. Some of those journeys have been the nicest really.
If you keep off the main roads, I'd say you'd enjoy most of where you end up. It really can be a beautiful place.
irish boy said:
It's pretty quiet round here...Try posting in a good local forum such as http://www.reallymeansounds.com/ tho you will have to register to get into the members section.
Agreed, been a member of this forum for quite some time and the guys on it are top notch - depending on when your over you might be able to head on one of their runs and see some of the sights with them.Gassing Station | Northern Ireland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff