guanmao

Hi fellow fodorites,

First time posting a message on the forum. Having been reading the forum for many months, and really enjoyed all the great information.

I am traveling to Scotland in May, and am planning on a short trip to Ireland. I need to assess how long it would take to drive back from Dublin to Larne (to catch a ferry back to Scotland) so I can book the ferry ticket ahead of time. Any info on distance and time it would take (on a Friday evening) is greatly appreciated.

guanmao

flanneruk

It's a bit over 120 miles.

But you've got to get out of Dublin on a Friday evening, which in the present state of Dublin traffic can take at least an hour for the first couple of miles. Seek local advice, or an expert on this board, about whether you're better off parking your car at a DART station in north Dublin.

You've also got to get through Belfast - in my experience not a huge deal, but it's a couple of years since I last drove it, and if you hit a Friday rush hour that'll be a problem too.

I'd suggest you need to allow at least 3 hours from a point roughly on a latitude with Dublin airport, though early on a weekend morning that could be less.

The local route planning tool is www.aaireland.ie/routes/. But the standard European source for checking these distances is the French site, www.viamichelin.com.

For a glorious - indeed unbelievable - example of the kind of ignorance of the outside world that only the French are capable of, go to the site, input your proposed journey and read the instructions.

Then burn them before they start a new civil war. And pray Michelin don't extend their service to anywhere in the Middle East.

SiobhanP

You must leave before the evening rushhour or it will be tough going. I don't think it will make a difference if you park your car northside by the dart. Check with Ann41 on times as she lives up North. There is a new motorway for most of the eway but I think you are stretching it.

cailin

just a suggestion...do you need to take your car to Dublin? (are you planning on using it while you're here?). If not, a car in Dublin can be a lot of hassle - traffic is chaotic and parking costs are ridiculous. What I would do would be leave my car in Stranraer and go as a foot passenger on the boat (that's saving you money for a start). Then get the train from Larne into Belfast (about an hour) and then from Belfast to Dublin (takes about 2 hours). It's a lot less hassle and you'd have no Friday evening traffic to contend with.

However, if you DO need your car in Dublin, I would leave about 4 hours for the journey if you're leaving Dublin any time between 4pm and 7pm on Friday evening. Otherwise, the journey is about 2 hours 45 minutes.

SiobhanP

Actually just fly....it's cheaper and you avoid the risk of getting your car clamped in Dublin. You will spend an awful lot on petrol and the ferry fare. Try www.ryanair.com

guanmao

Thanks for all the advice. Problem is I do need the car since I'll be driving to Giant Causeway and also Glendalough. I'll allocate 4 hours for the journey as you suggested. The Michelin site is great!

guanmao

Alec

The M1 motorway is complete from Dublin (just south of the airport) to the outskirts of Dundalk near the border. There's a 1.50 euro toll payable at toll plaza near Drogheda. From the end of motorway it's a fairly slow drive bypassing Dundalk and Newry, then I'd take A27 to Portadown and join M1 motorway to Belfast. You bypass the centre and join M2 for a short while towards Derry and leave at exit 4 and take A8 to Larne. It's about 134 miles and while you can probably do it in 3 hours from the start of M1, 4 hours would be a sensible estimate.