travelersue

Hello everyone! I really need some help a portion of my trip to Ireland. We have some limiting circumstances to work around. We will be meeting some friends in Dublin and Killarney, so those places are pretty much set in stone. We fly home from Belfast, because we are using miles, and really intended to try to see N. Ireland. With just 5 nights between leaving our friends and flying home, can you give us some ideas for seeing the most of NI? Would you do a big drive in one day and then concentrate on that area, or travel in segments, sightseeing different places along the way?

All ideas would be appreciated. There are 4 of us and we like it all, cities, scenery, villages, pubs, you name it.

Thanks in advance!

djman102

It will be a big drive regardless-it will take at least 4 1/2 hours to drive from Killarney to the North (Enniskillen looks closest). Assuming you wanted to see the Giant's Causeway and Antrim Coast (as many do), your best options from there look to be either:

1) Drive in segments around the coast to Belfast, visiting places like Omagh, Derry, Bushmills, GC/Antrim coast along the way, OR

2) Drive directly to Belfast (about 2 hrs), spend a couple of days there, then spend a day doing the Giant's Causeway.

I would recommend 2) so you had a break from the car in the middle. While the scenery is beautiful, driving on the roads can wear you down. You typically average only about 35-40mph if you're not on the "M" highways.

DISCLAIMER: I have only been to NI once, so I am not an expert. But it's a starting point at least. Have fun!

wojazz3

Enniskillen is probably a good entry point from where you are, but I will say, going by the 35 MPH rule, count on about 6.5 hours for the drive. The distance is 224 miles which is much more than I like to drive in a day. I can certainly be done, must most of the time will be in the car. The good news is that there are some roads in between. Viamichelin takes you up the N7 to the N52. I wonder if that is the fastest way now that the N18 is a major roda most of the way from Limerick to Galway. I here it becomes two lane again at Gort, but I haven't covered that ground yet.

If you made a stop somewhere in between, then Enniskillen then 2 noights on the antrim coast and end in Belfast, I think that you would have a nice trip. If you aren't lloking to spend much time in Belfast (or any) the you would still have three nights in Antrim which would be quite nice.

Bill

djman102

wojazz, is that 224 miles, or 224 km? Google maps says the route is 138 miles, which is about 224 km, and takes 4 1/2 hours to drive.

wojazz3

djman: Intersting, viamichelin is calling it 224 miles and saying about 5 hours. aaroadwatch has it at 241 miles and at about 4:45. Roadwatch takes the route I was thinking about, up the N18. My guess is that it would be quicker (though apparently not by much) but slightly less scenic.

As I'm sure you know, their drive times tend to be pretty aggressive for the average tourist and your suggestion of 35 MPH is a good one. I didn't check google, but just looking at my trusty map on the wall, it really looks like 200+ miles. Dublin to Galway is about 130 and it's certainly farther than that.

Bill

djman102

wojazz-you're correct-Google tried to put Killarney on the islands just off Galway! It is a 6+ hour drive from Killarney to Enniskillen, so, sue, I would definitely second that suggestion of stopping in between Killarney and Enniskillen and proceeding from there.

travelersue

Thanks to you both. I did not even think about cutting across, I just thought about going coastal (I don't know why). That makes a lot of sense.

We do want to see some of Belfast, and definately the Giants Causeway. Does anyone know of an interesting place to stay between Belfast and the Coast that would make a good base for day trips?

djman102

Can't help you specifically-the cottage we stayed in is more in the center of Northern Ireland-but we did find it through the website www.discovernorthernireland.com.

IrishEyes

Let's face it, you will loose one entire day to driving anyway. I would do the drive in one marathon and be done with it. You can drive from Killarney through Limerick, over to Dublin and up to Belfast in about 7 to 8 hours provided you move right along. The M1 toll road from Dublin north to the border is very fast now and you will save a lot of time on it.

Another alternative is to drop you car off in Killarney and take the train to Dublin and then Belfast. Pick up a rental car in Belfast.