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Holidays

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Original poster

People who know about Ireland- help please

52 replies

yurt1 · 28/12/2007 16:14

OK we need to make a trip by car from Devon to the north coast of Ireland. We trying to sort out ferries etc now.

Our current first choice way of doing it would be to take the ferry from Pembroke in Wales to Rosslare, then stay overnight just outside Rosslare and drive up to northern Ireland the next day. We'd do the reverse journey a week later.

Does anyone know about places to stay in Ireland? Is there some sort of Travel Lodge or motel type equivalent?

We're also wondering about the roads from Rosslare up to Dublin (we've driven from Dublin to Belfast before so are familiar with those). If anyone has any idea of journey time say to the border or even Dublin that would be really helpful.

Our other option might be an overnight from Liverpool to Belfast, but we think that might be hideous. Has anyone done that trip recently? Is the crossing vile?

We can't do sea cats. We could do the HSS, but think its too far to drive to Stranraer.

OP posts:

fireflyfairy2 · 30/12/2007 21:25

port Ballintrae is lovely, well worth it IMO.

Why do you have to go to Ireland? (Just out of interest?)

dinny · 30/12/2007 21:26

sorry, just erad your post about why flying not an option

yes, definitely go for the shortest ferry crossing and go to Stranraer!

roisin · 30/12/2007 21:26

Dinny - you don't have to go as far as Glasgow to get to Stranraer! Unless you get very lost.

dinny · 30/12/2007 21:27

sorry, think I mean Manchester!

dinny · 30/12/2007 21:27

not that I confuse the two! was just remembering the NE journey and where it goes through...

sos!

Original poster

yurt1 · 30/12/2007 21:37

We used to go to Glasgow stay a few days with dh's sister then across - but that's not really an option anymore (ds1 can't really stay with dh's sister their house isn't safe for him and it's 'done' with white walls etc, we'll have my mum and dad- separate car- as well- otherwise we can't manage the ferry etc etc- gah ds1 needing 2 people out and about is a PITA). We have to go for family get together (dh Irish) but I really don't think we'll do it again. Not with ds1 (and we don't like leaving him and going off with other 2 so we're a bit stuck!)

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Clementine1 · 30/12/2007 22:00

Have you somewhere to stay when you get there?

Original poster

yurt1 · 30/12/2007 22:04

yes we're staying with dh's parents (well actually they're moving out and leaving us their house- they've hired a cottage for them and the rest of the family).

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Clementine1 · 30/12/2007 22:13

ok - you won't need my help anymore so Iwill bow out. Hope it all works out for you. I agree that the Stranraer - Larne route is the best for you. At least you will have all the big travelling done before you get on the ferry iyswim. Enjoy.

Original poster

yurt1 · 30/12/2007 22:49

Thanks for all your help clementine, Honestly this trip has been going round and round in my mind and this thread has been really helpful in working out how we are going to do it.

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fireflyfairy2 · 30/12/2007 23:00

Is there any chance that ds would fall asleep on the way to the night sailing?

Original poster

yurt1 · 30/12/2007 23:02

Not without melatonin- (which we currently can't get into him). I liked the idea of the Liverpool night crossing until I saw the price (over 300 quid for us, and similar for my parents- who are only going to help us across!)

I'm loathe to do too much driving at night as ds1 often has us up from 3am so we tend to get pretty tired in the evening.

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roisin · 30/12/2007 23:14

In terms of the cost if you use Tescos and rack up masses of Tesco vouchers you can exchange Tesco vouchers for money-off coupons on the ferry companies. (Can't remember off-hand which ones though.)

roisin · 30/12/2007 23:16

Really wish I could wave a magic wand, and somehow make things easier for you.

It does make me realise how lucky we are though - my (NT) boys are 8 and 10 now and travelling is so simple for us now. I don't particularly enjoy travelling, but it's put that in context a bit for me.

LadyMuck · 30/12/2007 23:18

Given your particular circumstances then I would be tempted to do the driving on the UK side and take the shorter ferry journey. I checked on Google maps and it also favours that route (I used Exeter as the starting spot).

I have done Dublin to Rosslare in an hour, and Dublin to Belfast in 2 hours. Assume that you will use the ring road around Dublin. I would have thought that you could do the run up North in 3.5 hours, possibly 4, but it depends on time of day/day of week. Would recommend travelling on a Sunday I think. Is a B&B an option - they are plentiful and your family could take over one for the night - no worries about other guests being put out if ds1 doesn't sleep etc.

Original poster

yurt1 · 30/12/2007 23:26

ooh will check out TEscos. My dad has some £9 vouchers for travel lodges, so that should be cheapish.

I think we're definitely going to go for Stranraer - the drive is fine apart from the bit around Birmingham- Manchester. We may stay around Carlisle- although whoever said the drive from the Scottish border is longer than expected was right!

OK so now to buy DVD players for ds2 and ds3.....

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08aGreatYearForCarmenere · 30/12/2007 23:26

My parents live in Wexford so I am very familiar with the Rosslare-Dublin road and it is not too bad now as they have by-passed most of the towns. there are plenty of Travel-lodge type hotels and there is a ring road(M50) around dublin so getting to the Belfast road is quite easy. If you have time for breaks you will be fine. Anyway you do it is going to be tough but I wouldn't balk at driving from rosslare to Dublin nowadays.

Original poster

yurt1 · 30/12/2007 23:29

Does anyone want to pretend to be me for a week and go for me

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roisin · 30/12/2007 23:35

My boys got in-car DVD players for Christmas: they're fab!

Aero · 30/12/2007 23:39

We're in the SE and often go to NI to visit my folks. We usually fly, but when we have done the ferry thing, the lesser of all the evils always ends up being the drive to Stranraer leaving less travelling on the other side. The crossing is cheapest, shortest and the worst of the driving is done on this side of the water on motorways. V long and boring, but plenty of places to stop and good choices for overnight stays to break the journey. Good luck - it fills me with dread when we do it too, and I don't have a child who will have difficulty coping with the journey to consider (although the last bit to Stranraer with the bendy roads is always a bit of a pukefest for ds1 and dd)

Twiglett · 30/12/2007 23:40

we did pembroke - rosslare this year yurt .. we stayed at a holiday cottage (there was a bank of about 20 of them) about 1/2 hour from rosslare ferry .. I don't know if they do odd nights, will depend on when you go I suppose .. if interested I'll dig out their details (was very nice self-contained big house

Twiglett · 30/12/2007 23:41

here .. there's 12 of them not 15 but big site

Original poster

yurt1 · 31/12/2007 09:14

It's during school holidays Twig so probably no chance of getting odd nights.

I think you're right Aero. Luckily none of mine get car sick. DS2 goes very green on ferries along with dh (no idea about ds3 he's never been on one, mind you he's never done a long car journey either.....). DS1 however doesn't even appear to notice the boat rolling and muggins is left to walk round and round in circles on some set route around the boat with him dreaming of a cup of tea. My Mum goes green, my dad's ex naval - but can't really manage ds1 alone - at least he can look after ds3 - and I'll be able to send dh or my mum up to buy me a cup of tea- take a sip each time we pass.

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Aero · 31/12/2007 11:37

I always think that at least in the car they're 'contained' as it were, whereas on the boat they want to be up and about while, like you say, a cup of tea is always preferable to us grown-ups. A couple of hours from Stranraer to Belfast (or probably Larne if you're heading to the beautiful North Antrim Coast) is more manageable I think (and hopefully you'll get your cuppa ).

Original poster

yurt1 · 31/12/2007 11:43

I doubt I'll get to sit down- unless my Mum doesn't go green! But I should be able to sip it each time we pass the table. UNless ds1 will sit to eat chips- he might do.

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