Best Route and how long

[Dave78]

Hi guys.. in about a week's time (after hopefully some great riding around Ireland) I will be leaving Killarney and trying to get to Dun Laoghaire in time for the ferry back to Holyhead.

I'm thinking that N72 - N73 - M8 - N8 - M7 - N7 - M50 (and then hopefully there will be some signs to the ferry) is going to be my quickest route.. I'll be two up with kit.. Ferry leaves at 1ish... I'm told latest I can check in is 12.. so ideally want to be there 11.. 11:30 at the latest..

I'm not that fast, esp when 2 up.. so thinking if I leave at 6am, that should give me plently of time, with a couple of stops for fuel and a wee..

Anyone got any thoughts/advice etc..

Cheers all

 

[richie]

I am not going to answer this one... Probably best you just follow signs to Dublin....

How about when you are on the good roads, whats the plan

 

[GerryC]

Hi guys..I'm thinking that N72 - N73 - M8 - N8 - M7 - N7 - M50 (and then hopefully there will be some signs to the ferry) is going to be my quickest route.. I'll be two up with kit.. Ferry leaves at 1ish... I'm told latest I can check in is 12.. so ideally want to be there 11.. 11:30 at the latest..

I'm not that fast, esp when 2 up.. so thinking if I leave at 6am, that should give me plently of time, with a couple of stops for fuel and a wee..

Anyone got any thoughts/advice etc..

Cheers all

N72/73 are twisty & good. Once in Mitchelstown its Motorway to Dublin & southbound on M 50 to Junction 13 I think. Leaving Killarney @ 7.30 will get you to the boat. Personally I'd head N 21 to Limerick & N7/M7 (not all M yet).
The best option if you really want a 6 am start is to take to back roads (Killmalock / Tipperary / Castlecomer) or stay closer to Dublin on final night.

 

[Damien]

Keep in mind too that if you decide to travel mainly by motorway to save time, there are no motorway service stations. You need to leave the motorway, go to a nearby town, fill up then rejoin the motorway.

This will seriously lengthen your travelling time.

However, whichever route you take,it wont be all motorway.

Have a great trip.

 

[Dave78]

Cheers guys.. unfortunately hotels etc all ready booked and paid for, so no staying closer to Dublin on the final night...

Given SWMBO wish to have lots of stops to rest her bottom.. I think leaving early will still be on the cards.. Am abit of a worryier, so would rather be at the ferry with loads of time, esp as with the autocom, I know someone will be asking me are we nearly there yet, and what is the time etc etc..

Rough Plan (going with a load of guys and girls from work)..
Dublin -> Limerick on Friday
Limerick -> Killarney on Saturday

Somehow I can't see these are just going to be just using the major roads

Do what we like Sunday/Monday - Anyone got any suggestions? Been told the Ring of Kerry is nice

Return Tuesday

 

[richie]

Cheers guys.. unfortunately hotels etc all ready booked and paid for, so no staying closer to Dublin on the final night...

Given SWMBO wish to have lots of stops to rest her bottom.. I think leaving early will still be on the cards.. Am abit of a worryier, so would rather be at the ferry with loads of time, esp as with the autocom, I know someone will be asking me are we nearly there yet, and what is the time etc etc..

Rough Plan (going with a load of guys and girls from work)..
Dublin -> Limerick on Friday
Limerick -> Killarney on Saturday

Somehow I can't see these are just going to be just using the major roads

Do what we like Sunday/Monday - Anyone got any suggestions? Been told the Ring of Kerry is nice

Return Tuesday

From Kilarney head over the hills to Kenmare, then on into Glengariff, hang a right to Adrigole where you hang a right and go over the Tim Healey pass, then left at Lauragh to Ardgroom where you take the old ring of Beara route long way to Eyries. Then onto Allihies.... From Allihies go to the only cable car in Ireland and look at the dursey sound. From there double back into Castletownbere and the adrigole where you can do the Healey pass again then hang a right to Kenmare and back to Kilarney. Brilliant riding and empty roads, wheras the ROK will be full of tourists...

 

[GerryC]

From Kilarney head over the hills to Kenmare, then on into Glengariff, hang a right to Adrigole where you hang a right and go over the Tim Healey pass, then left at Lauragh to Ardgroom where you take the old ring of Beara route long way to Eyries. Then onto Allihies.... From Allihies go to the only cable car in Ireland and look at the dursey sound. From there double back into Castletownbere and the adrigole where you can do the Healey pass again then hang a right to Kenmare and back to Kilarney. Brilliant riding and empty roads, wheras the ROK will be full of tourists...

He's right - if you require less mileage try West of Dingle & the Connor pass. Skip the Ring of Kerry but if you are bent on the Iveragh peninsula the Gap of Dunloe, Beallachabeama & Beallachoishin are worth a look

 

[Dave78]

I'm back... in the end left just before 6 and went via Limerick.. glad I left early as it p..p..piddled it down with rain for a lot of the return to Dun Laoghaire and the wind kept trying to blow me off the road..

Ended up taking a wrong turn (yep the M7 isn't completed yet and some of the sign posts are interesting).. went to turn the bike round in a side road.. and just as I came to a stop to check for traffic the front end just went from under me.. Big thank you to youever you were in the house across the road for running across and helping me get the bike up.. and making sure my mrs was ok...

Apart from that.. didn't manage to fit in Healeys pass - but I will return to do that.. the trip was great.. Had a wonderful time (although we thought at first the hotel in Limerick had lost our bookings) but everything worked out in the end..

Right - now to plan we can return.