ireland trip

[tailscookie]

help needed,first time planing a bike trip around Ireland ,1st day staying with relatives in enfield co meath ,then traveling to clones,on the border for a night.then intend to head up to larne,and going up the coast road a2,up to portrush/or porstewart,then past Derry down to donegal,then sligo,westport,around to oughterard then on to galway.then back to enfield for the last night thursday,ferry friday,dublin.
what i need to know is if this is my route,from clones were would you stop for the b/b first.
sorry i will be leaving from hoyhead saturday,and getting the ferry back on friday.

 

[dmac]

From Clones head across the border to Newtownbutler, then Lisnaskea and on into Maguiresbridge. You can then get on the main Belfast road and head to Larne. I'm in Fermanagh, so if you need anything hollar!

 

[the civil one]

Carpes Diem ,

It never Ceases to amaze me , "the Need to plan " !.
Sure , i get it if your travelling with 50 people , but your on a motorcycle !.
Go with the Flow , Enjoy , Relax , and let the road guide you.
Ted simon , reckoned , "its not the Journey ,Its the interuptions ".
Enniskillen is a nice town to hang out in.
Larne is a Dump.
The North coast , throw up more opportunities than you could shake a stick at.
From you leave Donegal , going south , its tourist country with prices and nasty
southern "take it or leave it " attitude to match . {maybe a bit harsh.

 

[shay]

Look out for "the wild atlantic way" signposts from the coast in Donegal going south. That will give you some good roads. Link: http://www.wildatlanticway.com/home/

Another site with gps routes:

http://www.gpsrepublic.com/

ride report from this site:

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/381413-Around-Ireland-with-no-waterproofs!!

 

[Tengiz99]

From Enfield
R159 to Rathmolyon
R158 to Trim
R154 to Athboy
Right on the N51
Left to the R164 to Kells
Moynalty Kingscourt
R162 to Shercock
R192 to cootehill
R188 R189 Newbliss Clones

 

[Pete the paint]

Agree, Larne is a total kip! But watch out for Donegal men bearing gifts, nearly worse than Cavan men with their dinner in the drawer!

 

[tailscookie]

dmac

From Clones head across the border to Newtownbutler, then Lisnaskea and on into Maguiresbridge. You can then get on the main Belfast road and head to Larne. I'm in Fermanagh, so if you need anything hollar!

how many miles/time would it take from clones to larne by your route ?

 

[Damien]

Don't try and do too much, by following smaller roads the average speed will be lower than you think. Ride until you feel like stopping, then get a B&B or hotel. They are very plentiful and finding a bed won't be a problem.

The route Tengiz has given you is a cracker.

Enjoy the trip, and post up a report with pics.

 

[Tengiz99]

Larne defined as a kip overestimates the place hugely.

 

[dmac]

how many miles/time would it take from clones to larne by your route ?

Yer looking at around 2 hours up the Motorway. If you want some ideas on what else to see just shout on here, lots of the guys will give you some ideas. If you want to skip going around the North coast you could head to Enniskillen, then up though the middle of Donegal, some class scenery to be seen. Or from Enniskillen head to Sligo, an amazing road through Manorhamilton. So many options tbh!

 

[tailscookie]

trip

Yer looking at around 2 hours up the Motorway. If you want some ideas on what else to see just shout on here, lots of the guys will give you some ideas. If you want to skip going around the North coast you could head to Enniskillen, then up though the middle of Donegal, some class scenery to be seen. Or from Enniskillen head to Sligo, an amazing road through Manorhamilton. So many options tbh!

thanks,i will be back on tomorrow.

 

[Ogmios]

Don't try and do too much, by following smaller roads the average speed will be lower than you think. Ride until you feel like stopping, then get a B&B or hotel. They are very plentiful and finding a bed won't be a problem.

The route Tengiz has given you is a cracker.

Enjoy the trip, and post up a report with pics.

That's so good it's worth repeating!
~~

 

[Jockser]

Go with the Flow , Enjoy , Relax , and let the road guide you.

Don't try and do too much.

Both very good points.
You're on holidays, take her handy. If you don't get it all done it's an excuse to come back another time. We're not that far away...
On the smaller roads (and let's face it who wants to spend a week biking on main roads ?) your average speed isn't going to be much more than 60kph / 35mph - seems slow, doesn't it ? Try it & I bet I'm not that far wrong. Unless you're a loon & then you'd be better spending your money on track days...

Ride as far as you want each day & then find somewhere to stop. Either call into a hotel or B&B or use something like www.booking.com
You'll always find something. And there's no 'biker friendly' places over here cos there's no 'biker unfriendly' places. Or at least I've never found one.
As Shay says have a look at the Wild Atlantic Way site for some great roads around the coast. Also www.offthebeatentracknw.com for stuff in the Enniskillen / Sligo area (although the site seems to be down at the minute)

 

[Slick Nick]

Larne defined as a kip overestimates the place hugely.

Miss Larne is not a beauty contest.......it's a piece of good advice.

 

[Flintlock]

However, if you want to ride the Antrim coast road, Larne is the start/finish of it, but just ride through, only takes 10 minutes

 

[the civil one]

watch out for Donegal men bearing gifts,

I am in Donegal a long time now , and NEVER have i met any man bearing gifts ! ...
Maybe an occasional ""Quare Wan "" Baring er Arse . A More likely , and pleasing Scenario !

 

[Frequentflyer]

Thanks for the posts very useful. Cheers FF

 

[pootle]

You could also consider swapping this round a bit and going clockwise, as in, going from Enfield to Galway and then heading up the West coast to Donegal, back through Derry and down the coast road to Larne. Just not sure at which point you fit in Clones if you do it this way.

Enfield to Galway would be a major road/motorway but after that it could be as minor as you want...

 

[tailscookie]

trip

change of plan,now enfield,clones,donegal,sligo,crossmolina,follow the n59 to newport,then down to westport,maamcross,then on to galway.then back to enfield for the last night before the ferry back home. what do you think ????????

 

[dmac]

Looks good. If you are going through Leenaun that's where the Sept Into the West meet is. Enjoy the ride, some class scenery there!