Hmm ........ you've obviously never been to Larne ! (I've lived and worked there for about 30 years ....... don't think I'd want to spend 2 nights there ??)
Co. Armagh.
- Thread starter Tommy Gunn
- Start date
Hmm ........ you've obviously never been to Larne ! (I've lived and worked there for about 30 years ....... don't think I'd want to spend 2 nights there ??)
The best way to visit Larne is to close your eyes when you reach the 30 mph sign and ride on with eyes tight shut till you get to the unrestricted sign on the far side.
Ha! There's a handy, cheap but excellent hotel right next to the port. Disembark, check in, sleep, breakfast, check out, leave Larne immediately is the plan.
You'll get well fed there .... that's for sure , other than that ...... er ..... well .........................
Agreed - stayed one night many moons ago - a town totally devoid of joy - as appealing as pulling my own teeth?
Hi Tommy, a few weeks back a few of us spent a few days riding the area between Enniskillen / Sligo (east / west) and Belleek / Drumshambo (north / south). We based ourselves at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnell, about 15 miles from Enniskillen. Our plan was just to explore the area of Cavan / Letrim / Fermanagh. It's know as the Northern Glens Trial ( some info here http://offthebeatentracknw.com/package/northern-glen-trails/ ).
Also the N16 between Enniskillen & Sligo through Belcoo & Manorhamilton is a nice 40miles mostly twisties. Also the R280, R281, R282 & R283 going from Manorhamilton towards Bundoran, Belleek & Garrison are great roads, not particularly long but def worth a spin even if you had to go back n forth a bit on them.
The Great Northern Glens Trial is mostly single lane road with some forest trials thrown in.
Any or all the above is worth a go if you are in the area. You will enjoy
Also the N16 between Enniskillen & Sligo through Belcoo & Manorhamilton is a nice 40miles mostly twisties. Also the R280, R281, R282 & R283 going from Manorhamilton towards Bundoran, Belleek & Garrison are great roads, not particularly long but def worth a spin even if you had to go back n forth a bit on them.
The Great Northern Glens Trial is mostly single lane road with some forest trials thrown in.
Any or all the above is worth a go if you are in the area. You will enjoy
That's interesting, thank you. I've done the roads around Sligo & Manorhamilton a time or two & you're right it is lovely but I thought the Free State was off limits at the moment?
There is no issue with travelling between NI & ROI. Generally the CV-19 restrictions are similar between the north and the south albeit with a tweak here of there . The south have recently imposed some local restrictions in specific counties - Kildare being one and 2 others. If you base yourself in Enniskillen, I doubt if any current or imminent restrictions would impact you riding around the aforementioned areas.
Bizzarely it looks like I can come to the 6 Counties but can't then travel into the Free State.
But if you live in the 6 Counties you can travel into Eire.
https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/coronavirus/
In accordance with Government policy, which is based on official public health advice, the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to advise against non-essential travel overseas. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland. It also includes all travel by cruise ship.
Travel to a very limited set of locations is exempted from this advice. Individuals arriving into Ireland from these locations will not be requested to restrict their movements upon entry. These locations currently have a ‘normal precautions’ (“green”) security status rating. As of 4 August 2020, these locations are:
•Estonia*
•Finland*
•Greece
•Greenland
•Hungary
•Italy
•Latvia*
•Lithuania*
•Norway*
•Slovakia
But if you live in the 6 Counties you can travel into Eire.
https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/coronavirus/
In accordance with Government policy, which is based on official public health advice, the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to advise against non-essential travel overseas. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland. It also includes all travel by cruise ship.
Travel to a very limited set of locations is exempted from this advice. Individuals arriving into Ireland from these locations will not be requested to restrict their movements upon entry. These locations currently have a ‘normal precautions’ (“green”) security status rating. As of 4 August 2020, these locations are:
•Estonia*
•Finland*
•Greece
•Greenland
•Hungary
•Italy
•Latvia*
•Lithuania*
•Norway*
•Slovakia
You may be overthinking this! It's Ireland. Unless you're paranoid about catching or spreading Cv19, don't worry. The chances of any Irish person (either side of the border) having an official interest in your travels are close to zero, I'd suggest!
The Square Hotel in Crossmaglen would suit but you would be unable to fill three days riding without crossing the border. Most of the time you wouldn't even know that you had crossed it either.
Pete is correct.
I’ll endorse that. Stayed one night once. Made feel most unwelcome. Never again!
Okay, thanks again Comrades. So the advice is crack on and worry not?
Check out the Londonderry Arms in Carnlough, food is excellent as is the Guinness Its an Old Family run Hotel with Absolutely lovely rooms and a very quaint mining village and Harbour, some lovely walks and plenty to roam out to for 3 days
Fancy a bowl of chowder you could stand your spoon up in?? Then Try Mary Mc Brides (the little black door) in CushenDun 5 minute walk to scenes of the Game of thrones IN fact there are a half a dozen up in the area
The Vanishing Lake Loughareema ..
In fact too many things
If you want any routes and places for up this way Let me know
Sorry But I just dont think Armagh is just as scenic as the North coast Some lovely lovely roads in Armagh but not much of a coastline
Thanks for this, might also be useful, if not now, then in the future.
Hello,
A wee circuit suggestion if you are based in Crossmaglen. From Crossmaglen, head for Cullyhanna, Newtownhamiliton, Keady, Markethill, Tandragee, Armagh (as mentioned, quite alot to see in Armagh City), Benburb, Blackwatertown, Loughgall, Richhill, Tandragee, Pontzpass, Bessbrook, Camlough, Meigh, (Circuit of Slieve Guillion Forest Park),Forkhill, Silverbridge and back to Crossmaglen, should fill your day rightly & you will have done a fair chunk of County Armagh.
You should also consider crossing the line and explore Carlingford and the surrounding area. The Flagstaff viewpoint South of Newry is also a nice spot
A wee circuit suggestion if you are based in Crossmaglen. From Crossmaglen, head for Cullyhanna, Newtownhamiliton, Keady, Markethill, Tandragee, Armagh (as mentioned, quite alot to see in Armagh City), Benburb, Blackwatertown, Loughgall, Richhill, Tandragee, Pontzpass, Bessbrook, Camlough, Meigh, (Circuit of Slieve Guillion Forest Park),Forkhill, Silverbridge and back to Crossmaglen, should fill your day rightly & you will have done a fair chunk of County Armagh.
You should also consider crossing the line and explore Carlingford and the surrounding area. The Flagstaff viewpoint South of Newry is also a nice spot
That looks like a great day out, thank you.
Thanx all for your help, I'm just home now.
Long story but I ended up coming by car with a mate who's never been to the 6 Counties before but didn't want to come on the bike. We ended up doing a bit of a tour including Derry, Carnlough, Enniskillen, Armagh, Newry, Omagh, Warrenpoint and Crossmaglen including others using a lot of the info. provided on this thread and most of the suggested tour of Co. Armagh above. We also stayed on the 2 hotels recommended in Carnlough and Crossmaglen and both were excellent.
Whilst in Derry we took in a guided tour of the Bogside and The Walls, sadly the COI church in Armagh was closed.
Once again, thank you all for all of your hints, tips and suggestions, you're very nice people.
Long story but I ended up coming by car with a mate who's never been to the 6 Counties before but didn't want to come on the bike. We ended up doing a bit of a tour including Derry, Carnlough, Enniskillen, Armagh, Newry, Omagh, Warrenpoint and Crossmaglen including others using a lot of the info. provided on this thread and most of the suggested tour of Co. Armagh above. We also stayed on the 2 hotels recommended in Carnlough and Crossmaglen and both were excellent.
Whilst in Derry we took in a guided tour of the Bogside and The Walls, sadly the COI church in Armagh was closed.
Once again, thank you all for all of your hints, tips and suggestions, you're very nice people.
Some links of places we stayed & tours we did - may be helpful for others in the future.
https://londonderryarmshotel.com/ - Nice sea view rooms & the best roast beef dinner I've ever had.
https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/the-dark-hedges-p703291 - Trees, something to do with a TV programme called Game of Thrones
https://www.davincishotel.com/ - Terrific hotel, a 25 minute walk along the river bank into Derry City Centre. Lots of free parking that they're happy for you to use for the day, even after you've checked out.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...42dd3b2fbc3621d!8m2!3d54.9980893!4d-7.3331298 - Where the Undertones were formed
http://bogsidehistorytours.com/ - Excellent tour of the Bogside, they also did a private tour of the walls for myself & my mate.
https://www.motel.co.uk/ - Hotel in Enniskillen. Well located, excellent rooms but the least Covid-19 secure breakfast arrangement you could imagine.
https://www.crosssquarehotel.co.uk/ - Hotel in Crossmaglen, excellent rooms & lovely food.
https://www.currancourthotel.co.uk/ - Hotel in Larne. Excellent rooms, terrific value for money. Book direct with the hotel (website or phone) to get free (very hearty) breakfast. As we were leaving on the early ferry & couldn't get to breakfast they made us up an excellent packed lunch, foc.
https://londonderryarmshotel.com/ - Nice sea view rooms & the best roast beef dinner I've ever had.
https://discovernorthernireland.com/things-to-do/the-dark-hedges-p703291 - Trees, something to do with a TV programme called Game of Thrones
https://www.davincishotel.com/ - Terrific hotel, a 25 minute walk along the river bank into Derry City Centre. Lots of free parking that they're happy for you to use for the day, even after you've checked out.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place...42dd3b2fbc3621d!8m2!3d54.9980893!4d-7.3331298 - Where the Undertones were formed
http://bogsidehistorytours.com/ - Excellent tour of the Bogside, they also did a private tour of the walls for myself & my mate.
https://www.motel.co.uk/ - Hotel in Enniskillen. Well located, excellent rooms but the least Covid-19 secure breakfast arrangement you could imagine.
https://www.crosssquarehotel.co.uk/ - Hotel in Crossmaglen, excellent rooms & lovely food.
https://www.currancourthotel.co.uk/ - Hotel in Larne. Excellent rooms, terrific value for money. Book direct with the hotel (website or phone) to get free (very hearty) breakfast. As we were leaving on the early ferry & couldn't get to breakfast they made us up an excellent packed lunch, foc.
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