Biking to Ireland

ProXimaCore · Dougal Joined: 01 May 2003 Karma :

Thinking about going over to Ireland next weekend on the bike. What's the weather like over there just now? I've never been before. It's Dublin I'm off to. Also does anyone know how much it is to take the bike over on the ferry? Where do I get the ferry from? Is there anything else I should really think about?
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mchaggis · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 May 2004 Karma :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0031

Five day forecast for Dublin. Better than here, it's going to be freezing here in the next week.
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mrchips · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Karma :

Ferry from Cairnryan to Belfast (or Larne up to you) would probably be your easiest choice and ride down to Dublin. Probably cost you about 40 quid for the bike. (motorway and dual carraigeway the whole way down, about 2hr drive). Beware, roads are good in Dublin but the further down you go the worse they get. Also the price of living and the euro is very expensive. 5.40euro for a pint. The good thing is you can speed down there, and with the English reg it'll be too much paperwork for the Garda to give you a speeding ticket, no speed cameras and the Garda don't really care less. Driving is abizmil though. Laughing

Dunno what the weathers like down there, but in the North it's been drizzly the last few days.
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iCraig · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Karma :

Also, park your bike up and lock it up properly and don't bother or think of riding in Dublin City Centre, the cars, taxi's, other bikes and buses come from no where and they just drive like theres no tomorow!

Also I found that it wasn't that expensive last time I was there, paid about €4.70 for a pint of Guinness and our hotel only cost €135 for two nights for 2 people!

All in all its a bloody good city and the night life is amazing, well it was in the summer, its probably abit quieter now but christmas will be lovely there.

Places to visit are the Guinness factory, which Is highly recommended. Nothing like a nice pint of Guinness where it is made looking over the city!
Also the Jameson's Distillery and some other decent places too!

Oh and if your after a meal I can highly recommend Gallagers Boxty House in Temple Bar.

Craig

mrchips · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Karma :

Are you going for a trip to see Dublin rather than a mid December bike ride? Are you taking a long weekend or just Friday to Sunday?
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ProXimaCore · Dougal Joined: 01 May 2003 Karma :

mrchips · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Karma :

If you want to do a bit of sightseeing in the North, there's the Giants Causeway and all that but it would be a bit out of your way (40 miles North of Belfast).

As for driving in the south just watch out for psycopath drivers determind to kill you, and potholes the size of moon craters anywhere outside the City. You can get your money changed to Euros at the Border and I think it's 70p to a Euro. A tip is to buy your petrol in the south as it's a fair bit cheaper but be careful of the very low quality cheap petrol that may well cause you a bit of pinking. Not much else to say really apart from drivers must collect tokens for thier license.
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

ProXimaCore · Dougal Joined: 01 May 2003 Karma :

Just incase anyone else is interested at some point. I got a price of £89 return, for two people and a motorbike from Stranraer to Belfast. Friday to Sunday. Does that seem reasonable?
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mrchips · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Karma :

Seems alright yeah, something tells me a full car costs 140 or close to that.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

They often do cheap four day return tickets. We got them for 45 quid per bike a couple of years ago when we went to Donegal.

Try both the stenna AND the steam packet websites. They both sell tickets for the same ferry but prices vary Confused

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