Advice on my mostly Northern Ireland plans

SusanVM · Newbie

Advice on my mostly Northern Ireland plans

Michele Erdvig · Host

Susan,

Welcome to my forum! As they say, better late than never.

Salthill to Sligo: Since you are taking the main road directly there there is not that much to see along the way. Instead you should see things in and around Sligo such as Parke's Castle, Rosses Point, Glencar Waterfall, etc.

On Day 6 I think you have too much planned. My personal opinion would be see Belleek and the Ulster American Folk Park. Skip Derry because by that time traffic will be building and you will just be sitting in traffic. It will take a few hours to properly see the folk park. If you have a real interest in immigration then you might even spend a good part of the day there. As far as walking the walls of Derry, you can do it on your own. But a tour is much more informative. Planning your trip is all about options. Choose what is most important to you and cross the others off your list.

Day 8 is doable if you get an early start. Ask at your lodgings about an early breakfast and head on off. You will mostly be driving a scenic route since you will have already seen the main sightseeing attractions.

On Day 9 get to Newgrange at opening time. Navan is a busy town so expect traffic in the morning. If you see Newgrange, Knowth and the center it will take 4 hours plus. You need to factor in lunch too. Dublin Airport is very busy and traffic can be horrendous around there so be sure to leave Newgrange no later than 2 pm. There are some back ways to the airport but you would probably get lost. Best to head toward Drogheda and get on the motorway south to the airport.

Michele

SusanVM · Newbie

Hello Michelle,

You have helped me tremendously!! Thank you so much! Yes...i am so interested in immigration and so I am going to take your advice and go to the Ulster American Folk Park and then play it by ear from there....maybe skipping Derry. I needed your nudge on that one!

I have written the Taxi tour in Belfast and have not heard back from them yet. Do you usually book ahead? I only wrote them when I wrote to you, so maybe they will still get back to me. Since we were driving along the Antrim coast to get there, I asked their advice about when to book a tour. We plan to get that early start as you suggested.

When I use that AA site, it says about 2 hours from Portrush to Belfast but not counting going along to Torr Head....so do you think it would be about 3-4 hours and if we left Portrush at 8 a.m. we could book a maybe 1 p.m. taxi tour?

We will be at Newgrange at opening...I had planned on that. A little nervous about getting to the airport but hopefully if we leave by 2 and take your advice on the route!

THANK YOU! So much!
Susan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Susan,

Instead of booking the taxi tour go directly to the tourist office in Belfast. There are many options for touring the city. They will be able to direct you to the right one and book it right there.

Always happy to help.

Michele

SusanVM · Newbie

Thank you again Michele!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Any time Susan. I want you to have a wonderful trip. Perhaps when you return you will let us know some details.

Michele

SusanVM · Newbie

I definitely will do that....might take me awhile to get to it. We will be going on a Baltic Cruise for two weeks that will end in Dublin. That is what drew us to the Baltic Cruise...something that we have always wanted to do but with the BONUS of ending in Dublin! So we will be gone over three weeks....my husband just retired so it is nice to have this freedom!

Thank you again for your help!
Susan

Michele Erdvig · Host

Susan,

Congratulations to your husband on his retirement! Mine took early retirement and loves it. Now we don't have restrictions on how long we can be away. The Baltic Cruise sounds delightful. We will definitely be patient waiting for your trip report.

Michele