Map

Date: 10:06 AM, 03/09/11

Map

CowboyCraic · Guru

I always pick up an oordnance map book..the big spiral bound ones, as they have the most extensive coverage. I also carry a smaller fold-up laminated map for quick reference

tony2phones · Guru

Ordanance Survey Ireland have gone out of their way to make their website difficult to use so this is the link to their Official Road Atlas.

http://www.osi.ie/en/alist/official-road-atlas-ireland.aspx

It can be ordered on line or from one of their official stockests

http://www.osi.ie/en/alist/agents.aspx

Date: 9:28 PM, 03/09/11

Thanks Tony....I ordered it today

EngagingKate · Senior Member

Drawsy,

I see that you ordered an OSI map today, but I thought I'd post this in case anyone looks at this down the road.

Don't get me wrong. I think OSI maps are great. But another map that we really like is the Michelin Ireland map (not the one that has Great Britain *and* Ireland - the one that is just Ireland). It shows more of the smaller roads than most other maps, and is available at many local bookstores in the U.S. If you, for some reason, don't have time to order an OSI map, you could probably pick up a Michelin map.

But this reminds me that we need to get a new OSI map. Ours doesn't have all of the new M roads on it... :) Not to worry, though, we have a GPS, and it has saved our bacon many times when we were driving through towns and cities in Ireland. Outside of towns, we don't mind getting lost once in a while. It's a great way to meet new people!! LOL

Michele Erdvig · Host

Drawsy,

I use all of the above maps mentioned. The Ordnance Survey Atlas is very good as is the Michelin map. I also use a laminated one like Bit suggested when I don't need great detail. Generally, when moving across country on the motorways the less detailed map is best. When searching for those enchanting off-the-beaten-path places then you need more detail. Ordnance Survey also does individual maps of every area of Ireland that are minutely detalied. But that is for us who want to see every rock and sheep!

Michele

tony2phones · Guru

The Michelin 712 is a good map and used to be up on my wall before we moved but its a big lump of paper to handle in a car. I still have an old AA map in the car (but then I also have a compass in the glove box just in case) but the OS is Christina proof and a lot easier to handle.

Sambailey · Member

Drawsy - I purchased the Frommer's Road Atlas Ireland @ Barnes & Nobles. It's a spiral bound atlas - was only $20 in Texas. It is easy on the eyes for reading. Shows lots of the unmarked roads. I've already found a "scenic" route to one of my daily destinations in April this year.

The locations I'm visiting happen to be on 3 double pages. So I went to FedEx Kinkos and had ledger size color copies made of only the pages I needed. This prevents having to take the entire Atlas with you. They are still clear and easy to read. Great for traveling lite - and I actually made an extra copy of each (just in case).

Hope this is helpful.  Enjoy your trip!!

Sambailey

stewh · Guru

I have the Michelin "Great Britain & Ireland Tourist and motoring Atlas" and find it very easy to read and detailed. Scale 1/300 000. Place names are shown in Irish as well as English. My poor old 2000 edition is badly worn and I've added some newer bypasses (like Ennis) etc. Well worth the money in my opinion.

Michele Erdvig · Host

One of my readers had a good tip. She took her Michelin map to a copy center and had sections of it enlarged by 150%. In effect she turned it into an Atlas. She found each enlarged section perfect for each day. Since the Michelin map is so large and cumbersom it makes perfect sense.

Michele

Point202 · Member

Just wondering, Is there a particular reason for no GPS? We're renting one with our rental car, and are planning to print out some online maps as backups. I'm sure we'll still get lost at least once, but that is part of the fun, isn't it?!

stewh · Guru

Last year my GPS was a mixed blessing. Generally it was very good but it seemed some of the recent Motorway changes were not reflected in the software. I trusted it to navigate through Limerick and it took me right into (and out of) the middle of the city. Much easier to simply follow signs. In the countryside it was great except for losing touch with the signal in a very rugged part of the Beara peninsula.

Michele Erdvig · Host

I don't personally use a GPS since I have the one for Ireland in my head! However, I've spoken to many who have used them including friends who live in Ireland. The general consensus is they are very good in the cities and towns. It also depends on how you program it. You might put in the shortest route and find yourself going over hill and dale on cowpaths with grass growing in the middle. With Ireland's new motorways you might be better with a map if your softward is not right up to date.

Michele

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

I've been using a GPS in Ireland for the last couple of years and both Michele's and stewh's assessments are 'Spot On'. cry

While VERY handy -- AT TIMES --- they CAN and DO sometimes lead you astray. Part of the problem is Ireland's near-Constant Road Improvements and their 10 year orgy of building that created roads and intersections seemingly 'overnight'. GPS mapping software is generally only reviewed and renewed once every year or so --and even THEN, it can take six or more additional months before that software gets released to the public.

Makes for a LOT of, " ... ... ... RECALCULATING" messages! biggrin

On the OTHER hand, GPS is GREAT for recording the location of someplace that you might want to RETURN to -- like the B&B you stayed at confuse

-- or an undocumented scenic site. I "Save" them as a 'Point Of Interest' -- for future visits ...

Like Michele says, GPS is also great for allowing you to get 'Creatively' Lost!! biggrin

I set my GPS to 'Shortest Route' -- rather than 'Quickest' and then follow the directions over roads and laneways that I might never have known existed ... biggrin

If you are NOT in a hurry, it can be GREAT fun --

And, it is often, QUITE educational!

Bob

tony2phones · Guru

I had a package delivered the end of last year and as usual had to give the driver directions. After a good 5 minutes of confusion and frustration I asked him if he was using SAT nav, He was. 5 miles past the eastern end of our lane he had been directed round the main roads, out onto the mountain and up the single track lane at the western end. Our village is not on updated maps or even Google maps anymore.

Point202 · Member

OK, so good to know. Note to self to find quality maps of the places we'll be visiting to use as a backup. Fortunately my husband is a terrific co-pilot, and pretty good at keeping us from getting lost.