Change of plan and considering taking the ferry from Stranraer to Belfast to tour - advice wanted (1 Viewer)

Mar 27, 2016
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Decided on a change of plan and to head north to Scotland again for our next long trip and was thinking that a visit to Eire and Northern Ireland would be a good idea as we’ve never been to either.

Do any of you we travelled folk have suggestions for good campsites and stops. We like visiting old buildings and watching nature.
 
Feb 9, 2008
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Quick tip, the ferry no longer sails from Stranraer but from Cairnryan, about 6 miles away further round the loch. As for Northern Ireland take the coastal road up through Antrim to Portrush and head over toward Londonderry and south to Enniskillen. Plenty to see and do.
 

AMK

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Ye plenty to see and do, I can recommend.

Portrush, Giants causeway, Bushmills distillery.

Not sure about campsites because I was working out there at the time and staying in hotels.

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Gran & Rog

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Do hope the people are not badly hurt after their Motorhome turned and fell sideways into a ditch. it would be good to know if they are ok, it made me go cold
 

Puddleduck

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If you don't have pets or children under 12 it is sometimes cheaper to do SeaTruck from Heysham. Takes around 12 hours but you get a cabin and food included.
 

irnbru

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Do hope the people are not badly hurt after their Motorhome turned and fell sideways into a ditch. it would be good to know if they are ok, it made me go cold

I’m confused?

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This is copied from a previous post of mine. If you google the site names you will find the locations. The Irish tourist board do a very good campsite guide for 5 Euro and Tesco points can be used to reduce the ferry fare.

We next left home in the first week of September and went to Pembroke Dock, via the CC site at Tredegar House and Windmill Hill campsite at St. Daniels Hill. We sailed to Ireland and stayed at The Trading Post before starting an anti-clockwise tour via campsites at Camac Valley, (C&CC) Delamont, Ballyness (where we discovered Irish whiskey!), Sleepy Hollow, Ballyshannon, Ballina, Cong, Adare, Blarney and Dungarvan before returning, at the end of October.

Hope you enjoy your visit however you do it.
 

Puddleduck

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The council run site at Dungannon is really nice as is Six Mile Water (Antrim). Easy to get into Belfast from Antrim on the train - or take the train in the other direction to Derry / Londonderry.
 

Minxy

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Join the Irish version of English Heritage called OPW, it's cheap and worth every single cent

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andy63

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The ferries from cairnryan are expensive... but from scotland thats your only choice... the route suggested round the coast of antrim and on to derry would be my choice... then into donegal... and south down the west coast following the wild atlantic way , till you run out of time.. maybe returning via a ferry from the south to hollyhead or fishguard...
I could suggest all sorts of attractions but your best bet is to make a call at the tourist informationc centers in both n ireland and the south...
Then choose what you prefere... both provide excellent books ..
Like scotland... the weather is key especially if you choose the costal route..:)
Andy..
 
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Bryden
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If you don't have pets or children under 12 it is sometimes cheaper to do SeaTruck from Heysham. Takes around 12 hours but you get a cabin and food included.
Thank you but I get sea sick so will opt for the shortest crossing.

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Minxy

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You might be better going from Holyhead to Dublin instead, a lot less driving and not much difference in crossing times.
 
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You might be better going from Holyhead to Dublin instead, a lot less driving and not much difference in crossing times.
But then you wouldn't see beautiful Dumfries and Galloway!

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Bryden
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You might be better going from Holyhead to Dublin instead, a lot less driving and not much difference in crossing times.
Might come back that way however we want to visit friends in Scotland too - the trip from holy head home is pretty long and we would be obliged to visit mum on the way home if we did that !
 

Puddleduck

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Thank you but I get sea sick so will opt for the shortest crossing.

The SeaTruck ships are HUGE. I was surprised at how little they did move...... when I booked it was really for "the experience" of using a freight ferry but I would do it again :) Yes, it is a long time on the ship but most of the time I was asleep (very comfortable bunks) and the shower was wonderful. The food is basic but tasty and filling - and included in the fare. Self service tea and coffee and snacks. There isn't alcohol obviously but there is a drivers' lounge with tv and dvd player and a canteen area. The cabins also have tv. Certainly not 5* luxury but it's a freight ferry!

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Bryden
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Well Stirling, Ayrshire and Galloway were fantastic now waiting for the ferry to Belfast. I’m afraid they did not load in the right order

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First stop six mile water @Puddleduck
 

andy63

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Enjoy your trip... hope the weather is kind..
If you are heading for dungannon you are obviously not following the antrim costal route , but if you end up on the north coast this wk end be aware that its the final wk end of the nw200 motor cycle road racing i think , and the roads around portrush and coleraine will be closed and it will be busy..
Andy.

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Bryden
Mar 27, 2016
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Enjoy your trip... hope the weather is kind..
If you are heading for dungannon you are obviously not following the antrim costal route , but if you end up on the north coast this wk end be aware that its the final wk end of the nw200 motor cycle road racing i think , and the roads around portrush and coleraine will be closed and it will be busy..
Andy.
Just found out about the racing, the ferry was full of motorbikes so I think a change of plan is needed. We were going to go towards the north coast go across then enniskillen Donegal and on to Dublin. The only further site we have booked at the moment is next weekend in Dublin. Ho hum. The weather is glorious at the moment.
 

andy63

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We were going to go towards the north coast go across then enniskillen Donegal and on to Dublin.
The north antrim coast will be busy as i said....?
Youer confusing me lol... if you are heading to the north coast the best way into county donegal would be via derry.. unless you have some reason for wanting to see fermanagh ?
Once into Donegal id follow west coast until you run out of time...then maybe head for a ferry from dublin to home...
Just suggestions... i love the coast.. :LOL:
Enjoy....whatever you do (y)
Andy..
 
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Bryden
Mar 27, 2016
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Ferry journey was easy - now parked up in Antrim did a walk to the gardens and castle then on into town. Calling at the tourist info, which was in a building that I thought looked quite French. Off to Belfast for the day tomorrow

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Bryden
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Belfast for the day today, let the train take the strain. It was our wedding anniversary. Did a great free walking tour and the bus tour (Ok) and had a lovely meal in the ginger bistro, the scallops were mmmmm yum


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Bryden
Mar 27, 2016
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