Ireland? Good or bad?

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Chockswahay

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OK team. We are considering a trip to Eire next month, I can get fairly good ferry prices so that won't hold us back............

But............... after reading many reviews I am left with the notion that Ireland is not as easy/friendly as I might like. It seems that every other 'aire' is full of undesirables (!), the roads are narrow, narrow, NARROW!, every potential FLT spot is likely to have a 'NO PARKING' sign, min fee for 'car park stops' is 10 Euro's (no facilities) and any campsites are just nuts prices :eek:

I really am beginning to winder if the horse is about to be flogged to death on this one!

France (Brittany in this case) sounds preeety attractive ............

Over to you :cautious:
 
I've been over for a couple of months for the last 5 years.
As for touring its east to park up for the night. Campsites are expensive but good for water and waste.
There are some irish motorhome sites on facebook. I understand rubbish can be difficult to dispose of, as they pay to dispose of same. Pubs very friendly.
@bobandjanie have toured.
Think you'll have no problems in pvc.
 
I drove the wild atlantic way a couple years back... used two sites during the 2 wks and wilded the rest... if you move off the beaten track you will always find somewhere to park up... harbour and sea front locations were generally available.. the mh came back with a few battle scars ...some of the roads can be a challange ie very narrow with high hedges.....but it's the same in a lot of places if you choose remote areas..
If time isnt an issue thats great.. for anyone going over with limited time I'd concentrate on Donegal ...I love it.. it's got the lot..
Andy.
Edit.. said it before but the Irish tourist board do a series of books covering the whole country... a must call in and pick up when you arrive..
 
Father Teds house is on quite a small road :) , but they spent a lot of EU money on widening roads that don't really need it as well . Its a nice place to tour , people are very friendly , and even have time to talk to you :) Very relaxed sort of place , with some good evening entertainment :beerchug:

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We've just booked the ferry for first 10 days in July. Intend doing the wild Atlantic way and seeing a friend in Limerick. Must admit, the narrow roads/lanes are causing me some anxiety.
Really pleased to read @andy63's comments.
 
If you don't like narrow roads you'll probably hate Scotland too! :D

Although I have been to the Emerald Isle, it was in my coach driving days. It's on our radar but don't know when, so many other places to see.

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@TerryL-we've been to Inverness in the van and didn't find the roads bad at all. Worst bit was in the border region but was unpleasant only because of the volume of large trucks thundering past.
I'm sure the anticipation is worse than doing it!
 
Ireland is the most friendly country we have ever visited. Makes progess very slow every village you have to wind down the windows and say hello to everyone you see, same when walking down the road.

You soon get used to driving down two way roads with both door mirrors in the hedges on both sides.:)

No problem wild camping, locals will tell you no camping signs only apply to travellers.

Water easy to get garages let you fill up always taps at harbours & piers, plenty of public toilets to empty the cassette. Rubbish is more of a problem, park outside community tip and walk in get charged if you drive in. Lidl often have a big bin in carpark.

Beer and food expensive, don't buy ½ pints 30% surcharge.
 
If you go to Eire there are two rules:
1) Ensure your trip meter is set so you can answer the question of how many miles when you see the signs at Tipperary saying "you've come a long way"
2) Get extremely annoyed with yourself working out loads of silly rhymes ready for your arrival at Limerick

But in a more serious vein, the main Eire road network is fine. Some motorways are toll, but the N roads are quite easy to drive on. Get used to the idea that on many stretches these are a single carriageway, one lane each way, but often with lengthier hard shoulders that the slower vehicles will use to allow overtaking. It's only once you get into some town centres (no different to parts of the UK), and into the real countryside smaller local roads things will get narrower, a bit like some of our B roads. If you really want to get into the sticks of the Wild Atlantic Coast Roads (I can thoroughly recommend parts of the Connemara area), it can be a bit twisty, and hilly, but if you enjoy driving, great.

If you are venturing way out west, remember that next stop is usually the USA. So it can get very breezy, and many of the campsites, or other stopping places will be quite exposed.

One of the first places to visit once I have my PVC will be Ireland.
 
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Also Irish drivers don't park they just stop, 2 or 3 abreast whatever.
They have yet to discover that cars have indicators.

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https://www.motorhomecraic.com/forum/
heres a site to enable contact with the locals - very friendly and theres an app for a few euro for parking spots.
oh and they will send you a payment notice if you go round dublin on the motorway and dont pay the toll.
hope that all right @Jim.
 
Chockswahay said:
I can get fairly good ferry prices so that won't hold us back............
Click to expand...
Is there a secret to that, that you can share on a public forum? (or even by PM?) :)
 
Lenny HB said:
When we went I got a return ferry crossing for £12 (yes twelve quid) just have to know how to do it.:)
Click to expand...
How much for the secret? Damned ferry to Rosslaire v expensive. And as the booking form didn't allow for a bike rack, we had to go next up after 6 to 10metre, even though van's only 6m.

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Ingwe said:
How much for the secret? Damned ferry to Rosslaire v expensive. And as the booking form didn't allow for a bike rack, we had to go next up after 6 to 10metre, even though van's only 6m.
Click to expand...
Used Airmiles.:rofl:
 
Lenny HB said:
don't buy ½ pints 30% surcharge
Click to expand...
I'll not be having any of that Lenny. :eek: Pints is is then, and anyway, why change a habit of a lifetime? :LOL:

Anne Marie O Hagan said:
Look up Totalmotorhome Ireland, great app with maps of places to stay, pubs, etc
Click to expand...
Yes Anne Marie, we are on their group, and the web page map is brilliant. (y)

We sail over from Cairnryan on 1st July. :) It's been 13 x years since we were last in Ireland. :(

Cheers,

Jock. :)
 
TheCaller said:
Is there a secret to that, that you can share on a public forum? (or even by PM?) :)
Click to expand...
Not a secret, it's just that I can't remember where I found the prices! I'll get back to you if I do (y)

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Chockswahay said:
OK team. We are considering a trip to Eire next month, I can get fairly good ferry prices so that won't hold us back............

But............... after reading many reviews I am left with the notion that Ireland is not as easy/friendly as I might like. It seems that every other 'aire' is full of undesirables (!), the roads are narrow, narrow, NARROW!, every potential FLT spot is likely to have a 'NO PARKING' sign, min fee for 'car park stops' is 10 Euro's (no facilities) and any campsites are just nuts prices :eek:

I really am beginning to winder if the horse is about to be flogged to death on this one!

France (Brittany in this case) sounds preeety attractive ............

Over to you :cautious:
Click to expand...

308725
 
The Wild Atlantic Way is good, you can find wild and beautiful stops, plan ahead the narrow roads can be a challenge. Have a look on google earth and judge for yourself. Do not pull off onto the verge to allow other vehicles by, stop on the tarmac and check the verge it can/will be very soft in places. In my experience sites are expensive, avoid Salthill site in Galway v expensive. Galway city shouldn’t be missed you can park on the harbour side. Cobh there’s an aire on the harbour side. Parkmore jetty, near Kinvarra park on jetty approach. Kilbaha park on jetty - pub restaurant at jetty, Derrynane park at beach car park. Enjoy.
 
Just read this blog we did three weeks driving the whole coast and I managed to keep a list of where we stayed.We combined Aries Some not too healthy at the time, parks ,brit stops and a couple of campsites.We had mostly three dry weeks. We were told by the Locals don’t ask to stay and they can’t say no.Best experience the National trust car park Carrick- a /rede car park wild camp watching dolphins.
 
Do you need a passport to go over and back mines run out ?

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