Roadtrip: Belfast

david

Not strictly motor related but you guys would have more positive input than anywhere else.

We're planning a weekend in Belfast. I was there years ago but never driving in the North.

How long would it take (leaving 6pm Fri) to get to Belfast from say m50 Jct 13?

Am I liable to any speeding offences; points or fines whilst across the border?

Wheres the safest/cheapest place to park in the City over the weekend (probably 2 full days) as we're staying in a Hostel that AFAIK don't provide car parking. (Just on street)

I presume I'll get better value converting my Europeans to Sterlings before I leave or am I best off just lumping everything onto my credit card?

Any other thoughts, suggestions, cool things to do or cheap places to shop are most welcome

biko

You should be in Belfast in an hour and half or so, maybe two. Then finding your way inside the city will be another while.

If you speed they'll fine you. Also cameras are abundant.

Park anywhere. I never had problem in a ROI car. Don't leave valuables in the open just like Dublin or anywhere.

I use the ATMs across Europa Hotel (BOI) to take out cash. It's such small sums it won't matter.

Seth Brundle

It will take about two hours to get there depending on your speed, etc.. The M50 will dictate a lot of your travelling time!

The speed limit unless otherwise posted is 70mph on dual carriageways/motorways and you are liable if caught (physically caught) speeding. You can't get UK points. There are a number of stretches of roadworks aling the A1 and the polis are frequently there.
People drive differently up there - they stay on the left on dual carriageways and use courtesy - it can take one by surprise initially!

Parking is much generally cheaper than here. When shopping there, I'd tend to use a multi storey (I use the one behing the europa).

As for getting sterling, your bank card should work fine up North - just use that and withdraw what you need!

Atomic Pineapple

freakonaleashx wrote: »

Not strictly motor related but you guys would have more positive input than anywhere else.

We're planning a weekend in Belfast. I was there years ago but never driving in the North.

How long would it take (leaving 6pm Fri) to get to Belfast from say m50 Jct 13?

I haven't done it in awhile , the M1 will take you all the way into newry which is a great job, I'd hazard a guess that it would probably take 2 and a half hours, thats a bit of an estimated guess though because its been ages since I done it (pre M1 extension).

freakonaleashx wrote: »

Am I liable to any speeding offences; points or fines whilst across the border?

If your caught breaking the speed limit by a certain amount the PSNI will take the car off you, but as for penalty points and speeding fines you should get away with them.

david

What happens if I get clocked by a fixed camera? I presume the PSNI have a different approach to speed detection ie the cameras are well marked?

Does anybody have any idea of multistory long term rates/daily rates?

Atomic Pineapple

freakonaleashx wrote: »

What happens if I get clocked by a fixed camera? I presume the PSNI have a different approach to speed detection ie the cameras are well marked?

The cameras are painted yellow thats all. When there in there patrol cars they can be just as sneaky as the Gardai.

If you get clocked by a fixed camera, basically nothing happens

stealthyspeeder

freakonaleashx wrote: »

Not strictly motor related but you guys would have more positive input than anywhere else.

We're planning a weekend in Belfast. I was there years ago but never driving in the North.

How long would it take (leaving 6pm Fri) to get to Belfast from say m50 Jct 13?

Am I liable to any speeding offences; points or fines whilst across the border?

Wheres the safest/cheapest place to park in the City over the weekend (probably 2 full days) as we're staying in a Hostel that AFAIK don't provide car parking. (Just on street)

I presume I'll get better value converting my Europeans to Sterlings before I leave or am I best off just lumping everything onto my credit card?

Any other thoughts, suggestions, cool things to do or cheap places to shop are most welcome

I do this every nearly every friday, The fastest I have managed from the M50/M1 junction to Belfast City Centre at that time is 1 hr and 30 mins but with the traffic around newry at the mo, itis usually about 2 hrs (more if its raining!)

No Speed Cameras on the way up (except somtimes the PSNI on the A1 sometimes), there is one on the way back down, (after the Dunleer exit I think?) You not liable for points and only liable for a fine if pulled over.

For parking, I would park on the street in the university area (called holy lands by locals, as all the streets are named after biblical towns) as its free. I would not park a car with southern plates on the street in the City Centre, or in north, east or west Belfast. The cheapest city centre car park in Belfast is Hi-Park and is around the back of Castle Court, hard to spot but is just around the corner form the Castle street Black taxi rank.

I personally change money before I go as I once had an embarrassing experience at a garage where I had no sterling, (Laser card doesnt work in chip and pin machine up north), and the ATM machine asks you if you are aware there may be a fee for the transaction and the button to select 'yes' didnt work making it useless to me!

Cheapest place to shop - boucher road shopping outlets
Cool things to do - Bar hopping!

david

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

I do this every nearly every friday, The fastest I have managed from the M50/M1 junction to Belfast City Centre at that time is 1 hr and 30 mins but with the traffic around newry at the mo, itis usually about 2 hrs (more if its raining!)

No Speed Cameras on the way up (except somtimes the PSNI on the A1 sometimes), there is one on the way back down, (after the Dunleer exit I think?) You not liable for points and only liable for a fine if pulled over.

For parking, I would park on the street in the university area (called holy lands by locals, as all the streets are named after biblical towns) as its free. I would not park a car with southern plates on the street in the City Centre, or in north, east or west Belfast. The cheapest city centre car park in Belfast is Hi-Park and is around the back of Castle Court, hard to spot but is just around the corner form the Castle street Black taxi rank.

I personally change money before I go as I once had an embarrassing experience at a garage where I had no sterling, (Laser card doesnt work in chip and pin machine up north), and the ATM machine asks you if you are aware there may be a fee for the transaction and the button to select 'yes' didnt work making it useless to me!

Cheapest place to shop - boucher road shopping outlets
Cool things to do - Bar hopping!

Wow great info there, yeah there are numerous bar hopping routes planned out (big group going), is drink cheap??

I find it hard to believe that you can't park a southern reg car on the street in the suburbs/city. Are things really that bad still?

Also what are the rates in Hi-Park?

Whats the public transport like? Similar to Dublin or much improved?

Cionád

drink is rediculously cheap, £2 bottle of corona's, or 3 for a fiver. £2.50 a pint in the places I go. Also theres a place called The Globe near Queens, there you can get a meal and a pint for a fiver - and it's a proper dinner!

I've never had any trouble parking my car on the streets - mostly south belfast but also north and west belfast.

Haven't used the public transport but cabs are very cheap.

Seen the cops on the A1 near newry, parts of the A1 are fairly dangerous with traffic crossing two lanes of 70mph traffic in places, but the drivers are better up there. If you find a right-lane hogger its almost always a southern reg.

Bluetonic

draffodx wrote: »

I haven't done it in awhile , the M1 will take you all the way into newry which is a great job, I'd hazard a guess that it would probably take 2 and a half hours, thats a bit of an estimated guess though because its been ages since I done it (pre M1 extension).

The M1 only takes you as far as Dundalk, it's the N1 from Dundalk to Newry

De Hipster

Also be prepared for polite & helpful customer service, manners & considerable retail savings. Should the notion take you IKEA is just beyond the George Best Airport & accepts laser cards!

stealthyspeeder

freakonaleashx wrote: »

Wow great info there, yeah there are numerous bar hopping routes planned out (big group going), is drink cheap??

I find it hard to believe that you can't park a southern reg car on the street in the suburbs/city. Are things really that bad still?

Also what are the rates in Hi-Park?

Whats the public transport like? Similar to Dublin or much improved?

Speak with the guy in the car park office if your going to stay there for more than a day, I wouldnt expect a bill of more than a tenner for a full day in the car park beside the main castle court car park (just remembering, its not called Hi park, thats on high street, but i cant remember the name of it!)

The transport is woefully unreliable and expensive since they replaced the buses, last time I used it about a year ago I waited 45 mins in the rain to go 3 miles! and paid 1 pound fifty for my troubles!

About the regs, its nothing like what it used to be, but all it takes is a group of lads walkin by on a sat night looking for somewhere to set their beer bottle when they spot a southern reg car, u know what i mean? it could happen anywhere but its just that wee bit more likely in Belfast if you make yourself noticed because of your nationality!

neacy69

Bluetonic wrote: »

The M1 only takes you as far as Dundalk, it's the N1 from Dundalk to Newry

Dont want to be pedantic but its actually the M1....into the roundabout at newry

from newry roundabout to belfast its the A1

Seth Brundle

neacy69 wrote: »

Dont want to be pedantic but its actually the M1....into the roundabout at newry

from newry roundabout to belfast its the A1

Wrong!
The M1 becomes the N1 at Dubdalk. Once it crosses the border then the RoI route designations do not apply and the road becomes the A1!

neacy69

kbannon wrote: »

Wrong!
The M1 becomes the N1 at Dubdalk. Once it crosses the border then the RoI route designations do not apply and the road becomes the A1!

Maybe you should let google maps and aa roadwatch know because they seem to be as wrong as I am!

http://www.aaireland.ie/routes/route.asp

AA Route planner wrote:

Home Farm Football Club N1 4.7

1.2 Continue forward onto the M1 (signposted Belfast, Dublin Airport) M1 5.9

2.5 At Junction with M50 continue forward onto the M1 (signposted Belfast) M1 8.4

31.7 Toll Plaza M1 40.1

58.2 Continue forward onto the M1 (You are entering Northern Ireland) M1 98.3

4.6 At Cloughogue roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Newry Bypass - A1 (signposted Belfast) A1 103.0

5.0 At Mc Cann's Corner roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Newry Bypass - A1 (signposted Belfast) A1 108.0

Cloughogue roundabout is the roundabout at the bridge just as you come into newry so according to google maps and aa roadwatch its the M1 as far as there!

Seth Brundle

neacy69 wrote: »

Maybe you should let google maps and aa roadwatch know because they seem to be as wrong as I am!

http://www.aaireland.ie/routes/route.asp


Cloughogue roundabout is the roundabout at the bridge just as you come into newry so according to google maps and aa roadwatch its the M1 as far as there!

TBH, don't care what Google or the AA say! FYI Google Maps is notorious for inaccuracies! E.g., they think the port tunnel is Grace Park Road and the stretch of road from the tunnel to the M1/M50 interchange is the M1 whereas it was re-designated as part of the M50!
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=53.370579,-6.239033&spn=0.023659,0.077248&z=14

Anyhow we have gone off topic now!

stealthyspeeder

Come on girls :rolleyes:, the post isnt about the of the name of the roads at the border! I think the OP was more concerned if he could get done for speeding on them rather than what they're called!

aquascrotum

To add to the pedantry, the M1 terminates at Ballymascanlan Jct at the end of the Dundalk bypass and turns into the N1 (because of the lack of an alternative route in the same corridor it can't be designated motorway). Then the A1 at the border, before joining the NI M1 at Sprucefield. So now

I'd park anywhere tbh, no bother. Bear in mind that the on-street traffic wardens are hoors if you're in onstreet pay-parking. An alternative to the parking behind Castlecourt (not to be confused with the Castlecourt carpark) is the Dublin Road multi storey behind the cinema - about a 5min walk from City Hall.

Also the PSNI are on the ball at the roadworks on the A1 at Dromore, Banbridge, and Loughbrickland. I've been up 3 times in the last fortnight and there was a hairdryer at one of them every time.

ardmacha

It may be unwise to speed on the A1 quite apart from the prospect of points, apart from the motorway class section near the border. With all those entrances and right hand turns you don't really feel like exceeding 70mph much on those dual sections that allow it. The M1 is pretty busy from Spucefield into town making high speeds unlikely on a Friday evening.

stealthyspeeder

ardmacha wrote: »

The M1 is pretty busy from Spucefield into town making high speeds unlikely on a Friday evening.

As i'll be going up on friday evening, the forecast for high speeds between sprucefield and the westlink is........... very likely!!

david

Just to clarify the speeding issue. I'm not purposely going to speed! I've got done for 102kmph on the N11 Arklow Bypass (My speedo under-read about 2-3% when I changed wheel/tyre diameter in my old car!! ).

I'm getting the impression that the roads across the border are better policed so I'm sure the PSNI have their equivalent pricks that wouldn't hesitate to do you for 71mph on the M1!

And also I know UK points aren't applicable to Irish Licenses for whatever reason but will a UK fixed cam send you a pic/fine in the post to the registered owners address?

miceal

freakonaleashx wrote: »

Just to clarify the speeding issue. I'm not purposely going to speed! I've got done for 102kmph on the N11 Arklow Bypass (My speedo under-read about 2-3% when I changed wheel/tyre diameter in my old car!! ).

I'm getting the impression that the roads across the border are better policed so I'm sure the PSNI have their equivalent pricks that wouldn't hesitate to do you for 71mph on the M1!

And also I know UK points aren't applicable to Irish Licenses for whatever reason but will a UK fixed cam send you a pic/fine in the post to the registered owners address?

Na the PSNI aren't as bad as people make out! There are a few stretches of the road to Belfast that have road works there and the speed limit is 40MPH, you might see the cops there.

Also around Banbridge is a big place too catch speeders out. On the way back you hit a 60mph limit trust me STICK TO IT! They lie in wait around the corner to catch the people who forget to slow down from 70mph It is down hill as-well on the way home so the speed can creep up.

There are average speed camera just out side of Newry you really can't miss them they are sign posted and are giant yellow poles with Camera on them.

No the PSNI cannot send you a notice if you are caught by a camera. They do not have access to Irish car registration details! If you are stopped though and your tax is out of date or they feel something is up with the car they would have no hesitation to take it off you and lock you up!

Parking in Belfast is fine just don't leave your car in a dark street with GAA stickers or Cricket stickers on your car which ever is your preference. Use your head! I have never had any problems parking in Belfast and i am there quite regularly.

Check out and see if there is a Belfast Giants game on they are savage craic and once in the Odyssey the drinking continues there are a few bars and clubs there

Gallant_JJ

Head on a bit of a pub crawl down round the Shaftsbury Square - University areas. You could start at Spring and Airbrake, Auntie Annies, Laverys, The Globe, The Parlour, the Union, the Eg, the Bot............etc . Should keep you occupied. A good broad range of spots.
As for parking, park wherever is convienient, its all free in a southern reg. I've been in Belfast 5 years and got approximately 500 tickets and never had an issue. Though as the lads say, be careful with speeding, the cops when they catch you personally go very hard on southerners.

david

Gallant_JJ wrote: »

Head on a bit of a pub crawl down round the Shaftsbury Square - University areas. You could start at Spring and Airbrake, Auntie Annies, Laverys, The Globe, The Parlour, the Union, the Eg, the Bot............etc . Should keep you occupied. A good broad range of spots.
As for parking, park wherever is convienient, its all free in a southern reg. I've been in Belfast 5 years and got approximately 500 tickets and never had an issue. Though as the lads say, be careful with speeding, the cops when they catch you personally go very hard on southerners.

Clampers?

Gallant_JJ

They only clamp if your car is out of tax! Great system

david

Gallant_JJ wrote: »

They only clamp if your car is out of tax! Great system

Amazing!