Lunch or no lunch going from Dublin to Galway

NibNib

Hope I am posting in the right place.

Will be travelling to Galway from Dublin this Friday along the N4+N6 way. Gonna leave around 10am. Any nice place to stop off for a quick lunch? 1st timer on that route :P

L1011

First big town you hit is Ballinasloe these days; I think I remember stopping in a hotel there last year and it was decent enough. Is on the Galway side of the river.

For a cheaper and more central option, pull off the M6 at the start of the Athlone Bypass and theres some fast food options at a petrol station beside that junction - McD's anyway.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

It will only take about 2 and a half hours to get to Galway, so you could just wait til you get down there for lunch!

NibNib

I was told it will take around 3-4hours depends on how fast I drive. I guess I will drive faster if I am hungry

The OH wants to stop for lunch somewhere. I heard after the toll plaza there will be 2 more toll ramps. So I kinda hope to drive right through that part of the motorway to save hassles anyway...

So if we were to stop, Ballinasloe... what about Athlone?

L1011

There is only one toll on the existing road. The last time it took 4 hours other than possibly a Friday afternoon was three stages of the M6 ago...

NibNib

Woohoo! Then I shall try to convince the OH to go straight to Galway 1st.

If not, maybe we should pop into Ballinasloe!

Thanks so much!!!

IIMII

There's a McDonalds Drive-Thru in Athlone - I normally grab a coffee there to break the trip (I like the McDonalds latte compared to some of the coffees you get in service stations except 911!). You could eat in Galway then, that is if you are going to Galway city. If you are heading on north to Connemara for example I'd stop for a break first

kaizersoze

Gullanes Hotel in Main Street Ballinasloe is good for lunch.

KC61

IIMII wrote: »

There's a McDonalds Drive-Thru in Athlone - I normally grab a coffee there to break the trip (I like the McDonalds latte compared to some of the coffees you get in service stations except 911!). You could eat in Galway then, that is if you are going to Galway city. If you are heading on north to Connemara for example I'd stop for a break first

There's also a coffee shop at the petrol station beside that McDonalds in Athlone that does the job well too.

KevR

if I stop at all I usually stop in Athlone (not the town itself, the service station/retail park not far from the bypass/M6).

IIMII

KC61 wrote: »

There's also a coffee shop at the petrol station beside that McDonalds in Athlone that does the job well too.

Never noticed it, but I know I normally use the Drive Thru so I can get back on the road quickly. Will try it though - anywhere you can get a decent coffee is my cup of tea.

KevR wrote: »

if I stop at all I usually stop in Athlone (not the town itself, the service station/retail park not far from the bypass/M6).

That's the one, dead handy

Carawaystick

Anywhere in Galway would be better than any of the options listed here. You only pass through 1 town, Balinasloe; a village, Craughwell; and a hamlet Kilreekil on the way.

NibNib

Thanks so much for all the information!

If the journey is gonna be a quick one, then we probably will wait til we get to Galway before we have our lunch. However, still think we will stop for a quick (and nice) cup of coffee though!

Very excited!! My 1st time in Galway!! Heard the weather forecast is not very good... Hope Met Eir is wrong, fingers crossed!!

Chris_533976

Rain in Galway, whod have thought it

KevR

Not sure what the forecast is for tomorrow but it's a really nice day today in Galway. Clear blue skies and warm in the sun.

NibNib

Finally get round to log on again. Just want to say thank you again for all the suggestions you guys have given me. The journey indeed only takes roughly 2hours, not including our stop over for lunch. The N4-N6 motorway is wonderful. Got to Galway from Dublin so quick we couldn't believe it.

We stopped over in Ballinasloe in the end and had lunch at a greasy spoon called the Bread Basket. I had omelette and chips, and the OH had the club sandwich and chips. I guess they wouldn't make it into the Michellins list but my god you will get your value for money. I have never seen such huge omelette and sandwich in my life! :eek:

But next time, I think I will drive straight to Galway instead.

P.S. Got blown away by the wind the weekend we stayed. Got so bad we stayed in on Saturday night... Oh well... :rolleyes: