Dublin to Burtonport drive time

jamesblonde

Any ideas on how long this would take early on a Sat morning?
Viamichelin.co.uk is telling me to go the N2 and go over the mountains from Lifford. It estimates 4hrs 5 mins, but I guess that's an underestimate.

Mr Jinx

jamesblonde wrote: »

Any ideas on how long this would take early on a Sat morning?
Viamichelin.co.uk is telling me to go the N2 and go over the mountains from Lifford. It estimates 4hrs 5 mins, but I guess that's an underestimate.

Take the M1 to Ardee, get off at Ardee and take the N2 to Monaghan, continue N2 to Emyvale, through Augnacloy take the A5 through Omagh and Strabane and into Lifford. N14 to Letterkenny, N56 as far as termon and turn off to the left and take the mountain road, sign posted Dunlewy. Brings you back on to the N56 and takes you all the way to Dungloe. More like 4.5 hours at least.

You could also take the N15 to Ballybofey and take the back roads accross, might be a bit quicker, but worse roads

Redsoxfan

I'd agree with Mr Jinx's route.

Early on a Saturday morning you could make Letterkenny in 3 hours or less, should take around an hour to get to Burtonport from there.

You could also go Letterkenny->Newmills->Churchill->Doochary->Dungloe

The road from Letterkenny to Churchill is fine. Churchill to Doochary isn't great, but it's quiet.

Whichever route you take from Letterkenny will have some great scenery.

jamesblonde

Cheers for the help!
GPS still doesn't cut it in rural ireland - too many poor roads designated primary or regional and the GPS can't handle that.

L1011

You going to my home(is)land by any chance?

I've done Ashebourne to Burtonport in 2 hours 50 before - N2 from there - or M1/N33 from Dublin - to border, A5 from Aughnacloy, N15 to Ballybofey, and across the mountain on the R roads to Dungloe. Rather than going through Strabane you watch very carefully for the B road that goes through Clady - it cuts out Strabane and Lifford entirely and is generally completely traffic free. This is the route Google Maps suggests although I've been doing it since before it even existed!

In reality it'll be closer to 4 hours, that 2:50 was a Saturday morning at 7am...

If you're going at a time when there is heavy traffic, the route through the Republic (N4, N15 via Sligo, N56 from Donegal Town) is far more consistant as its dualled for huge portions of the way. Its quite a lot longer though.

I do this drive frequently and I'd never take Mr Jinx's route; although I might give it a go some time to see what its like.

Harps

You heading to Arranmore by any chance?

I usually go as far as Letterkenny through Strabane then out the Fintown/Doochary road towards Dungloe, its not a great road but nothing overly bad and has some great scenery in the latter part of it. I wouldnt recommend the N56 as it takes a lot longer

Tech3

Harps wrote: »

I wouldnt recommend the N56 as it takes a lot longer

If coming from the N15 through Donegal, take the N56 then the R262 to Frosses/Glenties cuts about 10 mins off your journey. You come back onto the N56 then south of Glenties. North of Glenties is very poor though as you entail the Gweedore bends. Once you overcome them the rest of the route to Dunloe is relatively ok. Dungloe to Burtonport is actually better than the N56!!. I dont get why people dont take the R262 as its the same quality as the N56 and is a shorter route.

L1011

The R262 has been the signposted route to Dungloe from Donegal Town for a few years now at this stage. Goes without saying to use it, I'd hope!

signs are basically:
N56 Killybegs ^
R262 (N56) Glenties >

jamesblonde

Cheers MYOB.
Actually viamichelin.co.uk pretty much agrees with the route you propose - although it says take the N2.
I'm leaving from Lucan to Arranmore. Some mates are flying, and I reckon there's only 1 hr extra if you drive, considering all the check-in, collect bags hassle.
So, it looks like the quickest route would be N1 to Ardee, then back to N2, then Ballybofey, then over the mountains.
Thanks everyone for the help.

Harps

Be sure to have the ferry booked before you leave as well if you're bringing a car as its quite busy this weekend with all the Irish college students leaving and a new group coming

L1011

Not so much of an issue now that theres two car ferries, arranmorecharters.com have one as well as the original one. But yes - call in advance just to make sure!

Harps

Yeah true enough..

Going a bit off topic but are you from the island by any chance?

L1011

Family is, yeah.

Harps

Is that Tweek from the Harps forum?

L1011

Indeed it is. I'm not the only one in Maynooth though!

Harps

Aye, a couple of friends of mine are down there this year..was pretty sure neither of them would be posting in the transport forum on here though so took a guess it was you