Ardee -> Castlebar - which way to drive?

jc2008

I'll be driving from Ardee to Castlebar next week, leaving at 8am on Sunday morning.

What is the best way to go? Time is very tight, so the quickest way possible.

What I've done in the past is head to Kells, through Delvin, turn right before Mullingar onto the N4, continue through Edgeworthstown to Longford and onto the N5, and continue onto Castlebar.

I was talking to a guy that does this journey (from Dundalk) fairly often and he goes through Castlepollard (and comes out near Edgeworthstown), and reckons it's faster, because he says you could get stuck behind a tractor/lorry heading towards Mullingar, and Mullingar is going a bit of the way.

Which way is best? I'll probably go the Mullingar way - the roads don't seem good via Castlepollard.

Also, how much time should I allow for this journey? As it's a Sunday morning, I'm hoping that it'll take not much more than 3 hours, or 3 hours and 10 minutes?

Thanks

Victor

I imagine via Mullingar Bypass would be quicker - there is more better road, that you can take advantage of at that hour.

I wouldn't overly worry about tractors or trucks.

Make sure you aren't hungover (or drunk : )).

jc2008

Thank you! I looked at the Castlepollard roads on Google Streetview - no thanks :eek: I didn't realise there was a few km of dual carraigeway on the Mullingar bypass. Definitely seems the way to go, even if it's about 30km longer than the Castlepollard route.

Thanks for the help. I won't be drunk/hungover, so no worries there haha

Victor

jc2008 wrote: »

even if it's about 30km longer than the Castlepollard route

Eh, 9km longer, but better road, means faster and probably safer.

Castlepollard (217km, 3 hours 24 mins): http://maps.google.ie/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Ardee&daddr=53.67971,-7.29044+to:Castlebar&hl=en&geocode=FfTRNQMdIzKc_ym1-5TyWkpnSDEg1DGXqccACg%3BFV4WMwMduMGQ_ynzh90fo-hdSDEBe-L8pscAEw%3BFc6_NQMdFhFy_ykN7NuddF1ZSDGH874JvWrrWw&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=11&via=1&sll=53.637718,-7.318268&sspn=0.213729,0.529404&ie=UTF8&ll=53.638125,-7.318268&spn=0.427452,1.058807&z=10

Mullingar (226km, 3 hours 21 mins): http://maps.google.ie/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Ardee&daddr=Castlebar&hl=en&geocode=FfTRNQMdIzKc_ym1-5TyWkpnSDEg1DGXqccACg%3BFc6_NQMdFhFy_ykN7NuddF1ZSDGH874JvWrrWw&mra=mrv&sll=53.638125,-7.318268&sspn=0.427452,1.058807&ie=UTF8&z=8

-Corkie-

Victor wrote: »

I imagine via Mullingar Bypass would be quicker - there is more better road, that you can take advantage of at that hour.

I wouldn't overly worry about tractors or trucks.

Make sure you aren't hungover (or drunk : )).

+1 on that. OP there could be tractors and trucks on the Castlepollard road too. Its a tramp of a road imo.