Dublin port to hollyhead

trepasers

Hoping to drive from dublin port to holly head and then down to Brandon near Norfolk for some work during the summer...Just wondering has anyone got any tips(cheapest ferry etc )

Any help muchly appreciated!!

Fiskar

Found Stena to be the cheapest and most convenient. Left at 4pm and off the boat at Holyhead at 8pm. Drove to london with one stop and was there at 12.45am.

Victor

Shop around. Individual departures may be cheaper / more expensive.

trepasers

Fiskar wrote: »

Found Stena to be the cheapest and most convenient. Left at 4pm and off the boat at Holyhead at 8pm. Drove to london with one stop and was there at 12.45am.

Not to bad I suppose...how did you find it making your way down to london(first time driving in England)

trepasers

also just wondeirng if anyone has any discount codes for the ferries ??

LordSutch

trepasers wrote: »

Hoping to drive from dublin port to holly head and then down to Brandon near Norfolk for some work during the summer...Just wondering has anyone got any tips(cheapest ferry etc )

Any help muchly appreciated!!

If you can book the HSS from Dun Laoghaire - Holyhead, then do, its much faster!

When you drive off the ferry in Wales take the A5 through Anglesey and along the North coast, then along the M56 to junction 9, then (if memory serves me) down the A6 and on your way . . . . . .

Make sure to keep to (or below) the speed limits, there are many more speed cameras in Britain then there are here, make sure your front fogs are not turned on (a friend once got stopped & told off by the Welsh police for that), Keep your wits about you & dont sit on the outside lane of the Motorway, [people drive much faster on Motorways there]!!! Do stop and enjoy the motorway services which are plentiful, and I guess you will get to Norfolk in about five or six hours.

Stena Discount/Promo codes > http://www.promocodes.co.uk/Stena-Line-UK-promo-codes/

Marcusm

LordSutch wrote: »

If you can book the HSS from Dun Laoghaire - Holyhead, then do, its much faster!

When you drive off the ferry in Wales take the A5 through Anglesey and along the North coast, then along the M56 to junction 9, then (if memory serves me) down the A6 and on your way . . . . . .

Make sure to keep to (or below) the speed limits, there are many more speed cameras in Britain then there are here, make sure your front fogs are not turned on (a friend once got stopped & told off by the Welsh police for that), Keep your wits about you & dont sit on the outside lane of the Motorway, [people drive much faster on Motorways there]!!! Do stop and enjoy the motorway services which are plentiful, and I guess you will get to Norfolk in about five or six hours.

Stena Discount/Promo codes > http://www.promocodes.co.uk/Stena-Line-UK-promo-codes/

Isn't the Dun Laoghaire route currently suspended?

The A5 is not a good choice unless you're looking for a scenic Sally Gap type of drive. The 70mph dual carriageway from Holyhead to past Chester is the A55. Will you be heading to London first? If yes then I'd go M6 followed by M42 then M40. A satnav will try to take you M6 then M1 but ths as a lengthy speed restriction, is more dominated by trucks and can be more boring.

I do this route twice a month.

Fratton Fred

Dun Laoghaire - Holyhead is operating again for the summer.

kensutz

If you're going from Holyhead to Brandon directly, you won't go anywhere near London. You'll be primarily on the A5 then the A14. Looking at a 5 and a half hour drive because it takes me 6hrs to get to Norwich.

trepasers

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Dun Laoghaire - Holyhead is operating again for the summer.

why would you recommend going from Dun Laoghaire

drquirky

On a related note- I'm getting a ferry back to DUB on Monday morning at 2am. Any suggestion on ways to kill time in and around Holyhead before it?

Fratton Fred

trepasers wrote: »

why would you recommend going from Dun Laoghaire

I was only clarifying that the ferry is running again. It is worth considering though.

Fratton Fred

drquirky wrote: »

On a related note- I'm getting a ferry back to DUB on Monday morning at 2am. Any suggestion on ways to kill time in and around Holyhead before it?

There is nothing to do in Holyhead.

How are you traveling?

LordSutch

drquirky wrote: »

On a related note- I'm getting a ferry back to DUB on Monday morning at 2am. Any suggestion on ways to kill time in and around Holyhead before it?

As Fratton says there is nothing to do in Holyhead, specially at 2am in the morning!

Suggest you stay in the Ferry terminal and listen to your iPod maybe? I once got trapped in Holyhead during a massive storm, the ferry was cancelled and we were treated to an impromptu gig, courtesy of the 'Queen tribute band' who were to perform on the HSS, cool

Seriously though, Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead is quicker, and the HSS is very nice to travel on, but if you must take the North Wall to Holyhead then thats great, just an hour or two slower (if memory serves me correctly)? but I still say that you should take the A5 along to North coast of Wales, then take the M56 to Junct 9, then down the M6 to your destination, (or at least consider this route), maybe there is a better way nowadays?

Happy Sailing & enjoy your trip.

Fiskar

trepasers wrote: »

why would you recommend going from Dun Laoghaire

Really don't understand you OP. The distance between Dublin port and Dun Laoghaire is only so much. Over someone having to travel up the country to a port, it should only be a decision on which is cheapest and the sailing times.
Having posted three days ago you should now have gotten prices for both ports and times of sailings from their websites. I think you need to make a decision with the information given.

zagmund

drquirky wrote: »

On a related note- I'm getting a ferry back to DUB on Monday morning at 2am. Any suggestion on ways to kill time in and around Holyhead before it?

There are not many places I would describe in rude terms relating to bodily functions, but the terminal in Holyhead at 0200 is one of them. Admittedly this is based on a single experience a few weeks back rather than anything scientific. Words that come to mind are - cold, unfriendly, empty & disorganised, but at least it appeared to be safe as it was staffed. The toilets are lit in blue so junkies can't shoot up. That sort of thing. I was also asked for a loan of my phone by a guy (Irish) there. Given that we were delayed I thought he wanted to call home. Not at all, he settled down to a grand oul chat with someone at home, no mention of delay. Even though it was a work phone and it didn't cost me (or work) anything I eventually got tired and asked for my phone back. It took 3 requests and me standing up and making for him to get it back. He then proceeded to ask the next guy for a loan of his phone. You get the idea of the sort of place it is in the early hours.

I've heard that 'downtown Holyhead' may have a pub or two open late at night, but from what I understand they may not be the sorts of places you would like to frequent in the dark hours. There's a McDonalds up the road out of the town as far as I remember and it may be open, but I can't vouch for that. Then there's a cafe in the terminal - it serves tea & coffee and possibly some 18 hour old buns. It was certainly a welcome supplier of coffee when I was there, but I wouldn't count on it for a big meal. I think they closed around 0000-0030.

I wouldn't worry unduly about the terminal, I just wouldn't expect anything fun to happen. Think of it as a sort of purgatory. The best you can hope for might be that old adventure game staple - "time passes" . . . "more time passes".

z

drquirky

Fratton Fred wrote: »

There is nothing to do in Holyhead.

How are you traveling?

Car...

golden lane

zagmund wrote: »

There are not many places I would describe in rude terms relating to bodily functions, but the terminal in Holyhead at 0200 is one of them. Admittedly this is based on a single experience a few weeks back rather than anything scientific. Words that come to mind are - cold, unfriendly, empty & disorganised, but at least it appeared to be safe as it was staffed. The toilets are lit in blue so junkies can't shoot up. That sort of thing. I was also asked for a loan of my phone by a guy (Irish) there. Given that we were delayed I thought he wanted to call home. Not at all, he settled down to a grand oul chat with someone at home, no mention of delay. Even though it was a work phone and it didn't cost me (or work) anything I eventually got tired and asked for my phone back. It took 3 requests and me standing up and making for him to get it back. He then proceeded to ask the next guy for a loan of his phone. You get the idea of the sort of place it is in the early hours.

I've heard that 'downtown Holyhead' may have a pub or two open late at night, but from what I understand they may not be the sorts of places you would like to frequent in the dark hours. There's a McDonalds up the road out of the town as far as I remember and it may be open, but I can't vouch for that. Then there's a cafe in the terminal - it serves tea & coffee and possibly some 18 hour old buns. It was certainly a welcome supplier of coffee when I was there, but I wouldn't count on it for a big meal. I think they closed around 0000-0030.

I wouldn't worry unduly about the terminal, I just wouldn't expect anything fun to happen. Think of it as a sort of purgatory. The best you can hope for might be that old adventure game staple - "time passes" . . . "more time passes".

z

there is a kentuck fried chicken there...if you are brave...

Marcusm

LordSutch wrote: »

As Fratton says there is nothing to do in Holyhead, specially at 2am in the morning!

Suggest you stay in the Ferry terminal and listen to your iPod maybe? I once got trapped in Holyhead during a massive storm, the ferry was cancelled and we were treated to an impromptu gig, courtesy of the 'Queen tribute band' who were to perform on the HSS, cool

Seriously though, Dun Laoghaire-Holyhead is quicker, and the HSS is very nice to travel on, but if you must take the North Wall to Holyhead then thats great, just an hour or two slower (if memory serves me correctly)? but I still say that you should take the A5 along to North coast of Wales, then take the M56 to Junct 9, then down the M6 to your destination, (or at least consider this route), maybe there is a better way nowadays?

Happy Sailing & enjoy your trip.

The HSS is no faster than the Jonathan Swift run by Irish Ferries from Dublin Port. the OP should really choose on convenience or priCe rather than misrecollections.

I've posted again as you persist in saying the A5 along the north coast of Wales. this is the A55, if the OP follows the A5he'll have a significantly more arduous trip.

Marcusm

drquirky wrote: »

Car...

Don't get there too early and stay in the car until you're ready to go. That ferry is more populated by truck drivers than most And generally is much harder to secure a cabin.

LordSutch

Marcusm wrote: »

The HSS is no faster than the Jonathan Swift run by Irish Ferries from Dublin Port. the OP should really choose on convenience or priCe rather than misrecollections.

I thought the HSS was rather nice and fast, and superior to the rather 'little' Jonathan Swift, which I have also been on!

Marcusm wrote: »

I've posted again as you persist in saying the A5 along the north coast of Wales. this is the A55, if the OP follows the A5he'll have a significantly more arduous trip.

Just looked up AA route planner > http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp#fromNode=18260035997429|Holyhead%20Ferry%20Terminal,%20Isle%20Of%20Anglesey|STREET|224900|382340|toNode=18260045313602|Brandon,%20Suffolk|STREET|578434|286697

I totally give up - Bye.

Good luck to the OP on his journey.

zagmund

Here lads, relax with the A5/A55 stuff. Ask google for directions between Holyhead & Crewe and all will be revealed.

A55 - 2h10m
A5 - 2h23m

If I remember correctly then the A5 is the old road (through towns, etc . . .) and the A55 is the new one which bypasses towns and is faster.

http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Holyhead,+United+Kingdom&daddr=Crewe,+United+Kingdom&hl=en&sll=53.193384,-4.041338&sspn=0.035944,0.104628&geocode=FQFwLQMdMk65_yntDxxstjRkSDFvI_uM0JyOJA%3BFXU_KgMd07Xa_ylHSFRSMEV6SDE6uIg3cNCeDw&oq=crewe&t=h&mra=ls&z=9

z

gerrowadat

Yeah, coming back through holyhead, I'd say try to find a nearby town to go to. There is nothing in holyhead even in broad daylight. It is crawling with terrifying carnie folk and despair.