Quickest way to Mainland Europe?

drunkmonkey

If you were taking the car and could leave from anywhere in Ireland, what's the quickest way to Europe?

TrailerBob

Depends where in Ireland you are I suppose. I find the quickest route is through the UK. Can leave Rosslare at 9 am, in Calais for 8 pm. That's if traffic goes your way. It's an extra tank of fuel but much better if going to Germany or might I suggest Poland! Ferry direct to France is a long haul, and you end up much further west.

Marcusm

Depends on where you are starting in Ireland and where in Europe you want to go; deal route ex Ireland is very different for Portugal and Finland.

drunkmonkey

Are all the ferrys that long, It look like it nearly takes 24hrs to hit france. Was thinking of going down to Italy direction but loosing a day on the ferry would be a bit of a waste.
It doesn't matter where it's going from, cork, dublin, rosslare etc. Was thinking the EURO tunnel but seems like it might just take as long.

@marcusm can you go to porutgal on the ferry?

CiniO

I was driving to Poland from Mayo several times.
First time I decided to take Rosslare - Charbourg (France) ferry. Ferry was about 20h sailing from 9pm arriving at 5pm next day. I thought I will have a great sleep on the ferry and will be full of energy to drive nearly 2000km on the Continent. Unfortunately this wasn't the case. It's way too long sailing to get a proper rest, and I ended up in France at 5pm already tired with 2000km to go.
After that I was always doing those trips with Dublin-Holyhead ferry + Dover-Calais ferry (or Folkestone-Calais tunnel). Cost of those 2 ferries (or ferry and tunnel) was comparable to direct ferry to France. Distance-wise I had nearly the same way to drive. And it was way quicker.

If you say you want to go to Italy, it will be also most likely quicker for you to take ferry to UK and then tunnel or ferry to France.
Stenaline and Irishferries offer Landbridge to Europe offer, which will sort you out for both ferries (or ferry + tunnel).#

Our man in Havana

+1

Via the UK is the best way imho. The ferry direct to France is a pain in the hole.

n900guy

Yup I'd say through UK as well. It's only 550km or so from Holyhead to Folkestone which is fine on one tank, if you are leaving from Dublin.

drunkmonkey

How long does hollyhead to dover take 3/4hrs? I presume most of it is motorway it's a while since I drove anywhere from hollyhead remember the first 40 minutes used to be a bit windy.

What's the time difference between the trane verses the ferry when you get to dover?

If it was me i'd saunter along and wouldn't be too caught up on time but I know the OH will get cabin fever if she's in the car to long. The auld "it's all about the Journey not the destination" doesn't really work on her.

Our man in Havana

75 mins for a ferry versus 45 for a train.

CiniO

drunkmonkey wrote: »

How long does hollyhead to dover take 3/4hrs? I presume most of it is motorway it's a while since I drove anywhere from hollyhead remember the first 40 minutes used to be a bit windy.

Ferry from Dublin to Holyhead is about 3.5 to 4 hours.
Holyhead to Dover would be 6 hours in best case, and more realistically about 7 to 8 hours accomodating for traffic jams, etc... (the best for me was 6 hours, while the worst 9 hours when I got stock twice on accidents and big traffic jams - this includes few short stops for tea, lunch and toilet).
It's double carriage way for first 100km and then motorway all the time. (assuming you go A55, M56, M6, M1, M25, M20 if I remember right).

What's the time difference between the trane verses the ferry when you get to dover?

Ferry is 1:15 while train 30 minutes.
But considering you need to check in for ferry at least 45 minutes before, and it also takes a while to drive off the ferry, it's more realistycally about 2 up to 2.5 hours for the ferry assuming you arrive at exact time.
With tunnel my experience was that no matter what time you arrive, (even few hours earlier) they let you in to the next train, which goes every 30 minuts. So last time from the moment I drove to the check-in gates, it was only about 45 minutes after which I was already on French motorway. That's just about enough to have a sandwich and use the toilet on the train

If it was me i'd saunter along and wouldn't be too caught up on time but I know the OH will get cabin fever if she's in the car to long. The auld "it's all about the Journey not the destination" doesn't really work on her.

Calculate distance if it actually won't be the same time on the road + way longer ferry if you take direct Ireland-France ferry, as you end up way more West of France, and probably will have way more to drive through France.

Marcusm

Mo ferries to Portugal but you can gt ferries from Portsmouth etc to Santander/Bilbao in northern Spain.

Dublin - Holyhead is under 2 hours if you get the Swift (or Stena equivalent from Dun L). Holyhead to Folkestone is 344 mIles. How long it takes will depend on how many drivers you have and driving style. I do south London to Dublin monthly. My bestow a little over 5 hours driving time for 300 miles. Time of day can make a significant difference.

Train has been my usual route when heading to Europe so I can't cOmment on relativIty via a via ferry. I'd be surprised if train wasn't a better all in package.

I can't see Rosslare-Cherbourg being a great choice unless you want to see Normandy or have lots of time. I'm currently sitting in Zurich have done LOndon- Paris-Lyon-Nice-Florence-Milan over last 3 weeks with lots of side trips.

I think you should decide on priorities and this will be significantly decide by trip length (days, weeks, months) and vehicle (car timings and flexibility significantly different to camper can). Italy is also a big country so decide how and where you want to get to.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

.

With tunnel my experience was that no matter what time you arrive, (even few hours earlier) they let you in to the next train, which goes every 30 minuts. So last time from the moment I drove to the check-in gates, it was only about 45 minutes after which I was already on French motorway.

We where in France last year, we got the ferry direct as had 1000km of motorway in France so didn't want to ride across the UK also. A mate was coming from the UK and took the Tunnel. He miss calculated the day we where heading back and booked the Tunnel for the day after we got the ferry. He arrived at Tunnel, a day early, and was back at his place before we'd left France.

George Dalton

Make sure you book the train in advance. They absolutely fleece you if you just roll up and pay on the spot as I found out the hard way a few years back.

Terrontress

What about Larne - Cairnryan and then Rossyth - Zeebrugge?

TrailerBob

That would be a big sail too, Certain that landbridge through Folkestone/Dover is the fastest way. I did Rosslare to Dover in 6 hours last August but was lucky with traffic. Took nearly 7 the previous April and i dont hang back too much. Depends on your driving really. If you want to potter along then it'll take 71/2 or more.

Mycroft H

The car ferry to France IMO

Get the evening sailing (round 18.30) and it has you in Roscoff by 11 the next morning. Fresh head and ready to go.

However this is only useful if you want to head to the central south of france/spain/Portugal

CiniO

BX 19 wrote: »

The car ferry to France IMO

Get the evening sailing (round 18.30) and it has you in Roscoff by 11 the next morning. Fresh head and ready to go.

However this is only useful if you want to head to the central south of france/spain/Portugal

That's the thing.
OP mentioned he plans to go to Italy.

According to ViaMichelin website, Roscoff to Rome is 1939km and 182euro in tolls, while Calais to Rome is 1610km and 66euro in tolls.
One would be mad to choose Roscoff route.

Marcusm

CiniO wrote: »

That's the thing.
OP mentioned he plans to go to Italy.

According to ViaMichelin website, Roscoff to Rome is 1939km and 182euro in tolls, while Calais to Rome is 1610km and 66euro in tolls.
One would be mad to choose Roscoff route.

I wouldn't do the Roscoff route either but I think you've left out the UK miles pls (I'll bet) the Swiss vignette at CHF40.

Our man in Havana

Did the Cherbourg route when going to BG the first time. The tolls cost around €70 and it was heavy going.

Went Land bridge via the tunnel. No tolls.

No contest.