Cliffs of moher, m7 via limerick or M6 via Galway?

whomitconcerns

Mornin all,

Quick one, firstly is that a real pita for a day trip? I have some visitors over for a few days and they want to see some real cliffs! (Other suggestions accepted :P)

Secondly is M7 or M6 better to get there..I am inclined to think M7? I would be doing it on a Monday (non bank holiday).

Leaving from North Dublin (Thanks Cletus)

ta

cletus

From where

bear1

Well, the M7 isn't tolled and the M6 is, has a toll near Enfield and then again around Ballinasloe.
Personally I'd go the M7 route. Once you've gotten off the M6 you need to drive to Gort which isn't a great road. The M7 at least has a motorway from Limerick to Gort so it may be quicker.

bazz26

M7 >>> N18/M18 via Limerick Tunnel. M7 is tolled at Port Laoise and so is the Limerick Tunnel.

Special Circumstances

bear1 wrote: »

Well, the M7 isn't tolled and the M6 is, has a toll near Enfield and then again around Ballinasloe.
Personally I'd go the M7 route. Once you've gotten off the M6 you need to drive to Gort which isn't a great road. The M7 at least has a motorway from Limerick to Gort so it may be quicker.

M7 is tolled. Limerick tunnel is tolled.

maudgone

M7 every time. Long day tho, 4 hours to get there, and the same back, plus 6 toll bridge charges. Might be better find some place along the east coast.

bear1

Is the whole M7 tolled now? Didn't know that. Thought it was for free apart from the tunnel.

bazz26

Dublin (Newland's Cross) to Limerick via M7 should take about 2 hours. Limerick to the CofM should take another 1 hour 30 mins or so. The only part of the M7 tolled is at Portlaoise.

whomitconcerns

maudgone wrote: »

M7 every time. Long day tho, 4 hours to get there, and the same back, plus 6 toll bridge charges. Might be better find some place along the east coast.

Thats what I was thinking..but where else with cool cliffs thats closer? I was thinking around giants causeway but its the same distance....

Kristopherus

M6 to Galway. Turn off at junction 19. Take the Limerick Rd(N18)to Kilcolgan. Turn right in Kilcolgan To Kinvara & Ballyvaughan(N67). Take the coast road from Ballvaughan to Doolin(R477) as you are then driving along by the sea. The Directions are signposted from Doolin, but if the weather is fine, there is a pathwalk from Doolin to the Cliffs. Alternately take the R 478 To get there via the visitor centre. Just be aware there are hefty parking charges at the centre.

Kristopherus

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Thats what I was thinking..but where else with cool cliffs thats closer? I was thinking around giants causeway but its the same distance....

AFAIK there are SFA cliffs on the East Coast. The better ones are along the West Coast and imo the CoM are the easiest to get to. The route I suggested was designed to take the boredom out of the journey. I would hate to be on a motorway for 3-4 hours.

whomitconcerns

Kristopherus wrote: »

M6 to Galway. Turn off at junction 19. Take the Limerick Rd(N18)to Kilcolgan. Turn right in Kilcolgan To Kinvara & Ballyvaughan(N67). Take the coast road from Ballvaughan to Doolin(R477) as you are then driving along by the sea. The Directions are signposted from Doolin, but if the weather is fine, there is a pathwalk from Doolin to the Cliffs. Alternately take the R 478 To get there via the visitor centre. Just be aware there are hefty parking charges at the centre.

that does sound more interesting..but more time..its already guts of 8hr round trip..I have been there myself a few times. Is it still the drop everyone off at the entrance so theres only one person to pay for at the carpark thing?

maudgone

Kristopherus wrote: »

AFAIK there are SFA cliffs on the East Coast. The better ones are along the West Coast and imo the CoM are the easiest to get to. The route I suggested was designed to take the boredom out of the journey. I would hate to be on a motorway for 3-4 hours.

About the same amount of Mway driving on either route. Very slow driving route from Kilcolgan to Cliffs via Ballyvaughan and The Corkscrew:eek:. A nice scenic route tho on a clear day.

Kristopherus

whomitconcerns wrote: »

that does sound more interesting..but more time..its already guts of 8hr round trip..I have been there myself a few times. Is it still the drop everyone off at the entrance so theres only one person to pay for at the carpark thing?

I think so. Its years since I drove there. The last time I walked the pathway from Doolin. That was to clear the head aftera session in McGann's:D

Fair play to Google. They covered the Cliffs pretty well. You can follow all the pathways up to the boundary wall with it, And to O'Brien's Tower as well. If you have a look at the entrance area you may see the parking charges.

More info here:http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/plan-your-visit/tickets-prices/

tradhead

I went to the Cliffs of Moher with an American friend about two years ago, having never been there myself. I don't know if this is an option for you but if you want to pull out all the stops I would highly recommend what we did; we stayed down in Galway overnight and sampled the nightlife, drove up around Connemara the following day and then down to the Cliffs.

We slightly(!) over-indulged the nighth before in Galway and left it a bit late to head down so it was dark when we got to the cliffs but it was still absolutely breathtaking. Stayed a second night in a nearby hotel (Woodstock I think?) before heading back to the airport in Dublin to put him on a plane! It was a savage weekend and really opened my eyes to what I've been missing here in Ireland, more or less in my own back yard.

It is a bit of a trek down so I would definitely recommend making the most of it and staying at least one night somewhere, there are plenty of hostels that wouldn't break the bank and would be a great craic if there is a group of you going.

Chimaera

I was just up around there on Sunday actually. Limerick to Ennis is about 20-25 min these days, take the first exit from the M18 for the N85 and you'll be in Lahinch in about another 30 min. Cliffs of Moher are another 15 min up the road. North Dublin to Limerick should be around the 2 h mark.

There are lots of other places to stop along there if you want to break the journey too. Lahinch has plenty of nice places to eat. Then you've got Liscannor on the way to the Cliffs, the Rock Shop is worth a visit. Doolin isn't too far further on either, and you could complete your journey by heading North towards Galway and back on the M6.

whomitconcerns

Chimaera wrote: »

I was just up around there on Sunday actually. Limerick to Ennis is about 20-25 min these days, take the first exit from the M18 for the N85 and you'll be in Lahinch in about another 30 min. Cliffs of Moher are another 15 min up the road. North Dublin to Limerick should be around the 2 h mark.

There are lots of other places to stop along there if you want to break the journey too. Lahinch has plenty of nice places to eat. Then you've got Liscannor on the way to the Cliffs, the Rock Shop is worth a visit. Doolin isn't too far further on either, and you could complete your journey by heading North towards Galway and back on the M6.

aye..I cant do an overnight unfortunately, so thinking an 8am start..get to lahinch for lunch, then on to cliffs. Back in Dub for 8pm or so maybe?

maudgone

whomitconcerns wrote: »

aye..I cant do an overnight unfortunately, so thinking an 8am start..get to lahinch for lunch, then on to cliffs. Back in Dub for 8pm or so maybe?

Suggest you go down the M6 route. Break for food in Ballyvaughan or Lisdoonvarna. http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurants-g212514-Ballyvaughan_The_Burren_County_Clare.html.
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurants-g212090-Lisdoonvarna_The_Burren_County_Clare.html
Return home the M7 route for a change of scenery.

whomitconcerns

Well..looks like a 577km round trip should be ok..leave at 8am get there for 11am or so...walk lunch etc leave by 4pm and back by 8pm!

https://www.google.ie/maps/dir/Malahide,+Co.+Dublin/Cliffs+of+Moher,+Liscannor,+Co.+Clare/Malahide,+Co.+Dublin/@53.0404559,-8.9698148,8z/data=!4m25!4m24!1m5!1m1!1s0x48671a891bda8a55:0xa00c7a9973215c0!2m2!1d-6.1501378!2d53.4509236!1m10!1m1!1s0x485b00e358d10fd1:0xbb6af177fefd97ec!2m2!1d-9.42651!2d52.97188!3m4!1m2!1d-8.1904839!2d53.3315173!3s0x485c42647ffd25f7:0xd4fb24865abeb2a7!1m5!1m1!1s0x48671a891bda8a55:0xa00c7a9973215c0!2m2!1d-6.1501378!2d53.4509236!3e0

NewApproach

Take your pick. There's less than 5 minutes in the difference. Both routes are tolled. There's more motorway with the Limerick route. It's probably about 3h15 max each way.

Interslice

The limerick way lacks ant decent scenery really until you get to lahinch. I'd travel down by galway, kilcolgan, kinvara, ballyvaughan, fanore, doolin COM and come back the limerick way in the dark. Lovely scenery around the coast of clare as good as the cliffs themselves. Burren on your left and the aran islands on your right. Wouldn't worry about fuel cost tolls and mpg on a trip like that.

whomitconcerns

Well 598Km and 7hrs behind wheel, over via galway, stuck to the coast road the whole way and back via Limerick, coffee in Enfield and Kinvara and lunch in Lahinch.

Bad rain coming back but clear over the cliffs!!!!

Great trip

Kristopherus

Kristopherus wrote: »

M6 to Galway. Turn off at junction 19. Take the Limerick Rd(N18)to Kilcolgan. Turn right in Kilcolgan To Kinvara & Ballyvaughan(N67). Take the coast road from Ballvaughan to Doolin(R477) as you are then driving along by the sea. The Directions are signposted from Doolin, but if the weather is fine, there is a pathwalk from Doolin to the Cliffs. Alternately take the R 478 To get there via the visitor centre. Just be aware there are hefty parking charges at the centre.

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Well 598Km and 7hrs behind wheel, over via galway, stuck to the coast road the whole way and back via Limerick, coffee in Enfield and Kinvara and lunch in Lahinch.

Bad rain coming back but clear over the cliffs!!!!

Great trip

Thought you might like it:D:D:D

whomitconcerns

Dropped my guests off at the entrance, paid 6E just for myself at the gate. Guy behind me realised how it worked, he had 5 in car, tried to reverse but had no space...30 euro please :P