Dublin to Letterkenny

jeffk

Reading three or four old threads and can’t seem to decide.

We are going from Blanchardstown to Letterkenny, was thinking as it’s a long drive go m50/m1 etc, but then there’s a toll and you only save like a minute off other routes

Also any ideas on where to stop for food, leaving at eight on a Sunday morning, was suggested a place outside Ardee but its not open till 12

Thanks!!

Losty Dublin

I've done Dublin to Letterkenny in 3 hours, both via Ardee and Crossmaglen. This was in the days before Monaghan, Castleblaney and Carrigmacross were bypassed; chances are that the N 2 has caught up with the M 1 time wise. Given your location is Blanch, you'd get onto the M 2 a little quicker than then M 1 which should give you another 10 minutes.

Food wise I've no idea but I'm sure all the towns en route will have a cafe or two open that will have a breakfast menu. Should you travel on the M 1 you have the service stations to hand which offer cooked food. Personally speaking, I wouldn't be taking on a long drive on an empty stomach but that's just me

_Kaiser_

Another option is via the M3 (directly from Blanch) via Cavan >Enniskillen > Omagh > Strabane

Blanch to the border is all motorway or decent N-road.. bit of a twisty bit coming in to Enniskillen but fairly straightforward from there. Have done this run myself.

Losty Dublin

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Another option is via the M3 (directly from Blanch) via Cavan >Enniskillen > Omagh > Strabane

Blanch to the border is all motorway or decent N-road.. bit of a twisty bit coming in to Enniskillen but fairly straightforward from there. Have done this run myself.

Save for a small section around Virginia itt's a good road as far as the border. How far of a drive is it beyond Enniskillen?

scuba8

The fastest way is m50- M1-Ardee- Monaghan- Emmyvale-Aughnacloy-Omagh-Straban-Lifford-Letterkenny.
There is a garage on the roundabout in Monaghan that has food on the go which is good.

jeffk

scuba8 wrote: »

The fastest way is m50- M1-Ardee- Monaghan- Emmyvale-Aughnacloy-Omagh-Straban-Lifford-Letterkenny.
There is a garage on the roundabout in Monaghan that has food on the go which is good.

Garage as in petrol station with a deli, like say apple green etc?

coylemj

If you're going the shortest route which is via Aughnacloy and Omagh and starting that early, I'd leave it until Omagh to stop for a nosebag, you should have a decent choice of places to choose from in the town centre. Haven't done it in a few years so can't remember the last place I stopped off in for food.

The route via Enniskillen does involve a very good road as far as the border, then it's a decent but reasonably twisty road to Enniskillen. If you were going up the N3, there is a good roadhouse called Lisgrey House on the left after Virginia but I'd still go via Aughnacloy.

Make sure not to run out of fuel in the north, unleaded was typically 119.9 sterling a couple of weeks ago which at current rates would be over 170c per litre.

iwillhtfu

You're only going to letterkenny why not stop there for food you'll be there in less than 3 hours from blanch. Stop at one of the apple green services on the M1 and grab some breakfast if you don't want to eat before you leave.

jeffk

iwillhtfu wrote: »

You're only going to letterkenny why not stop there for food you'll be there in less than 3 hours from blanch. Stop at one of the apple green services on the M1 and grab some breakfast if you don't want to eat before you leave.

Sorry we are going to Malin Head, get that done and then back to stay in Letterkenny.

Stopped in that apple green en route to Belfast an wouldst go again(not great food and dead atmosphere), rather a proper cafe/greasy spoon and suppose breakfast en route starts the holiday

coylemj

jeffk wrote: »

Sorry we are going to Malin Head, get that done and then back to stay in Letterkenny.

Do you need to stop in Letterkenny on the way up? Looking at the map I'd say you should go direct from Omagh to Derry and on to Malin Head. Letterkenny looks like a serious diversion on the way from Dublin to Malin Head.

foggy_lad

Have a look at this route out the N2 and avoiding tolls: https://goo.gl/maps/47Tka

Or this one using the M1 and N33 with Tolls: https://goo.gl/maps/D1b70

jeffk

coylemj wrote: »

Do you need to stop in Letterkenny on the way up? Looking at the map I'd say you should go direct from Omagh to Derry and on to Malin Head. Letterkenny looks like a serious diversion on the way from Dublin to Malin Head.

Sorry worded the thread wrong, just straight to malin head to see it and then back to hotel in Letterkeny

jimmycrackcorm

I'd recommend Harry's in Bridgend in Donegal if you're going to Malin first as presumably you'll be going via Derry

iwillhtfu

Save room for coffee and cake from Caffè banba at Malin head. Might be worth checking to see if they're there. Quality cakes.