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Galway to Belfast - best route

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  • 12-10-2009 10:45am
    #1
    marigold29
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10 ✭


    Hiya,
    Could anyone tell me the best route to drive from Galway to Belfast? I've done the google-maps things and theres plenty of easy ways to get there, I'm just wondering which would be the most enjoyable/scenic route, maybe even stop somewhere on the way...

    Is Belfast a nightmare to drive in...? our hotel is in the city centre


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    #2
    mikedragon32
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,939 ✭✭✭mikedragon32


    Moved from Travel & Holidays


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    #3
    ardmacha
    Registered Users Posts: 7,476 ✭✭✭ardmacha


    On of the major mysteries of the Irish Road network is why there is no major identifiable route from Belfast to Galway, like the N24 from Waterford to Limerick.

    The shortest route is Roscommon Cavan Monaghan Armagh, but many people prefer to use a route with some motorway on it. Athone to Dundalk is one common route or you can just go to Dublin.,

    But if you are a tourist and speed is not the main issue then pick out some stop en route that interests you and go that way. E.G. via Cavan or Via Sligo/Enniskillen which would be more scenic than going through the midlands on a motorway.

    Carlingford/Mournes/S Armagh warrent a trip on their own!


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    #4
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,121 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    When colleagues at work used to do it all the time they went Galway-Sligo-Enniskillen-Belfast for the better roads. That is a few years ago now though - before M6.


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    #5
    JupiterKid
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 12,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭JupiterKid


    The most direct way from Galway city to Belfast would be Athlone-Cavan-Monaghan-Armagh-Craigavon-Belfast, but as the others said there's very little motorway/dual carriageway on this route and much of the N55 and N54 in particular is of a poor standard.


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    #6
    ardmacha
    Registered Users Posts: 7,476 ✭✭✭ardmacha


    The most direct way from Galway city to Belfast would be Athlone-Cavan-Monaghan-Armagh-Craigavon-Belfast,

    As I said the shortest way is Galway Roscommon Cavan, 25kmn shorter than going via Athlone, but on poor roads most of the way.

    Go via Sligo and stop in Beleek or Enniskillen for a pitstop and come back a different way.


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    #7
    serfboard
    Registered Users Posts: 4,676 ✭✭✭serfboard


    Safest/Least Stressful(but possibly boring)/Most expensive(3 tolls!):N6->Ballinasloe->M6->M4->M50->M1->A1 Motorway/Dual Carriageway all the way from Ballinasloe to Belfast)

    Scenic: Sligo->Enniskillen->Belfast. Stop in Drumcliff (Yeat's grave) and lovely views of Ben Bulben on way to Sligo. Some nice views between Sligo and Enniskillen also (particularly before the border). You can take a small diversion off this road and go to the Glencar waterfall.


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    #8
    Chris_533976
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭Chris_533976


    Would it be quicker (not necessarily shorter) to go Galway - Dublin - Belfast?


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    #9
    Carawaystick
    Registered Users Posts: 8,779 ✭✭✭Carawaystick


    Chris_533976 wrote: »
    Would it be quicker (not necessarily shorter) to go Galway - Dublin - Belfast?

    yep, 2:20 to Dublin and 1:40 to Belfast
    total 4 hours


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    #10
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 78,281 ✭✭✭✭Victor


    Chris_533976 wrote: »
    Would it be quicker (not necessarily shorter) to go Galway - Dublin - Belfast?
    I agree.

    Via Cavan is the shortest and Viamichelin.com recommends via Sligo, but I don't think it is taking the M6 into account.


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    #11
    Chris_533976
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,082 ✭✭✭Chris_533976


    I've heard of Ballinasloe to Newry done in 2h15m. Not sure if that person sped though.


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    #12
    nordydan
    Registered Users Posts: 1,105 ✭✭✭nordydan


    Chris_533976 wrote: »
    I've heard of Ballinasloe to Newry done in 2h15m. Not sure if that person sped though.

    That would be just about possible with no holdups on the M50 and doing 85mph+ on the M1/M6/M4. I have done Ranelagh-Newry centre via Eastlink/DPT in an hour (at 5pm on a Saturday not 4am)


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