AIR: Around Ireland Rally

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 11:59 am

I've just done some research into ferry crossings. All the quotes assume one car the size of a Morris Minor, travelling out on 30th August and returning on 7th September. I've preferred day sailings where possible and not included cabins in the quotes except where the ferry company insisted on it. I'd rather not go for a night sailing because it tends to mean leaving and arriving at stupid times, paying extra for a cabin, and trying to sleep at sea (not good if the weather's rough and you're not used to it).

http://www.norfolkline.com/
Liverpool (Birkenhead) to Belfast
Out 1030-1830(8h00m)
Return 1030-1830(8h00m)
1 person: £302 return
2 people: £314 return
Night ferry would cost nearly £200 more.

http://www.irishferries.com/
Holyhead to Dublin 1 person/2 people
Out 1200-1349(1h49m): £169/£187
Out 1410-1725(3h15m): £149/£167
Out 1715-1904(1h49m): £169/£187
Return 0805-1130(3h25m): £89/£107
Return 0845-1045(2h00m): £99/£117
Return 1430-1630(2h00m): £104/£122
Return 2055-0020(3h25m): £89/£107

http://www.stenaline.co.uk/
These quotes are all their "economy" fare. The "flexi" fare costs another £10 each way but allows you to make changes and get a refund if you cancel the booking.
Fleetwood-Larne 1 person/2 people
Out 1030-1745(7h15m): £105/£128
Return 0800-1600(8h00m): £85/£108
Return 1600-0000(8h00m): £110/£133
Holyhead-Dun Loghaire 1 person/2 people
Out 0855-1034(1h39m): £170/£188
Out 1515-1704(1h49m): £170/£188
Return 1110-1249(1h39m): £100/£118
Return 1800-1939(1h39m): £100/£118
Holyhead-Dublin 1 person/2 people
Out 1335-1650(3h15m): £150/£168
Return 0820-1135(3h15m): £90/£108
Return 2115-0030(3h15m): £90/£108

http://www.poirishsea.com/
They have ferries from Larne to Troon and Cairnryan in Scotland but I'm assuming these are not convenient for most of us.
Liverpool to Dublin
Out 1000-1800(8h00m)
Return 2200-0600(8h00m)
Note: there are no day sailings on Sunday or Monday so we would have to catch the 2200-0600 ferry on the way back and you are forced to book either a berth (ie. a bed in shared room) or a two-berth cabin.
1 person in a berth: £249.
2 people in a cabin: £334.

Are there any other companies we should be considering?

(Edited to add StenaLine and journey times.)

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:13 pm

Definites:
alex_holden

Possibles:
iandromiskin
wibble_puppy
Judge
grahamt7
Jay-Minor
lynda
Kevincolley

Post by **alex_holden** » Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:15 pm

Update: I managed to get the Stena Line website to work so I have added quotes from them. I also noticed there's a huge amount of variation in journey time (from 1h39m to 8h) so I've added journey times to the table.

Post by **iandromiskin** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:21 am

Possibles:
iandromiskin
wibble_puppy
Judge
grahamt7
Jay-Minor
lynda
Kevincolley

I'd say stick my name down as a definite. If anything changes closer to the time I'll let you know, but I'd be keen to attend and have some fun with the car for a change, other than attending a day long car show. Kilbroney is usually brilliant and well worth a visit.

Post by **alex_holden** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:44 am

iandromiskin wrote:I'd say stick my name down as a definite.

Hurrah! Two cars are enough to make a convoy. Who wants to be number three?

Definites:
alex_holden
iandromiskin

Possibles:
wibble_puppy
Judge
grahamt7
Jay-Minor
lynda
Kevincolley

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:11 pm

I'll be at the Kilbroney show, we always have a club stand and you are welcome to join us on the day or you can book your own stand which would probably be beside us as they set the field out in alphabetically!! You'll need to prebook the rally as its more expensive to enter on the day and your not gauranted an award if they dont know to expect you. If your camping there a good site at Kilbroney Park, along with some B&Bs in the area. Im not sure if the forms are out yet , check out www.aovc.co.uk and go to the events section.

Post by **alex_holden** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:52 pm

After considering the various ferry options, this is what I propose:

Out StenaLine Holyhead-Dublin 2008-08-30 1335-1650(3h15m): £150/£168
Return StenaLine Dun Loghaire-Holyhead 2008-09-07 1110-1249(1h39m): £100/£118
Total: £250/£286.

I think 13:35 Saturday is late enough that most of us could get to Holyhead without having to set off on Friday and stop over somewhere. We could stay in or close to Dublin on Saturday night and start the rally proper the next morning.

The 11:10 Sunday departure home gives us time to drive down from the Rostrevor area in the morning, and 12:49 arrival in Holyhead is early enough that I reckon most of us could get home afterwards without another stopover.

Post by **alex_holden** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:50 am

If anyone has any suggestions of places to visit in Ireland (especially if you're coming on the rally with us), please speak now because I'm starting to work on the route plan.

Post by **Judge** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:52 am

I know the feeling Alex

Post by **iandromiskin** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:13 am

alex_holden wrote:If anyone has any suggestions of places to visit in Ireland (especially if you're coming on the rally with us), please speak now because I'm starting to work on the route plan.

Your starting from Hollyhead, south Dublin, in that right ? If so and you want to end up in Rostrevor at the end of the week then a clockwise route would be good. Maybe start in Hollyhead head down the coast via Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Derry, Antrim, Armagh. If you do that you'd hit the major towns like Waterford, Dungarvan, Cork, Mitchelstown, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Letterkenny, Derry, Belfast.... It depends on if you want scenic or historical really.

Post by **alex_holden** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 9:33 am

Yes, clockwise makes sense because the last stretch will be from Rostrevor to Dublin.

I was thinking along the lines of specific places you wanted to visit (eg. museums or places of natural beauty). We're looking at doing maybe 800 miles over the course of about six and a half days travelling, so there's plenty of time for side-trips and sightseeing along the way.

Personally I'm more into scenery than towns and cities, but if others tell me they want to visit particular towns I can try to work them into the route.

Post by **iandromiskin** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:16 am

alex_holden wrote:I was thinking along the lines of specific places you wanted to visit (eg. museums or places of natural beauty).

I must have a think. I know historically theres Ardmore Round tower outside of Waterford, Blarney Castle in Cork, Glendalough in Wicklow (round tower), Kilkenny city in nice (but is inland and a city), the scenery in West cork and Kerry is really lovely, Dingle is a cool town (Dophin is gone though I think), the Burren in Clare, Giants Causeway, and Westport is a lovely town too.

Thats just me thinking out loud. I must look at a map or Ireland and see if I can come up with anything and I'll ask one of the lads in the office here who is a bit of traveller who should have some good ideas. I'll get back to you.

Post by **alex_holden** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 11:07 pm

morris1000 is coming too!

Definites:
alex_holden
iandromiskin
morris1000

Possibles:
wibble_puppy
Judge
grahamt7
Jay-Minor
lynda
Kevincolley

Post by **lynda** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:20 pm

Sorry, think I'll have to be a no, unless my friends change their plans. They've managed to decide those dates are almost certainly the only times we can go walking in Scotland together, and as it's my friend's 30th birthday celebrations too I can't really miss it for the Ireland trip

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:38 pm

lynda wrote:Sorry, think I'll have to be a no, unless my friends change their plans. They've managed to decide those dates are almost certainly the only times we can go walking in Scotland together, and as it's my friend's 30th birthday celebrations too I can't really miss it for the Ireland trip

That's a shame but I'm sure you'll be with us in spirit.

Post by **grahamt7** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:40 am

Alex, it will have to be a no from me too I'm afraid (thank you for the PM). My son has some educational special needs, and will be starting his first year at secondary school right at that time, so I need to be here.

Knowing that, I set about arranging a "just me" trip at the end of may, travelling from manchester up to larne and going across to belfast, then going anti-clockwise right around the whole island a total of 1367 miles (if I dont detour or get lost!). Just as things were looking firmed up, my contract was ended with my current employer, so I will have a new job at that time and getting the time off might be a non-starter.

As an aside, the round-trip ferry costs at the end of may were about 180 pounds, which I was going to use 45 pounds worth of Tesco vouchers to pay with.

Sorry to let you down Alex.

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 10:58 am

Good luck with the new job!

The ferry prices seem to vary quite a bit depending on the time of year and even day of week.

Definites:
alex_holden
iandromiskin
morris1000

Possibles:
wibble_puppy
Judge
Jay-Minor
Kevincolley

Post by **jtd.75** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:52 pm

Hi Alex, I will not be attending but I might see you in HolyHead for a quick chat, I usually go to my mother in-laws in Holyhead. The North Wales Talivan ( speed camera's) are lethal on A55 Anglesey so advise all that are taking part to be aware. Ive been done twice 35mph in a 30 and 44mph in a 40

all since I have been retired. Drove for over 40yrs with BT and never a stain on my licence

Jimmy

Post by **jtd.75** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:53 pm

Hi Alex, I will not be attending but I might see you in HolyHead for a quick chat, I usually go to my mother in-laws in Holyhead. The North Wales Talivan ( speed camera's) are lethal on A55 Anglesey so advise all that are taking part to be aware. Ive been done twice 35mph in a 30 and 44mph in a 40 all since I have been retired. Drove for over 40yrs with BT and never a stain on my licence
Jimmy

Post by **jtd.75** » Thu Feb 14, 2008 8:54 pm

Hi Alex, I will not be attending but I might see you in HolyHead for a quick chat, I usually go to my mother in-laws in Holyhead. The North Wales Talivan ( speed camera's) are lethal on A55 Anglesey so advise all that are taking part to be aware. Ive been done twice 35mph in a 30 and 44mph in a 40

all since I have been retired. Drove for over 40yrs with BT and never a stain on my licence

Jimmy