Route advice , Ireland

[Trickedem]

Early days , but planning a 2025 trip.
Few days in Ireland.
Looking for some local advice.
Best way out of Belfast heading west towards Leitrim, family roots journey.

Train + ferry to Belfast. Then hopefully the same day take a 40 or 50 mile chunk out the journey.
Day 2, head for Manorhamilton.

Any advice on route, places to avoid , roads or paths to use or definitely not to use.

Thanks

I went through ManorHamilton on my recent tour. Absolutely lovely roads from Sligo up to Beleek. https://www.strava.com/activities/12351772195

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

The Ordnance Survey mapping is always you friend.

 

[ColinJ]

The Ordnance Survey mapping is always you friend.

I thought that they don't cover Ireland?

I have what is supposed to the full digital OS map for Britain but it doesn't cover N.I., and obviously not the Republic of Ireland either.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I thought that they don't cover Ireland?

I have what is supposed to the full digital OS map for Britain but it doesn't cover N.I., and obviously not the Republic of Ireland either.

There was an OS survey of the whole of Ireland at one time. I think those maps are still available but TBH I haven't checked recently. I did have OS maps of the south many years ago (published well after independence )

 

[Emanresu]

Never knew this - but it seems logical. The post-2023 setup there seems a good idea and wonder if it will take off here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordnance_Survey_Ireland

 

[Chislenko]

Na not Greggs - sure you can get them anywhere.

If you've time, cycle in round behind the Odyssey/SSE Arena which is very close to the Titanic Centre - it's all good flat cycle routes around there and go to the Dock Cafe, Belfast's (maybe irelands?) only 'honesty' cafe where you pay what you want. Alot of interesting artifacts, artwork etc in there and the best scones & haystack buns in the land

Have been in that cafe when we did the Titanic Museum, must admit it was a new concept for me when the chap said "pay what you feel like"

Mind you it is a good ploy as you invariably pay more than you should! An interesting place.

 

[pjd57]

Finally got round to booking this .
Middle of May. Train + ferry from Glasgow to Belfast.
Arrive in early afternoon. Heading to Armagh for first night.
Then on to Leitrim for 2 nights.
Return journey is a bit awkward because of ferry and train times. So opted to cycle a big chunk of way to Belfast then get a train into the city and stay the night.
Avoids any rush for a ferry the next morning.

 

[pjd57]

Great trip. Even better than I hoped for.

 

[pjd57]

As @Sixmile says there’s some really nice countryside out from Lisburn towards Portadown/Dungannon/Armagh with lots of quiet minor country roads. For me Lurgan/Craigavon/Portadown area is a bit of an urban jungle and can be quite confusing to navigate so best to plan your route well in advance and have it downloaded to a GPS - I’ve found myself getting lost and doing laps of dual carriageway / busy A roads on the couple of times I’ve been in that area.
Good Luck

I did end up on the A road out of Armagh , heading for Portadown. Not pleasant. More like motorway speed.
Got off it fairly quickly and just followed Google on cycle settings.
Added a few miles but it was all on quiet rural roads