REPORT TRAVEL IN NORTHERN IRELAND AND IRELAND THROUGH THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS: BELFAST, BALLYMENA, BALLYCASTLE, CARRICK A REDE ROPE BRIDGE, BALLINTOY, COLERAINE, DERRY, GALWAY, LIMERICK, CORK, CAHIR.

  

Punctual as never before from Orio al Serio (Bg) at 21.25 my plane n. FR4845 of the Ryanair Company in the direction of Terminal 1 of Dublin International Airport (Ireland), located in Collinstown, 13 km north of the capital (return ticket price including taxes: 76.48 Euros).

 

Arrival on time at 11.05 pm, at Dublin International Airport (Ireland), located in Collinstown, 13 km north of the capital. There is a time zone time compared to Italy.

 

To be able to set foot in Ireland it is sufficient to have a valid identity card or passport. Once you arrive at the border of the aforementioned airport, just put your passport on the scanner, wait for a photograph to be taken and if everything is ok, the automatic doors that allow you to enter the United Kingdom will open. If you have an identity card, you must instead go to the desk for identification.

 

If you intend to visit Ireland and Northern Ireland without using a car, you must take the bus or train bearing in mind that many remote areas cannot be reached and that the service on Sundays is very limited and in certain areas even suspended. Also keep in mind that the train is much faster but also much more expensive and in a country where the cost of living is high is not a factor to be underestimated. One last thing to keep in mind is that the buses and trains of Ireland and Northern Ireland are very efficient and punctual.

 

Keep in mind that it is allowed to spend the night at Dublin Airport even if the chairs with armrests are uncomfortable for lying down.

 

Just outside the Arrivals Hall of Terminal 1 of Dublin International Airport (Ireland), located in Collinstown, 13km north of the capital, if you want to reach Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), please note that it is necessary to use the Aicoach Bus Company (Bus n. 705). There are departures on average every hour, even at night. The journey takes 1 hour 50 '. The ticket costs 12 Euros and can be purchased on the Company's website or at the Desk, also open at night, which is located in front of the stop just outside Terminal 1 of the Airport.

 

In Belfast, the aforementioned bus ends its journey in Glengall Street, in front of the Europa Bus Center, the largest bus station in the capital of Northern Ireland.

 

Belfast is great for cycling and you can use the bicycles provided by Belfast Bikes for this purpose. To do this, you need to register in advance on the website www.belfastbikes.co.uk, for three days at a cost of £ 5 for 3 days or £ 20 for a year, paying by credit card. Once the registration has been completed, a pin is assigned which must be entered together with the personal telephone number when picking up the bicycle and to allow it to be unlocked. The rental costs are as follows: the first half hour free, up to one hour £ 0.5, up to two hours £ 1.5, up to three hours £ 2.5, up to four hours £ 3.5 . Every half hour over 4 hours and up to a maximum of 24 hours you pay £ 2. If you do not return the bike within 72 hours it will be considered lost and the sum of £ 120 will be charged to your credit card. Same thing happens for damage to the bike.

 

To reach Ballycastle, located on the north - east coast of Northern Ireland, from Belfast the fastest solution is to take Bus no. 218 or no. 219 to Ballymena from Europa Bus Center. Duration of the ride: 40 minutes. Departures approximately every hour from Monday to Saturday. Almost absent service on Sunday. Once you arrive at the Ballymena Bus Station you need to take Bus n. 217 or 131 for Ballycastle. Duration of the ride: 50 minutes. Departures from Monday to Friday at 7.30, 9.00, 9.30, 10.25, 11.30, 12.25, 13.30, 14.25. 15.45 and 17.45, on Saturdays at 8.50, 11.50, 14.50, 15.45, 16.00 and 17.45. Service absent on Sunday.

The single ticket can be purchased at the Europa Bus Center in Belfast and is valid for the 2 aforementioned buses. The cost is £ 10.30.

 

Bus n. 217 and n. 131, coming from Ballymena, ends its run near Diamont, the main square of Ballycastle, where the Holy Trinity Church stands.

 

Please note that the Ballycastle tourist office is located near the Port. It is also open in winter. The closing for the lunch break is from 13.00 to 14.00.

 

If from Ballycastle, you are interested in going to visit the spectacular “Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge”, you need to take bus n. 172 or no. 402 from the stops located on Market Street or Marine Corner, in front of the Hotel Marine near the Port. Cost of the ticket that can be purchased from the driver: 2.10 £. Duration of the ride: 13 minutes. 13 races from Monday to Friday, 11 races on Saturday and 9 races on Sunday.

 

Once you get off the 172 bus you need to walk downhill for a good 500 meters to reach the Larrybane car park and the Ticket Office where you need to pay 7 £ to access the "Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge". Keep in mind that in winter, the bridge opens at 9.30 am, while the last ticket is sold at 2.45 pm and that sometimes when it is too windy the bridge is closed. However, even in these last 2 cases the comfortable panoramic path almost 1 km long that leads to the bridge remains open and it is therefore possible to see it but access it as the gate is closed.

 

From the Larrybane car park, a scenic 16.5 km itinerary starts through the Causeway Coast Way, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ending at the Giant's Causeway. You can admire enchanting landscapes. Some sections follow a narrow and muddy path on the top of the cliffs with no protective barrier and therefore can be dangerous in case of rain or strong wind. In addition, high tides sometimes block access to both ends of White Park Bay. If you are not so informed, it is possible to take even a short stretch of the Causeway Coast Way, for example from the Larrybane parking lot, up to the Ballintoy Cemetery Church, where you can take the paved road that in about 1 km reaches the center. of Ballintoy, where the bus stop is located. (total distance: 2 km abundant).

 

From the Ballintoy bus stop, located near the View Ostell, buses no. 172 or no. 402. coming from Ballycastle to Coleraine Bus Station and vice versa. Cost of the ticket that can be purchased from the driver: £ 4.40. Duration of the ride: 43 minutes. 13 rides Monday to Friday, 11 rides on Saturday and 9 rides on Sunday. Please note that these buses also stop at Giants Causeway.

 

Please note that the Bus Station and the Train Station in Coleraine are adjacent.

 

From the Coleraine Bus Station, bus no. 234 to Derry Bus Station, located on Foyle Street, a few steps east of the city wall. Cost of the ticket that can be purchased from the driver: 8 £. Duration of the ride: 1 hour. 8 runs a day from Monday to Friday. 2 Rides on Saturday. No races on Sunday.

 

Derry, the second largest city in Northern Ireland can be easily explored on foot.

 

For backpackers like me, it is not so easy to find cheap accommodation to sleep especially in winter. Between Hostels marked on the Tourist Guide but nonexistent in reality, between Bad and Breakfast that do not answer the bell, at the end after 2 hours of research I had to settle for sleeping at the Travel Lodge Hotel, located in the center at the intersection of Strand Road and Great James Street, for the discounted price of £ 50. Breakfast not included. Free Wifi.

 

From Derry Bus Station, bus no. 64, of the Eireann Bus Company direct to Galway Eireann Bus Station, located in the center, near Eyre Square. Cost of the ticket that can be purchased from the driver: Euro 24. Pounds sterling is not accepted. Duration of the ride: 5 h 25 '. Departures every day from Monday to Sunday at 7.15am, 9.15am, 11.10am, 1.15pm and 3.30pm. A ride is also guaranteed at 6.30pm only on Friday. This bus makes numerous intermediate stops.

 

Galway, in the east of Ireland, can be easily explored on foot.

 

From Galway's Eireann Bus Station, buses no. 51 and X51, of the Eireann Company bound for Limerick Bus Station, located adjacent to the Train Station, on Parnell Street, on the southeastern edge of downtown. Cost of the ticket that can be purchased from the driver: 16 Euros. Duration of the journey: 1 h 40 '. Departures every day from Monday to Sunday every hour from 5.00 to 20.00.

 

Limerick, in the east of Ireland, can be easily explored on foot.

 

From Limerick Bus Station, buses no. 51 and X51, of the Espressway Company direct to Cork Bus Station, located in the city center near the intersection of Parnell Pl and Merchant's Quay. Cost of the ticket that can be purchased from the driver: Euro 16.00. Duration of the ride: 1 h 50 '. Departures every day from Monday to Sunday every hour from 5.00 to 20.00.

 

Cork, Ireland's second largest city, can be explored on foot very well.

 

In Cork, in the area located just north of the River Lee North Channel, there are budget accommodation such as Hostels and Bad and Breakfast. One of these is Sheila's Hostel, located at number 4 of Belgrave Pl, near Wellington Road. The cost per night for a bed in a dormitory costs from 18 Euros to 21 Euros. Breakfast costs 3 Euros. Free Wifi.

 

To reach Cahir, keep in mind that from Cork Bus Station, bus no. X8, of the Espressway Company directed to Dublin Airport, which also stops in front of the parking lot located between the Tourist Office and Cahir Castle. Cost of the ticket that must be purchased at the automatic machines located inside the Cork Bus Station: Euro 16.50. Duration of the ride: 1 h 20 '. Departures every day from Monday to Sunday at 8.00, 10.00, 12.00, 14.00, 16.00 and 18.00.

 

The Cahir Castle, located a few tens of meters from the bus stop, is open every day from 9.00 to 18.30 from mid-June to the end of August, from 9.30 to 17.30 from mid-March to mid-June and from September to mid-August October, from 9.30 to 16.30 from Mid October to the end of March. The ticket price is Euro 5.00.

 

To reach Cashel from Cahir, keep in mind that bus no. X8, of the Espressway Company, coming from Cork and bound for Dublin Airport, also stops in Cashel in front of the Bake House on Main Street. Tickets can generally be purchased from the driver, although sometimes this is not possible and it is necessary to obtain a ticket before boarding by purchasing it in the tobacconist's adjacent to the Bus Stop. Duration of the ride: 20 '. Departures every day from Monday to Sunday at 9.20, 11.20, 13.20, 15.20, 17.20 and at 19.20.

 

The Rock of Cashel, located on a hill just 1 km from the bus stop, is open every day from 9.00 to 19.00 from mid-June to the end of August, from 9.00 to 17.30 from mid-March to mid-June and from September to Mid October, from 9.30 to 16.30 from Mid October to the end of March. The ticket price is Euro 8.00.

 

To reach Dublin Airport from Cashel, take bus no. X8, of the Espressway Company, from Cork. The ticket costs Euro 19.50 and can generally be purchased from the driver, although sometimes this is not possible and it is necessary to obtain a ticket before getting on by buying it at the tobacconist's adjacent to the Bus Stop. Duration of the ride: 2h30 '. Departures every day from Monday to Sunday at 9.40am, 11.40am, 1.40pm, 3.40pm, 5.40pm and 7.40pm.

 

Punctual as never before from Terminal 1 of Dublin International Airport (Ireland), located in Collinstown, 13 km north of the capital at 6.25 am, my plane no. FR9428 of the Ryanair Company in the direction of Orio al Serio International Airport (Bg), (return ticket price including taxes: Euro 74.44).

 

Punctual arrival at 9.55 am, at Orio al Serio International Airport (Bg).

 

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2018/04/viaggio-in-irlanda-del-nord-e-irlanda.html