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Subject Topic: caravan holiday Northern Ireland Post Reply Post New Topic
22/7/2024 at 5:43pm
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Lunar Solaris 524
View jjgderbyshire's Profile View Profile   Reply to jjgderbyshire Reply   Quote jjgderbyshire Quote  
Joined: 21/9/2014

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Having seen a recent tv program about Northern Ireland, I am considering taking the caravan there for a couple of weeks. Before I start spending hours on the internet, I'm Looking for advice as to financial viability with ferry costs etc. I would spend 6 months of the year in France if I could, but due to the last holiday there involving a hospital visit, my wife refuses to go there again. Looking for places in the UK to summon up some enthusiasm rather than give up caravanning. I'm retired so cost is a consideration, although I found France more affordable than the UK. Ball park figures for cheapest ferry costs would be welcome.

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jjg


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via mobile 22/7/2024 at 5:51pm
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai
View Mrs. Bonce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mrs. Bonce Reply   Quote Mrs. Bonce Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2006

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Forum Posts:   12698

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You will need to go up to Scotland for the cheapest ferry, which is Cairnryan to Larne. you can go from Liverpool to Belfast but that takes all night. You can look up ferry prices on the internet. Are you a Caravan and Motorhome club member? If so, you can use their Certified Locations (CLs) of which there are a small number in Northern Ireland.


22/7/2024 at 7:32pm
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Lunar Solaris 524
View jjgderbyshire's Profile View Profile   Reply to jjgderbyshire Reply   Quote jjgderbyshire Quote  
Joined: 21/9/2014

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Forum Posts:   352

Site Reviews Total: 9
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
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Site Reviews 2021: 0  
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Thanks Mrs. Bonce. I am a member of both organisations although I've always managed to do better than their prices for ferry fares to France, but I'll give it a shot. I suspect that the ferry fares with Stenna Line and P & O will be more than I was paying for overnight trips with Brittany Ferries. I'm reluctant to use P & O after suffering their rubbish food and completely sleepless night on Hull - Rotterdam overnight crossing many years ago. I also object to the exploitation of workers from poor countries. I shall report on my final decision.

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jjg


22/7/2024 at 7:38pm
 Location: Liverpool
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 560
View Pixie_Hez's Profile View Profile   Reply to Pixie_Hez Reply   Quote Pixie_Hez Quote  
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I am from NI but have been living in England for the past 15 years. We go to NI 3 or 4 times a year to visit family and use the Liverpool (Birkenhead) to Belfast ferry. This is a long ferry crossing (8 hours) with either a day time or night time crossing to choose from, but for us, it is the most relaxing as we live in Liverpool so it takes us 30 minutes to get to the ferry whereas driving up to Cairnryan can take about 6 hours for us. The drive up to the Scottish border is fine but the road over to Cairnryan can be a nightmare at times as it is mainly single carriageway and is extensively used by farm vehicles. I was initially put off by the long ferry crossing from Liverpool so we used to drive up to Cairnryan and get the shorter ferry, but it was always such a stressful drive that we decided to try the long ferry from Liverpool and have never looked back. We make it part of the holiday and the 2 ferries on the Liverpool route are only a few years old and are very comfortable. We always book a deluxe cabin with a double bed, 2 armchairs, a television, a fridge and tea/coffee making facilities and really enjoy the crossing. However, no matter what route you take to NI, the ferry is expensive with the Liverpool one being the most expensive. However, the extra cost is more than offset by the savings in petrol for not having to drive up to Cairnryan.

We are members of the CMC and book the ferry through them which always seems to save us at least £50 on the price on the Stena website, but it is very galling that it costs significantly more to get the ferry to NI than it does to go to France.

Northern Ireland is a beautiful country and well worth visiting.

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Pixie


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22/7/2024 at 8:13pm
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Lunar Solaris 524
View jjgderbyshire's Profile View Profile   Reply to jjgderbyshire Reply   Quote jjgderbyshire Quote  
Joined: 21/9/2014

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Forum Posts:   352

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Thanks Pixie_Hez. We always did the Portsmouth - Saint Malo crossing overnight and booked the better cabins. It made an enjoyable start to the holiday and being a Club Voyage member saved us a wad of money. I find it takes a few days to recover from the long drive to the port, on and off the ferry on a short crossing followed by a long drive from the port. Just not worth it to save a few quid sometimes. I'll brace myself and have a look at the cost.

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jjg


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via mobile 22/7/2024 at 8:38pm
 Location: N. Ireland
 Outfit: Elddis Xplore 304
View arthurdent's Profile View Profile   Reply to arthurdent Reply   Quote arthurdent Quote  
Joined: 10/1/2005

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The ferry cost will not be insignificant. If it's any consolation, those of us that live on this island have to pay those prices (and a lot more for direct to France) to get anywhere, every year !
As has been said, cheapest crossing is Cairnryan - Belfast / Larne.
There are 3 main tourist areas, each has a site that is (imo) much better than others, so for Fermanagh Lakelands look at Rushin House, for the Causeway coast look at Ballyness and for the Mourne mountains look at the C&CC site at Delamont. They are no more than 1.5-2.5 hrs apart so no great travelling distances. It's a nice area, different than mainland GB but yet still in the UK, don't expect great weather though, similar to Scotland.


22/7/2024 at 9:34pm
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Lunar Solaris 524
View jjgderbyshire's Profile View Profile   Reply to jjgderbyshire Reply   Quote jjgderbyshire Quote  
Joined: 21/9/2014

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Forum Posts:   352

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Site Reviews 2024: 2  
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Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
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Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 16
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Site Nights 2022: 15
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Thanks Arthurdent. That's the sort of information I was hoping for. There's not many posts about the area. I've been to the Republic years ago and had an immensely enjoyable holiday. I'm told it's expensive now. I'm hoping that Northern Ireland will have some similarities in terms of friendliness and hospitality of the people, quality of the food and scenery.

-------------
jjg


Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!


via mobile 22/7/2024 at 9:56pm
 Location: Luton (no jokes plea
 Outfit: Coachman and Hyundai
View Mrs. Bonce's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mrs. Bonce Reply   Quote Mrs. Bonce Quote  
Joined: 05/6/2006

Diamond Member
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Forum Posts:   12698

Site Reviews Total: 384
Site Reviews 2024: 21 
Site Reviews 2023: 26 
Site Reviews 2022: 37 
Site Reviews 2021: 26 
Site Reviews 2020: 11 
Site Reviews 2019: 30 
Site Reviews 2018: 31 
Site Nights 2024: 102
Site Nights 2023: 119
Site Nights 2022: 154
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Site Nights 2020: 63
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Site Nights 2018: 134

NI is cheaper for food, but if you are anywhere near ROI and you have a diesel car, go over the border for your fuel.


23/7/2024 at 12:12am
 Location: Nottingham
 Outfit: Lunar Solaris 524
View jjgderbyshire's Profile View Profile   Reply to jjgderbyshire Reply   Quote jjgderbyshire Quote  
Joined: 21/9/2014

Gold Member
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Forum Posts:   352

Site Reviews Total: 9
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 1  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
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Site Reviews 2018: 2  
Site Nights 2024: 16
Site Nights 2023: 14
Site Nights 2022: 15
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Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 2

Thanks Mrs. Bonce. I've got to refrain from commenting because we're not supposed to get political on this site.

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jjg



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