Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more

General => General Chat => Topic started by: Scribble on December 17, 2010

Title: Roads into Belfast
Post by: Scribble on December 17, 2010
I'm heading into the city to waterfront to see jack and the beanstalk, are the roads ok or would I be safer taking the four wheel drive or stick with my own car , cheers
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 17, 2010
No idea what the roads are  like as I'm stuck in england waiting for the airports to open so I can get home, but looking at the forecast I wouldn't venture out tonight without a 4x4, and I'd pack the tow rope, shovel and sleeping bag too ;)
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: Scribble on December 17, 2010
Hope ya get home I see they have shut down the airports again , my sister is stuck in Spain the lucky cow

I will pack all off the above now and maybe a bottle of port incase we are stuck overnight
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 17, 2010
My flight has just been cancelled  :'( and the ticket desk has the worlds biggest queue  :o problem is I don't know whether to hang about for a later flight or just hit the hotel before it gets booked up.
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: RedLeader on December 17, 2010
The roads in and around Belfast are not too bad but I'm not sure about outside of that. Probably best bring the 4x4 just in case, could be more snow later.
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 17, 2010
Met office have RED WARNINGS out for east coast ( www.metoffice.com ) , maybe best stay at home tonight. check and see if the show is still on before travelling.
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: RedLeader on December 17, 2010
The police have quite a serious weather warning.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12022439
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 17, 2010
Well I'm  on my way to the hotel (no I didn't consider bivvying at the airport!) now and have booked the flight to dublin tomorrow as the belfast ones are all full, then the fun starts trying to get to belfast, be cool if planes trains and automobiles was on telly tonight  ;D
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: ChuckMcB on December 17, 2010
THe Traffic watch NI page has web cams that cover the major roads around Belfast...will give you some sort of idea what it's like http://www.trafficwatchni.com/site/default.asp
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: Scribble on December 17, 2010
Back safe and sound the roads a bit hairy in some places especially as we hit Dromore on the way back , lorrys must have special bubbles they drive in as we got overtook by a few going as fast as they could in the snow covered fast lane , mad men

The show was good fun so worth the hassle of drive down
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: suspectmonkey on December 18, 2010
lorrys must have special bubbles they drive in as we got overtook by a few going as fast as they could in the snow covered fast lane , mad men

Ahhh, the power of momentum!  Wouldn't fancy getting stuck behind one on a steep hill mind!
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: Scribble on December 18, 2010
lorrys must have special bubbles they drive in as we got overtook by a few going as fast as they could in the snow covered fast lane , mad men

Ahhh, the power of momentum!  Wouldn't fancy getting stuck behind one on a steep hill mind!

Got stuck behind one this morning I had to drive up onto footpath as he was sliding back it was very squeaky bum time
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: Celt_Ginger on December 18, 2010
We drove 80 miles yesterday in a regular car, during the worst of the snowfall and had no bother, apart from the  bottomhole who was driving so slowly as to be causing an obstruction, not keeping any momentum going uphill and not clearing the snow from the tyre treads. Once he/she had turned off we were fine again. Then again, I do live in a rural part of Co Antrim and we get heavy snow every winter. I did laugh at the BBC reporter who was claiming it was the worst snow in 25 years. What a total exaggeration!!
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 18, 2010
Both my flight to dublin and flight to belfast have both been cancelled, its like playing russian roulette as some flights are getting through, problem is that all the snow has now moved over me at birmingham, have booked 2 more for tomorrow so fingers crossed, could try from another airport but don't know if I'd get there, oh I miss my land rover  :'(
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: Scribble on December 18, 2010
I thought ya would of got home today  :-\ what are you doing to keep yourself busy as I would be going mad with boredom
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 18, 2010
The knowledge that there are a lot more people here in a much worse position than myself keeps me sane, fortunately not too many families here, would be a nightmare with a bunch of kids, heard one guy saying he was going home to shoot himself, I sincerely hope he was joking, or at least changes his mind.
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 19, 2010
Just arriving at belfast now on the bus from dublin, been booked on 6 separate flights in 3 days, the end is in sight, just have to go to aldergrove to pick up my car then drive back to downpatrick, which is supposedly where the worst snow was
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: Scribble on December 19, 2010
Just arriving at belfast now on the bus from dublin, been booked on 6 separate flights in 3 days, the end is in sight, just have to go to aldergrove to pick up my car then drive back to downpatrick, which is supposedly where the worst snow was

Glad your home almost and take it easy in your landy make sure you stick to the roads andnot bd tempted to go off road  ;D
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 19, 2010
not quite over yet, made it to Aldergrove eventually, the roads were dodgy on way up, found car covered in 6 inches of snow, quite a site, had to brush it all off before opening the doors or risk avalanche, car started first time  ;D (has been left for 7 days) but decided not to risk the journey home (my tyres are near the legal limit so useless on snow) so kipping up here for the night (the snow was well forecast so already had sleeping bag and camping mat packed in car since last week), also saves a treacherous journey tomorrow morning to work.
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: chris on December 20, 2010
Nice one mate! I was tempted to drive up to work last night and sleep there to avoid driving today! I hate driving at the best of times!
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: RedLeader on December 20, 2010
You slept actually in work or just somewhere closer to work?

Nice one mate! I was tempted to drive up to work last night and sleep there to avoid driving today! I hate driving at the best of times!
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: suspectmonkey on December 20, 2010
Any excuse to sleep in the Landy Liam ;)
Title: Re: Roads into Belfast
Post by: LandyLiam on December 20, 2010
nah, i slept in the nice warm office  ;D

put new tyres on the car today and the difference is absolutely amazing, my tracking was verying badly out which meant the car was contantly trying to push itself off the road, couldn't go over 30mph on the motorway earlier, was easily doing 60 later, stops much better too