At the end of July I'll be travelling from near Brecon in Wales to Dublin. My nearest train station would be a choice of Abergavenny or Neath, so I'm planning to use the rail/sail option from one of those points to Holyhead and then on the ferry to Dublin. Solo passenger, on foot. I see both Irish Ferries & Stena Line operate that ferry route. Can anyone recommend one over the other? I need to do the whole journey within a day, so I assume I should pick one of the faster ferries. Any additional advice would be welcome. And I don't want to fly from Cardiff airport to Dublin.
We used Stena both ways. Only issue was a man having a hypoglycemic collapse in the seat behind us pre departure. My wife (a nurse) attended him and the boat was held up 1 hour awaiting the ambulance. Stena presented my wife with 2 bottles of wine and a box of chocolates for her efforts which was nice.
If you get a chance while in Holyhead get up to the spectacular South Stacks and the lighthouse. Holyhead mountain (near South Stacks) is also worth a visit if you don't mind a short steep hike. I am not sure if you can get to South Stacks by public transport.
Also Abergevenny has a great castle (just up behind Aldi) well worth a visit.
Usually go with Stena but it's much of a muchness really.
Two votes for Stena, then. Does any one else have a preference?
I'll have luggage and tight timing, so won't be able to go sight-seeing (I do already know Abergavenny Castle).
Further research brought me to the relevant page of the Man in Seat 61 website, which I found very helpful