Getting to Belmullet
How to reach Belmullet by bus, or car.
Bus
Belmullet has no railway, so the bus is the only public transport in and out. Bus Éireann route 446 runs Ballina to Blacksod via Belmullet, the main link to the wider network. From Ballina, which sits on the rail line and on Expressway routes from Dublin, you change to the 446 for the run out to Erris. The bus stops in the town at McDonnell's bar on Barrack Street, which doubles as the national bus stop. Services are limited and timed for a rural community rather than for tourists, so check the live timetable before you travel and allow for the connection at Ballina.
- Main Route
- Bus Éireann 446, Ballina to Blacksod via Belmullet
- Town Stop
- McDonnell's bar, Barrack Street, Belmullet
- Connecting Hub
- Ballina (rail and Expressway connections)
- Journey Time446
- Roughly 90 minutes Ballina to Blacksod
Tips
- •Connect at Ballina from the Dublin to Ballina services for the onward 446 to Belmullet.
- •The town stop is at McDonnell's bar on Barrack Street.
- •Services are infrequent; check the live Bus Éireann timetable and plan the connection carefully.
- •There is no Sunday-level frequency you can rely on for tight schedules; build in slack.
Useful Links
Driving
For most visitors a car is essentially required: Belmullet is remote, the attractions are spread the length of the Mullet Peninsula, and public transport is thin. The approach is via the N59 to Bangor Erris, then the R313 out to Belmullet. It is a long drive from the main population centres, but a scenic one as you cross the bog of Erris. Allow roughly three and a half hours from Dublin, around two and a half from Galway, and about an hour from Ballina. Once you reach the town, distances on the peninsula itself are short, though the roads are narrow; Blacksod at the southern tip is around 30km from Belmullet.
- From Dublin
- Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes
- From Galway
- Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
- From Ballina
- Approximately 1 hour
- Main Approach
- N59 to Bangor Erris, then R313 to Belmullet
- Parking
- Free parking in the town and at trailheads such as Erris Head and Doonamo
Tips
- •Fuel up in Ballina or Crossmolina; options thin out the closer you get to Erris.
- •Roads on the peninsula are narrow; take your time and use passing places.
- •The R313 from Bangor Erris is the main way in and out of the peninsula.
- •Allow extra time in poor weather; the exposed coast roads can be wild in a westerly.
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Ireland West Airport KnockNOC
75 km away- Duration
- ~1h 15m
- Cost
- Taxi or fuel
Ireland West Airport Knock is roughly 75 km from Belmullet, around an hour and a quarter by road, the most practical way to reach Erris from the nearest airport.
- Duration
- Allow half a day with the connections
- Cost
- Adult fares with the connections
There is no direct bus from Knock to Belmullet. Connect via Ballina (Bus Éireann to Ballina, then the 446 to Belmullet), which takes most of a day and depends on the timetables lining up. A hire car or taxi is far more practical.
Operator: Bus Éireann
Dublin AirportDUB
305 km away- Duration
- ~4h 15m
- Cost
- Fuel, tolls and parking
A long haul across the country: the M4 and N5 to Mayo, then the N59 and R313 out to Erris. Allow well over four hours.
- Duration
- Most of a day with the connections
- Cost
- Rail fare plus the bus
Airport bus to Dublin Heuston, the Westport line train changing at Manulla Junction for the Ballina branch, then the Bus Éireann 446 from Ballina to Belmullet. Doable but slow; confirm every connection before you set out.
Operator: Iarnród Éireann / Bus Éireann
Leap Card
The Leap Card is Ireland's national reusable transport card, and it works on the Bus Éireann services that serve Erris, including the 446 to and from Ballina. The Dublin-style daily and weekly fare caps apply only in the Dublin area, so out here the card simply gives you cashless travel and standard fares. With so little public transport on the peninsula, it is of limited use beyond the bus to Ballina, but it is worth having if you are combining buses and trains across the west.
- Cost
- €5 for the card plus top-up
- Savings
- Cashless travel on the bus; off-peak rail discounts once you reach the rail network at Ballina
- Where To Get
- Spar, Centra and other agents, or online
- Note
- Dublin-area fare caps do not apply in Mayo; out here it is simply cashless bus travel
Planning the wider trip?
Our country-level primer covers national rail, intercity buses, airports, the Leap Card, and whether you actually need a hire car for your trip around Ireland.
Getting Around Ireland →