Somewhere to stay en route to Scotland

Dhiammara

We live in Kent and are planning a trip North to visit my parents in Angus, Scotland. Usually we fly and hire a car in Edinburgh, but this time we thought it would be more handy to take our own car, with the added benefit that we'll not have to worry about weight restrictions etc. To split the journey on the way up we were thinking of leaving the Swale area around 5.30pm, then heading up North (via the M6). Any suggestions where to stop off for the night on the way up, and somewhere to eat? There will just be myself and my OH. It's so long since I've travelled this route by car, I'm just not sure how far north it's feasible to get on bearing in mind that we'll have been working for a full day before heading off.

daveyjp

About a 500 mile trip leaving at rush hour, depending on route - how are you getting to the M6?

How long will it take to get from Swale to the north of London at this time?

At best I would say somewhere probably south of Birmingham if you intened going on the M6 from Birmingham- Warwick is 3 hours from Swale with no hold ups. This leaves you arriving there at 8.30pm at best, but you'll still have 350 miles to go the next day.

Travel up the M11 and A1 and you could be in north Lincolnshire/South Yorkshire in 3 hours and you have less distance to travel the next day.

Have you thought about leaving very early the next morning and doing the trip in a day?

Pee

RAC route planner, or a sat nav might be able to help, and then maybe a look at the travelodge site?

ailuro2

Google maps for directions, then find the 60% of the way mark - you'll be happier waking up knowing it's less than halfway to go.


anywhere north of Preston should be good.

vikingaero

Dhiammara,

I used to do this trip 2 or 3 times a week about a decade ago from Maidstone to central Glasgow.

Leaving at 5.30 from Swale means that it will be about 6.15 when you hit the Dartford Crossing. And you could be queuing there for anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour. Then maybe another small queue on the M25 at the M11 area and the A10. But hopefully by the time you hit the M1 and M6 after 7/7.30pm it should all be clear especially through Brum and the M6 Toll.

It really depends on whether you share the driving and your own personal stamina levels and what time you want to eat and sleep. Personally I would dine a la services on a lovely burger and fries just to make the distance at night and flop into a Travelodge/Travel Inn around 11pm to midnight and try to clear the main conurbations of Manchester/Preston. I love driving and never feel tired whilst driving so I would head to Carlisle for my overnight. But realistically I would recommend the Northern urban areas of Preston as somewhere to stay.

I would also avoid the M11. Once past Stansted it's horrifically slow with HGVs trying to pass each other on the 2 lane motorway. It's normally mile after mile at 45 mph in the queue behind the HGVs. And then everyone drives at 60mph on the SPECS enforced stretch of the A14.

Plasticman

We 'head north' quite often and take the journey in two hits. We normally head off after work and plan to travel until about 8 or 9pm. We guess where that will take us to and check it on the RAC route planner. We do most of the journey the following day but have made enough progress to take our time.

Not sure of your route, but somewhere like Solihull would be the right sort of place for us to stop. We normally just stay at a Premier Inn - a bed to sleep in a somewhere to grab some food, but it depends on whether you have higher standards than me!!

fluffyb

Hiya
We have driven to Scotland 3 times now and twice stopped over round Keswick on the way up. Bad choices both times!!
Last week week we drove up in one go but stopped over on the way home.

It depends what you want to spend. One of the Premier Inns in Carlisle isn't too bad for a budget place. I would not recommend the Travelodge in Penrith!! Last week we stayed over in a 5* inn on the way back which was excellent. It isn't cheap, but is recommended in Alistair Sawdays special places. The food there in the restaurant was excellent. We had a deluxe room and it was good. It is called The Sun Inn in Kirkby Lonsdale - http://www.sun-inn.info/ It may not suit you on the way up but if you want to stop on the way back it is worth bearing in mind.

Last year we stayed over in a different inn on the way back, whch is cheaper, comfortable and also had a good restaurant which was popular with locals [always a good sign I think!]
http://www.blacksmithstalkin.co.uk/index.html

We drove up from Surrey so they should probably suit you ok too - hope that helps

MrsE_2

We drove from Surrey to Doncastor & back again last Saturday!!!!!!!!! (well DH did, I've never driven his car, so I didn't drive, besides he's faster!).

Four hours each way, OP. That might help with your planning.

RichyRich

I know you will prob be looking to avoid motorway service areas but if you are travelling up the M6 and a service area is necessary the Westmorland Farm Shops Service Station at Tebay nr Penrith is the best motorway service station in the country IMHO.

The prices are the same as Moto/Welcome Break/RoadChef etc (hence if any better suggestions come along that are away from the m/way, take them!) but the quality of food is far superior, the service is spot-on, and all the ingredients are locally grown and sourced.

I think there might be a hotel on-site but I couldn't swear by it, nor vouch for its quality or value.

I hope this helps.