Where would you break this long journey?

Hammyman

10hrs? Maximum daily driving limit for a HGV driver. No reason not to do it in one go. Take a few 30-40 minute breaks on the way up and you'll be fine.

sindygirl58

http://www.laterooms.com/en/p1301/pv00005w/hotel-pictures/98309_crown-hotel-wetheral-carlisle.aspx

Great Hotel
I agree, 10 hrs is optimistic.

Lum

Hammyman wrote: »

10hrs? Maximum daily driving limit for a HGV driver. No reason not to do it in one go. Take a few 30-40 minute breaks on the way up and you'll be fine.

This is supposed to be a holiday, not a job! Also they are going to have 2 teenagers in the back who you expect to sit still the entire time.


Slightly OT but if you are planning to stop at a services on the way up, can I recommend Tebay services (Just north of M6 J38), it's vastly superior to pretty much any services on the motorway network because all the food comes from their own farm.

Hammyman

sindygirl58 wrote: »

http://www.laterooms.com/en/p1301/pv00005w/hotel-pictures/98309_crown-hotel-wetheral-carlisle.aspx

Great Hotel
I agree, 10 hrs is optimistic.

It isn't. over 50% of that journey is on uncongested flat out motorway.

Hammyman

Lum wrote: »

This is supposed to be a holiday, not a job! Also they are going to have 2 teenagers in the back who you expect to sit still the entire time.
.

Well my 13 year old and autistic 6 year old managed York to Blois in one hit and the return journey.

Lum

Hammyman wrote: »

It isn't. over 50% of that journey is on uncongested flat out motorway.

And the other 50% includes the M25, M1 and M6

If you could somehow work the A14 into there you'd have a nice tour of the most hateful roads in the UK.

Plus the roadworks around the M6/M5 junction right now would mean that the M6 Toll could well be a money saving option rather than just a time saving one.

hc25036

Wow - didn't expect to generate so much discussion! I agree that 10 hours assumes not much congestion and short stops. The teenagers are well behaved (as long as their iPods are charged!) but there is no chance of doing it in one hit. We did a drive from Northumberland last year and were all completely knackered at the end.

I've spent many a happy hour in Glasgow on business and leisure over the years but think it is a bit too far for this trip. The recommendations in Kendal and Carlisle look good - thanks for those.

What always catches me out is how big Scotland is - once I get to Glasgow I feel like it can't be much further to go even to the far north!

Lum

hc25036 wrote: »

The teenagers are well behaved (as long as their iPods are charged!)

Better bring something like this then:

12V Lighter Socket with 4 USB Charging Sockets

Gloomendoom

hc25036 wrote: »

Wow - didn't expect to generate so much discussion! I agree that 10 hours assumes not much congestion and short stops. The teenagers are well behaved (as long as their iPods are charged!) but there is no chance of doing it in one hit. We did a drive from Northumberland last year and were all completely knackered at the end.

It's taken me 12 hours to do that trip to Fort William from Berkshire, and I only stop for petrol. Where exactly are you heading?

Post back when you get home. I'd be interested to know how you did.

smitchy73

If you're as far as Carlisle, you really should just continue for another hour to Glasgow and enjoy the city centre so much to do in the evenings even the cinema just to chill and plenty of decent places to eat, then the next day you'll only have just over three hours to Fort William, or just outside Glasgow there is a Travelodge at Paisley Braehead(not sure of it's name) your two minutes off the motorway and next to Xscape, has loads of eateries(tgi's/tony roma's/nando's etc) also has Odeon cinema too, and also next to Braehead shopping centre.
From there your back on to the westbound M8 to the ERskine Bridge then up the A82 past Loch Lomond.
The further north you come on the main motorways the less congestion there is, usually once past Manchester/Preston it eases off a heck of a lot, just be careful in daylight hours north of Gretna for speed camera vans sitting on the flyovers, very common.