Travelling to Dover, where to stop?

CrustyMcMuffin

Hi

The McMuffin clan are heading to France in May, we're looking to drive the majority of the way down to Dover from Aberdeen and stop overnight somewhere before doing the last part of the trip that morning. Our ferry leaves around 2pm but we have to be there about an hour before departure.

I was hoping someone could advise me where would be a suitable place to stop so that we're left with about 100 miles to drive in the morning. I looked on multimap and was thinking around the Cambridge/Harlow area might do but that's just a pure guess. Any help appreciated.

poe.tuesday

that's over 600 miles!! if you are coming down the M1 then St Albans is about 100 miles before you get to Dover, is a nice town, easy to get into and out again, got some nice bistro places and nice shops and all that

CrustyMcMuffin

poe.tuesday wrote: »

that's over 600 miles!!

Yeah I know, not really looking forward to it but petrol down to Dover and money for the hotels there and back is still cheaper than getting the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry! We're staying 3 weeks though so it will hopefully be worth the drive.

Thanks for the suggestion.

poe.tuesday

are you planning on using the m6 toll road? it's seems much faster but it's 10 miles longer than staying on the m6. <I'll get my coat after that really boring statement>

mcfisco

Depending on the exact dates you need - you can usually get £26 Saver rooms at the Cambridge Lolwoth Travelodge - it's at at the top of the M11

CrustyMcMuffin

I haven't sorted out the route yet, we used the m6 toll road on the way down to some friends last year but on the way back avoided it and it didn't seem to make a huge amount of difference. I might give it a miss if it's actually longer using it.

Thank mcfisco, I'll check out the travelodge site now.

Coveredinbees!!!!

poe.tuesday wrote: »

that's over 600 miles!! if you are coming down the M1 then St Albans is about 100 miles before you get to Dover, is a nice town, easy to get into and out again, got some nice bistro places and nice shops and all that

You really don't want to stop over in St Albans it's the wrong side of London. All it will take is a prang on the Dartford crossing and you will be screwed. Aim for somewhere in Kent - Ashford, Maidstone or Canterbury then you shouldn't have any traffic troubles.

CrustyMcMuffin

So really anywhere south of the Dartford tunnel would be fine. it means an extra fifty miles or so on the first day but I guess worth it so we're not stuck in traffic for hours.

poe.tuesday

good advice Coveredinbees!!!!, I didn't think about the traffic the next day

you could just go the whole hog and drive all the way there and stay on near the sea on the south coast, or maybe stay near Leeds Castle?

CrustyMcMuffin

Yeah I've been thinking the same, although I might stop off around the Gretna area on the Friday night and do the remainder on Saturday. That would work out around 200 on the Friday and 400 on Saturday and another 200 on Sunday after the ferry crossing.

Leeds Castle looks nice, I might look into that.

Coveredinbees!!!!

I just typed in Aderdeen to Canterbury on Autoroute and it's coming in at 600 miles thats a scary long way are you sure it's do able in one go?