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Places to stop on a journey from the north east to Newquay

8 replies

mamabluestar · 06/01/2017 08:35

Hi,

I have booked a family holiday in June for me and my in laws (ages range from 6 to 62) to go to Newquay in Cornwall. We will be travelling from the North East coast.

As it is such a long journey we are planning on travelling so far the day before and staying in a premier inn or similar (open to other suggestions), so we only have an hour or two to travel the next morning.

I'm looking for family friendly recommendations for places to stop for an hour or two during our journey. Ideally cheap given we wont be stopping long and we will probably need 4 or 5 different places.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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mummymeister · 06/01/2017 09:54

Bristol is good - it has @Bristol museum and ss great Britain. 4 or 5 stops does seem a bit excessive for a 7 or 8 hour drive. that means stopping every 1.5 - 2 hours. if you are going to do this then just stop at a roadside with a picnic and have a leg stretch otherwise your journey is going to take you all day.

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2014newme · 06/01/2017 09:57

The journey from Newcastle to Newquay will take all day anyway!
Agree Bristol is a good stopping point but you still have 3 hours on a good day, 5-6 if there is traffic after Bristol to get to Newquay

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mamabluestar · 07/01/2017 23:04

As newme says it's going to take all day. Due to various health needs of family members we are going to need regular stops anyway. I hoped with a bit of planning we could try to make the most of a laborious journey.

Thanks for the suggestion of Bristol, I'll have a look .

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GraciesMansion · 07/01/2017 23:07

There's a premier inn at cribbs causeway at Bristol that we use doing the exact same journey. Works out well because you're just far enough past the Bristol traffic for the next morning.

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Brighteyes27 · 08/01/2017 09:58

We used to stay at a very cheap Travel Lodge/Travel Inn near Wolverhampton just off motorway on journeys to Devon and Cornwall. It's cheap and cheerful. Not as close to Newquay as you were hoping but it really breaks the journey and worked for us when the kids were young. The Lodge had no facilities as such but their was a picnic bench in a grassy area close by and an M&S for picnic goodies and grassy area for the kids to let off steam. Have an early night and get up at like 4.45/5am refreshed for the second leg of the journey. If you've been cooked up in a car travelling most of the day I think energy maybe low and tempers may be frayed to make the most of Bristol or elsewhere with attractions by the time you get there. So I would just use a stop as a break from the car and a bed to get some sleep in. Enjoy.

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ThatsNotMyToddler · 09/01/2017 20:07

Is your route a1-a46-m69-m42-m5?

I'd recommend Worcester Woods just off the m5 (?j7). Great play area, some walks if you want them, nice cafe.

Wouldn't recommend trekking in to Bristol for any city centre attractions - the traffic is too terrible to 'pop' in.

If you don't fancy WWs then the Gloucester north/south service stations are worth a stop.

Further north we did Lincs to Northumberland last year and stopped at Brimham rocks in Yorkshire for a walk and lunch. (We're national trust members so free). Fountains Abbey is near there too if more your sort of thing. Bit off the a1 but doable.

If you're NT members you might find other places en route that are worth a stop. Trying to think of somewhere near the m42 for you but drawing a blank. Actually if you're on the a1 then Clumber Park would be another NT place (near Nottingham).

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Dowser · 13/01/2017 12:15

I'm a stones throw from you and personally I wouldn't want to be going to a city like Bristol on such a long journey.
I can only imagine getting snarled up in traffic.
What about outskirts of Taunton
You've broken the back of the journey . About 5.5 hours
Then just a couple of hours the next day , giving you time to set up the apartment when you arrive.

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Dowser · 13/01/2017 12:17

When we did Cornwall, we had a few days with a friend in Shaftesbury then Cornwall, then last few days with friend.
Still a long way.

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