Can I drive this myself?

[TaighNamGastaOrt]

I've been invited to my best friend's husband wake. He died during lockdown, nobody was able to attend the funeral so in Sept there's a memorial service for him.
I really want to go, and take DH, DS and SD. However, we would need to kennel dogs and not sure we'd manage to go due to cost and other things. DH graciously suggested that I go on my own. Not sure I could go away without my family, but thats not what I'm worried about.

Its driving 200 miles myself. The journey involves motorways (I live in rural scotland so nothing like that round here). theres also a ferry journey involved. I passed my test 2 years ago, and my advanced test last year. I drive locally with kids, to the nearest big town and am fairly confident though I park very carefully!

I know the route very well but have never driven it. I understand motorways but have never driven them. I know the area I'm going to very well as I used to live there.

Do you think i should attempt to drive it? I know it would be hard but I have to attempt motorways sometime! If it all goes tits up, I could pull over, regroup and find my way again.

What do you think? stupid idea?
thanks.

I relish such journeys! Own choice of radio/audio .. stop when your tired .. no 'are we there yet' from dc ..

If you've passed an advanced driver test then you are perfectly able to drive anywhere !

My youngest DC passed at 17 and 3 months and just been to visit granny in Cornwall .. (475 miles away) she LOVED it.

If its the drive down to Cairnryan then its honestly really easy, we're doing it tomorrow. Only time I don't like it is in the snow.

I think motorways are the easiest roads to drive on, much easier than towns or country lanes. I'm sure you'll be a little nervous before you go if you've never driven on a motorway before but once you're on there it's really just driving in a straight line!

200 miles really isn’t too far or too tiring. I’ve frequently driven home to my daughter’s university and back in a day. A round journey of about 340 miles in a day. It’s about six hours with a coffee break either way.
I quite like the thinking time, music of my choice and Women’s Hour.

I "cut my teeth" on Scottish motorways, having never really driven in England and only on A-roads and single-trackers in Scotland previously. Scottish motorways are far gentler than down here (Manchester), and I found other drivers quite patient and pleasant

Of course you can!
Take your time, plan carefully and see it as a fantastic challenge to improve your driving skills

Thanks everyone, you're helping me think I can maybe do this!
Yes, advanced driving without a motorway is do-able when the nearest motorway is at least a hundred miles away!
The A9 is a long jaunt away too, otherwise I'd love to practice on it. Its 50mph average speed cameras so I'd be cruise control on and bimbling.
Thanks for advice on motorway driving. No bimbling at 50 there then! I'm worried I'll get in the wrong lane, then panic cos I couldn't get out of it! Hence I'd likely bimble at 50 so I can change lanes if needed!!
I've a good sat nav which does tell which lane to be in at roundabouts etc, so DH would be programming that for me!!
Nae worries about the ferries, I know they'll be insane! I have friends in handy places!!

Motorways are the safest roads to drive on.

Also, thanks to pp who suggested google maps and street view!
I always do that so I can plan it in my head and not panic!

I'm going to get beeped at by angry men in work vans, aren't i??

Adding my voice to the definitely do it!
The ferry people will have you get closer to the car in front than you ever thought possible, but trust them & practice that! (Seriously, you’ll think you’re going to shunt a whole line of cars, but they do know what they’re at!)
I like to have a really good look over the route, sometimes use the satellite maps so I can picture tricky bits.
I find the sat mags have got miles better at for example telling you which lane you need to be in. And if you fuck it up they will re route you.

The bit of the M8 going through Glasgow, I will admit scares the shit out of me, try not to hit it at rush hour and remember again, there’s plenty of exits if you make a mistake the sat nav will get you back.

@Coldhandscoldheart its the M8 thats gieing me the willies!! Too many lanes! Ironically, when we travel that way (fairly often), its me who sits navigating and saying no, the left lane!
Any advice on M8 particularly welcome, especially peak times so I can avoid them like the plague!
As for the ferry, I have a big-nosed, big-assed car. I'm going to creep!

Just don't hit rush hour on the M8 and know your route, follow the lane signs. It's not that bad really.

Everyone has to do it for the first time at some point. Yes you should go, you'll probably enjoy it once you relax in to it. Mostly the motorways don't get that busy til further south so if your travelling from the birth of Scotland then it's not likely to be bad at all.

Re the M8 it's mostly fine and when it's not fine you'll be crawling along at such a low speed you'll have all the time in the world to think about your next move. Any lane switches so you don't end up going off the wrong way are very well signed in advance

The M8 though Glasgow is pretty nuts - junctions are too close together and as for have exits / entrances on the right, that's just crazy. But if you've been through as a navigator sure you'll be fine.

If you take a wrong turning it'll not be the end of the world, you will find your way again.

You'll probably have a little 'high' once you've done it, it's really quite liberating

If you can navigate through Glasgow, you'll have no problem doing the other stuff.

Actually a bit of practice driving with your sat nav also sensible so you can see how much notice it gives you (mine gives lots -I just use my phone one).

The M8 is okay - I’m not the most confident driver in the world but I need to brave it when I want to go to Ikea

There are loads of lanes and the ‘never sit in the middle lane’ advice doesn’t really work because you’ll be pootling along and suddenly the left lane turns into an exit for another road! Keep a close eye on the big signs above you because it’s very easy to accidentally end up on the wrong road. It’s also very twisty and turny at points and NOBODY pays any attention to the speed limit. Last time I was on the M8 there were big flashing 40 signs but I had to do 65mph to keep up with the traffic - I’d have caused an accident if I had slowed to 40.

...but apart from that you’ll be fine

I drove from Glasgow to Dumfries at the start of the year and once I was off the M74 the drive was lovely, it just seems to be Glasgow motorways that are bonkers.

You'll be absolutely fine. My first journey after passing my test was about 300miles to pick my boyfriend up from an airport. He had such faith that I would pass that he didn't bother buying a 'just in case' train ticket! My poor mum was a nervous wreck!
Put the route into GPS on your phone.

Yes remember if you go off where you shouldn't then the sat nav will automatically re route you bit the over head signs really are very clear re lanes so I'm sure you won't

Nah you won't get beeped at as long as you keep left so they can overtake but if its 50mph average speed check, most people will be behaving themselves.