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Original poster

To drive 11 hours to Northern Scotland with 3 DC and a puppy?

94 replies

Carlia · 05/06/2012 19:42

My Granny lives in Northern Scotland and would like us to visit her this Summer like we did last Summer. We would all love to but I;m not sure DH and I can face the 11 hour car journey.

DH and I have 3 DC (18 months, 4 and 6), last year we went on the plane but because we have a dog this year we can't and would need to drive.... It will cost a fortune in overnight stop overs (we plan 2 each way), a roof rack plus box and petrol, the only available cottage is also very expensive, (£1000 for the stay) and we just don't have much money at the moment.... My Grandma has offered to help us with the finances as she is desperate to see us all but we don't feel comfortable accepting her money.

The journey is going to be a nightmare, our youngest DS screams if he is in the car for more than an hour....

She thought it was a bad idea us getting a puppy as we already have 3 DC and now it seems as though we have put the dog before her if we don't go because the drive will be awful IYSWIM?

OP posts:
RepublicaEuphemia · 05/06/2012 20:10

Bloody hell I didn't know you could go 90 mins beyond Inverness! Shock Is that Wick or around there? Sorry, I'm such a Lowlander. I moved from Glasgow to Dundee this year and I think I'm in the North now. Blush

Could you stop over in a youth hostel? I hear they're a bit nicer than when I was a kid!

musicposy · 05/06/2012 20:13

We drove from very bottom of South of England to the Highlands and Islands twice. First time DDs were 7 and 3 and we took one dog. Second time was last year, DDs were 15 and 11 and we took 2 dogs.

It was doable. I think the first time was easier in a way when DDs were small as they slept more and were not yet working on their GCSE in verbal sparring Grin.

I would advise going overnight and taking turns with the driving, don't stop over. One dozes whilst one drives. If you both get too tired, pull over and sleep for a couple of hours. First time we left home at 8pm and arrived in Skye 3pm the next day. we were shattered but it saved us a fortune and we quite enjoyed it in a weird way. Last time we left earlier - late afternoon -which was better because we were well into Scotland by the morning and had breakfast all up in Fort William.

Dog1 was sick on DDs feet overnight which didn't help the general ambience in the car. I'd advise taking lots of wet wipes, carrier bags, and covering all car surfaces with something washable like towels just in case.

Oh and we got one of these to use as a roof rack as it was by far the cheapest option. I was very sceptical but it held its own with a tent and gubbins in it. It did impact a bit on petrol, I think, and I was nervous to drive too fast to start with, but I eventually got used to it and it worked fine.

We are masters of cheap holidays of the type that makes everyone else think we are utterly crazy! You have an extra child, but one less dog and no tent, so I reckon by that logic you'll be fine. :) Can you not stay in a caravan instead of a cottage to cut down the cost?

mirry2 · 05/06/2012 20:14

If she is will ing to help out I would take her up on it. At 83 I would think that she feels it might be the last time.

wigglybeezer · 05/06/2012 20:18

Carla, you didn't read my post carefully, I said one of you drive the car and the rest get the train. the sleeper is expensive if you pay full fare, not so bad with a railcard and or booked well in advance ( it gets booked up so it's best to book in advance.

How would you feel if your offspring decided not to visit you when you were old because it was a hassle?

Loads of people fly at 83, have you actually asked your Granny if she wants to?

wigglybeezer · 05/06/2012 20:19

You could do the overnight train without a cabin, you might end up with a stiff neck, but small children seem to be able to sleep anywhere.

Squinty · 05/06/2012 20:20

imo you should go. take her 'help' if it helps. Ime long journeys with kids are not as bad as you thing. DVD player in back seat def helps - we have borrowed them a few times. If the journey really terrifies you then plan to stop over one or two nights enroute. Pre-booking with travelodge gets you good deals...

hiveofbees · 05/06/2012 20:20

Could you approach it from a point of view of her coming to see you, but trying to make her journey easier eg car from her door to plane, then you pick up in airport.

Its a shame about the timing of just getting the dog. Could you leave the dog with someone if you left the travelling till later on - maybe september?

wigglybeezer · 05/06/2012 20:21

I thought of the caravan idea too, again something that children think is fun.

SaggyCeratops · 05/06/2012 20:23

Is it no longer acceptable to drug animals and small children with anti travel sickness tablets any more? Wink

Original poster
Carlia · 05/06/2012 20:24

Do you guys think the overnight train would be do-able? If we took my Grandma up on her offer we could afford it... I think it would be quite exiting - I loved it as a child anyway!

OP posts:
wigglybeezer · 05/06/2012 20:24

I admit, I have been reading women's war time diaries recently, but come on all you lot who wouldn't call it a holiday if you had a long car journey and would insist on flying, where's your grit and determination ! What a lot of softies!

yellowraincoat · 05/06/2012 20:25

Agree with caravan. Was recently up in Aberdeen for my brother's wedding and stayed in a cabin-type affair. Was fairly cheap, perfectly comfortable...could you find something like that maybe?

Original poster
Carlia · 05/06/2012 20:25

wigglybeezer - you're right, I do think we should go

OP posts:
wigglybeezer · 05/06/2012 20:26

Saggy, my dad drugged us with sleeping pills ( he was a doctor) for a drive from Scotland to France in our dormobile.

yellowraincoat · 05/06/2012 20:29

It is possible to do the drive...I come from the north of Scotland and we regularly went on holiday to Yorkshire, Wales, France (driving to Dover first) and once to Cornwall.

CORNWALL.

What the hell my parents were thinking I'm not sure, but it can be done, it was a bit of an adventure for us kids, we loved stopping in the motorway service stations.

wigglybeezer · 05/06/2012 20:30

Sweeties are your friend, I only buy Percy pigs for long journeys.

At least yours are probably too young to make up 25 verses of the diarrhoea song to " entertain" you.

Hope you get nice weather.

Kveta · 05/06/2012 20:32

my parents used to drive from north of Glasgow to the South coast (Dorking area?) with 4 children and 3 dogs in the back of a citreon BX. no overnight stops, lots of fighting. it was hell, but doable. If you have some dvd players for the car, it would be very feasible IMO.

saintlyjimjams · 05/06/2012 20:33

Why do you need 2 stopovers each way? That just makes the journey horrendous as the journeys last days.

We drive from devon to Northern Ireland via Scotland with one stopover (actually have done it in one go via Holyhead/Dublin although wouldn't recommend that).

We have 3 kids, including one severely autistic, plus a young dog. The dog was good as gold when we took him and under a year old.

Or if you can't do long stints then see if you can camp on the way up, or short break half way up in a lodge/cottage if you go out of high season.

I find the thought is always worse than the reality.

I've driven to Caithness from England a lot in the past - I never minded that because the roads were pretty quiet once you get north or Edinburgh/Glasgow (depended a bit on which way I drove - I used to vary it - Edinburgh usually).

cupcake78 · 05/06/2012 20:33

Honestly I'd make the effort and go! We as kids used to go up to Northern Scotland, 10hrs driving. We were bundled in the car very early morning 2/3am, drove as far as we could get, usually Perth, stopped has breakfast, got dressed and then just kept going. It was such an adventure. Parents got us that excited that we loved it!

Leave the dog with a friend and get the children to view it as fun and an adventure. Look for Haggis in fields Wink etc etc.

Wallace · 05/06/2012 20:37

Campervan idea is ace :)

Original poster
Carlia · 05/06/2012 20:38

I looked into getting a camper but they are SOOOO expensive, thousands of pounds otherwise we would love to do that Grin

OP posts:
accessorizequeen · 05/06/2012 20:52

Weve gone up to the Black Isle (30 miles from Inverness) a few times with 2 dc and twice with 4. No dog tho! We're in Hull so it's 9-10 hrs. If you could leave the puppy with someone it would be easier.
We did it when dc were 5, 3 and 9mo dts. It was an adventure, they were great! Have done various night-driving combos and prefer starting at 3 or 4 in the morning by far. Breakfast in service station was highlight! :) lots and lots of planning and it will come off. You'll make an old lady happy and feel proud of the achievement. If you're stopping overnight, highly recommend Premier Inn, they do family rooms. Also Scone Palace outside Perth is a fab stop off.

wigglybeezer · 05/06/2012 20:54

We usually set off at four in the morning too, then breakfast at Tebay.

lovebunny · 05/06/2012 21:10

don't go on the train! i only went from manchester to dunfermline but it was a heck of a journey. at least in a car you all have a seat and you can stop when you need to. and you don't have to put up with randoms.

is your granny mobile? could she come to you?

wigglybeezer · 05/06/2012 21:15

That's not a direct route though lovebunny.
Book seats, get a table, take loads of snacks and a laptop or iPad .

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