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

[Carlia]

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?

I'm originally from just near Inverness. I'd also second trying not to drive the A9 at night, largely because of the bloody deer, and also you need to be aware because pretty much every year there's at least one accident where a tourist drives up the wrong side of the road at some point. I'd probably aim to do the bulk of the drive up to southern Scotland in a one-er the first day (at night/sleeping hours for DC anyway), and stay somewhere cheap, and then bang on early the next morning, avoiding Edinburgh or Glasgow in the 7-9am bracket. Remember we have earlier dawns, and later sunsets the further up here you get... It does make a bit of a difference. Good luck.

If you need a stop off in Cumbria I can recommend a pub that welcomes children and dogs

I'm 2 hours north of Inverness - there is a surprising amount of Scotland past Inverness.

I would second one adult driving with the dog, everyone else on the plane. Flights to Wick would definitely probably be too expensive. The prices are outrageous! But flying Easyjet to Inverness shouldn't be too bad.

Or take a tent. Much cheaper and the kids would love it. Loads of lovely places to stop off at - there's a fantastic adventure park at Carrbridge (just north of Aviemore).

And I actually prefer driving the A9 at night. No tourists or lorries to slow you down and the deer seem to be asleep. Dawn and dusk are the worst times for them.

We've done 10 hours to north of Scotland loads over the last few years. Once with the dog - and only once as it really wasn't fair on her. I would most def leave your pup with a friend. We tend to leave lunchtime, drive about 5 hours then have dinner and stay at a premier inn or something overnight, then 5 hours the next morning. To be honest it's fine as long as you have plenty of snacks, DVDs for the kids and travel games. I would definitely not take your pup though.

I would drive overnight.
Leave 6pm. It won't get dark til late so older DCs could have eye masks.
Also you don't need to do wee stops if DCs are asleep.
Leave pup with rellies.

OP, looks like you are coming round to going, which is good. If you all enjoyed the stay last year then you really should move hell and high water to do it again- can't stress enough how lucky you are to have a Gran who at 83 is still with it and able fully to engage with a young family- at that age decline can come shockingly fast so treasure it while you can. And do take whatever financial help she is offering unless you feel she really can't afford it - basically all she is doing is offering to pay for her part of what is still a holiday to her even tho she'll be at home- and if she's too old to jump on planes and travel herself she may see it as a great use of her money. Just do her proud by thinking hard about the most economical use of the cash.

We have done Kent to Aberdeen with littlies, these are my tips:

Leave about 4, before tea. Drive till about half six, stop to eat and run around. Then drive like mad while dc sleep. Non driver must also sleep as driver will be good for nothing next day. Do not stop except for petrol. Driver sleeps on arrival.

Take lots of wet wipes and an in car DVD player.

If on train have contingency plans for breakdown ( 2 hours in Newcastle station 2 days before Xmas, quite entertaining!)

If flying do you have to have a car up there? In Aberdeen we managed with v good bus service.

Leave puppy with nice friend or at dog boarders.

I'd take a "touring holiday": Pick 4-5 places between here and there you'd like to spend a day or two in and do short jumps there and back (obviously this will cut into time with granny). Take a tent or hire a campervan and treat the whole thing as a big adventure. The kids will love it.

We've never driven overnight btw because ds1 wouldn't sleep in the car - he would just get more and more hyper. We tend to leave at about 8am, and it's always been fine. When we did Belfast to Devon via north Wales in one day we left at 5am but I wouldn't recommend that tbh.

We have a plan! We are going to leave home at 4-ish, head up to a hotel in Cumbria which is next to Tebay services where we will arrive at about 9.

Stay there the night and let the kids/puppy play the next morning, have an early luch then head off again, hopefully kids will then sleep for a few hours in car.

Arrive at destination that evening!

DH thinks it will be a problem transferring the kids from car to hotel at 9pm though, has anyone done this?

Sounds great! We've transferred dc at midnight which was a hassle but 9pm will be fine, just expect them to wake up thoroughly and run around the room for a while before you can settle them. When we did it last year, I stuck to the usual bedtime routine when we got there (pjs, teeth brushed, stories) and that seemed to help. Perhaps some sachets of hot chocolate that you can make up with hotel kettle? I remember thinking that would be have been a good idea. Anyone who doesn't settle down doesn't get a cooked brekkie in the morning (that had huge appeal for my 4...)
We're not doing it this year, you're making me (almost) want to do it too!

We spent 13 hours in a car with small Dcs, stuck in traffic en route to Cornwall. Portable DVD players and headphones are INVALUABLE!

Carlia, we have transferred the DCs from the car to the hotel at Tebay services many many times late at night. Usually in our case it was around 11pm. The night porter will still be on, and though it is a couple of years since we did it, he used to be really helpful with DCs, cases, dogs etc.

Your DH or you can stop the car at the front door, go in and check in, then come back and you can carry the DCs in. The staff there were always absolutely brilliant with helpful with sleeping little ones. Leave bringing the dog in till last. Park the car properly when that's all done.

The kids play area in the services is a bit limited on the way up (fab on the way down) but even a bit of a run and slide will be a nice way to start the day. Lovely paths there for the pup.

I dont envy you. I have done the drive from the north to the south with a small child and a bunch of family that i didnt get on with. Your best bet would probably be at night. That way kids can sleep and the roads would b a little quieter.
Now we just take the train. I find it easier than driving.

Wow, brave but I think doable, worth it and even if the journey's abit of a nightmare, its probably something you'll laugh about in the future?! I guess just have a pact with DH not to get stressed with each other good luck

I know this will sound mercenary but I think you should accept abit of financial help from granny if the alternative is not seeing her. I
I think it can be lonely when you're older and she will happily sacrifice some money in order to see you all.

You could just make it your birthday/Christmas pressies from her.

Final idea, would it be more / less expensive to book flights for u & children and get DH to drive up with puppy, sleeping in service stations over night (bit mean maybe!) as opposed to paying to stay in places?

Have fun, Scotland is so gorgeous and do take the puppy, granny will love it I'm sure!

And on the positive side, we have had amazing weather here in the North all weekend (at least in the North West) while it has been bucketing down elsewhere so the journey will definitely be worth it because this lovely weather is going to go on forever......

Doh feels stupid for spinning through the pages too quickly and missing OP's update
Have a nice time and fingers crossed that the weather stays nice!

Carlia, your plan sounds great! Stay at ours if you ever want to....we are just north of Stirling! Transferring kids no bother. We do it one child at a time, with the engine and blowers still running in car. One adult prepares the room and bed while one stays with the car. Doddle. Do the heaviest sleeper first as we found the most disturbance happens once they hit the cold bed. Good luck!

I would drive through the night , get it over with. Swap who drives every few hours. Leave at 6pm arrive 6am even with toilet breaks ; maybe quicker as less traffic . They can sleep/ watch DVD or snack