AIBU Driving to Scotland

[Toofewshoes]

AIBU to think that is OK for me to drive about 8 hours from just outside London to just north of Glasgow in the Easter holidays on my own with three children and a dog. I could break the journey but I am finding it impossible to find a hotel that will take us and the dog. My husband can now not come on our planned trip. I like driving and would rather not have to pay for a hotel to break the journey. We are meeting my parents there who have sorted the accommodation out. Any thoughts as I lying awake worrying about it.

I've done those distances solo with my kids a few times. I pack everything the night before and get up as early as posible, shove kids in car in their pj's, throw blankets at them. Small picnic cool box at the oldest ones feet so they can hand out drinks and snacks when they're awake enough. It's nice to have got 1/4 of the journey out the way before breakfast and whilst they doze.

Of course if they're in their pj's make sure you have their clothes in a bag so they can change if they want, not that mine even have on a full day of driving. Oh and if you're leaving at the crack of dawn double check everyone has shoes. Once I got out at services to find one of them didn't think to put any on, we had no spare shoes for him either.

If you're using Bluetooth and media player / phone make sure the eldest knows how to get to the right podcasts, audio books and play lists. A car dj can be useful

Yes, straightforward enough to do with a couple of breaks. I did a 13 hour stint from Tarbert to West Mids last year and it was fine. Coffee helped and satnav to deal with Glasgow .
Kids loved it and dog slept for most of it.
I love a good road trip and will be doing something similar again this year.

Do you have a tent?

We routinely drive from Bristol to Mull (12 hours average) and have what we call "pit stops" which is where we just refuel and use the toilets in the petrol station building rather than the ones in the main service station building, which means that we don't get distracted by the shops .
I'd also recommend avoiding the Birmingham to Manchester stretch during the peak hours.

Keep the radio tuned to the traffic news and I also have a good atlas to hand.

There's a brilliant place off the m6 called Low Sizergh Barn that would make an excellent stop - cafe is above a milking barn. It's not that close to Tebay so might make a good last/first stop.

Before or after Tebay, I mean. Not actual Scotland.