To think DD can't drive to Wales yet (18 and passed her test last month)?

[HaHaItsRosa]

We live in London. DD, has randomly booked this little cabin thing in Wales!? It's for tomorrow. Plans on leaving tonight and staying in a Travelodge or similar and then arriving tomorrow. This is her first ever trip away on her own... she also only drives to work. She starts uni extremely soon and "wanted a peaceful getaway before it starts". I'm a bit hmm. I know she's 18 and she can go on her own and she's obviously no longer my daughter so I shouldn't worry about her no but seriously, I'm really worried. She's a sensible girl, she really is, but Wales!!!! Tell me I'm too involved and she'll be fine.

If she's going to Powys, which is mid-Wales, then via Birmingham is fine. I've done that trip a lot, (from Wiltshire!), and it's the best way to go.

OP, why don't you sit down with her & ask her to show you the route she's planned on Google Maps.

It depends on where in Powys she's going as to her route. If she's going to the north or mid then there's nothing wrong with staying in Birmingham to get there.

Relying on satnav, depending on where she's going, could be patchy.

Powys is the largest county in Wales and goes from the north to south down the middle of the country (aside from parts on the coasts).

Good point Becca - Likely long stretches with no signal so she needs a map and to know where she is going and not rely on phone satnav.

Lots of breaks to get out and get some air and stop and put her head down if she feels tired.

I wouldn't like it. I think she would be at risk of crashing due to her lack of experience. If it's your car, you can say no.

She'll be fine. But she needs to rethink her route.
M25 then M4 then north from whatever junction is nearest to the part of Powys she's going to.
I can't imagine why she'd go via Birmingham. Unless she wants the journey to last days rather than hours.

I drove to Scotland (I live down south) a week after I passed my test. I can remember my mum worrying but I was fine despite my old car breaking down. Most accidents happen close to home (fact).

It's her car.

OP this will be a great experience for your daughter. All credit to you that she is such a self confident young woman. Send her off happy — couch everything in confident terms eg I know you’ll drive carefully etc etc.
All the best to both of you

I think worrying is very, very reasonable. Trying to talk her out of it, not so much.

If she has an android phone she can download the maps to be available offline. Maybe worth it. And a phone charger for the car xx

It's good that she's confident. Don't tell her she shouldn't be. I would worry too (in fact my kids are small so the idea is currently my idea of hell) but she will find her way. She will learn a lot about driving, too.

Imight expect a call asking you to come and drive her car home though...

I highly, highly doubt she's meeting anyone, maybe she is? I seriously hope that isn't the case and would be extremely surprised

Why don't you want her to meet anyone?

She's perfectly capable and qualified to do the drive.

In fact she'll return a better driver due to the distance practice, which is different to lots of shirt drives.

You are supposed to worry. That's what parents do. Then you'll see she was fine.

it's a cabin thing with a little hot tub, in some woodlands

OMG is it a Hoseasons one? I went in July to one of their sites right on the border of England and Wales. It was absolutely fucking idyllic and if I'd been doing A-levels it would definitely have been a great de-stresser!

Traffic in Wales is a lot lighter than in your neck of the woods. Seriously don't get agitated, just ask her to text you when she gets there.

Our phone sat navs download the route so no trouble in data blackspots. Ask her to show you her route and it is useful to have the junctions written down (back of hand?) just in case.

Scary but a rite of passage I think. She sounds sensible from what you’ve mentioned. She’s got a phone, planned a rest break, got breakdown cover. I’d make her watch a video of lorry blind spots just so she’s aware. Not sure if her route but wondering if she’s M40, M42, then across into Wales? Birmingham is busy but Wales is less so.

You sound like my mum! She worried about me driving for years after I passed my test. I passed at 18, am 41 now and have had 1 accident. Mum was a right worry-wart and she used to drive me nuts. Kiss her goodbye, wish her luck and have a stiff gin! I live in North Wales - it is lovely up here!

What'es her route? It's good weather-time for experiencing more driving, but there is a mountainous route that I've had to give myself therapy (mindfulness, soothing teas, early nights etc) to be able to drive it without panic attacks. Narrow, cliff-sides, no 4G signals. The Brecons and Black Mountains can be a bit scary too ... and tend to be drizzly regardless.

I still worry about my DDs.

I bought them dashcams and satnavs.

Now I mentally switch my worry brain off. If anything were to happen we'll deal with it then.

I hope your DD has a lovely time.

Oh, and even if she is meeting someone, don't worry.
When I was 18 (2 months off my 19th birthday) I flew to Paris to meet a man I'd met online. (My parents did know!!) When I was 22 I moved in with him, when I was 25 I married him, and now I'm 32 we're expecting our first baby! So it can all end happily :p

Err I went to Australia by myself at 18. Yanbu.

I appreciate I didn't drive to Australia, but I still think you're being over protective. Let her be!!

I think I know where she is staying, we went last year and loved it (hot tub was amazing). It’s not too bad of a drive either, we didn’t go up as far as Birmingham, we went through Shropshire and the drive was amazing (lots of things to see and Shropshire was very pretty).

She might be meeting someone but she’s an adult, she has told you where she is going.