Driving from London to Scotland

[jtaime]

Not an AIBU but am posting for traffic (no pun intended) as really need advice!

We’re driving from London (Kent border) to Glasgow next month with our toddler son. DH will be driving all the way as I don’t drive. He’s not keen on driving after dark so we will be travelling in daylight hours only.

Googlemaps is saying that it takes about 7.5 hours door to door and it’s a 420 mile journey.

A few questions…

1. Can we do the journey in one day or is it just too far/mentally draining for one person?

2. Google is suggesting one of two routes: either the M11 followed by the A1; or the M1 then onto the A1 at Doncaster. I believe both options have tolls. Which route would you recommend?

3. Does anyone have any tips on places to stop for coffee, lunch or overnight on the way?

Any other advice, tips or knowledge about these roads would be thoroughly appreciated as we’re a bit unsure!

Many thanks.

We travel from East London to Glasgow/Clyde peninsular at least once a year with two DC 5 and under. Found it easiest to break the journey into legs.

Our route is to travel out of London on the M11, then north on the A1. We stop off overnight near Stamford with family before continuing up to Scotch Corner then across north of the Dales on the A66 to Penrith. Overnight stop in Penrith before doing the final leg up to Glasgow.

Mainsgill Farmshop is a good stop on this route. It has a safe outdoor area for little ones and a nice cafe:
www.mainsgillfarm.co.uk

Also stopped off at Cairn Lodge services on our recent voyage and can recommend that as a stop off once you're over the border:
www.cairnlodgeservices.com

M1/M6 route has always been a disaster for us, traffic-wise. Never good with fractious DC.

Tickled trout in Preston is a good stopover option on the M6, then a lunch stop at tebay on the second leg

There's a Days Inn on the A1(m) at Wetherby if you decide to come that way. Seems about right distance wise and close to Wetherby if you want to stretch you legs in a nice town for a few hours when you arrive and places to eat.

@Handsoffstrikesagain

It’s perfectly doable in one day OP. Is your DH a nervous driver? Can he get some help for this?

He is inexperienced at driving long distances. So, should he be pushed into it, when travelling with the precious (yet very unpredictable) cargo of his toddler in the back, or should an over night stop be planned that allows him a break and he can always decide for the next holiday that he doesn't need it? It's a big pressure to be getting drowsy with driving but be the only driver and not have anywhere booked to stay.

I wouldn't plan a "destination" type stop over, just one for eating and sleeping. If it's a premier in there will be a family restaurant next to it and some will have a soft play or playground.
Download some cartoons for the drive too.

It's a big pressure to be getting drowsy with driving but be the only driver and not have anywhere booked to stay.

I agree. I think some mumsnetters just love driving and don't find it boring or tiring like I do.

I've done it a few times in my youth, all in one day, solo driver. It is very tiring (even for a 22 year old) but totally doable. I'd leave as early as you can - maybe 5am and make sure you check route regularly for jams. Agree with taking M6 and using the toll.

@maggiecate

I wouldn’t take the A1 if you’re going to Glasgow. You’ll be on the wrong side of Scotland. It’s two lanes for much of the route and north of Newcastle it’s mostly single carriageway to Dunbar. Absolute nightmare if you get stuck being lorries/caravans etc.

Best option is M1 to J19, onto the M6, M6 toll to avoid Birmingham (will save you at least 40 mins, more if Brum is gridlocked). Definitely stop at Tebay! Onto the M74 at the border and that takes you straight into Glasgow.

There are plenty of places you can break the journey overnight but it’s very doable in the day, it’s straightforward if dull driving. Get an early start and you’ll be fine.

All of this is excellent advice, esp. the route.

I'd set off early doors, stop at Tebay for a long lunch/leg stretch/let the toddler feed the ducks, then carry on.

I do this kind of drive a lot so it wouldn't bother me, but it is tiring and if your DH is a bit wary anyway I can't imagine he's going to find it any better with a grumpy toddler in tow!

I’ve done a slightly longer drive from the midlands to highlands and is perfectly doable. I’ve done straight through sometimes but I prefer when I have stops and break the journey into chunks of 2/2.5 hours. And have a proper stop with a sit down coffee, walk about etc. I reckon your DH would be fine doing it in chunks like that and nice for your toddler to get out, marvel at the huge lorries etc. I loved services as a kid and my kids do now!! Echoing what others have said, don’t do the A1, it’s never been great when I’ve used it. M6 and M74 is much better

If you do split it, Carlisle is a good shout for a stop on the second leg. The castle is fun with the dc, and there’s a play park by the car park at the bottom, which is perfect for a picnic lunch.

No driver should do it in one day as you can add on another hour / 90 mins simply for traffic and stops

I drive this frequently (though not so much in the last year because covid), although from south of Cambridge, and it is long, but I've done it for so long it's just something I do (live south of Cambridge, family in Glasgow).

I used to do m6, but I find it a terrible road for traffic jams, I've never once done the m6 and not been stuck in traffic for hours.

Normally, I do a1, a66 m6, m74 and I always hear about m6 issues on the radio when I listen to the traffic.

It's about 380 ish miles, normally stop at Blyth or wetherby and then at a cafe along the a66 somewhere. Leave early, and in Glasgow mid-afternoon all being well. Last one, left just after 8, was in Glasgow just after 4.

I did it recently with the kids on my own and have done it before with the kids on my own. When dd was smaller, I thought about stopping overnight, but tbh when I did that it was more of a faff (there is a premier inn at blyth and a days inn at wetherby), and when I did that I left late afternoon, stopped and slept overnight and then carried on. I'm not sure it made my journey any easier - dd didn't sleep well because she was in a different bed and so we were both tired and cranky the next day.

Personally, I think the best bet is to plan to leave as early in the morning as you can, and do it in a day. But I know that if you don't drive that distance normally it can be tough going, especially if you don't share the driving.

I would say that if your husband is nervous, or not wanting to do a long drive if consider sleeper train on flying. It's a long old way- even if broken up with a night in a hotel (neither of my children sleep well in hotels and we always end up knackered the next day).

Did near Portsmouth to Stranraer in one day - took 13.5 hours with stops. One leg that should have been 1.5 hours took 3. Personally I’d split it and see it as an adventure.

We are currently heading back and done Stranraer to Chorley today and will do the remainder tomorrow.

Tebay is lovely, busy but food good and there are some short walks.

We also found Hanley Park in Stoke - about 10 minutes off the motorway, amazing play park and lovely cafe.

Leave at 4am - clear London easily and stop regularly

@Darbs76

No driver should do it in one day as you can add on another hour / 90 mins simply for traffic and stops

Plenty of drivers do it in one day - it's really not that far if you are used to it..

If you look through the thread or know Scottish people who live in the south, plenty of us do it in one day. In fact, I don't have any Scottish friends who would even think about stopping overnight - up early and go, be in Glasgow in 7-8 hours, some even manage an hour or 2 further north, in one day.

If you are coming from Kent Tebay is too far North I’d splitting journey in Half. With a toddler I would do 2 hrs, services break, 2 hours, stop & hotel for the night, 2 hours, services, 2 hours, arrive.

Just a heads up that we did a similar journey last week which would normally take us about 8 hours but took us 10 and a half.

The traffic was horrendous the whole way up.

I hate the A1. As others have said, M6 and stop at Tebay. You can stay the night there is you want to. I’ve done it
Many many times. It’s tough with a toddler though and depends how they travel. We used to do it in one day with young children/babies, but has to stop pretty frequently . Otherwise if you don’t encounter traffic jams or hold ups it would be about 8 hours. Depends a lot on the car and your toddler. Take lots of toys and play lots of songs and sing along. My kids handled it really well but they were used to it from birth.

Definitely stop over as nervous driver. Agree M6 best, even with jams.

Premier inn kids eat free so quite cheap.

We've done the journey regularly over the last 16 years with kids and have always done it in a day

@Ritasueandbobtoo9

If you are coming from Kent Tebay is too far North I’d splitting journey in Half. With a toddler I would do 2 hrs, services break, 2 hours, stop & hotel for the night, 2 hours, services, 2 hours, arrive.

Yes that’s exactly what we did but we didn’t stop for the night. It took us so much longer.

Plenty of drivers do it in one day - it's really not that far if you are used to it

I think a lot of drivers drive for a lot longer than they should, and when they are too tired. Our roads are just too busy these days, so a journey that on paper might take 7 hours will take a lot longer with traffic and stops. Not being able to share the driving is hard.

Having just checked on google map it gives driving time as between 7 and 9 hours without stops.

I would get the train or fly.