Drive or Fly? Which is better with a 1 yr old?

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We're about to embark on our first family holiday, traveling from Dublin to London and then up to Edinburgh, trying to meet up with a load of relatives in the lead up to Christmas. Before DD was born we wouldn't think much of taking the ferry and driving, but now our lil' one is around we're not so sure. So basically, let me know the pros and cons of the following choices, and which one you would go for, with a squawking, almost walking, one-year-old?

1: Ferry Dublin to Wales, drive to London. See relatives. Then drive to Edinburgh. See other relatives. Ferry Scotland to N. Ireland.

2: Fly to London. Hire car and drive to Edinburgh. Fly Edinburgh to Dublin.

Flying would be quicker, but wouldn't driving be easier with all the 'stuff', like travel cots, prams, car seats etc?

Anyone?

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I would fly:
I find long journeys in car very dull

My dd's can drive me crazy in the car with incessant chatter, but my DH can happily switch off from them and concentrate on driving, so I tend to get passenger seat and entertain the children job.

In our experience they're so interested in the experience it all passes pretty quickly on a short flight with a bit of planning to make sure they're not overtired getting onto plane etc. We take books, playdoh, colouring, small toys etc to keep them busy.

However, we've always carried car seats, pram but never tried the travel cot (ours ways a tonne). You'd need to check which items the airline would include in checked baggage and which don't count if they're for baby.

Hmmm, the driving through the night option sounds good. Hadn't thought of that.

what ever suits you most, at the young age of one i am sure she is still very portable.
you can take more in the car of course.

We drove to Spain as we could take way more stuff than if we'd flown.

I would fly , but that is because my youngest is a pita when travelling long distances.
I'm in dublin but used to live in oxford so have done that journey a few times both ways and flying is definitly easier.

We drove to Spain in the summer with our 14 month old (at the time). Was much easier just throwing everything in the car. Had to have lots more breaks than usual (and she had the dummy more than usual...) but was fine.
Airports can be a nightmare around Christmas-I'd drive but don't try to rush it.
We didn't drive at night as we stopped in hotels along the way but if we do UK trips always find it easier to drive at night.

We drove to Spain in the summer with our 14 month old (at the time). Was much easier just throwing everything in the car. Had to have lots more breaks than usual (and she had the dummy more than usual...) but was fine.
Airports can be a nightmare around Christmas-I'd drive but don't try to rush it.
We didn't drive at night as we stopped in hotels along the way but if we do UK trips always find it easier to drive at night.

Yes, I'd say drive too as it is very daunting getting the packing down to a low enough level for flying (it can be done though - we've been on the sleeper to Fort William and carried everything for all of us including a tent stye travel cot across London in two big rucksacks).

The thing about driving overnight is you feel like death when you get there and your DC is bright and alert and wanting to play all day - but this might not be a problem if you're going to the kind of relatives who will amuse DD while you rest a bit.

Whatever you decide, have you got a baby carrier or backpack? It is useful for both airports and car to ferry transfers (rarely enough space to put up a buggy on the cardeck. If you'll want one on board you'll probably have to carry it and DD.) Nomad Travel Tent cot is very lightweight and easy to pack too - pricey though.

Hire car carseats are often dire IME and you are unlikely to have access to the instructions to know if they're properly fitted.

Thanks for all your replies. DP is very impressed with how helpful you MNetters are. It looks like we'll drive and take the ferry. Hopefully DD will sleep most of the way if we time it right. Cheers.