How Long, Manchester - Spa

[Rainey]

Hi Everyone,

Long time reader, first time poster

Me and 2 friends are going to Spa for the F1 in August. The plan was to leave Manchester Thursday morning, get the 12.20 chunnel and then drive to the campsite in one day.

Our concerns are,

Is is realistically do'able to go Manchester to spa in 1 day?
What time would you be looking to leave South Manchester to get the 12.20 train?
How long will it take to get from Calais to Spa?
Will the campsite be full already when we arrive in the evening and we will have a bad spot?
What time would you be looking to leave on the way back on Monday to get the 13.20 train?

Thanks in advance.

James

[Rosun]

Manchester - Folkestone - about 5 hours
Sangatte - Spa - about 2.5 hours.

Factor in some contingency time plus the need to check in at the Channel Tunnel and you're looking at leaving Manchester about 6am.
Leave at this time and the only rush hour you'll hit will be Birmingham which you can sort of get around if you use the M6 Toll Road.

On the way back leave about 10am ish and you should be fine.

[DavidY]

Another Option:-

Manchester to Hull (Thurs late afternoon/eve)
Overnight Ferry to Rotterdam
Rotterdam to Spa

Not as fat as it sounds and you will be a lot more refreshed on arrival

[Rainey]

We have already got the chunnel tickets... we got excited and booked.

The people I am going with want to go the day before as they think Calais to Spa is too far... I would rather do it in one day and get it over and done with.

Is it busy at the circuit/campsite the day before practice in the evening? We want to ensure were not just dumped in the corner of a field next to the toilets.

[mike80]

It's a fairly dull drive (if you go the fastest way) but pretty easy once you are in France. The bit from Manchester to Dover sounds painful, but if you split the driving you should be fine.

[otherman]

What time of day are you doing the Manchester to Dover? While 5 hrs is the theory, it can easily take 7 or 8 if traffic conditions are against you. Is the chunnel ticket open or for a specific train?

[Rainey]

otherman said:

What time of day are you doing the Manchester to Dover? While 5 hrs is the theory, it can easily take 7 or 8 if traffic conditions are against you. Is the chunnel ticket open or for a specific train?

We are on the 12.20 train.

[Dr Murdoch]

What campsite are you in?

It is fairly busy on Thursday's as they open the track and pitlane, but the campsites gets steadily busier as the weekend progress's, so I v much doubt you'll arrive and be the last ones in.

We went via tunnel on the way, and by ferry from Ostenstad (sp?) on the way back. We will never take the ferry again!

[Rainey]

We are in the green site

[Dr Murdoch]

I haven't been to that site so I can't really help. I wouldn't worry though, you'll have a blast!

p.s take some ear defenders (not for the F1 cars, but for the euro dance music that will be thumping out of the campsite until about 4am!)

Edited by Dr Murdoch on Wednesday 5th June 21:12

[otherman]

Rainey said:

We are on the 12.20 train.

right, well its not going to be a 5 hour run at that time (assuming you mean 12:20 lunch time) I'd allow lots of contigency time.