Driving to Europe from the North West

Driving to Europe from the North West

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Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

172 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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I've been considering driving to Europe for some time now. Obviously the Nurgurgring but starting to consider Switzerland as well; for the roads, the scenery, and its more akin to a holiday when I propose the idea to my girlfriend. As opposed to sitting at the side of the ring taking photos.

Now, the point thats always put me off, is that living in Lancashire, I have perhaps 300 mives to drive before I even get to the continent. Is there a better way to go? Ferry from Hull or Newcastle or something?

Do I just need to man up?

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

172 months

Tuesday 6th October 2015
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I should have specified mainland Europe...
Good point about the distances over the water I never thought about it like that.

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

172 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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Hahaha! I knew I'd get grief when that question was asked!

Im no stranger to driving 300 miles. I regularly drive to Scotland, its just its boring, and not in mainland Europe, so not part of the holiday. Its the same people prefer to fly as opposed to spending 4 days on a coach. Plus its extra fuel costs etc.

Granted, this mentality of "Sod wasting 300 miles of driving in this country" was cemented in my mind when I was running a Subaru that couldnt manage more than 270 miles to an £80 tank of V Power. I suppose thinking about it, driving down the country and then across France wouldnt be too bad. Ive just heard taat driving in France is boring, I know that driving down the M6 etc is boring, and that if I could start relatively local (i.e. Hull/Newcastle) and end up somewhere I wouldnt mind spending a day or two in (Ijmuiden->Amsterdam or Zeebrugge->Ghent) it wouldnt seem so much of a relentless drive for the sake of it.

To me, a route that over the course of 3 days went:

Lancashire->Hull->Zebrugge->Ghent/Brussels->Nurburgring
OR
Lancashire->Newcastle->Ijmuiden->Amsterdam/Eindhoven/Rotterdam->Nurburgring

would be a much more appealing road trip than one that followed a route:

Lancashire->Folkestone->Calais->Nurburgring

But I'm a newbie to this. Educate me!

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

172 months

Wednesday 7th October 2015
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I'll get one bought! Like I said, total newbie at this.

Jim1985

Original Poster:

227 posts

172 months

Saturday 10th October 2015
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Great points thank you!

I've never driven abroad so that's a concern. Still excited to make some concrete plans in the new year!