Best way to get to the 'ring from Glasgow?
Discussion
Considering a trip there for a few days in a month or 2. Looking at 2 options just now:
1. Drive over in my ST170, the car handles well and would be fun enough, also not worth a huge amount if I were to write it off.
2. Fly and rent something like a Suzuki Swift from one of the ring companies.
Option 2 seems pretty straightforward, but for the preffered option 1 what route/ferry etc would be best? What insurance for on the 'ring? (Like I said, not too worried about the car, more about what I could hit!)
Recovery service in case the car breaks down? etc
1. Drive over in my ST170, the car handles well and would be fun enough, also not worth a huge amount if I were to write it off.
2. Fly and rent something like a Suzuki Swift from one of the ring companies.
Option 2 seems pretty straightforward, but for the preffered option 1 what route/ferry etc would be best? What insurance for on the 'ring? (Like I said, not too worried about the car, more about what I could hit!)
Recovery service in case the car breaks down? etc
EDLT said:
Fly and rent a Swift
yep, they have pretty good rep despite only being 120-130bhp but 1000kg akaikHave a quick search there was a thread a few days ago about a guy who rented a swift with his friends..
You should be fine in your car but it all comes down to how you rate things like cost,peace of mind etc
Yeah, have drove a basic swift, non sport and it was ok. Im one of the people on here that doesnt think a car has to be fast in a straight line or RWD to be fun 
The hiring option seems straightforward. I did see the post a few days ago about it, its what put the idea in my head.
It does appeal more though to make more of a trip out of it, driving over in my own car with the missus, stopping at a few places etc.
The hiring option seems straightforward. I did see the post a few days ago about it, its what put the idea in my head.
It does appeal more though to make more of a trip out of it, driving over in my own car with the missus, stopping at a few places etc.
Driving there is a real experience and good fun but as has been said it's pretty unnerving knowing you're pretty much going it alone if you decide to take the car on track when you get there from an insurance perspective.
The hiring of a car and knowing you have all the insurance in place and stuff instead from one of those 'ring specific companies does sound like a much better option these days!
The hiring of a car and knowing you have all the insurance in place and stuff instead from one of those 'ring specific companies does sound like a much better option these days!
The Crack Fox said:
Driving there will cost you a fortune and take forever, and more importantly, you simply are not insured. At all. You could Ryanair from Prestwick to Frankfurt Hahn for peanuts, cheap rental to get you to the ring, then rent something insured in/around Nürburg from Rent4Ring or Jaco's Paddock for example. Will be cheaper, safer and more memorable. Have fun 
Quickest and easiest route is the ferry from Newcastle to Ijmuiden. Depart at 5pm, arrive at 9am the next, then drive to the ring and you should be there for early afternoon.Joe M said:
Considering a trip there for a few days in a month or 2. Looking at 2 options just now:
1. Drive over in my ST170, the car handles well and would be fun enough, also not worth a huge amount if I were to write it off.
2. Fly and rent something like a Suzuki Swift from one of the ring companies.
Option 2 seems pretty straightforward, but for the preffered option 1 what route/ferry etc would be best? What insurance for on the 'ring? (Like I said, not too worried about the car, more about what I could hit!)
Recovery service in case the car breaks down? etc
Top Lurking sir!1. Drive over in my ST170, the car handles well and would be fun enough, also not worth a huge amount if I were to write it off.
2. Fly and rent something like a Suzuki Swift from one of the ring companies.
Option 2 seems pretty straightforward, but for the preffered option 1 what route/ferry etc would be best? What insurance for on the 'ring? (Like I said, not too worried about the car, more about what I could hit!)
Recovery service in case the car breaks down? etc
I'm in Fife and have done the Ring and back three times now.
I've always gone out on DFDS from Newcastle to Imujden. It's an easy 2hrs from here to North Sheilds, board the ferry for 5pm, grab dinner, have a some beers, hit the dancefloor, try my luck with a few Geordie lasses on a "mini cruise" then head to bed. Wake up at 9am as you sail into Ijmuden, pile in the car and then it's an easy 3hrs to the Ring so you'll be there for early afternoon. Easy.
Coming home, first trip and last trips I drove through belgium and so on to Calais then drove up through England but only as I was going to an event in Northampton on the way home. The second trip out, we did Newcastle to Ijuden to Newcastle and it was so much better. The return trip is the same, board at 5ish, dinner, drink, bed, up and then 2hrs home. Granted, the ferry is dearer but you have to take fuel into account plus if 'we' (The northern watch) drove to Hull or Dover, that's almost a day burst so where do you sleep or when? Doing it in one hit would be a killer I reckon.
Driving distance wise...
Glasgow to North Shields - 150 miles then Ijmuden to The Ring - 220 miles, so in total say 370 miles
Glasgow to Hull - 270 miles then Zeebrugge to The Ring - 230 miles, in total 500 miles
Glasgow to Dover - 490 miles then Calais to The Ring - 290 miles, that's 780 miles
Plus as said, factor in your driving times and fuel costs vs ferry costs and also when you'll sleepand you'll suss out which is the best option. Having done it, the ferry from North Sheilds and back is by far and away to most relaxing option plus it worked out I did less than 1,000 miles all in which compared to doing Dover and Calais, saved me almost 700 miles or roughly £140 in fuel. If I remember, return ferries from Newcastle were around £280 all in and Dover Calais was £40 each way.
It worked out at around £180 in fuel plus £280 ferries from Newcastle, so £420 all in (roughly) whereas Dover would have been around £300 in fuel and £80 ferries, so £380. It was well worth the extra £40 to save the mileage on the car and me getting a numb arse. Plus there was much talent on the boat!
Hope this helps.
I've always gone out on DFDS from Newcastle to Imujden. It's an easy 2hrs from here to North Sheilds, board the ferry for 5pm, grab dinner, have a some beers, hit the dancefloor, try my luck with a few Geordie lasses on a "mini cruise" then head to bed. Wake up at 9am as you sail into Ijmuden, pile in the car and then it's an easy 3hrs to the Ring so you'll be there for early afternoon. Easy.
Coming home, first trip and last trips I drove through belgium and so on to Calais then drove up through England but only as I was going to an event in Northampton on the way home. The second trip out, we did Newcastle to Ijuden to Newcastle and it was so much better. The return trip is the same, board at 5ish, dinner, drink, bed, up and then 2hrs home. Granted, the ferry is dearer but you have to take fuel into account plus if 'we' (The northern watch) drove to Hull or Dover, that's almost a day burst so where do you sleep or when? Doing it in one hit would be a killer I reckon.
Driving distance wise...
Glasgow to North Shields - 150 miles then Ijmuden to The Ring - 220 miles, so in total say 370 miles
Glasgow to Hull - 270 miles then Zeebrugge to The Ring - 230 miles, in total 500 miles
Glasgow to Dover - 490 miles then Calais to The Ring - 290 miles, that's 780 miles
Plus as said, factor in your driving times and fuel costs vs ferry costs and also when you'll sleepand you'll suss out which is the best option. Having done it, the ferry from North Sheilds and back is by far and away to most relaxing option plus it worked out I did less than 1,000 miles all in which compared to doing Dover and Calais, saved me almost 700 miles or roughly £140 in fuel. If I remember, return ferries from Newcastle were around £280 all in and Dover Calais was £40 each way.
It worked out at around £180 in fuel plus £280 ferries from Newcastle, so £420 all in (roughly) whereas Dover would have been around £300 in fuel and £80 ferries, so £380. It was well worth the extra £40 to save the mileage on the car and me getting a numb arse. Plus there was much talent on the boat!
Hope this helps.
Newcastle to Ijmuiden is my choice, went this way in 08 with a few mates, first on the ferry at Newcastle, and we were properly well on our way to being pissed before the ferry even left, my mate trying to ride the Grolsch bike (chained to a steel pipe) across the dance floor will never leave me, nor will the fact he got showered, left his cabin in only a towel and ended up stark b
k naked lost in the middle of the ferry whilst pissed.
Honestly the Newcastle ferry was a hoot on the way over, and on the way back, and if I go again I will be doing it the same way
k naked lost in the middle of the ferry whilst pissed. Honestly the Newcastle ferry was a hoot on the way over, and on the way back, and if I go again I will be doing it the same way
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