400 mile caravan trip

[V8 Animal]

https://goo.gl/maps/Y9TLo4o1E2hmh7aZ6
Too far in one day?
Family say it is but I think it’s doable.

[Jamescrs]

It is doable but yours and your passengers appetite for doing it are another thing, I imagine it will be a hard slog

[Bill]

It's doable, we'd do that in the motorhome regularly. But do you want to do it while they moan they're bored and then have to set up when you're knackered and they're saying they told you it was a crap plan?

[stevemcs]

It will be a long day but doable

[xstian]

It's definitely doable. We do norfolk to Huntly in Aberdeenshire, once a year. It takes 11-12 hours. It's just me, the mises and the dog, no children. Don't underestimate how slow the roads are once you are north of Glasgow.

I would imagine it's going to depend how you and your family travel.

Edited to add,

Just checked its 531miles.

Edited by xstian on Monday 24th January 18:35

[V8 Animal]

Just me and the misses, who can’t tow the van.

[Johnnybee]

We did about the same distance but had a night at Troutbeck mainly as we were in no hurry to get there. The road alongside Loch Lomond can be a bit dodgy in places. We met a Co op HGV on a narrow corner in our motorhome which was very very tight, his trailer was cutting over the white line as he tried to inch past us.

Edited by Johnnybee on Monday 24th January 19:49

Edited by Johnnybee on Monday 24th January 19:50

[Bill]

V8 Animal said:

Just me and the misses, who can’t tow the van.

Only issue is bad weather which would make it pretty full on. How does she feel about it?

[stevemcs]

At least you can always pull over and have a nap.

[Vasco]

Start very early. Plan 2 long breaks.

[pja]

I would plan an overnight stop around half way & try to incorporate it in your hol,
it would be a long haul solo at 70+mph but towing at 60 max & adding in fuel stops & comfort breaks would take forever

[recordman]

I'd stop overnight around the Solway Firth. It would be too long for me in one go.

[hiccy18]

On the road for 9am you could be there for tea time without being too tired. After the Preston turnoff the motorway is pretty easy driving until the Douglas turnoff. The M74 extension makes getting through Glasgow a lot easier nowadays. After Tyndrum it's relax and enjoy the view until Corran, by which time you're nearly there.

Longish trips are more about how you approach it, early starts and planned short breaks keep the miles ticking by without getting too tired. I'd probably do a short lunch at Tebay then a pee break & coffee at Tyndrum, but we're okay with 3 hour stints.

[V8 Animal]

hiccy18 said:

On the road for 9am you could be there for tea time without being too tired. After the Preston turnoff the motorway is pretty easy driving until the Douglas turnoff. The M74 extension makes getting through Glasgow a lot easier nowadays. After Tyndrum it's relax and enjoy the view until Corran, by which time you're nearly there.

Longish trips are more about how you approach it, early starts and planned short breaks keep the miles ticking by without getting too tired. I'd probably do a short lunch at Tebay then a pee break & coffee at Tyndrum, but we're okay with 3 hour stints.

Seems to be motorway from Chester to Glasgow boring but easy when towing.
Will need a few p breaks I estimate tea time arrival.

[hiccy18]

Actually, consider the following link, it avoids that bit at Loch Lomond between Tarbert and Inveranan which is no longer fun for anyone:

https://goo.gl/maps/w7UiTSQ9v3xibTJL9

Loch Lomond is lovely, but the drive past it is frustrating, rolling 40mph tailbacks.

[Mark Asread]

I'd say go up the A9 to Dalwhinnie. Much more likely to stick to schedule doing it that way as the roads are better for longer.

[D7PNY]

Doable I'd say but would need and early start as I find caravan trips always seem longer than they are!

However, when we did aberdeenshire to Flamingo land last year we stopped off at strathclyde country park to break up the journey (plus my mum lives near there so meant we could see her too).

[LeadFarmer]

I wouldn't do that journey in a day, it only takes a hold up en route and you're buggered, arriving at the site at 3am and will still feel knackered the following day.

I'd always split a journey like that with an overnight stop over somewhere about 2/3rds of the way there. That way you do the majority of the journey on day 1 when you have the most enthusiasm, with day 2 being a shorter journey, setting off early each day so when you get to each destination you have an afternoon and evening to relax. See the stop over as part of your holiday rather than wasted time.

Edited by LeadFarmer on Thursday 27th January 07:28

[D7PNY]

That was our thinking on trip to Flamingo land last year. Making use of the benefit of being able to stop on route. We just extended the trip effectively and meant we arrived at destination earlier on the day of arrival so win win.

[dundarach]

We did Portsoy to Hull (442 miles) each way in one go.

Didn't have a caravan, however had a dog and two young kids and was 10 hours.

Two long days....