I wouldn't drive from London to Scotland (if that is your intention). I would fly to Scotland then hire a car up there (but that's just me).
Interesting difference in perceptions. I don't consider it very far to drive most anywhere in the UK, and I'd much rather drive than go through all the hassle of airport security. By the time you get to the airport 3 hours early for them to lose your luggage you could have driven half way up the island!
From my view in Western Canada, 650 miles is an easy days drive, I don't think much about doing it, just fill the tank and go. 1000 miles is a long day's drive!
From my view in Western Canada, 650 miles is an easy days drive, I don't think much about doing it, just fill the tank and go. 1000 miles is a long day's drive!
You have to take into account the different traffic densities. 650 miles on a freeway in a country the size of Canada is easy. 650 miles on British motorways in nose-to-tail traffic is hard work!
There is a reasonable alternative to flying if you hate airports - take the train.
For all we Brits love to moan about our railways, they're actually pretty good - albeit expensive. The East Coast Mainline from Kings Cross to Edinburgh and beyond takes you past some stunning scenery along the north east coast, and mostly at 125mph , once you take into account checkin and getting to/from airports it gives the plane a run for its money timewise too.
You can get the cost down dramatically by booking a specific train in advance , if you do that, it's worth looking for 1st class tickets as they can often be not much more than standard , I regularly do the couple of hundred miles from Leeds to London 1st class for around 20 quid. You can look up fares and times at www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com
The other fun way to get up to Scotland is to take the sleeper train from Euston.
Location: Datchet, Berkshire UK- about 20 miles west of London
Posts: 278
Theres no "blanket" answer, and it depends on whether the prime purpose of the journey is to get to a place in a reasonable or at least predictable time or to photograph. I use maps with indications of relief and drainage etc to form a view of possible photographic potential. There are parts of the UK where this is hard to find and in those circumstances why not use motorways and the larger trunk roads to get the journey out of the way. If you want to photograph, I'd get off A roads- pretty much all A roads- because although the scenery may be quite pleasant its harder to stop the car- sometimes for legislative reasons , sometimes because its busy to the point you'll be reluctant to cause a hazard. In my experience, the smaller the roads the better the photography and the easier it is to do.
Thanks to all you folks for the advice and suggestions.
Rob & Martin... mountains and twisty roads - I grew up driving in them. My mother's 1968 Toyota Corolla and the logging roads in the mountains east of Vedder Crossing (near Chilliwack, which is about 60 miles east of Vancouver). The fun part was the loaded logging trucks which don't really care about let alone even notice tiny cars on "their" roads. Their right of way enforced by sheer gross vehicle weight and seconded by gravity made for a lot of "see any dust? hear anything coming?"
Off Thursday, hope to see less rain and gloom than we've had here - though the last few days have been actually quite spring-like. (packing the Gore-Tex though)
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From my view in Western Canada, 650 miles is an easy days drive, I don't think much about doing it, just fill the tank and go. 1000 miles is a long day's drive!
I just don't want to sit in a little metal box for that long.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig
By the time you get to the airport 3 hours early for them to lose your luggage you could have driven half way up the island!
For an internal flight I think it's only an hour in advance. When I went on the Ilford factory tour last year I flew from Southampton to Manchester in just over an hour. If I was driving (which I wouldn't be) it would probably have taken about six hours to get there and probably even longer to get home at the end of the day on a Friday.
I have done Manchester by train. This takes five hours but is still quicker than you can drive it.
As far as I am concerned, cars are for medium distances. Long distances should be done on public transport and short distances should be walked or cycled.
Thanks to all you folks for the advice and suggestions.
Rob & Martin... mountains and twisty roads - I grew up driving in them. My mother's 1968 Toyota Corolla and the logging roads in the mountains east of Vedder Crossing (near Chilliwack, which is about 60 miles east of Vancouver). The fun part was the loaded logging trucks which don't really care about let alone even notice tiny cars on "their" roads. Their right of way enforced by sheer gross vehicle weight and seconded by gravity made for a lot of "see any dust? hear anything coming?"
Off Thursday, hope to see less rain and gloom than we've had here - though the last few days have been actually quite spring-like. (packing the Gore-Tex though)
No loggers here so at least you don't have that worry! But against that, the roads in the hills tend to be narrow and twisty.
Unfortunately it looks like you are heading into "changeable" weather (http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=0335) but then, that's to be expected this time of year (or indeed, any time of year here...) but bear in mind that any weather forecast over 24 hours in advance in the UK should be treated as no more than a best-guess. Hopefully it will clear up later in your trip - we had quite a bit of sun last week.
Thanks to all you folks for the advice and suggestions.
Rob & Martin... mountains and twisty roads - I grew up driving in them. My mother's 1968 Toyota Corolla and the logging roads in the mountains east of Vedder Crossing (near Chilliwack, which is about 60 miles east of Vancouver). The fun part was the loaded logging trucks which don't really care about let alone even notice tiny cars on "their" roads. Their right of way enforced by sheer gross vehicle weight and seconded by gravity made for a lot of "see any dust? hear anything coming?"
Off Thursday, hope to see less rain and gloom than we've had here - though the last few days have been actually quite spring-like. (packing the Gore-Tex though)
Good time of year to be visiting, before the main holiday season gets under way, and a very good chance of decent weather. Good luck and enjoy yourself..
Good time of year to be visiting, before the main holiday season gets under way, and a very good chance of decent weather. Good luck and enjoy yourself..
Oh, and remember, we drive on the left over here
Heh, I was over in the west of Ireland last week - lucky enough to catch a few days of absolutely beautiful weather - and was highly amused that either side of practically every tourist spot/viewpoint lay-by were very large "remember to drive on the left" road signs!
__________________ Another day goes under; a little bourbon will take the strain...
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