Aberdeen to London road trip - advise needed

[chriswt]

'advice' needed!

I'm picking up my new purchase in a couple of weeks from Aberdeen and wondered if anyone who has experience of the route or area could give me some advise on the journey back to London.

Advice needed:

1. Disregarding what Google Maps says is it best to take the East or West coast route home - (Aberdeen, Edinburgh A1 route or Aberdeen, Glasgow M6, M1 route)?

2. My plane lands at 3pm on a Sunday and I'm collecting the car from the airport so assuming I'm back on the road by 5pm should I stay at a Travel Inn near by and then do the full 9hr drive the following day stopping off half way for lunch?

or

Pick the car up and get back on the road getting as far down the country as I can in 4 hours before staying the night at a motorway hotel for the night before continuing on the next day and if so where should I aim to stop (Newcastle, Carlisle etc)?

Thanks

 

[Red C220]

We did Surrey-Edinburgh a couple of years ago and back.

We went up M1, M6 came back A1.

I would now never consider the M1, M6 route again.

 

[Charles Morgan]

I have done Arbroath to London in a day (511 miles) using the M6 and M40 (so west route). It's genuine motorway all the way from Glasgow rather than A roads through the Borders and North.

Break your journey half way - it's a long old stretch and depending on the weather not something I'd seek to do in darkness late into the night.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I agree with Red. Half the M6 and all of the M1 from where they join are awful roads. Boring as hell. A1 usually slower but far more interesting to drive. And may not even be slower if the miles and miles of M1 50mph through roadworks are still there. I hope the weather is kind for you and you enjoy the drive back down to civilisation

 

[steviebabes]

Its a pity you can't collect the car Saturday night. I do Eastbourne to Northumberland twice a year and always set off on a Sunday morning. I used to leave around 4am, but now I leave about 6am. It is a fabulous run up - I hardly see another road user for the first two hours. I refuel at Toddington and I'm the only car at the pumps. Lovely!

 

[chriswt]

Break your journey half way - it's a long old stretch and depending on the weather not something I'd seek to do in darkness late into the night.

I'm assuming its the very northern leg of the journey that's not best done at night?

One possible option was to try to get slightly south of Glasgow on the Sunday before stopping of at a Travel Inn and then continuing on the next day which would mean that the Lake District could be a perfect lunch stop.

 

[Igurisu]

Quite a few 50 zones on the A1 between Sunderland and Ripon.

My recomendation would be Glasgow, A/M74, M6, M6 toll, M40. It should be pretty clear execpt Manchester to Stoke on the M6.

 

[jaymanek]

So come on then, what car is it?

 

[chriswt]

Its a pity you can't collect the car Saturday night. I do Eastbourne to Northumberland twice a year and always set off on a Sunday morning. I used to leave around 4am, but now I leave about 6am. It is a fabulous run up - I hardly see another road user for the first two hours. I refuel at Toddington and I'm the only car at the pumps. Lovely!

I'm restricted to Easyjet otherwise I'd take your option. However I'm at a wedding on the Friday and if last weekends stag do was anything to go by I wouldn't be fit for purpose on Saturday!

 

[chriswt]

So come on then, what car is it?

Nothing too fancy just something comfortable to soak up the motorway miles instead of a company car:


Mercedes-Benz C Class C320 CDI Sport 4dr Auto Diesel Saloon 3.0 2007

Price seemed good and its got isofix plus a set of winter tyres (I'm getting old and sensible)!!!!

 

[Mr. B]

Don't forget your passport for when you enter God's County (Yorkshire) or you won't get in.

 

[chriswt]

Don't forget your passport for when you enter God's County (Yorkshire) or you won't get in.

I'm a regular to Skipton and Grassington so they tend to wave me through at the check points

 

[Harrythedog]

Try and get as near Edinburgh as you can before an overnight stop, then A!, A19 (for Tyne Tunnel) carry on the A19 till it picks up the A1(M) near Wetherby then M1 home. The A19 is a nice run and usually quiet, much better than the A1

 

[Aerialmark]

Quite a few 50 zones on the A1 between Sunderland and Ripon.

My recomendation would be Glasgow, A/M74, M6, M6 toll, M40. It should be pretty clear execpt Manchester to Stoke on the M6.

I agree with Pete I drive this route a lot and it is the best way, also consider the weather, it is nearly always worse on the east coast (if it snows) so stick to the west. Good luck..

 

[tanuie]

Good luck with the trip and the car

 

[Frugal]

I agree with Pete I drive this route a lot and it is the best way, also consider the weather, it is nearly always worse on the east coast (if it snows) so stick to the west. Good luck..

I agree too. While I share the scepticism regarding google maps' route suggestions, having done this trip several times myself, I'd say they have it right this time, assuming your objective is a quick and easy run. A90 to Dundee then follow signs to Perth and take the M90 past Stirling and Glasgow onto the M74 then M6 to Birmingham and home - motorway/dual all the way. If you decide to go the East coast route then I'd make sure you get past Edinburgh, otherwise you'll risk delays in that area on the Monday morning. But if you want to take in some sights, then a load of options open up.

 

[Druk]

Agree with the above except I would leave the M6 at Stoke for the A50 Derby to the M1. Lesser of two evils to get SE from the M6 imho. South of J15 the M6 is a no-go area for me.
Glasgow M74 to Loughborough M1 is five hours with a 1/2hr stop at Westmorland services for tea. I do that route a lot.

A1 from Edinburgh to Newcastle a lot of nightmare single carriageway and often 20mph tractors and speed cameras/unmarked cars.

Be watchful from A90 Aberdeen to Perth for speed cameras. After that not so bad till you get to south of Moffat on the M74 then they can be on the overhead bridges and quite often after a long bend.

 

[Chrishazle]

If you decide west, be very careful about your speed south of Glasgow into England - reknowned area for coppers either on the road or on the bridges - with speed cameras. I even had one follow me for about 20 miles - he'd been doing 60 on the dual carriageway so I passed him - at a careful 70. He immediately speeded up to 70 and followed me for about 20 miles until he eventually turned off. OK, I was in the red 968 coupe (did not own an MB at that time) but even so it was annoying!

 

[aquanaut]

Defo west coast glasgow way. Quite a few hotels around airport. Speedbird etc. or book jurys inn in centre of town if you fancied a rest before driving next day. Congrats on your purchase

 

[Bellow]

I'd do it in one. I'd avoid Edinburgh. Watch for services - used to be nothing on one side (truckers cross from East to West or vice-versa, or used to due to lack of overnight services).
Watch the weather - currently Aberdeen is covered in snow with schools closed. It took someone 2 1/2 hours to travel between Bof Don and Dyce this morning - approx 6 miles.