London to Scotland on Saturday, snow?

[greggster]

I know, it's looking more doubtful by the hour, such a shame

 

[Druk]

I've lived and worked near Dufftown and the snow can get really bad. I'd choose the route to Elgin up the East coast via Aberdeen and then across the top on the A96. The Glens of Foudland might give you some trouble as they often get badly affected by snow but at least that route would be main roads all the way. My normal route would be A9 via Aviemore but this might be a bit tricky if the weather closes in.

Road report on the Breakfast BBC are saying the A96 not good and very bad around Glens of Foudland. 0815hrs

My preference heading north would be M74 to J5 then A725 then east on the M8 to J2 and Forth Road Bridge M90 rather than the A80/M80/A9. Pain in the a$$ that road.



.

 

[Bellow]

Mid-day and the A96 a few miles from the Glens is looking like this.

 

[Neiltodd]

Mid-day and the A96 a few miles from the Glens is looking like this.

Looks ok to me,suppose you just get used to it.

 

[camerafodder]

The picture keeps updating itself

 

[greggster]

looks horrendous to me!! we're going to make a decision tomorrow lunch as to whether we go saturday as planned, thanks for the website link with the camera shots, very handy.

 

[Druk]

Central belt looks like it may escape just about all the snow. North has got it bad and it's now heading south.

 

[Mcnasty]

you won't be getting out of Englandshire come Saturday

 

[Tan]

Looking at the forecasts, I would heed the advice that we are always given "unless your journey is absolutely necessary" stay at home.

Saying that, the kid in me would want to go out and play in the snow in the ML. During the last snow, I thought about going up to my in-laws in Dundee, so that I could take their XC90 out in the snow.

 

[greggster]

I know what you're saying, I'm the same, torn between adventure and safety, but safety will win the day as I'll have my family on board. 99% sure I'm not going on Saturday and a lot of that is from good advice here, thanks lads

 

[Bellow]

Looks ok to me,suppose you just get used to it.

It was skippy enough - on the way to Banff to get snow tyres fitted. Return was no problem at all. Almost relaxing - well compared to the drive there on summer tyres.
I'm a convert. The difference is astonishing!

looks horrendous to me!!

Then you don't want to go there. The surface is only the half of it. Parts of that road were like a moonscape the way the wind was blowing the snow around, and the road from Banff (the Pole) the snow was falling so heavily and being blown so hard visiblity became the issue - seriously impeding pace.
Without the new tyres I doubt that I would have made it through, and I definitely wouldn't have managed the last few miles (Cadgers) to home, let alone the farm track full of drifts.

 

[Sp!ke]

I'm driving To Croatia on Sunday - If I can make it to Dover then I recon I'll be fine.

 

[timk]

Supposed to be driving to Edinburgh (in a Subaru Legacy AWD not the C43) to spend the Christmas and New Year season up there, hoping it'll be ok...

 

[Druk]

I think you'll be fine Tim. As mentioned before stay on the M74 till J5 then A725 to the A8/M8 Edinburgh. Stop at Tebay (Westmoreland) services on the M6 for best grub and fuel-up at Shell Truckstop (Todhills iirc) just north of Carlisle J44. Cheapest for miles.

 

[timk]

I think you'll be fine Tim. As mentioned before stay on the M74 till J5 then A725 to the A8/M8 Edinburgh. Stop at Tebay (Westmoreland) services on the M6 for best grub and fuel-up at Shell Truckstop (Todhills iirc) just north of Carlisle J44. Cheapest for miles.

Thanks for the advice. Agree about Teebay services, some great cakes and pies on offer there! Even saw Jenny Bond there last year, what an unexpected bonus.

 

[Bob S]

Just driven up the A9 in an rwd beemer. No problem at all and the road is clear. The roads east are a bit more interesting but might be as well to stick to the main A roads instead of going through Aberlour or over the Dava. Bit longer but safer.

 

[Bellow]

Travel misery returns as blizzards hit the north-east - Press & Journal

This mornings news re weather conditions and roads.

Greggster: What keeps coming to mind is the sheer length of time the journey will take. You will be at the wheel for tens of hours.
Last week, without any snow or ice it took me 2 1/4 hours to travel the 80 miles from Inverness back to mine. OK, knock out 15 mins for roadworks, but still 2 hrs. 40mph average! Pitiful.
If there is any amount of snow lying on the crown of the road, overtaking will be impossible. Your pace will be dictated by 500 people crawling a few miles up the road to their destinations!

 

[greggster]

Thanks, I know it could add hours onto the journey as it will be slow. I'm actually going to Aberlour, I would normally come off the A9 at Aviemore, that last bit will take ages in the snow. I can't risk the journey taking 20 hours instead of 10 with the family on board so we've decided not to go in the morning. We'll see what it's like on Monday and then either give it a go or just stay at home for Christmas, cheers all.

 

[grober]

Thanks, I know it could add hours onto the journey as it will be slow. I'm actually going to Aberlour, I would normally come off the A9 at Aviemore, that last bit will take ages in the snow. I can't risk the journey taking 20 hours instead of 10 with the family on board so we've decided not to go in the morning. We'll see what it's like on Monday and then either give it a go or just stay at home for Christmas, cheers all.

To be honest that's a sensible decision under the circumstances.

 

[jaymanek]

Took me 4 hours to get to coventry and back today.. less than 12 miles...