London to Scotland on Saturday, snow?

[Neiltodd]

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!

Agree it was pretty icy yesterday around Turriff area tricky even with 4wd & v good snow tyres

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.

Agree it was pretty icy yesterday with poor visibility around the Turriff area tricky even with 4wd & v good winter tyres

 

[Bellow]

Agree it was pretty icy yesterday with poor visibility around the Turriff area tricky even with 4wd & v good winter tyres

Then I made the right choice taking the Huntly route!
I didn't fancy the backroad to Turriff on summer tyres with those dips that I could've got stuck in. Would probably have been OK returning with the proper tyres, but stuck with the devil I knew and headed for Huntly. And observed it getting progressively worse the more inland I came.

Some grim news from the A96 yesterday though.

 

[Dryce]

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.

It's the A95 or A86 I'd be concerned about too - as the A9 and A90 tend to be 'managed' with police, snow gates, ploughs, and convoying.

I did Glasgow - Elgin a few years ago after it had snowed. The A9 gets cleared quite quickly and it was TV advert land - no cars about at all because of the warnings - but the road surface was black after it had been ploughed and heavily salted.

The problem is the A95 (one of my favourite roads). It wasn't so clear despite having had a lesser fall of snow.

 

[Smiley]

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

You should have taken a car Jay.

 

[steve333]

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.

After seing what hit us earlier today in surrey i think you made a wise decision,it's dangerous on the roads today,hope the weather improves enough for you & anyone else that has to travel over the xmass period

 

[greggster]

Thanks. This whole thread was a bit academic really as I wouldn't get to Slough, let alone Scotland!

 

[Druk]

You still at home Gregg? Most roads up here seem clear this morning.

 

[greggster]

Yes we are, thanks for that, decided to stay put as we have to be here straight after Christmas, can't risk getting delayed on way home. A shame though, we have an old cottage in Aberlour, up for sale now so we fancied our last Christmas there. Never mind, it may not sell anyway!

 

[Druk]

Probably very wise. The 96 is looking bad again on the cameras and it can change at a moments notice.

 

[st4]

My mate drove back to Aberdeen from Glasgow yesterday night, it took 4hrs 30mins. Normally that can be dispatched in a little under 3hours. Parts of the pics from trafficscotland looked pretty grim.

With a young family, discretion should take the better part of valour.