Little UK roadtrip, am I mad?
Discussion
We need to get some work done on the outside of our house, probably sometime in September. As that should coincide with me getting my new toy car I have suggested we bugger off to the UK for a week in said car, visit a few friends and eat lots of Indian food, and English breakfasts with cheap plastic bread.
On day one we would drive to the tunnel from Germany and then stay somewhere on the East coast, somewhere like Southwold maybe?
We'd probably want to visit people in Derby, Mirfield, and Inverurie, so a quick itinerary off the top of my head goes:
1. Adenau - Southwold(ish).
2. Up to Derby.
3. Inverurie.
4. Mirfield.
5. Somewhere south?
6 or 7 return to Adenau.
Any tips of things to see en route, or maybe better route suggestions would be wunderbar, thanks.
On day one we would drive to the tunnel from Germany and then stay somewhere on the East coast, somewhere like Southwold maybe?
We'd probably want to visit people in Derby, Mirfield, and Inverurie, so a quick itinerary off the top of my head goes:
1. Adenau - Southwold(ish).
2. Up to Derby.
3. Inverurie.
4. Mirfield.
5. Somewhere south?
6 or 7 return to Adenau.
Any tips of things to see en route, or maybe better route suggestions would be wunderbar, thanks.
daqinggregg said:
Wouldn’t it make more sense, Amsterdam to Newcastle – Inverurie. Then the rest of the journey in reverse (not literally).
Isn't that something like a 16 hour crossing?? And driving up to Amsterdam is a nightmare now since it's 100km/h limit on the motorway.I'll still have a look at it though, thanks.
Adenauer said:
Isn't that something like a 16 hour crossing?? And driving up to Amsterdam is a nightmare now since it's 100km/h limit on the motorway.
I'll still have a look at it though, thanks.
The Amsterdam crossing was nuts last time I looked - beginning of May was over £1100 including meals for car and 2 passengers. I'll still have a look at it though, thanks.
Hull to Rotterdam you can halve it. The 100kmh NL limit seems to be largely ignored nowadays.
Yeah, I really don't fancy a ferry anyway. It's supposed to be a 'road trip' and not a watch everyone being sick trip 
The tunnel is hassle free with a flex ticket and the run down to it is okay through France (not Belgium). 4 hours to the tunnel, 30 minutes crossing and then an hour or two the other side and relax. Next day a few hours up to Derby for the day and then a longish jaunt up to Inverurie. I can't see that being too much of a hassle.
Should I just be looking at motorways in the UK, or rather trying to avoid them?
The tunnel is hassle free with a flex ticket and the run down to it is okay through France (not Belgium). 4 hours to the tunnel, 30 minutes crossing and then an hour or two the other side and relax. Next day a few hours up to Derby for the day and then a longish jaunt up to Inverurie. I can't see that being too much of a hassle.
Should I just be looking at motorways in the UK, or rather trying to avoid them?
Adenauer said:
Isn't that something like a 16 hour crossing?? And driving up to Amsterdam is a nightmare now since it's 100km/h limit on the motorway.
I'll still have a look at it though, thanks.
I'd recommend Rotterdam to Hull crossing, it's an overnight crossing so you sleep most of it anyway, couple of drinks in the entertainment bar, maybe a meal, sleep and wake up for breakfast before disembarking. I'll still have a look at it though, thanks.
I do the route a couple of times a year coming over to the ring and i'd far rather do that than travelling up England on the M1 which is currently a horrible experience as most of it is limited to 50mph zones.
Hull to Mirfield is probably around 90 minutes drive
Dover to Southwold is at least 3 hours, IME. Maybe more if you're driving up through Essex in the afternoon - northbound A12 is usually 50mph in both lanes all the way from Brentwood to Colchester, and then once past Ipswich it all slows down again, especially if in the summertime. Also, major roadworks around Colchester until (they say) September, so that means more likely November. Then you will be in harvest season, so expect tractors on the road through Suffolk holding everything to 20mph.
My advice would be allow 4 hours, and try and be past the Dartford crossing by 1pm. Don't do it on a Friday!
My advice would be allow 4 hours, and try and be past the Dartford crossing by 1pm. Don't do it on a Friday!
Rusty Old-Banger said:
Dover to Southwold is at least 3 hours, IME. Maybe more if you're driving up through Essex in the afternoon - northbound A12 is usually 50mph in both lanes all the way from Brentwood to Colchester, and then once past Ipswich it all slows down again, especially if in the summertime. Also, major roadworks around Colchester until (they say) September, so that means more likely November. Then you will be in harvest season, so expect tractors on the road through Suffolk holding everything to 20mph.
My advice would be allow 4 hours, and try and be past the Dartford crossing by 1pm. Don't do it on a Friday!
Oh God, is the UK still one big roadwork then? The last time I drove there was probably about 10 years ago and it was pretty bad then. My advice would be allow 4 hours, and try and be past the Dartford crossing by 1pm. Don't do it on a Friday!
Jamescrs said:
I'd recommend Rotterdam to Hull crossing, it's an overnight crossing so you sleep most of it anyway, couple of drinks in the entertainment bar, maybe a meal, sleep and wake up for breakfast before disembarking.
I do the route a couple of times a year coming over to the ring and i'd far rather do that than travelling up England on the M1 which is currently a horrible experience as most of it is limited to 50mph zones.
Hull to Mirfield is probably around 90 minutes drive
Or maybe just cut out the southern half completely? Rotterdam to Hull ferry, Derby, Mirfield, Inverurie, saunter back to Hull via somewhere else and then cross again.I do the route a couple of times a year coming over to the ring and i'd far rather do that than travelling up England on the M1 which is currently a horrible experience as most of it is limited to 50mph zones.
Hull to Mirfield is probably around 90 minutes drive
That sounds like a better plan!
RicksAlfas said:
Ferry to Hull would make much more sense. Head straight for Derby. Then have a day or two in the Peak District. Mirfield. Up to Scotland. Back down, stay in Northumberland for a night. Hull.
Yep, I hear you and shall look at something like that. Just looked at the Rotterdam Hull crossings and it's about 1,100€ total including premier cabins and dinner and breakfast in the Brasserie. Doesn't seem too bad considering the price of a potato these days.
RicksAlfas said:
Adenauer said:
Not set on it at all, it was just a convenient stop
No one has ever said that about Southwold, especially when coming from Folkestone.
I don't know, I'm obviously very out of touch. We went there once and it seemed nice enough, hang on, no it wasn't it was Walberswick we went to. That was nice, Southwold was a bit Blackpool.
Anyway, it's off the plan now anyway.
Adenauer said:
Hang on, Mirfield to Inverurie looks like Mrs A would get the hump, 6 hours is a no no.
Please fill in the ??
Ferry to Hull, drive to Derby.
Derby to ?? to stay overnight.
?? to Inverurie.
Inverurie to ?? to stay overnight.
?? to Mirfield.
Mirfield to Hull & Home.
Somewhere like Bamburgh on the east coast?Please fill in the ??
Ferry to Hull, drive to Derby.
Derby to ?? to stay overnight.
?? to Inverurie.
Inverurie to ?? to stay overnight.
?? to Mirfield.
Mirfield to Hull & Home.
Leave number 4 off the list. Dodgy retired bloke lives in this location 
Depends on the car TBH. I always drive to Hull and get the ferry overnight. Saves driving all the way down the UK and across Belgium as the roads are horrific. You could do it one way over and then start up north and work your way down the Uk and home over the tunnel to make it a road trip I guess.
Depends on the car TBH. I always drive to Hull and get the ferry overnight. Saves driving all the way down the UK and across Belgium as the roads are horrific. You could do it one way over and then start up north and work your way down the Uk and home over the tunnel to make it a road trip I guess.
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