Scotland to Cornwall round trip: When, where... why...!
Discussion
Humour me.
Despite not exactly brimming with enthusiasm for this plan, we're off to Cornwall in the near future for a "holiday" and I use that term loosely as I have kids so not sure it's ever really a holiday... more a mission. However, she's booked the accommodation and handed travel plans to me but with stern reminders that I'm not 21 anymore, not driving something quick, have kids and as much as I'd like to think I could, I won't setting any new records.
So, help me out here... make me feel like this won't be a miserable trip as all I seem to read about is how grim things are out there with lately. Full disclosure is that I used to work in Bristol and I use to think nothing of knocking out the 440 mile "commute" pretty much in one hit and at an elevated, un-interrupted pace whilst enjoying relatively clear roads, minimal cameras and police that'd turn a blind eye. Mostly. It was the mid 2000's man! Latterly, the furthest I've ventured with the kids is Penrith. Which ironically took longer to do than I used to take to get to Bristol.
The plan is...Central Scotland > M74 > M6 > M5 > A303 > Cornwall and the time "restrictions" being we check in on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm and we are collectively free to go after work / school on the Friday as of say 4pm. So, my window of opportunity is a Friday at 1600hrs to Saturday at 1600hrs. So 12 hours to do 570 miles. With kids. And a wife who'd rather we jostled along with the lorries in L1 and who is already reminding me not to try and be a hero. Google reckons 570 miles 9hrs 45mins... so probably nearer 11 hours with pee stops. I typed that and I'm sat thinking "Jesus, just book a holiday to Portugal you sadistic t
t"
To help me figure out a plan, what's it like out there / down there... down there as in "South of Preston" as that's when we enter the realm of smart motorways and what seems like ever present speed restrictions, lane closures and all manner of stuff that'll impede progress. I've searched the Highways site and nothing stands out as major concern, no full closures to move a crisp bag so short of a Hungarian HGV taking out a flyover, I'm hoping for a clear run. Both there and back a week later.
My initially thoughts were just go at 5pm on Friday, I can cope with a bit rush hours pain around the M876 / Glasgow but it should clear down through the borders, the Lakes and then by the time I'd hit the Midlands... maybe 4hrs to Manchester area (M5) so 9ish and press on to clear Birmingham, maybe aiming for Worcester and maybe an overnight stop at the halfway point. That'd be about 6hrs driving so 11pm. Then bed in a dodgy motel hoping the kids won't be mental. Then up early and get down to Taunton to meet a mate for a few hours, then run down to Cornwall Saturday mid afternoon.
Or...
I just got full send. It's 450 miles to said mate in Taunton and that's probably nigh on 9hrs with stops. So the other option is home from work, a few hours sleep (highly unlikely) then lift the kids, stick them in the car at say midnight and just go for it and aim to get down to Taunton area for the early morning on the Saturday. They'll sleep, she'll sleep... I'll stare ahead, contemplating my life choices...
Enough waffle and musings, so as said humour me... window of opportunity is Friday 1600 to Saturday 1600hrs, 570 miles down the M6 / M5 and with kids in tow. Where will I get caught up, where is a potential nightmare just now... where can I leave the kids for a week. I need some encouragement as at the moment, my enthusiasm for this trip isn't particularly high!
And yes I did look at flights to Bristol then a car for the week... just shy of £700 all in with the most favourable flight times. It's not off the cards yet.
Despite not exactly brimming with enthusiasm for this plan, we're off to Cornwall in the near future for a "holiday" and I use that term loosely as I have kids so not sure it's ever really a holiday... more a mission. However, she's booked the accommodation and handed travel plans to me but with stern reminders that I'm not 21 anymore, not driving something quick, have kids and as much as I'd like to think I could, I won't setting any new records.
So, help me out here... make me feel like this won't be a miserable trip as all I seem to read about is how grim things are out there with lately. Full disclosure is that I used to work in Bristol and I use to think nothing of knocking out the 440 mile "commute" pretty much in one hit and at an elevated, un-interrupted pace whilst enjoying relatively clear roads, minimal cameras and police that'd turn a blind eye. Mostly. It was the mid 2000's man! Latterly, the furthest I've ventured with the kids is Penrith. Which ironically took longer to do than I used to take to get to Bristol.
The plan is...Central Scotland > M74 > M6 > M5 > A303 > Cornwall and the time "restrictions" being we check in on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm and we are collectively free to go after work / school on the Friday as of say 4pm. So, my window of opportunity is a Friday at 1600hrs to Saturday at 1600hrs. So 12 hours to do 570 miles. With kids. And a wife who'd rather we jostled along with the lorries in L1 and who is already reminding me not to try and be a hero. Google reckons 570 miles 9hrs 45mins... so probably nearer 11 hours with pee stops. I typed that and I'm sat thinking "Jesus, just book a holiday to Portugal you sadistic t
t" To help me figure out a plan, what's it like out there / down there... down there as in "South of Preston" as that's when we enter the realm of smart motorways and what seems like ever present speed restrictions, lane closures and all manner of stuff that'll impede progress. I've searched the Highways site and nothing stands out as major concern, no full closures to move a crisp bag so short of a Hungarian HGV taking out a flyover, I'm hoping for a clear run. Both there and back a week later.
My initially thoughts were just go at 5pm on Friday, I can cope with a bit rush hours pain around the M876 / Glasgow but it should clear down through the borders, the Lakes and then by the time I'd hit the Midlands... maybe 4hrs to Manchester area (M5) so 9ish and press on to clear Birmingham, maybe aiming for Worcester and maybe an overnight stop at the halfway point. That'd be about 6hrs driving so 11pm. Then bed in a dodgy motel hoping the kids won't be mental. Then up early and get down to Taunton to meet a mate for a few hours, then run down to Cornwall Saturday mid afternoon.
Or...
I just got full send. It's 450 miles to said mate in Taunton and that's probably nigh on 9hrs with stops. So the other option is home from work, a few hours sleep (highly unlikely) then lift the kids, stick them in the car at say midnight and just go for it and aim to get down to Taunton area for the early morning on the Saturday. They'll sleep, she'll sleep... I'll stare ahead, contemplating my life choices...
Enough waffle and musings, so as said humour me... window of opportunity is Friday 1600 to Saturday 1600hrs, 570 miles down the M6 / M5 and with kids in tow. Where will I get caught up, where is a potential nightmare just now... where can I leave the kids for a week. I need some encouragement as at the moment, my enthusiasm for this trip isn't particularly high!
And yes I did look at flights to Bristol then a car for the week... just shy of £700 all in with the most favourable flight times. It's not off the cards yet.
Edited by Davie on Thursday 25th September 21:50
Having recently driven back from Cornwall to the Lakes, I can't offer much advise as we only had a dog to think about but it is variable limits from M58 to what feels like Birmingham so I would be more inclined to try and do the trip outside of rush hours to keep the overall average speed higher and less time sat in traffic etc.
We got stuck 4 or 5 times in slower traffic doing well below the posted 50mph limits on the gantry's and I can imagine with kids that could get a bit tiring or trying to time loo breaks etc.
What about a combo of the two you have suggested? Leave asap after work/school, aim for somewhere like Cairn Lodge or Tebay for evening meal and have a bit of a snooze yourself to let the chaos south of Preston dissipate a bit then hit the road and see where you can reach before stopping for another nap etc? As I said earlier, don't have kids so not sure if that is a feasible option or not!
We got stuck 4 or 5 times in slower traffic doing well below the posted 50mph limits on the gantry's and I can imagine with kids that could get a bit tiring or trying to time loo breaks etc.
What about a combo of the two you have suggested? Leave asap after work/school, aim for somewhere like Cairn Lodge or Tebay for evening meal and have a bit of a snooze yourself to let the chaos south of Preston dissipate a bit then hit the road and see where you can reach before stopping for another nap etc? As I said earlier, don't have kids so not sure if that is a feasible option or not!
Leave at 4pm Friday.
Stop at Tebay for dinner at 7pm-8pm
Drive to Manchester
10pm
Find hotel not far off M6 (room only)
Saturday
7am get up and leave (kids will sleep on in the car)
9.30am -10.30am stop at Glouster services for breakfast
12pm taunton
3pm leave Taunton
5.30 checkin.
Nice and relaxed and your wife gets to visit 2 farm shops.
Its pretty much the route Im taking from Edinburgh to go see family who live near Padstow next March.
Stop at Tebay for dinner at 7pm-8pm
Drive to Manchester
10pm
Find hotel not far off M6 (room only)
Saturday
7am get up and leave (kids will sleep on in the car)
9.30am -10.30am stop at Glouster services for breakfast
12pm taunton
3pm leave Taunton
5.30 checkin.
Nice and relaxed and your wife gets to visit 2 farm shops.
Its pretty much the route Im taking from Edinburgh to go see family who live near Padstow next March.
I did Inverness to the outskirts of London. It was just under 600 miles, Same passenger load and sounds like I started further north.
It was fine. I just checked google maps now and again for traffic problems and trucked on using cruise at the prevailing limit. It’s a marathon not a sprint … good selection of pod cast or audio books passed the time.
Took just over 10h.
I wouldn’t have wanted to do the same both ways ( the reverse was over three days with two nights stopping en route).
I hear the Lake District is nice, and closer to you!
It was fine. I just checked google maps now and again for traffic problems and trucked on using cruise at the prevailing limit. It’s a marathon not a sprint … good selection of pod cast or audio books passed the time.
Took just over 10h.
I wouldn’t have wanted to do the same both ways ( the reverse was over three days with two nights stopping en route).
I hear the Lake District is nice, and closer to you!
The agony has already started as my wife has very differing ideas of how this will pan out. She's leaning towards a relaxed start on the Saturday, take a "steady" drive down... arrive nicely for dinner. I've suggested that isn't happening for a multitude of reasons and then stared preached average speeds, realistic travel times how "a couple of hours drive" will probably see us not even past Carlisle...
So, leaning towards taking a half day on the Friday and maybe get going about 2pm. By my calculations that means that at peak time (say 4pm to 6pm) we should in theory be travelling between Carlisle and Preston which should be less busy. Then by the time I hit the Midlands, it "might" be a bit less busy and the thinking is to try and push to at least clear Birmingham then stop for the night. Worcester is about 350 miles for me... so say 50mph average, that's 7hrs (ish) and so that's about 9pm. Bed, sleep, breakfast. Then it's another couple of hours down to matey near Taunton for a stop, man hugs and lunch then another couple of hours down to Cornwall...
I'm probably massively overthinking this and haven't even considered the return trip... I'll see how appalling the run down is then maybe look at setting fire to the car and flying home instead.
So, leaning towards taking a half day on the Friday and maybe get going about 2pm. By my calculations that means that at peak time (say 4pm to 6pm) we should in theory be travelling between Carlisle and Preston which should be less busy. Then by the time I hit the Midlands, it "might" be a bit less busy and the thinking is to try and push to at least clear Birmingham then stop for the night. Worcester is about 350 miles for me... so say 50mph average, that's 7hrs (ish) and so that's about 9pm. Bed, sleep, breakfast. Then it's another couple of hours down to matey near Taunton for a stop, man hugs and lunch then another couple of hours down to Cornwall...
I'm probably massively overthinking this and haven't even considered the return trip... I'll see how appalling the run down is then maybe look at setting fire to the car and flying home instead.
Davie said:
The agony has already started as my wife has very differing ideas of how this will pan out. She's leaning towards a relaxed start on the Saturday, take a "steady" drive down... arrive nicely for dinner. I've suggested that isn't happening for a multitude of reasons and then stared preached average speeds, realistic travel times how "a couple of hours drive" will probably see us not even past Carlisle...
So, leaning towards taking a half day on the Friday and maybe get going about 2pm. By my calculations that means that at peak time (say 4pm to 6pm) we should in theory be travelling between Carlisle and Preston which should be less busy. Then by the time I hit the Midlands, it "might" be a bit less busy and the thinking is to try and push to at least clear Birmingham then stop for the night. Worcester is about 350 miles for me... so say 50mph average, that's 7hrs (ish) and so that's about 9pm. Bed, sleep, breakfast. Then it's another couple of hours down to matey near Taunton for a stop, man hugs and lunch then another couple of hours down to Cornwall...
I'm probably massively overthinking this and haven't even considered the return trip... I'll see how appalling the run down is then maybe look at setting fire to the car and flying home instead.
I'd avoid day time as much as possible and do it at night if it was me.So, leaning towards taking a half day on the Friday and maybe get going about 2pm. By my calculations that means that at peak time (say 4pm to 6pm) we should in theory be travelling between Carlisle and Preston which should be less busy. Then by the time I hit the Midlands, it "might" be a bit less busy and the thinking is to try and push to at least clear Birmingham then stop for the night. Worcester is about 350 miles for me... so say 50mph average, that's 7hrs (ish) and so that's about 9pm. Bed, sleep, breakfast. Then it's another couple of hours down to matey near Taunton for a stop, man hugs and lunch then another couple of hours down to Cornwall...
I'm probably massively overthinking this and haven't even considered the return trip... I'll see how appalling the run down is then maybe look at setting fire to the car and flying home instead.
Yes, there may be motorway closures, but, there's not as many on Friday/Saturday/Sunday nights. Most weeknights there are circa 200 closures on major A roads and motorways in just England and Wales.
I drive Crewe to Dundee and back 4 nights a week in a HGV and the M6 is a pain everywhere/anytime, but you've got to be more unlucky at night lol.
The last 2 Saturday nights I worked there was an accident both nights around 11.30pm between the M55 and Junction 36 for Kendal. First time we were diverted up the A6 between Junctions 32 and 33 and it took an hour (at midnight!) because the motorway was shut both ways and there were 2 sets of temporary lights on the A6 which couldn't cope with the traffic and the second time we lost 45 minutes whilst they moved a single car that had crashed into the central reservation to the hard shoulder.
Check here for all road closures in England and Wales by date :-)
https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/road...
What's the general feeling on getting through the sort of Stafford to Birmingham stretch... is Friday night (8ish) potentially worse than say the Saturday morning about 9ish? Just trying to figure out if it'd be better to press on past and aim to stop at say Worcester for the night or stop north of Birmingham then tackle a bit of a longer drive on the Saturday. I know anything can happen but as far as traffic flow, I'd assume Friday will be preferable?
I always try to go early on Saturday/Sunday mornings...but I'm only going from Merseyside to Launceston, so 'early' only means pre 5am and I'm there before 10am (for 290 miles) including a stop at Gloucester services for breakfast.
If I go during the week, then I leave after 9am, and more or less do it within about 30 minutes of an early morning run.
To add to this, I frequently drive up to Paisely as a stop-over for some driving weekends, and that's 3.5 hours / 220 miles away. So you could add one to the other and roughly say the whole trip would be 9 hours (8h driving + 1h for 2x30m stops at Tebay and Gloucester).
I've been relatively lucky in that I've not hit bad roadworks/jams/accidents more than once or twice in the last 10 years of doing the trop (about 4 times a year to visit friends). My second bit of luck, is that only the first 2 miles and last 3 miles are on sub-NSL roads (of course you can't do anything about roads that have lowered the limit with average speed cameras for no discernable reason).
Late night, is when I tend to return, and whilst I lose the traffic volume, I gain the random (in that they'll not be listed anywhere, or will start an hour before they're supposed to) overnight lane / junction / motorway closures.
BTW, I try to stick cruise control on and sit at an indicated 75mph on my GPS (about 78mph on the speedo), as this gives me a bit of a higher average speed and is very unlikely to produce a speeding ticket (well it hasn't in 10 years and 50+ return trips).
If I go during the week, then I leave after 9am, and more or less do it within about 30 minutes of an early morning run.
To add to this, I frequently drive up to Paisely as a stop-over for some driving weekends, and that's 3.5 hours / 220 miles away. So you could add one to the other and roughly say the whole trip would be 9 hours (8h driving + 1h for 2x30m stops at Tebay and Gloucester).
I've been relatively lucky in that I've not hit bad roadworks/jams/accidents more than once or twice in the last 10 years of doing the trop (about 4 times a year to visit friends). My second bit of luck, is that only the first 2 miles and last 3 miles are on sub-NSL roads (of course you can't do anything about roads that have lowered the limit with average speed cameras for no discernable reason).
Late night, is when I tend to return, and whilst I lose the traffic volume, I gain the random (in that they'll not be listed anywhere, or will start an hour before they're supposed to) overnight lane / junction / motorway closures.
BTW, I try to stick cruise control on and sit at an indicated 75mph on my GPS (about 78mph on the speedo), as this gives me a bit of a higher average speed and is very unlikely to produce a speeding ticket (well it hasn't in 10 years and 50+ return trips).
Davie said:
So 12 hours to do 570 miles. With kids. And a wife who'd rather we jostled along with the lorries in L1 and who is already reminding me not to try and be a hero. Google reckons 570 miles 9hrs 45mins... so probably nearer 11 hours with pee stops. I typed that and I'm sat thinking "Jesus, just book a holiday to Portugal you sadistic tt"
You don't tell us how old the kids are, but 570 miles with them sounds t" like child abuse. When my kids were little, I never went more than an
hour or two from home with them, they haven't got the patience.
Her indoors won't be impressed at so much tedium either.
You might be maxing out at 80 mph or so, but your average
isn't going to much more than 60-65 mph and then there's
the stop time too. The kids will need some play time & meals on the way.
Brit drivers are hopelessly unobservant, lane discipline is non existent and there
will of course be lots of roadworks.
Anywhere on the M6 south of Preston is hopelessly congested and Cumbria
police are punitive with their speed cameras.
Suggest don't bother travelling South of Carlisle - seriously.
Your kids will thank you when they come to select your care home.
With the money saved on your divorce and the petrol, you will be quids in.
See if you can get Prem Inn at Stafford (Hurricane) for an ok price. Stop there overnight. There's a Chinese Buffet next door or a pub. Then have a decent breakfast and get on your way.
Not sure if you are trolling or not but why risk you and your family's safety?
By all means drive all night and arrive at 0900 fkd, But you and the family will be fkd for the duration of your break too.
Not sure if you are trolling or not but why risk you and your family's safety?
By all means drive all night and arrive at 0900 fkd, But you and the family will be fkd for the duration of your break too.
sherman said:
Leave at 4pm Friday.
Stop at Tebay for dinner at 7pm-8pm
Drive to Manchester
10pm
Find hotel not far off M6 (room only)
Saturday
7am get up and leave (kids will sleep on in the car)
9.30am -10.30am stop at Glouster services for breakfast
12pm taunton
3pm leave Taunton
5.30 checkin.
Nice and relaxed and your wife gets to visit 2 farm shops.
Its pretty much the route Im taking from Edinburgh to go see family who live near Padstow next March.
I'd slightly modify that, though it does depend on there not being a complete shambles on the M6 after leaving Tebay.Stop at Tebay for dinner at 7pm-8pm
Drive to Manchester
10pm
Find hotel not far off M6 (room only)
Saturday
7am get up and leave (kids will sleep on in the car)
9.30am -10.30am stop at Glouster services for breakfast
12pm taunton
3pm leave Taunton
5.30 checkin.
Nice and relaxed and your wife gets to visit 2 farm shops.
Its pretty much the route Im taking from Edinburgh to go see family who live near Padstow next March.
Instead of a stop near Manchester I'd try and get to say the Premier Inn at Six ways M5 jn 6. Other possibilities if Premier Inn is a bust. Then you have the choice of breakfast there or a quick run to Gloucester services. Can imagine the hungry whining on the 3 hours or so from Manc to Gloucester before breakfast to be a tad wearing.
Until a few months ago I used to come back from Glasgow or Edinburgh to Merseyside after work regularly, most of the time, once you're clear of either the A702 or the two-lane section from Glasgow you can just blast through at whatever speed you're comfortable with, by the time you get to the relatively busy sections they're quiet enough not to hold you up.
Basically, I'd aim to go as far as you sensibly can on the Friday evening, the kids and wife can sleep, but I wouldn't drive all night, starting a family holiday sleep-deprived when everyone else is fresh and excited was a mistake I only made once. Unless you're pretty unlucky I'd expect you can make it comfortably past Birmingham in 6ish hours moving time.
I think Tebay went massively downhill after covid, and none of the other southbound services are much good for food at that time so after experimenting for a bit I used to go into Lockerbie for food instead, only costs a few minutes more than stopping at a services.
Basically, I'd aim to go as far as you sensibly can on the Friday evening, the kids and wife can sleep, but I wouldn't drive all night, starting a family holiday sleep-deprived when everyone else is fresh and excited was a mistake I only made once. Unless you're pretty unlucky I'd expect you can make it comfortably past Birmingham in 6ish hours moving time.
I think Tebay went massively downhill after covid, and none of the other southbound services are much good for food at that time so after experimenting for a bit I used to go into Lockerbie for food instead, only costs a few minutes more than stopping at a services.
No trolling involved and not sure on the child abuse theory... granted it's a bit of a hike and a venture into the unknown, hence my procrastination. I've done plenty long haul drives but that was then, this is now... I'm trying to find some sort of middle ground / workable solution.
For fag packet calculations and ease of guessimations, I was chucking an average speed of 50mph into the mix. That may be optimistic but we shall see. The kids are 5 and 8... yup, I know. My smallest asks if we're there yet before we even shut doors on the drive. Eldest will be bored, he's a trainee teenager. Wife can share the driving. This is a holiday and also a pretty important trip to Cornwall... it's now or never.
However, wife has forced me to make a decision so have a hotel booked a few miles south of Birmingham. Again, maybe optimistic but Google says 350 miles and 5hrs 40mins. At my target 50mph average, that's 7hrs. So, hoping to leave for 2pm and aiming for 9pm arrival. I did debate stopping north but I'd rather push on and have a later arrival and a later departure the next day... and Birmingham is that psychological and physical barrier I'd like to pass.
It won't be fun but stopping further north means trying to clear Birmingham area on a Saturday morning and a longer drive, so an earlier start. My hope is that by getting south of Birmingham on the Friday may allow a slightly easier day on Saturday... 2hrs down to matey, lunch then another couple of hours fun to Cornwall for early evening. Though this is all well and good in practice and it could all go wrong very easily but such is life.
Appreciate the feedback, it's helped.
For fag packet calculations and ease of guessimations, I was chucking an average speed of 50mph into the mix. That may be optimistic but we shall see. The kids are 5 and 8... yup, I know. My smallest asks if we're there yet before we even shut doors on the drive. Eldest will be bored, he's a trainee teenager. Wife can share the driving. This is a holiday and also a pretty important trip to Cornwall... it's now or never.
However, wife has forced me to make a decision so have a hotel booked a few miles south of Birmingham. Again, maybe optimistic but Google says 350 miles and 5hrs 40mins. At my target 50mph average, that's 7hrs. So, hoping to leave for 2pm and aiming for 9pm arrival. I did debate stopping north but I'd rather push on and have a later arrival and a later departure the next day... and Birmingham is that psychological and physical barrier I'd like to pass.
It won't be fun but stopping further north means trying to clear Birmingham area on a Saturday morning and a longer drive, so an earlier start. My hope is that by getting south of Birmingham on the Friday may allow a slightly easier day on Saturday... 2hrs down to matey, lunch then another couple of hours fun to Cornwall for early evening. Though this is all well and good in practice and it could all go wrong very easily but such is life.
Appreciate the feedback, it's helped.
When my children were smaller we used to drive to the Tarn region of France every summer.
Pre departure checks included not giving the children any sugar for 24 hours before, and taking them outside for a very long walk on the day before.
I set off from Somerset around 0330 and they had breakfast on the ferry, you could do the equivalent by stopping somewhere they can get out and about.
We then stopped again at lunch, and arrived 800 miles away by about 1830.
In car activities were a car DVD player (now use an iPad) and those water based colouring books where the pens are clear and the colour comes out on the paper.
I worked really well, and if you sit at just a smidge under 80mph all the way you'll be in the outside lane for most of it, won't upset the wife and will make great progress,
Killingholme Services on the M6 is by a lake, and has a nice outside area.
Cheltenham Services is nice if a bit 'Boden'.
Cribbs Causeway at Bristol is just off the M5 and has a good food court for a change from Services, maybe do a spot of shopping, let the kids buy something they want there as a treat to liven up the journey before the final push into the West County.
Pre departure checks included not giving the children any sugar for 24 hours before, and taking them outside for a very long walk on the day before.
I set off from Somerset around 0330 and they had breakfast on the ferry, you could do the equivalent by stopping somewhere they can get out and about.
We then stopped again at lunch, and arrived 800 miles away by about 1830.
In car activities were a car DVD player (now use an iPad) and those water based colouring books where the pens are clear and the colour comes out on the paper.
I worked really well, and if you sit at just a smidge under 80mph all the way you'll be in the outside lane for most of it, won't upset the wife and will make great progress,
Killingholme Services on the M6 is by a lake, and has a nice outside area.
Cheltenham Services is nice if a bit 'Boden'.
Cribbs Causeway at Bristol is just off the M5 and has a good food court for a change from Services, maybe do a spot of shopping, let the kids buy something they want there as a treat to liven up the journey before the final push into the West County.
Just for fun can you book and MOT for while you are on holiday?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff