Drive to Scotland
 

Dear all
We are going home to visit in May, and staying in my home town Farnham Surrey. We want to go and visit Scotland. Question is, would it be better to rent a car and drive, or get a train to Edinburgh and then rent a car, or any other ideas?
Thanks
Rob

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Get a car, shoot up the M1 to Leeds then pick up the A1 all the way up. Its a pleasant drive once you're north of Watford Gap. Bout a 10-12 hour drive to the border I'd say.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I would think its a personal preference thing.

I'd hate to be in the car for that long, so I'd get the train and then a car once there.

Book the train ahead of time and you'll get a cheap ticket: www.nationalrail.co.uk or www.qjump.co.uk

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

My sister lives in Scotland and she always gets the train, booking the ticket early to get a cheap fare.

Other options she has taken were the bus to London, or a flight from Stanstead (or maybe Luton?).

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Easyjet is a good option depending on how many of you there are. Then rent a car at Edinburgh airport. They fly LGW-EDI and you can find flights/fares on www.easyjet.com. I had a quick look for mid-may and they have fares of £15.99 each way available. Depends on dates of course, but certainly worth a look.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Fly? you can probably get some good deals and its less hassle, then hire a car when you get there?

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Actually, a quick check on www.travelocity.co.uk and I found BA round trip LHR-EDI for £68.00 each including taxes!! Same fare for British Midland.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Thanks for all the ideas guys. any idea how long it would take to make the drive approx?
Rob

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

If you're going for a vacation, surely you'd rather not spend a lot of time driving? You can catch a train from Kings X to Edinburgh and pick up a car on arrival. It may not be cheaper but it's certainly more relaxing, especially if your wife has not been to Scotland before.

Hour after hour of British motorway is probably not the most memorable of scenes...

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I really would advise getting the train at least one way, and taking in Glasgow while you are in Scotland. A fine city - especially the West End.

The section of the train journey between the Lake District and Hamilton covers some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.

Then Glasgow to Edinburgh takes around 1 hour on the train.

Enjoy your trip - jammy bugger!

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Rob - I would guess that LHR is not too far from Farnham, so check out the bmi website (www.flybmi.co.uk) as they often have some "much cheapness" deals up to EDI. I normally fly into LHR then hop on bmi when I'm going home.
I'm going next month to show off my 1 year old daughter as half the family haven't seen her yet, although I am getting a car at LHR and driving up (going via Whitby to see a sister). I wish petrol was the same price as here.....

Sooooo looking forward to some steak bridies & decent fish suppers :D

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I refer you post #2.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

The AA Route Planner should give you some idea of how long it will take.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Fly
Will be far cheaper than train

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

RAC has a cracking one too.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I'd fly, my ex use to live in Edinburgh I dove it once and never again, it all depends on traffic nothing worse than being sat in traffic on a warm humid day. Flyings just as cheap these days if you book in advance even cheaper than the train, I used to fly nearly every weekend from London Luton.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Fly or get a train to Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Then you will have more time to spend in beautiful Scotland.

It would be a long drive 10/12 hours.

Wish I was going.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

And miss out all the beautiful parts of Northern England and the Borders!?

Its not the arrival but the journey that counts. People are too determined to get somewhere as fast as possible these days and they miss out all the bits in between.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Just a suggestion ,we don't know how much time he has to spend when he gets there.
Yes it is a nice drive, used to do it when I lived in B'ham.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I could do London (Heathrow) to just shy of Glasgow (Lesmahagow) in 9 hours in a truck!! Have done Dagenham to Scotch Corner in 4.5 hours (pre speed limiter days).In neither of these regular journey's did the truck go over 70 mph.
I reckon he could do Heathrow to Edinburgh in under 8.5 hours (not including stops).

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Notoriously innaccurate I'm afraid.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I've been up the M1, M18, A1 more times than I care to remember. I would personally fly. The route is only really scenic in some parts of North Yorks and then north of Newcastle through to Edinburgh. The rest is mind numbingly boring!! :zzz:

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Trouble is some jerks bound to have and accident or roadworks that put you in traffic for hours.

Pre speed limiter days how many years ago are you talking, was there any other traffic on the road?

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Speed limiters came in during the mid 90's. I left Dagenham at 10.20 in the morning and arrived at Barton truck stop at 2.45 that afternoon AND that was when most of the A1 was dual carriageway and not upgraded to motorway. I was in my old Volvo F1012 (my first owned truck and it was a complete shed, a 1978/79 ). I just sat at about 65 to 70 mph with the odd burst on straight empty stretches up to 75 mph. So anyone could that in a car today.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Have to agree with the comments on the beautiful train journey.

If you have the time, go on the train. Book early enough via TheTrainline.com and you can get a good deal (but you have to either have the ticket mailed to a UK address or pick up at the station - and not all stations have a pick-up facility).

Also agree re: visiting Glasgow. I prefer it to Edinburgh personally.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Is that driving backwards or something?
Used to take me 'n' the ex 8-9 hours driving from Cornwall to Edinburgh, well, Fife, to be exact.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I have to disagree with that. I think Edinburgh's much better as a city and for tourist attractions. I mean it has a castle and stunning views to the Pentlands and across the Forth into Fife!! What does Glasgow have to offer? Plus, it always seems to rain when I go to Glasgow ;).

If it was my trip, I'd take the East coast by train from London to Edinburgh. If all goes well the rail journey will be about 4 1/2 hours.

If I was driving then I'd go up the West Coast on the M6/M74. Birmingham will be a 'mare but it'll be clear after that.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

That's your prerogative - I said I like Glasgow better personally, not that Glasgow is better.

Sure, Edinburgh has all the older historical stuff, but I prefer the feel of Glasgow more. Architecture may not be as old or posh, and there's no castle in the middle of town, but I prefer the style, I like the Modern Art Museum, enjoy the West End more than anything Edinburgh has to offer. Like you said, Edinburgh has more stuff for the tourist, which may also be part of why I don't like it as much.

Each to their own - I still agree that a trip to Glasgow is worth it if you're up that way anyway. Not like it's a half-day trip to get from one to the other.

And there's no way I would drive it - personally. Much rather sit back on the train and enjoy the trip.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I recognised that, and your right to express your opinion. If the OP has limited time in Scotland then the capital city is by far a better tourist destination than Glasgow - if that's what they want to see

Sure, the two cities are relatively close. But if a visitor has limited time then I can't think of a good reason why they would want to leave Edinburgh on the most expensive train journey in Europe to visit Glasgow or drive across on the congested M8.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Stay in Farnham... why would you want to go to that cold place where they speak no English...

Here's a thistle ..that scottish enough ..

http://www.southernskyphoto.com/macr...es/thistle.jpg

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Ye'r cruisin furra bruisin ;)

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You don't have to take the A1 all the way up, we never did.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

You went the wrong way then..... :rolleyes:

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Er no. That was in a 38 ton articulated lorry not a car...you do it quicker!!!

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No, I think I know the UK major trunkroads a little bit better than you. infact make that European trunkroads.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Have to agree mate...although I have a slight bias.
Glasgow does nothing for me. If you're a shopper and party animal then head there. If you want to see and do a bit more then Edinburgh is the place. Also the pentland hills are beautiful and only a few miles outside the city.

When I was going for my visa I made the Edinburgh to London East Coast train trip numerous times because of *** ups. The views are amazing.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I meant your estimate of the OP's trip! lol

Unless, that is, he'll be driving a lorry not a car... :D

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

Well I never claimed to know the European roads, but I've been up the A1 a few fair times and crossing over the A66 and up to Scotland and the drive is very scenic.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

I'm sorry I presumed that the OP will not be averaging 80 mph for the whole 550 to 600 miles/8 or 9 hour drive in a car that doesn't require a fuel stop or two and will piss in a temporary colostomy bag so as to not have to stop the whole trip.

Re: Drive to Scotland
 

As I said "North Yorkshire and North of Newcastle"

and WTF has the A66 got to do with it? The OP is going from London to Edinburgh he wont touch it.