Portsmouth to Fort William trip
Hello,
I'm looking to take our our caravan up to Fort William area next year.
We live near Portsmouth and the distance to drive is around 550 Miles.
I know that I couldn't realistically do this in one trip.
I feel that I could over two days.
Does anyone have a suggestion on an area or caravan site we could use for the stop over going and returning.
Thank You.
Phil.
Comments
-
Don’t forget that journeys take longer once you’re north of the border. Granted it’s a longer distance from Cornwall but we used to make 3 stops on the way to the Highlands.
Without knowing your route, it’s difficult to make suggestions for sites but there are plenty to choose from - CAMC, C&CC, CLs/CSs, commercial etc.
1 -
It may well be doable in 2 days, depends on how young you are and how long you can drive each day. Do you have a partner to share the driving?
For me, at age 81 it could be a 3 day drive, OH does not tow.
Things do not take longer as soon as you cross the border, only when you get north of Glasgow, so I would look at how far you can sensibly drive on day one, which will presumably be almost all on Motorways?
We reckon on achieving 50mph, possibly 55 on M ways, towing overall, then you need to add stops en route. We usually have a minimum of 60 minutes for lunch, and a couple of comfort stops, so another 30 minutes minimum.
4 -
"North of the Border" was used as a descriptive term, Kj, but it is possible to crawl as slowly, or even slower, on the M74 or M9 as it is on the M6. 😄
For Phil's info, the further north you go, the longer your journeys will take.
1 -
Really? I have and I don’t live anywhere near the area, nor have I visited at school hol times.
0 -
Without knowing your route, it’s a bit difficult to suggest stopovers, but if you choose to use the M1, into the A1 just before Wetherby, then just before Scotch Corner there’s a good CL we have used at Catterick. It’s around half a mile to Scotch Corner, so not a huge detour from main route. On the plus side, the owners are/were very good about late evening arrivals, providing you give them a call to discuss. I will add name via an edit. You need to let folks know your route though to get some decent suggestions.
That is a heck of a tow though, even for two days.
Edit…. CL is called Deepdale, here is link https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/certificated-locations/england/north-yorkshire/richmond/deepdale/
We have used it a few times when heading up to Scotland. Nice stopover👍
1 -
Like Kj we live in Scotland. We do the journey down yo Portsmouth usually twice a year then the same back up.
I'm always more relaxed as Kj says once past Preston the roads do get less busy.
We live more east of central so when going to Portsmouth we tend to leave home around 10am travel to Kendal and stop the night. Then down to Birmingham area again for another night and complete the journey on day 3, that is because we have all the time in the world and we are usually catching a night ferry.
We have however arrived in Portsmouth at 1m30pm and travelled up to Birmingham area for the night then completed the journey home from there the next day.
In answer to the OPs question yes you can do it with just 1 overnight stop if you leave early and don't have any hiccups on the way up. However I would factor in a 2 night stop just incase.
4 -
Not sure if this helps, but I just used a website called Whatshalfway, and put in Portsmouth to Fort William. It gave a location called Scorton just off the M6 as the halfway point, sort of Lancashire/Lakes area (That’s a loosely termed area for those who like accuracy by the way😉)
More interestingly, and definitely something to factor in, are the approximate travel times. This is based on a solo car having a free flowing journey, not towing, not meeting any traffic, no road works, not having to refill tank or charge up a battery, take a pee stop, walk a dog, appease young children or have something to eat! Looking at five to five and a half hours from Portsmouth to Scorton. Other half of journey, Scorton to Fort William, under same basic conditions is around six uninterrupted hours. (Bears out that routes once into Scotland are going to be slower, something we have always found, mainly because you have to wind around loch’s and mountains even if there is less traffic)
So, in theory, you could even do it in a day. Theory and reality are often a little bit different though. I didn’t include finding a site to stop over.
3 -
I would think the day of the week could make a difference too. When making a long journey we usually try to do it on a Sunday, less lorries around then. So to do it with only one stop, I would set out on a Sunday and bet as far north as possible, then complete the journey on the Monday.
Fewer HGVs on the Sunday, fewer day trippers on the Monday.
3 -
Mmm, I keep telling folk to avoid peak season as journeys can take forever in this part of the country. (“Forever” is a loosely descriptive term and not to be taken literally😄)
Wise move to do the Scotland trip in 2 parts or more. Take your time and enjoy the sites along the way. Tell us your anticipated route for site suggestions.
2 -
It might not be best route for you PhilDK. All depends on if you go up East or West side of England, and it’s probably easier on the West side to be honest, M5/M6.
There are lots of great stopovers though, CLs can be very flexible in terms of arrival times providing you phone and discuss, we have done plenty of after 8pm arrivals down the years. Closer to your departure dates, things like roadworks, closures, local traffic patterns will be important, so you can update your plans then.2 -
Yes, don’t rush it is best. Once into Scotland, and above Glasgow, the scenery and things to see are just fabulous (not bad on stretch past Lakes and D&G and up towards Glasgow either😁). It’s a while since we have done it, but there were lots of good stop off points with van on back up to Fort William. We used to stop and take a look at Kilchurn Castle, and we have used a site at Crianlarich at least a couple of times.
2 -
I think the size of your van will govern the best route once north of Glasgow.
If you share that with us then we can make a few suggestions.
As you are retired, you presumably have plenty of time for this trip, the best plan IMHO is to " make the journey part of the holiday ".
We rarely do one night stops these days, more likely at least 2 or 3 nights. We discover new areas and return to them for longer stops another time.
3 -
I have to Disagree with you on the relief past Preston bit. I live in Preston and lost count of the number of times it has taken me a couple of Hours to reach the Lancaster turn off. A few years go they closed the section both ways between Preston and Lancaster. On one occasion it took me 7 hours to do the 65 mile trip back home from Ambleside.
On the M74 I have never been held up on that, and been to Scotland many times.
1 -
Yep, we always stopped in Staffordshire the first night and then the next stop was Moffat C&CC. Mind you, we found it easier to do those distances with a MH than a caravan.
2 -
Not really a fan of the western route, although more direct. If it was us that were doing the trip and using club sites, first night would be Clumber Park about 216 miles. Then on to River Breamish for a couple of nights 172 miles. From there it’s 206 miles to FW via Coldstream, Edinburgh ring road, M9, A84, 85 and 82. Or you could have another night or two at one of the clubs Killin sites and break the journey at about 140 miles from River Breamish, leaving an easy 65miles to FW. Overall it works out about 40 miles more than the most direct but in my opinion a much better route.
1 -
In which case I would suggest doing as I described above. A CL in Staffs perhaps followed by a site just ‘north of the Border’. If you’re not a member of C&CC for their Moffat site, the CAMC site at Strathclyde Park is not much further on.
PS. I’d recommend the M9 Stirling route rather than the southern part of the A82 alongside Loch Lomond.
1 -
Phil
Just out of interest is there any reason you are not using the A34 or have you just missed it out of your listing between the M3 and M40?
David
0 -
There can always be incidents that lead to delays on any road, but having travelled pretty much every year since 1998 south (and north of course) over the border from Scotland to England, either via the M74 or the A1, we have rarely suffered a major delay.
There was one occasion coming home when we were stopped on the M74 for around an hour due to an accident.......an SUV had hit a bridge support on the central reservation, we were glad of the caravan toilet!
The roads are much less busy the further north you come, then of course approaching Glasgow, or Edinburgh, things become more busy due to local traffic.
I rather like the route from the south of Loch Lomond going via Arrochar and Inveraray to Oban and then north to Fort William. Lovely scenery, and a decent road.
We tow an 8m twin axle and would not contemplate going all the way up Loch Lomond until the road has been fully improved,
1 -
The OP could use the Green Frog site at Moffat if he isn't a CCC member. Which is only a small site but perfect for 1 night with an easy walk into Moffat quieter than Strathclyde to. We often stay there when we have had a late departure from home, then the next stop we like is Kingsbury Water park another CCC site or a nice quiet CL at the cricket club at Onnely. We stayed there this springtime when we had the caravan.
We have done west side, east side and even down the middle, the west IMHO is better.
1
