Thanks for the replies so far. Sorry I couldn't be more specific in my initial post. I have decided (the wife has) that we are gone to go for the dover-calais crossing, staying overnight at Bien Assise then travelling down to the 4 Vents near disneyland and have 7 nights there. We have a 5 year old child who will love the magic of disney. Would love to do the ist stage of the journey through the night however I come off on holiday on the Monday but I'm night shift on the Sunday, (no luck). so thought about travelling later on the Monday after some sleep and staying overnight somewhere half way down. Will be going from Fife to Dover (just in the process of looking ar route). If I am going to stop over night then my thoughts were to have at least travelled 6 hours down, leaving me a further 3 hour journey to Dover the following day. This will be our furthest outing yet having only got the caravan in September last year. I am not wanting to make a pigs ear of it especially since my wife and son were happy with package holidays to the sun. Has anyone stayed at the overnight stops at the service stations?? What the facilities like? Any further advice on overnight stops/campsites/service stations greatly appreciated.
Post last edited on 13/03/2007 11:02:12
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Ray, You've obviously not booked your crossing yet - your destination in France is likely to influence which crossing you use - have you decided where you're going yet? If not, then the price of a crossing from Dover is likely to be much less than that from Portsmouth. The departure port and sailing times will also affect suitable areas to stop overnight, as you'll obviously be taking a different route to Portsmouth, to that going to Dover, so it might be best to book your ferry first. Are you taking a van - and if so are you looking for a campsite, or a hotel on route? If you could be a little more specific then people could come up with some good suggestions for you - this is the most friendly and helpful site you'll come across. If you're going in July then sites are going to be busy, and you might need to book soon, even for an overnight stop.
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If you get the ferry from Dover, it'll be easier for the timing - if you're late you can just get the next one. They are every hour or so. If you go from Portsmouth, you have to be there in time or else..........
We have stayed overnight at service stations before now. Last year, on the way down, we stayed at Maidstone services just outside Dover. On the way back, i think we were about at Cambridge when we pulled in for the night. If you've got a van it's easy enough, they have special areas for you, just pull in, put legs down and go to bed! If you're in a tent then travel lodge rooms are ok and not far off the motorways.
We drove from Dundee to the South coast of England(destination - New Forest) last year, we left Dundee at 17:00 and after a couple of reasonable stops to let the dogs stretch their legs and the usual things dogs do we eventually approached the North side of Birmingham on the M6 at about midnight, there were signs notifying us that due to an accident not too far ahead the motorway was closed so, when opted for the M6 Toll road which was clear. I pulled in at the 1st service station on this road and noticed lots of car/caravans stopped for the night.
You have to pay £8 for this but if you keep your ticket you will receive a discount on breakfasts in the canteen. It also has excellent facilities to have a wash etc. We left this service station at around 08:00hrs and we were at our destination around mid-day, very simple and starightforward and having the van on the back it was just like having our own Travel Lodge.
We are also travelling from Fife to Dover and did the same last year. Last year stayed at Welcome Lodge (Charnoch Richard) and this year at Travel Lodge at Preston. We are camping though and just take our time. On the way home though we just kept going and took turns. Your choice of sites are fab - have you booked 4 vents cause it does get busy. When are you going?
Fiona
------------- July - Avignon
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Remember to factor in the time you will be sitting in traffic jams on the M25. We live 5 hours drive from Dover but it took us 7 hours to get there last year dues to several accidents on the M25 and mamoth traffic jams.
Im from Canterbury 15miles from Dover but now live near Letham Angus, In a car to drive down to visit my family,with no caravan it takes us some 9hrs during the day. Roads are great as far as Birmingham Midlands then its one jam after the other. Then M25 at any time its a pain, do allow more time to get down there, and you will find several sites enroute for a break. See if you can time it so that you drive the last 100miles during the night when its far quieter with trafic.
thank you for all your advice. Would make sense to travel down through the night to miss daytime traffic. Would love to have gone from Rosyth but unable to get availability for return. However sailing times don't suit and it is far more expensive. Even factoring fuel costs etc i am getting 10 nights in france incl. return ferry for half the price of my ferry costs from rosyth.
It seems possible to sleep in most service stations on the UK motorway network now, providing you pay for it by way of a parking fee. I have just received a new Big Sites book from the C&CC club for 2007/8, and it lists the services which allow overnighting. Let us have a route, and I'll happily post the ones where you might want to stop for some sleep. You may find yourself in with the lorries though, and those are noisy when they come and go.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Stop over between Edinburgh & Dover
