In the last 20 years I have been retired and have frequently towed from Great Missenden in Bucks to Boat of Garten in Scotland {540 miles} in the day - usually 11 hours.on my own to go fishing. The secret is to break up the journey with 5 stops: coffee , lunch, teatime and 2 fuel stops with a light snack. Also an out fit ,which does not slow down on hills to keep up a nearly legal average of about 50 mph. Sharing the inside lanes on the M 6 etc is civilised and stress- free if you share the HGV signalling and overtaking courtesies. If your wife is with you then overnight somewhere between Kendal and Moffat - plenty of choice!
Quote: Originally posted by littlejack40 on 29/12/2006
Apologies for this simplistic enquiry, but we are considering travelling North (of the M4) for the first time in 2007.
What is a reasonable distance to travel in a day, towing our caravan behind a 4x4, mainly on motorway, given average conditions.
little jack
No enquiry is simplistic on here Littlejack, we all have questions to ask & someone somewhere will be more than happy to help anyone out with anything. There's a wealth of knowledge on this site & it has no doubt helped countless people. I hope you enjoy your trip & perhaps we'll see you on here soon.
in my younger days 4 to 5 hours driving was easy,sinse the caravan i limit it to 2 hours drive and a short stop.we do not leave the caravan unattended. take two flasks and butties.
Thanks all, have now booked lake district (c.c. site Park Coppice), stopping half way
fab site lots of good walks.watch when your near too on the lanes for overhanging branches.scratched our windows last time.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
We've just been to Merley Court, a distance of 265 going (on Motorways) and 245 coming back (using A roads a lot of the time.)
Going took well over 7 hours 'cos of road works/ accidents (not ours, thankfully) and I was tired and stressed (I do all the driving/towing as hub can't drive). Thankfully, when we'd just got clear of the last accident on M3, we hadn't far to go, or else I'd have said we'd stop overnight.
Coming back, it was 6 stress free hours with a good stop in the middle.
Two journeys, each different - and, while you can plan for road works, you can't always find alternatives for being stuck in a queue with a caravan stuck to your car!
Water (as someone said) is a must, plus a well planned route (with alternatives if possible) and a good reliable car. Our clutch was smelling something awful after crawling on the M3, but it never put a foot wrong for the rest of the trip.
I go into hospital next week and won't be driving for 2 months (no caravanning, boo-hoo), so car will get a thorough going over and MOT, ready for next trip.
Like Brian we where in Berny Riviere this summer we left the site at about 9.30 am and travelled via dunkirk - dover then drove home to dumfries in south of scotland 600miles with just me doing all the driving but as someone else said everyone is different and i dont mind driving long distances so as long as you feel happy with the distance and you enjoy it then no distance is to far but if you dont enjoy it and get tired driving then make sure you have plenty of stops.
We have driven from Perth to Berny Riveire in one go several times - Perth to Dover overnight/early crossing/Dover (or Dunkerque) to Berny Riviere next day arriving around lunch time. Hard work, but saves the embuggerance of an overnight stop !
Went to Vias (on the Med) in September with the intention of stopping overnight somewhere around Clermont Ferrand. On reaching Clermont it was only mid afternoon and we both felt OK (stopped just south of Paris at an aire and slept for an hour or so) so carried on to Vias - 1300 miles in 24 hours ! Don't think we would do it again but it certainly saved the hassle of putting the tent up for one night plus gave us an extra night at Vias.
I would add we both drive and did it in "shifts"
Already looking forward to Brittany in May 2007 and Cote d'Azure in June/July.
Just remember if you travel North of the M4 you do need a passport, and entry visa for starters, and also they speak with a different lanuage up there so do go prepared, but I am sure they will make you most welcome.
enjoy your trip.
------------- "PACESETTERS" German Shepherd dog display team, we are out and about raising money for guide dogs.
Do what you feel happy doing, Its safety that matters
I did Spain to Calais in one in August that is 820 miles, that was the third time. Can never seem to manage the other way round though, ight be because I'm not relaxed or the French are all going south at the same time.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Distance in a day
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