Am travelling down from Wigan area to Southamanpton in June. I'm thinking of driving down overnight and just having a few stops for breaks and leg stretches etc. However my parents think its too far to go without an overnight stop. What does anyone else think and if an overnight stop is needed is there a decent services to stop at
Would have thought an early crack in the morning would be better. Stop for brekkie after the first couple of hours, a cuppa a bit later on and you'd be there by lunch time..Mick
Quote: Originally posted by MattCharlie on 14/1/2011
Am travelling down from Wigan area to Southamanpton in June. I'm thinking of driving down overnight and just having a few stops for breaks and leg stretches etc. However my parents think its too far to go without an overnight stop. What does anyone else think and if an overnight stop is needed is there a decent services to stop at
Cheers
We do Portsmouth from south west Scotland in 1 days drive only takes about 9 hours with a couple of stops so from Wigan its an easy drive
We do Liverpool to Portsmouth, with a break for a meal then a second break for a cuppa (towing). Good roads all the way and save for the M6 usually jam free. Easiest trip to any of the cross channel ports from this part of the country. I certainly wouldn't do an overnight.
I don't think you need an overnight stop either - we did Manchester to Dover (288 miles) in 7 hours taking it easy & with 3 pit stops. We do share the driving/towing tho.
I used to drive wagons from skemesdale to easleigh (southampton airport)on a regular run, with an hour stopover on the way, normally took 4½ to 5 hours (driving time), it was roughly an hour longer before the newbury bypass. OK my route wasn't what most would call normal to say the least, but it was my way of thinking, which was m6, m5, m42, m40, a34, m3, m27.. sounds complicated, but its as close to a straight line south i could get. lol
If you want a clear run down, and do a early morning run, set off so you can be through junctions 10-8 before 6.30am, my normal run was a start around 11pm, roads nice and quiet. If you haven't taken a trip like this before, get lots of rest before you set out and be awake an hour or so before you set off, don't drive while you are tired far to many accidents are caused by tired drivers.
Post last edited on 15/01/2011 00:02:13
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We have been driving to ferry ports for years and only live a few miles from Wigan. We usually have a short stop for something to eat and one or two toilet breaks. Would recommned a very early morning start rather than a night drive. That way you have had some sleep and will feel more refreshed. Going overnight means you will be a lot less rested (even with a nap before hand) and are messing up your normal sleep patterns (unless you work nights of course) Early morning keeps them a little more in sync
Thanks, thats what I thought also. I've got my ferry booked for 8 in the morning sailing so will probs set off about 11 on the Friday night to get to Southampton hopefully about half 7.
If you need to haul up and linger to rest or kill excess time I suggest, if towing:-
As logically you will be coming down the A34 you can linger at the Welcome Break Services just South of the A303 junction[locally known as Bullington Cross]
Lat 51/09/28N 51.15802N D/M/S & Decimal degrees.
Long 01/20/39W 01.34431W
This is 22 miles from the IOW Ferry Port and on a good day a 40 minute tow. BUT even for an 07:00 arrival allow extra time as local week day morning traffic is dire.
PS I used to live in Orrell and commute weekly to work in Southampton but that's 40 years ago so timings and route have changed more than somewhat
Hi Charlie, Wigan to Southport about 240ml, when I travel with van,(not your route), I normally allow 2 - 2 1/2hrs for every 100mls,then add time for stops,your timeings seem to have allowed for traffic and some stops,so should be ok,
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We have done Chester to Southampton docks a couple of times.Stop near Oxford on M42 then at Newbury services on A34.It's approximately 45mins to the docks depending on traffic. We left at 5.30a.m,got to the docks at 10.30 and they put us on the 11a.m ferry instead of the 12pm so were at the campsite setting up when we should have been docking at Cowes. We were towing a van so couldn't belt it down there,the worst bit was the M27,we actually missed our exit but the next one took us to the same place eventually. Even with the dog and three children in the car it was a relaxing drive so I wouldn't have thought you would need an overnight stop.
Quote: Originally posted by mike+judi on 18/1/2011
Newbury services on A34.It's approximately 45mins to the docks depending on traffic.
As one that travels this bit of the route regularly the 45 minutes quoted is optimistic even solo.
I would advise you not to under estimate the local traffic delays that can be encountered in the Southampton environs.
I wouldn't break the journey with an overnight stop, neither would I drive overnight. With a comfortable car like the Mondeo you can do it in one day no problems.
Just pick your time, avoid Friday afternoons/evenings and Monday mornings. If you hit Birmingham in the rush hour, invest £10 and go hassle free on the M6 toll.
so M6 -> M6 toll -> M42 -> M40 -> A34 -> M3 -> M27. I've done a similar run to this a couple of times towing from N.Wales to Bournemouth, started at 8AM got there at 3pm with two stops en-route for coffee and lunch.
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Topic: Wigan to Southampton
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