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This may sound a crazy idea but I am planning to travel from just north of Glasgow to Bath,stay a few hours for various reasons and drive back the same day. I would leave early hours say 0200 Hrs to avoid the traffic one way, AA say 411 miles and 7 hours drive time. I have a reliable comfortable car at least. Any tips to avoid disaster from the members would be appreciated.
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Forgive my saying, but it is a crazy idea. By 9-10 am - when you'll effectively have a day's work done - you'll already be exhausted and in no fit state to make the return journey. I've also found AA timings aren't always reliable, especially at rush hours, and you're bound to hit rush hour somewhere along the way on a journey this long.
I used to work a 12-hour night-shift, and more recently make regular 5 am starts to attend one-day meetings. In either case, because you start your day earlier than normal, you tire earlier. But you also tire faster, especially when your working day starts in what your body thinks is the middle of the night.
I'd strongly urge you either to fly (the budget airlines should be able to offer a decent fare for Prestwick-Bristol or similar) or else stay the night somewhere near Bath and drive back the next day.
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"quote" stay the night somewhere near Bath and drive back the next day. "unquote"
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agree
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My only tip honeybear is to join in with the other 2 posts - and at least have one night stop over if you can.
If it really is not possible - make sure you stop regularly for a quick kip.
Driving with a lack of sleep is almost as bad as drinking and driving - your reactions will be slow and concentration will wander.
Sorry to be a kill joy but I would hate for something to happen through tiredness.
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This is pretty crazy. I occasionally used to drive down from Cumbria in the early hours to be in London for 7am. The increasing traffic volume on the M6 even in the early hours and the scary driving from tired and inattentive drivers had to be seen to be believed; lots of very near misses and quite a few hits. The carnage last Thursday morning which closed the M6 happened at 3.45am - 4 lorries, 5 cars, 2 deaths and it barely made the news. You might do it in 7 hours but it would take very little to go wrong to screw that up.
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Don't do it?! Go down the night before, stay in cheap accomodation. Do your business then return home. Much, much safer. 14 hours driving in one day is far too much. I'd also investigate the cost of a cheap flight to bristol and pick up a hire car. Probably cheaper than the petrol and maybe cheaper than overnight in Bath if you must return with the day. Even an overnight sleeper train (if it exists) would be safer. 7 hours driving would take you 9 if you include a couple of necessary rest stops.
teabelly
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Flying out to Bristol by Easyjet next Firday - return would cost you just short of a £100.00 - obviously gets cheaper the more notice you give. Cheaper by a bit flying to Cardiff - with some money left over for a hire car. Far more civilised.
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I agree with the others it would be crazy to drive there and back in a day
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Thanks for all that, the more I think about it the dafter it sounds. I must admit that it is some years since I travelled during daytime around the Midlands and have probably forgotten how bad it can get, I think I will try and tie the trip in with a short break in the area. Your comments were much appreciated.
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Catch a plane, definitely. There's a bus from Bristol Airport to Bristol Temple Meads and trains to Bath Spa are at least every half hour. Or stop over, but not in Bath the hotels are not that good value and there'll be nowhere to park! And Bath is horrid to drive in, it's easier to walk round.
I live in Bath, and York or Liverpool and back was the limit of my endurance for a day.
If you do insist on driving, let me know where you're going and i'll try to help you with shortcuts and routes to avoid.
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What you have in mind also involves the risk of deep vein thrombosis if you do not stop regularly and take some exercise. Not worth the risk. Have a good trip.
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Fly if you can get a cheap price. This is not always possible if travel is in the near future, so try to stay over for a day...use one of the 'late booking' people or, like me, stay at the Youth Hostel. I am always on a tight budget (archetypal Yorkshireman) and used to sleep in my van...the YH is an Italianate mansion in private gardens at Bathwick Hill, and costs about £15 inc bfast...Tel: 0870 770 5688.
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