Paula_Calleja

We currently live in Glasgow but we'll be going back home in Malta in the summer. We bought a car here but we are not sure whether to drive overland or have it shipped. Does anybody know how long it takes to drive down? Would stops be done say England & France & Italy? Would it be best to catch the ship from Genoa? No idea where to start researching. Any tips pls? Much appreciated!! Thanks!!

Lifeman

If cost is a factor, then driving down will be the more economical option. Stops are dependent on how many drivers you will have and how quickly you want to get there.

According to Michelin, the mileage is 2062 and will take 36 hours of driving, so you need to break it up into bite size chunks. If you have children in the car, then smaller chunks or at least more stops. In any case, such a long journey is open to driver fatigue, so be careful about getting adequate rest. You need to judge where to stop based on time and fatigue.

The most obvious route is M6, M1, M25 then either the Channel Tunnel or Dover. Nottingham on the M1 is around 300 miles and maybe 5 hours from Glasgow. The Tunnel is around 480 miles and 7 and a half hours.

From Calais, take the signs:

E402
E15
A26
CALAIS
LILLE
REIMS
PARIS
BRUXELLES 4.5 mi
Then head towards:
A26
E15
SAINT-OMER
ARRAS
REIMS
PARIS

then:

E17
E50
REIMS-TINQUEUX
REIMS-CENTRE
CHÂLONS-EN-CHAMPAGNE
METZ-NANCY
STRASBOURG
LYON

and:

A35
E25
OFFENBURG
SAINT-DIÉ-DES-VOSGES
COLMAR
MULHOUSE
STRASBOURG-AUTRES QUARTIERS

You then follow a route through Switzerland and into Italy, heading for Villa San Giovanni on the "toe" of Italy, over to Sicily. Head for Pozzallo and again catch a ferry to Valletta.

You can check your route on www.viamichelin.co.uk

Paula_Calleja

Thank you very much! will tell my husband! we don't have chdn so that is not an issue.. only my husband would drive as i am too scared! i thought it would be good to stop at Paris & perhaps Lyon. Was thinking of getting the ship at Genoa to save on driving down to Sicily & hence be less tiring re driving. Our aunt lives in Germany, very close to Salzburg & wishes us to stop over but i think it would be out of the way! Will check out the michelin link ty!!

caroline_edinburgh

From Scotland it's easiest to get the overnight Norfolkline ferry from Rosyth to Zeebrugge, from where it's only a short drive to northern France. Less convenient but still a lot easier than driving all the way to the south coast is the ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge.

hetismij

I don't think the Rosyth ferry runs any more Caroline. The nearest ferry for Scotland is Newcastle to Ijmuiden, or slightly further south at both ends Hull to Rotterdam or Zeebrugge.

If you head for the channel ports then I would break the journey on the way down in England. The ferry across will also give the driver a welcome break (more so than the tunnel). Stop regularly, even if only to stretch your legs. Motorway services are much better in Europe and include some places which are parking only, so ideal for a short break from driving.
Aim for no more than about 6 hours of actual driving if there is only one driver, and allow for a few stops too.

Paula_Calleja

ok thanks! will check the various ports then!

alanRow

"From Scotland it's easiest to get the overnight Norfolkline ferry from Rosyth to Zeebrugge,"

It's freight only

qwovadis

aferryto.com good site for you

also viamichelin.com

mostly driving down if time

your most cost-effective fun option.

caroline_edinburgh

Alan, I thought they had restarted doing car passengers, just not foot passengers ? If not, the Hull ferry is easiest then.

"mostly driving down if time... your most cost-effective fun option"

- only if you find spending many hours driving (in heavy traffic in the south of England) fun !

flanneruk

If you're heading for southern Italy, the Munich/Salzburg area's not necessarily that much out of your way. I wouldn't drive to Sicily in less than five days, even with Mrs F and I splitting, and I'd probably give it seven and make a bit of a trip of it. Heading across to Germany, then across the Brenner Pass to Verona, really doesn't add much to the France/Italy route (and saves on tolls)

I'd really, really, really urge you to drive. Millions of us do it every year, and we're all here to tell the tale. If you really are scared, wait till you've got a long stretch of Euro-motorway, get your eye in there and you'll be fine. But you MUST get used to right-hand driving before you hit Italy.

Paula_Calleja

the Norfolk line freight only is to ship the car or just a ferry cross over? as for right hand drive that is a bit of an issue since we are used to left side..but was told its not that difficult to get used to..i can't wait for hubby to come home & show him these mails thanks to all for your advice & encouragement!!
@flanneruk from where in uk do u set off to Germany pls?

Cowboy1968

You can also take the auto train from Düsseldorf to Alessandria (near Genoa). Which would be the shortest option for actually driving the car (if you took the ferry to Ijmuiden) on the continent.
It's not necessarily a super cheap option during high season. But you save fuel, tolls, and costs for hotels.
There is just one train per week, though.
http://www.dbautozug.de/site/dbautozug/en/start.html

caroline_edinburgh

I meant the Norfolkline for you to use aa a ferry, not just to ship the car - then driving from Zeebrugge. But if that's only doing freight now, I recommend sailing to Zeebrugge from Hull : from Scotland it's much easier to cut out the driving on very congested roads in the south of England - it's better to get on to continental motorways as soon as possible ! Plus you kill two birds with one stone by sleeping on the ferry, which saves a night in a hotel either side of the Channel.

Paula_Calleja

tnx again to all! have told my husband & we'll be checking it out!