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How hard (for an American) to drive in Yorkshire?

How hard (for an American) to drive in Yorkshire?

Old May 2nd, 2016, 06:11 PM
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How hard (for an American) to drive in Yorkshire?

Fodor folks have already helped with overall itinerary, but I'm still working on the middle 5 days of our 2-week vacation. At the end of July/early August, my family is spending 6 nights in London at the beginning of our trip and 2 nights in Manchester at the end (where will we fly out).

It's the 5 nights of itinerary between London and Manchester that I still need to plan. I originally thought we would NOT rent a car at all (avoid the stress of left-hand driving)....but I'm really wanting to make sure we get out in the countryside. My family (2 adults, 2 teen boys) likes small towns, walking/hiking (not too strenuous, though), beautiful scenery, good food, castle ruins and avoiding mobs of tourists. So, I'm thinking maybe we would take a train from London to York, spend 2 nights in York, and then rent a car and drive through the Dales or Moors to get a taste of smaller towns and do some hiking. (Then return car to York, and take train to Manchester for last 2 nights and fly out.) I would look to pick a single place to spend those 3 nights. I know there are other posts about what town to use as a base for Yorkshire, but I have a few questions:

1. How hard is the area to drive? If we are going from York to small towns, ruins, hiking trails, etc., are the roads going to be narrow and scary? I know I might be sounding ridiculous (!!), but I need to ask.

2. If we rent a car, does anyone have an opinion on 2 nights in York + 3 nights in the countryside vs. doing all 5 nights in the countryside? If we do the latter, is there a recommended charming town where we could still easily take the train into York for 1 day?

Thanks,
DJ
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 06:28 PM
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Driving in the Dales/Moors is fabulous. Do try to avoid weekends though -- LOTS of day trippers and motorcyclists on very narrow roads.

>>2. If we rent a car, does anyone have an opinion on 2 nights in York + 3 nights in the countryside vs. doing all 5 nights in the countryside?>Saturday: Beamish and on to the Dales
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 06:49 PM
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Here's my report from York and the North Yorkshire Moors, which we loved. Morgana had been a help to us, too.

We found driving easy. Even once we got to the Lakes and the roads were steep and winding, we didn't have a problem. We've encountered closer, tinier roads in the South.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-uk-report.cfm
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 06:49 PM
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Too bad you are not going further north to Northumberland. There are some amazing castles as well as Hadrian's wall. Plenty of scenic walking, quaint towns and castles. I would suggest that for another trip. Not too touristy either.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 07:27 PM
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Not too bad as we stayed with friends who live in Yorkshire and they did all the driving. I cannot for the life of me figure out how to drive on the right. I can't even figure out how to cross the street.

But the roads were just fine until we got to some well-trodden coastal towns like Whitby.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 07:31 PM
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I think it's very important to limit the time you drive. My limit is 3 hours. I broke my rule once and had an accident because I was tired. I was entering a dual carriageway from a single lane road and got confused.

I was okay in Ireland a couple of years later.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 09:03 PM
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If you only drive an automatic but end up getting a manual transmission, it would be super hard
If you are driving on "A" roads around York, your issue is probably not the side of the road. It would be a more mundane issue like heavy traffic.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 10:47 PM
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The key to driving on the left is to remember that the driver sits on the center of the road.

Small towns means small, narrow roads. I have been driving on the wrong side of the road for almost 9 months now and those narrow roads with absolutley no shoulders still give me angst.

Even when you have wide enough streets, you still have to contend with people parked on the side that reduces an otherwise easily manageable street into a white knuckle adventure of how close can I get to the parked car before metal touches metal.

In short, you're probably not going to wreck. But you will die. Eventually.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 11:00 PM
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sparkchaser . . . you are not helping . . . at all
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 11:05 PM
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I am being 100% honest. OP has to be prepared for the worst.

The motorway construction is also particularly harrowing when the lane width has been reduced and that lorry to your left is TOO CLOSE but you can't move to the right a bit because the barrier. Fun times.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 11:18 PM
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Bolton Castle (Castle Bolton) and Middleham Castle are two good ruins in the Dales, set in fabulous countryside with good walks. Not far away are the atmospheric ruins of Jervaulx Abbey (buy a guide book, as there isn't much in the way of information boards - good excuse to visit the cafe too).
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 11:45 PM
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Other than bumping into the curbs repetively I have no problem driving on the wrong side of the road.

I was driving around York and Macnhester and took small windy nice roads. No prob - sometimes you have to pay attention esp if you want to overtake a lorry, but nothing to get grey hairs.

Of course I'm not US - so I'm much smarter ;-)
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 11:50 PM
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If it's a rental car, I don't care about the tires getting curb rash. My car isn't a rental and I am much more diligent about not getting the tires curb rashed.
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Old May 2nd, 2016, 11:53 PM
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Of course I'm not US - so I'm much smarter

If anything you're definitely more experienced in driving on narrow roads.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 12:44 AM
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If you're thinking about driving through the Dales from York, it seems pointless to then turn round and go back to York to drop the car. If you've rented from a large company, why not drive from York through the Dales and then stay in Ilkley or maybe Skipton. It's not a long drive from York and shouldn't cause you too many problems, although the roads are a bit narrow in places.

From there, you can drive into Manchester and drop off your car in a little under 90 minutes. If you need any information on things to do in Manchester, just shout.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 12:46 AM
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I think pegontheroad's post is worth emphasizing.

Don't drive when you are tired.

Your instincts are very likely to be wrong.

My issues:

I can drive a stick shift fine, but I was surprised -- duh -- that I had to do it with my left hand, though the clutch, brake, and accelerator are all in the "right" place.

Approaching a T junction, particularly one with four lanes, requires choices that are very different from those you make elsewhere.

Roundabouts (traffic circles, rotaries) are extremely common at intersections where the US would use a traffic light. Sometimes roundabout rules apply even when the only indication of a roundabout are a circle of paint or cobble in the middle of the junction.

I live in a part of the US that uses these a lot, and muscle memory desperately wants to do what it does at home. This would lead, of course, to a head on collision. Easy to make mistakes when I am lost, tired, frazzled. I have often just gone around a couple of times to make sure where my exit was.

Many friends report trouble remembering that the slow lane on expressways is the opposite from home; others are clueless about moving to the slow lane except for passing.

Who has right of way when meeting on a 1 1/2 lane country road? When traffic lanes are narrowed by on street parking?

If you drive in the UK, you will need to know this.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 01:10 AM
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If you are like most Americans, you'll want an automatic, and if so, using your left hand for the gear lever is a non-issue.

Take some time to learn where all the controls and switches are located before setting off from the rental agency. Have a co-pilot (your spouse?) to help with directions, road signs, and other distractions. Take your time, and don't make any sudden decisions. If you miss the turnoff from a roundabout, just go around again (that's the great thing about roundabouts — you have a second chance!)

Generally speaking, adapting to driving on the left isn't a big problem. You may even have a "moment" when you go back to the US and drive on the right again. I did once when pulling out of my brother's driveway!
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 01:11 AM
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Have a co-pilot (your spouse?) to help with directions, road signs, and other distractions.

And most definitely get a GPS with your vehicle.
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 01:19 AM
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"Who has right of way when meeting on a 1 1/2 lane country road? When traffic lanes are narrowed by on street parking?"

It's not a matter of right of way. That's American thinking. Do what is most convenient for both of you. Sometimes it is best for you to wait, or reverse into a gateway to make room, and sometimes it is best for the other driver to do that. Pride and knowing your rights don't come into it.

Another thing. If there is only room for one vehicle, it doesn't matter which side of the road you drive on. Drive so that you can see as far ahead as possible.

My general advice would be:
Don't drive when you are tired or just off a long flight.
Don't drive for long without a break
Make sure you know where you are going
Don't try to drive and sightsee
Don't put the radio on.
Tell your passengers to keep quiet

Have a good trip. Millions of people drive every day on the left-hand side of the road without any problem. Surely you are clever enough to do the same?

What would Donald Trump say?
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Old May 3rd, 2016, 01:21 AM
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Don't try to drive and sightsee

Tell your passengers to keep quiet


This.

If your co-pilot is being "too helpful", tell them with the utmost respect to STFU.
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