Since I've scrapped the driving idea from London to Edinburgh...what are your thoughts on driving from Manchester to Edinburgh?

The first 60 miles can be pretty congested, even by our standards - and there's scarcely a time or day you can rely on it to be empty.

After that, it's reasonably scenic. I couldn't understand why everyone on the other post was getting all so old maidish about the principle of driving from London.

BUT, if you've been on a plane from America overnight <b> it is stupid, irresponsible and a criminal offence </b> to get into a car and drive from Manchester to Edinburgh. If you've not driven here before, it'd be simply cretinous. If there's an accident, you'll automatically be held responsible.

If that really is your intention, please holiday in another country.

thanks for the advice, cotswoldscouser.

but easy on the 'stupid' and 'criminal offense' comments. i would never, nor have i ever, been that irresponsible. so please do not jump to any conclusions.

i look forward to enjoying my first trip out there and would not jeopordize my life or anyone else's just to take a short cut.

Wow - I've looked through the Road Traffic Act 1988 and subsequent statutory authorities and I've totally missed the bit about driving hire cars after transatlantic flights being a criminal act. Is this some sort of local bylaw in Greater Manchester?

Or perhaps it's in the Promulgation of Hyperbole Act 2006? Got a reference from the Hansard? Contingent liability on the part of the hire car agent? Scary.

Easy journey but it's still 4 hours, go west to the M6, then keep heading north until you see a sign for Edinburgh, follow that&amp; stop when you hit the castle

Hyperbole aside, and in no way questioning the intentions of the OP, there have been several legal cases in the UK where British drivers have been prosecuted and jailed after being involved in serious accidents after lack of sleep. Several of these have been with people who have driven after long flights with inadequate rest periods.

&quot;I've totally missed the bit about driving hire cars after transatlantic flights&quot;

It comes under the &quot;unfit to drive&quot; section, the guy who caused the Selby Rail Crash got 5 years just for being tired

Unwise is unwise. &quot;Criminal offence&quot; is something different. Is this the right room for an argument?

Personally, I think Florida should require that certain car-hire customers display large, red &quot;B&quot; signs, similar to certain large red &quot;L&quot; signs, in their white Tauruses. But of course I don't write the law in Florida.

thanks, alanroe!

Even if it weren't against the law - which apparently it is - it is silly and dangerous to get off an overnght flight with little if any sleep, rent a car in a country with driving on the opposite side - and set off for a long drive on unfamiliar roads.

When we drive right from the airport (and would not do it in a country with opposite side driving) we don;t do more than an hour or hour and a half - just to avoid falling asleep at the wheel - or the bad decisions you can make when not fully alert.

&quot;Personally, I think Florida should require that certain car-hire customers display large, red &quot;B&quot; signs,&quot;

I remember the robberies &amp; murders in Florida that resulted from easily identifiable hire cars

Yes, dangerous place for some.

ghahn: I drive in the UK a lot - sometimes after flying all the way from California. And I know my way around and am totally familiar w/ the road signage, driving on the left, right hand drive cars, and so on. But I would not attempt that drive after a transatlantic flight. Sometimes I arrive semi-rested and sometimes TOTALLY zonked - unfortunately one doesn't know which it is until you get there. So when I do have to drive on my arrival day - I try to make it 50 miles or less and as straight forward a route as possible.

Planning to drive 5 hours is just not a good idea.

But never mind - there are flights and trains from Manchester to Edinburgh. I'd just get to Edinburgh as easily as possible - you'll have plenty of time to rent a car drive later on after you've see Edinburgh - and gotten over the jet lag.

Three years ago, we flew into Glasgow and bussed to Edinburgh. It was quick and easy for sleep deprived people. After a a couple of days we bussed to Edinburgh airport to pick up our car. This was easy to do. Three roundabouts and a toll bridge to the north. If you can fly into Glasgow, or if bus connections are good from Manchester to Edinburgh, I highly recomend this.

I (we) dropped the car at Glasgow Airport on the way home.

Okay, so tell me if THIS is irresponsible. I plan to arrive in Manchester after an overnight flight from Newark. Then I'm going to get some coffee, walk around a bit, get my blood flowing properly. At that point I'm going to pick up my rental car and drive the two hours or so to Ambleside. I have never driven on the left before or been to this area. (Although I will be repeating the mantra &quot;keep left&quot; the minute I get to my departure airport, and I will have a mini-diagram of my left and right turns taped to the windshield.)

I know from previous transatlantic flights that sleepiness will not be a problem. Of course I won't be in optimal mental condition. But MUST I spend a night in Manchester?

Not necessarily. You could take a train direct from Manchester Airport to Windermere, a bus or taxi from there to Ambleside, and if you need a car once there, hire it locally. For my taste, that would make a more comfortable and enjoyable beginning to a holiday.

To Edinburgh, fly with bmi or jet2, or take the train. You can get a train right at the airport &amp; just change once at Manchester Piccadilly.

Guy18, yes, I'd say that is irresponsible too. Get the train &amp; pick up a car the next day.

AlthoughIMO there's nothing wrong with a night in Manchester - my DH worked there for a while &amp; we really enjoyed spending weekends there.

I totally agree with Janisj and Patrick. I, also , have driving in the UK numerous times and I would not recommend driving very far when you get off the plane, or even the first day. The area around Manchester is very, very congested and not easy to navigate at the best of times. If you must drive, then I'd say to drive a very short distance and stop for the night.

Taking the train makes a lot more sense.
Or even more sensible is to pay the extra to fly right into Scotland. Is it that much more?

Guy18: I agree w/ PatrickLondon, Caroline_edinburgh and kodi. Driving to Ambleside wouldn't be as bad as all the way to Edinburgh. But the motorways around Manchester are very congested. Almost &quot;london congestion&quot; scale.

And especially if you are driving solo - need a good navigator to get through the maze.

So I would take the train to somewhere - probably Windermere simply because it is a bit bigger and there are probably more rental sites.

I think I'm going to take the train from MAN-EDI (thanks, caroline_edinburgh). Is it necessary to purchase tix ahead of time? Or can I do it at the station on the day of? I'll be getting into MAN on a Saturday at 8am.