janisj

Sorry, but your 'powers that be' must have a cruel/sadistic streak

>>13 Skye O/N
14 Drive to Aberdeen O/N<<

Does he have <i>any</i> idea how far that is? Portree to Aberdeen is about 220 miles/6 hours drive time w/o a single stop anywhere. So in 'real life' -- assuming you want to stop at any castles, view points, cafes or anything . . . you will be on the road for at least 10, and more likely 12 hours.

Then the next day Aberdeen to Edinburgh is 130 miles and will take at least 3.5 hours (or more depending on where you are staying and the complexity of central Edinburgh traffic)

And the <i>next</i> day Edinburgh to South Shields is <i>another 130 miles/3.5 hours or more.

and the next day there is another 3 hours in the car to Windermere.

All these drive times are without stops/breaks/sightseeing.

sofarsogood

from the first post on 17 Aug 2014

"We want to avoid driving ourselves (we did that this year around Spain and it was exhausting for everyone)"

'nuff said…

it's just driving to tick boxes, if that's what you want to do then that's fine, but it would be so much better if you slowed down and spent time in places rather than travelling on motorways.

janisj

>>if you slowed down and spent time in places rather than travelling on motorways.<<

No Motorways in most of the places they are going . . . just a LOT of very slow driving.

KTtravel

Oh, dear. I don't like your father's plan. Just one day in London???? I don't think your kids are going to enjoy this revised trip much at all. All 5 of you in a car during the middle of your trip for hours and hours not having much time to actually see anything except for roadways.

Have you considered splitting up? Perhaps you and your kids could stay in London longer and meet up with your parents later in Windermere after they do their whirlwind tour of Scotland?

Have you considered flying into London and out of Dublin?

historytraveler

Just hope everyone has zen bladders and have packed a lunch.. It shouldn't be a matter of whether you can actually manage such an itinerary but whether it's a good ( fun ) itinerary. As is, it's neither.

janisj

>> Perhaps you and your kids could stay in London longer and meet up with your parents later in Windermere after they do their whirlwind tour of Scotland? <<

Best suggestion so far . . .

You and the kids could enjoy some actual time in London and then take the train to the Lakes and meet up with your crazy father (and his poor suffering wife)

SueOnTheMove

I actually don't want to spend time in London. We're city people and the best thing about the UK is the country side. My kids will enjoy the views of sheep grazing on resplendent hills more than trudging around a concrete jungle (like they're used to). Like I said before, I'll take the kids back to London later for longer.

Thinking about changing up this part to make it less crazy/mad/sadistic...
12 Get rental car & drive to Skye O/N
13 Skye O/N
14 Drive to Aberdeen O/N
15 Drive to Edinburgh O/N on/off bus
....would it be better to take a train from Glasgow to Mallaig, rent a car there for Skye, leave Skye for Edinburgh and recoup that night in Edinburgh? So:

12 Train to Mallaig - ferry to Skye
13 Skye o/n
14 Train? Bus? Car? to Edinburgh
15 Edinburgh o/n
16 Drive to Newcastle

Apparently, the family wants to meet us in Newcastle/South Shields for lunch.

Flying in to London adds at least $1000 to our plane fare.

PalenQ

ediburgh for only a day even though you don't like cities - so many fun things for kids to do - how many sheep do they want to see anyway? The castle, the Camera Obscura - go down to Leith to see the Queen Mary or whatever big boat is there - even the Whiskey Experience where you go thru on moving whiskey barrels.

a day in Edinburgh may be to the liking of kids at least.

sofarsogood

I've switched a few things around and skipped Aberdeen - maybe you could tweak this (I'm sure there are lots of flaws in it)

7 Arrive Dublin fly Newcastle O/N
8 Train to Edinburgh O/N
9 Edinburgh O/N
10 Get rental car drive to Skye O/N.
11 Skye O/N
12 Skye O/N
13 Drive to Lakes O/N (a long drive)
14 Lakes O/N
15 Lakes O/N
16 Lakes O/N
17 Drive to Stratford O/N
18 Stonehenge area
19 Stonehenge area
20 Fly to Dublin to see family.

SueOnTheMove

sofarsogood that itin would be great but for the wedding anniversary we need to attend in the lakes on the 18th.

Like I said, so many people to please, so little time

PalenQ, I am excited to go to Edinburgh since I've never been. The day and a half is going to have to do, I'm afraid. Unless I can convince the fam to give up Newcastle.... I'll see what I can do about that.

janisj

You'd have an easier (only <i>slightly</i> easier but a bit) . . . if you ditched Aberdeen. First of all it is a hecka looooong drive from Skye, and you wouldn't end up w/ any time there. One of the best things about Aberdeen/nearby is the Dee/Castle Trail/Stoneheven/Dunottar . . . and you won't have time for any of those things.