Rental Car: Edinburgh to London
 

Need some advice: We have never driven in the UK before, but have had no problems driving all over Europe so we think we can pull this off. We would like to pick up a car in Edinburgh and drive to London. Our last stop before London is Broadway. We realize that the motorways can be very congested, but we prefer driving the "blue roads" so our itinerary allows lots of time for getting from place. Should we pick up the car at the airport in Edinburgh or a more "in town" location? Where should we drop the car before taking a train into London. Thank you for any help you can give us.

Just quick - posting from my phone: Pick up the car at EDI and drop it at LHR. Those are the easiest places to collect/drop off/ drive. By 'blue' roads I assume you mean motorways - those are for long distance legs, not for scenic drives.

Thanks for your advise. So sorry about that "blue roads" statement. That's the term used in the US for rural or back roads, our favorite way to explore any area.

OK -- In the UK the big multilane, limited access highways (Motorways) are always blue on maps.

So you really mean rural roads (good), but be sure to allow PLENTY of time. In many areas you will average 35 mph or less.

I've never heard the term "blue roads" and I've lived in several parts of the USA.

The thing which is the most likeable about the roads in UK is the lane factor. The lanes are quite immense offering the people to travel at their own pace and flow.

"lane factor" what :-) ?
I'm a Brit and some of our roads are lanes, but in no way are they really a pleasure. Why, because a true lane is just bigger than ONE car so you have to keep your eyes out for passing spots and be prepared to reverse to the last spot to let the latest caravan, lost tourist, tractor past. They also normally have high hedges around them (often built of solid earth) or drained so that reversing can be expensive.
Normal roads (blue???) are two lanes and require road position control, which takes some getting used to as you are on the wrong side of the road. An american visiting me once, pointed at his car proudly, having driven for 20 miles from the airport, with the side mirror in tatters. "but I got a lot of the parked one's along the way" he beamed.

My recommendation would be
1) set your GPS to avoid motorways.
2) go on youtube and learn "roundabouts"
3) read https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving/hi...de-road-safety which tells you the law of this country for driving, walking, cycling etc.
4) don't assume everyone else knows the law, they may also be tourists

The other roads you may like (and going to Broadway is pertinent) are roads like the Fosse way (first paved as a Roman road) it cuts across the country in roughly the direction you are going, mostly only two lanes (one each way) it can either be snarled up with caravans etc or used by boy-racers for car testing, but, well worth a trip as the views can be stunning.

Excellent information bilboburgler! We will do loads of research before embarking on this new driving adventure. Roundabouts driving on the "other side"--wow!

But I bet you've heard the term "blue highways."

OP, when will this be, and how long have you budgeted for the trip? If your last stop is Broadway, where do you plan to stop or what would you like to see en route? There's an embarrassment of riches between Edinburgh and the Cotswolds, including plenty in Scotland if time permits.

Gardyloo, no, I really haven't. I know what the blue flashing lights mean --but I wasn't driving!

It was the title of a landmark travel book by William Least Heat-Moon - https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Highways.../dp/0316353299

5alive, "blue highways" is another term meaning the same thing. Blue Highways is an autobiographical travel book, published in 1982, by William Least Heat-Moon, born William Trogdon. Wonderful read.

We start our three-week trip the end of May.
Edinburgh - 3 nights
Callander - 1 night
Oban - 2 nights
Keswich - 2 nights
Knutsford - 1 night
Broadway - 5 nights
London - 5 nights

Tricky to parcel out our available time. We plan on going back to Scotland in the future and combine with Ireland and Wales.

Hi WM,

If you are staying in Edinburgh, I suggest that you pick up the car in the city at the Waverly train station.

Easy to find. Easy to get out of.

Make sure that you can get your car into first gear. There is a steep hill exiting the car park.

((I))
It's a long story.

I can attest that bilboburgler's recommendation to set your GPS to avoid motorways should get you rural sight seeing :-) My sister and I did that in Scotland and we saw rural! But then, that's what we wanted, LOL.

I thought the train along the east coast was a great option.

Pick up the car at EDI and drop it at LHR. This will expedite you getting on the road from Edinburgh and will make life easier at the end of the trip.

As for a creative route that avoids motorways, it looks from your schedule that you have 19 nights booked, so are we to assume that you plan to make the drives between bases all in one day? That's easy enough to arrange in parts of your itinerary, but it might be problematic on a couple of those days, especially the one between Oban and the Lake District. (I assume you meant Keswick, not Keswich.) Because of the Solway Firth, staying on smaller roads becomes difficult, and while there are some potentially terrific country roads through Ayrshire and Dumfries, those would add several hours to what is already a pretty long day on the road.

One thing I'd look at is to take the day between Knutsford and Broadway (again, assuming you're talking about the Broadway in the Cotswolds) and use it to explore part of the Welsh borders, beautiful country.

Here's a map showing a few wrinkles for you to consider - https://goo.gl/maps/tGXXqGxLsCs .

I've added Culross, a fascinating restored medieval village (used in some Outlander scenes) between Edinburgh and Callendar, and Glen Coe between Callendar and Oban. After Oban this would have you transiting the village of Kilmartin with its many prehistoric leftovers - standing stones, etc. - and picturesque Inveraray, before passing Loch Lomond en route to Glasgow and the M74/M6 south. The map has you taking the "slow" way through the Lake District, then after Knutsford swinging west to Shrewsbury and Hereford before Broadway.

Google those places to see if they appeal; note this will add several hours overall to the trip compared to staying on the motorways, so if you could squeeze an extra day or so out of your plans, it might make it more rewarding.

Just one of many alternative plans, of course.

What about York?

>>I thought the train along the east coast was a great option.<<

>>What about York?<<

Neither fits in their plans . . . Between Edinburgh and London they are entirely over towards the west side of the country(s)

This thread discusses both east and west routes:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi..._Scotland.html

Google Maps seems to show about the same distance and time. One of the posts there mentions going to York and then crossing west into the Lake District.