Dukey1

LOL, there's this "drive" over to Port Isaac I can tell you ALL about including the fording the stream at the bottom of a ravine part that you'll never forget!

I'm sure you don't want to hear it but rather than driving "all that way" would you consider not only consolidating this thing AND flying between a couple of the major points?

We did just that on our own trip last month and it made a world of difference including actual time-to-be-spent in places.

Driving? Fast? IN Cornwall? (for that matter in places like Derbyshire): depends on the routes you take.

historytraveler

You really need to check out a journey planner to get an idea of accurate travel times. I use www.aaroadwatch.co.uk and add another 30% to the suggested times. This is really the only way you'll get an idea of drive times. I understand wanting to see as much as you can, but you still don't seeem to have much of an idea as to real travel time.

BritishCaicos

It's been a very busy summer on our roads.

It took us 9.5 hours to drive from Manchester to Folkestone a month ago. Brexit and a terrible exchange rate has left many Brits choosing to stay at home.

I wouldn't know where to start with your route, other than the line "the more you travel, the less you see".

We did these "run around" road trips when we were younger but it sunk in over the years that we saw little of the areas we covered.

I've done the Wales, Ireland, Scotland ferry route and it gives you a great insight into the geography of the Irish Sea. Don't consider taking a car the Wales/Ireland and Ireland/Scotland, the routes are ridiculously expensive. We make regular trips to The Bahamas but have been saving up for years to take a trip from Galloway to Ireland to see the Giants Causeway. The last quote we had for a car, 3 people and a dog was £550!

I'm going to stick my neck out here, having spent much time in all the areas you are proposing to visit. Your experience to the West coast of Ireland/ Cornwall / west coast of Scotland isn't going to vary vastly. There's an awful lot of driving in between to get to these areas.

Why not just drive down to Bath, over to Holyhead, Dublin, Belfast and then travel up to the Scottish West coast and rent a cottage on say Mull or Skye. Still my favourite places in the world ... but I'm bias.

bilboburgler

It took us 8 hours to get from Exeter to Northampton in early August

annhig

Driving? Fast? IN Cornwall? (for that matter in places like Derbyshire): depends on the routes you take.>>

we've already done that sketch, Dukey, [and Dickie] and the OP is quite firm that they want to come to Cornwall. So I have tried to pick destinations which will not be too hard to get to on decent roads; the more "adventurous" driving can be done on non-transfer days.

And they have the advantage that they won't be travelling in Cornwall at least in school hols.

<<It took us 8 hours to get from Exeter to Northampton in early August>>

Was that on a Saturday perchance, Bilbo? On Saturdays in August, all bets are off!

PalenQ

Was that on a Saturday perchance, Bilbo? On Saturdays in August, all bets are off!>

Maybe it was on his bicycle?

janisj

not helpful . . .

bilboburgler

Friday morning, started early to make sure.....

bilboburgler

To be fair Cornwall wasn't the problem, after all we were trying to get out of the place, it was Devon and then Somerset.

Now I've spent a lot of time in the areas I drove through so I knew a few short cuts. Southern Uk seizes up in August, unlike God's own county. ;-)

Just another place to visit is Bovey Tracey and the Devon Guild of Craftsmen. What a fantastic collection of art to buy, as long as you have the odd £1000 to lay out then you can take one of these exquisite items home with you.

Also there is a House of Marbles just down the road if you want to see loads of glass marbles.

There is a Cornish Guild of Craftsmen in Truro just by the Duomo, but there the basic cover charge is only £500 and the stuff is good (cosi cosi) but they don't have a coffee shop and there is no free parking.

annhig

There is a Cornish Guild of Craftsmen in Truro just by the Duomo>>

lol, never heard it called that before [Duomo that is!] .

The Guild of Craftsmen [and women] may not have a cafe but Truro is not short of good ones, including one inside the Duomo itself. Parking is another question but it's not expensive for a few hours.

Fridays are bad too. in fact Friday is the new Saturday on Cornish and Devon roads in school summer hols.

GlennBev

Hello to all , itinerary is finalised, we head off in eight weeks. We have taken note of all contributions and we know that we may be trying to do too much, but we are locked in and most accommodation is booked. So I guess anyone who wants to criticise it's too late. All 4 of us are very much looking forward to our busy but exciting trip to the UK. Being in England (Cornwall) on the day of THE Wedding.
For those of you who may be interested here is the final itinerary, it's in short form because as I said it's locked in.
Bath - 4 nights, our son who lives in Amsterdam joins us for these days. Our friends from Sydney join us here on the last night.
Hilperton - 3 nights Canal boat
Cornwall - 3 nights
Cardiff - 1 night
Conwy - 3 nights
Dublin - 3 nights
Adare - 3 nights
Galway - 1 night
Trim - 1 night staying at Brogans Bar and Guesthouse, our travel mate is a descendent of Brogan
Belfast - 3 nights
Glasgow. - 1 night
Oban - 1 night
Isle of Skye. - 3 nights
Fort Augustus- 3 nights
Edinburgh - 3 nights
Lakes District- 2 nights
Cotswolds - 2 nights

The 1 nights are meant to be transiting and quick look around, the multi nights we will travel further afield.

I have a few last questions, if anyone can help
1. Best/easiest way to travel Cardiff to Conwy by car. We plan to visit Snowdonia NP from our Conwy base.
2. Best/easiest way to travel Glasgow to Oban by car.
3. I think I previously mentioned travelling to Fort Augustus to Edinburgh via St Andrews, we plan on doing the 11am Old Course tour. We know that this will be a big day, but we feel it is the best use of our time and will allow more time in Edinburgh. Apart from possible impracticality is there any real reason we shouldn't do this?
4. We are total boat novices, does anyone have any hints for 3 day Canal cruise?

Thanks for all previous advice and any further help.

Annhig keep your eye out for 4 happy Aussie travellers.

Cheers, Glenn

janisj

Leaving Ft Agustus in the morning for an 11AM tour in St Andrews is tough -- you'll have to be on the road by 6AM at the latest. And not stop anywhere.

And your plans for the Lakes and Cotswolds aren't great -- Not sure where you are staying in the Lakes or Cotswolds but central Edinburgh to say Windermere will take 4 to 5 hours plus stops. And to Keswick maybe 45 mins less. So with a reasonable departure time an stop for lunch you won't get to the lakes until late afternoon / early evening, leaving one day for the Lakes. And Keswick to say Burford will take 6 hours IF you don't run into traffic around Manchester and Birmingham.

You say the one nighters are mostly just transit stops . . . so why one night in Glasgow and Oban? You won't have time in either place so why not drive from GLA north to somewhere like Glencoe and the next day to Skye. You say none of the accommodations/stops can be changed -- but unless you prepaid non-refundable they are all changeable.