Long distance driving

Afternoon all,

I just wanted to gauge people's opinion on this and whether or not it is do-able.

Later this month we're taking a week off and heading up to the Isle of Mull doing this route. Now, I think I can do it in one hit (setting off at 4 in the morning) but I've never driven that far before in one go. Bearing in mind we'll be in a camper van which is limited to 65ish mph, is this a good idea? Has anyone done this kind of mileage in one day in a car/van before?

Cheers,

Paul

[appollo1]

used to drive hundreds of miles a day in my previous job.

Yes that is do able in one day and as you are in a camper van you can have regular stops to make your own cups of coffee so you don't get ripped off in service stations.

[BIGSTEVE]

Did this run about a month or so back, set off at 9 am and was in ellon for 8pm. long day but easily done. Go for it!

peice of **** mate,
2 bits of advice
have a good stop about 45 mins after all the motorway driving, this rests you before doing the more brain draining a and back roads

dont do the "i'll be fine to the one after next services" bit if you need a rest when there is one in 3 miles, take that stop, theres no need, pushing on means you'll need longer to recover than if you just pulled off at the first available one
its a common mistake, and doesnt help, your brain will thankyou for just doing what it needs as early as possible

[BIGSTEVE]

used to drive to preston in 1 go from aberdeen, no stops. Not advisable but when you're not leaving until 6pm after work to head for preston you really dont want to be stopping all the time. Kinda got used to it over a while but i also keep energy drinks in the car with me to keep me going. Eee, good old trips to bamber-bridge those were the days!

[G]

Easy that, just make sure you get an early night before setting off.

I once drove from Pitlochry to Silverstone during the night... only I had been up from 7am to attend a wedding....then left the wedding in the evening at about 8pm... then attempted to drive it. I fell asleep.

If you feel your eyes evening going slightly you need to stop or swap drivers, anyone who does long distance driving is bound to have felt their eyes shutting a little when getting really tired, I used to always think 'just a little bit further to go'... it was a big mistake.

As it is I commute 370 each day at the moment setting off at 5 am and getting home after 8pm... doing that distance is easy if you have nothing else to think about.

[timwilky]

Easy, especially if you get to share the driving so you can get some rest.

I used to regularly do Preston - london return plus do a shift in between

[dirtydog]

Yeah that's doable, we've got a 490 mile run this weekend upto Dundee this weekend which will be in one go just a few coffee/toilet/dog walk stops on hte way

[tonyk]

Are you driving alone or have you got a co driver...?
if the latter then take it in turns for a nap….then it's def doable.

Yeah you'll be fine! Me and the missus went round the north and south Islands of New zealand in three weeks last year, doing similar sort of mileage at least 4-5 times during the three weeks!

As Davepreston said, just take some breaks, stop at any tourist places and enjoy the drive up there!