Dover to Holyhead , Where to Stop!

Saab Ed

Posted this in travel earlier but no joy, maybe some of the drivers here can help ......

I'm coming back from Europe next week via the UK and im trying to find a good place to stop over night , somewhere not to long in the car after we get off the boat but also somewhere that I dont have to spend all day in the car when in heading for the boat next day.

I was thinking somewhere in Wales but I know nothing about this part of the world so I need advice on some where nice to stop , not too expensive and I better mention that its with two kids. It doesnt have to be Wales , it was just an option. The more suggestions the better.

Thanks in advance

Ed.

-Corkie-

Birmingham is where i would normally stop..

no1beemerfan

SARASON wrote: »

Birmingham is where i would normally stop..

Birmingham would be just over halfway so makes sense to me too. Bear in mind parts of wales you'll be on single carriage ways and there can be police cars on patrol and are quite strict.

Saab Ed

no1beemerfan wrote: »

Birmingham would be just over halfway so makes sense to me too. Bear in mind parts of wales you'll be on single carriage ways and there can be police cars on patrol and are quite strict.

I came through Wales on the way but I didnt have to worry about stopping anywhere as the wife and kids had flown over weeks in advance so I just ploughed on till Dover in the one day......and yes there are speed cameras everywhere there, didn't see any cops though. Not to worry , im in no hurry.

I was looking at Brum but I'd prefer to stay somewhere with a bit of scenery.

whippet

I stopped off in chester on the way back from Cornwall a while back. it's about 5 hours, just on from Bermingham and a lot nicer. Plus the addition of a nice handy spin to holyhead the following morning.

I managed to do it with a 15 month old.

I'm not a big fan of chain hotels, but we stayed in the crowne plaza in chester and it was ideal. Lovely swimming pool and leisure centre ..perfect after a long drive.

MAke sure you use the M6 Toll road, the old M6 can be a total disaster .. especially if you have kids in the car!!

macshadow

take a look at post 2400 in "post your pet pic" on animals and pet issues, it's in wales and looks nice but maybe too far to drive in one go.

-Corkie-

whippet wrote: »

I stopped off in chester on the way back from Cornwall a while back. it's about 5 hours, just on from Bermingham and a lot nicer. Plus the addition of a nice handy spin to holyhead the following morning.

I managed to do it with a 15 month old.

I'm not a big fan of chain hotels, but we stayed in the crowne plaza in chester and it was ideal. Lovely swimming pool and leisure centre ..perfect after a long drive.

MAke sure you use the M6 Toll road, the old M6 can be a total disaster .. especially if you have kids in the car!!

+1 on the crowne plaza. I never bother with the single carrigeways i use the M56 to chester. The last time we stopped in Hilton Park services for kfc. I was so fcuked I fell asleep afterwards and woke at 4.30 am and the engine still running..:o

Saab Ed

Thanks Macshadow and Sarason

Those pics in Wales is exactly what I saw on the way over and reckoned I'd like to stop and see it on the way back, I just want to get a nice spot. I was looking at maybe staying in Newport ( its something else in Welsh ) , theres a Premier Inn there and they aint so bad.

The wife wants to go to Chester though so all you guys have done is start a domestic

-Corkie-

Saab Ed wrote: »

Thanks Macshadow and Sarason

Those pics in Wales is exactly what I saw on the way over and reckoned I'd like to stop and see it on the way back, I just want to get a nice spot. I was looking at maybe staying in Newport ( its something else in Welsh ) , theres a Premier Inn there and they aint so bad.

The wife wants to go to Chester though so all you guys have done is start a domestic

Newport is on the M4. Youll be miles from Holyhead and some tramp of a road to go with it. I with your missus with chester...:D

tricky D

Saab Ed wrote: »

I was looking at Brum but I'd prefer to stay somewhere with a bit of scenery.

Stratford-on-Avon
Oxford
are around half-way

a bit to the west are
Great Malvern
and the rest of the Severn Valley

R.O.R

How much time are you planning on spending there?

If you head up the M6, then you are passing Alton Towers and there is a Hotel there.

Not sure what age your kids are though.

Saab Ed

R.O.R wrote: »

How much time are you planning on spending there?

If you head up the M6, then you are passing Alton Towers and there is a Hotel there.

Not sure what age your kids are though.

Its just an over night. Early into Dover next Thursday and we'll be on the ferry back to Dublin about 4 O clock next day.

whippet

as this is a motors forum .. the Crowne Plaza in Chester had some nice motors to spot in the car park when I was there:

DB9, Flying Spur, F430 and a S-Class Barabus .....

R.O.R

Saab Ed wrote: »

Its just an over night. Early into Dover next Thursday and we'll be on the ferry back to Dublin about 4 O clock next day.

Way to dissapoint your kids Ed. Father of the year award goes elsewhere now.

Chester is a bit far from Dover IMO. If it were me, I'd try to find somewhere for the overnight that isn't too far from the Motorway - you'll be shattered. Spend the night there and head to Chester or Llandudno (sp?) early enough the next day. Chester is about an hour from Holyhead and Llandudno is even closer.

Saab Ed

R.O.R wrote: »

Way to dissapoint your kids Ed. Father of the year award goes elsewhere now.
.

I'll not mention the bit from Vienna so

PS ... Some great car pics to upload when I get home. Mundane stuff but the type of stuff that just seemed to fall off the planet in Ireland .

JHMEG

Holiday Inn in Oxford. Nice spot and par and ride into the very nice town, if that's your thing.

Chester is nice too.

bijapos

tbh I wouldn't make any definite bookings. You never know where you will end up with the holiday traffic. If traffic is bad, and you're behind time you might be pushing on to get to a hotel 2 hours away when you're already knackered.

Personally I would take a list of chain hotels that are near the motorway and start to ring them when you are tired and have an idea with traffic what time you will be getting to a certain town/exit.

One thing would be to try to get north of Birmingham because of traffic the next morning, if traffic is light you should get well into North Wales. Anglesey has plenty to do for the day if you get there early and have time to kill.

Try to get as far as you can on the first day, you never know what will delay you on the second day, traffic, punctures, accidents.

techman

Would recommend Oxford. Stayed in The Four Pillars Hotel.

Only a short walk into the city centre.

Traffic isn't too bad around Birmingham in the morning. Nothing compared to the M25 at peak times.

Saab Ed

techman wrote: »

Traffic isn't too bad around Birmingham in the morning. Nothing compared to the M25 at peak times.

Oh I found out all about the M25 at peak time........by hitting it a 5:15 on a Friday heading over :eek: What a dumb ass I was

Berty

I did Holyhead to Dover 2.5 weeks ago and stopped overnight in Coventry. What a fvcking sh*t hole.

I should have just kept going and stopped somewhere in Kent instead. As you are heading the other way around I would suggest Chester.