Baby Led Weaning

We have a plan... an ambitious plan but quite an exciting one!

We are going to go on a big tour of the UK this summer. The initial itinerary is this:

Start in Sussex
Drive to the Yorkshire dales and spend a night with my family (probs the ones in Grassington as I like it there)
From there to the Lake District for a night or two
From the Lake District all the way up to the Isle of Skye where we will stay for a few days (DH has a cousin up there)
Down to Glasgow and a ferry across to Belfast
From Belfast to Dublin where we have friends and then a few days bumming around the west coast of Ireland
Catch a ferry from Dublin to Holyhead
A night or two in Snowdonia National Park
And HOME!

We've budgeted roughly £400 for fuel which is still less than we would spend to fly the three of us anywhere during the school hols, and we're aiming to do the whole epic trip in 10-14 days.

So what I want from you lot are recommendations for anything that we should consider on our way - campsites that you have visited, particular points of interest or beauty, unmissable pubs, any diversions we should take, anything we should avoid. The particular grey area for us is the Glasgow/Belfast leg as we don't know which way we should play it - spend the night near glasgow and get a morning ferry, or spend the night around Belfast somewhere?

All experience and anecdotes gratefully received.

Sounds Exciting!!!

Well your Glasgow conundrum is easy, come and stay with us is our new country manor Theres plenty of room though about 2.5 hours from the ferry.


If you don't want to stay with and internet weirdo I understand and I'm happy to answer any other Q's about Glasgow and the surrounding areas.
Erm come to think of it there are some nice wee places on the road down to the ferry. A village called Maidens especially, its got a really beautiful beach and a castle to visit. (Culzean castle) If you stayed there you'd be close enough to get an early ferry without much hassle.

The South Lakes zoo is quite nice if you're looking for that kind of activity?

Oh and just be warned the Road back from Skye - Glasgow, is scenic but can be very slow at times, especially in summer when there are campervans and the like, so do factor that in.

Theres a nice in Fort William if you fanc sometimg nice and your passing through at lunch time. Or a good chippy at Spean Bridge which will also be on your route.

Thanks disco - loving the insider info

Good thinking ches - I'll look into that!

It's very touristy but the Giant's Causeway is fantastic, and only less than an hour, iirc, from Belfast. I have done a massive driving trip similar to yours before in 14 days (but more Ireland/less England than you are doing) and it was totally doable and so enjoyable!

If you want to stay near relatives rather than with, there is a lovely campsite at Appletreewick http://www.masonscampsite.co.uk/ but book well in advance and the red lion at burnsall is nearby. You can paddle in the river at either

Don't forget to stop in Llangollen on your way home, it's lovely and we are on the A5 right on your way home from Snowdonia!

You could always just leave DH at home and do a big long BLW tour of the UK...

Oh wow, RR, that sounds amazing... No advice in terms of where to stay and what to do but I'm very jealous - R is going to have such an incredible time (as are you and DH!).