First long trip towing - any tips?

Not sure how far that journey is crofty. Personally I don't like towing more than about 3 hours, say 120-150 miles without stopping. So I've taken to looking for CLs en route, very often in places we wouldn't otherwise have thought of visiting.  We have returned for longer stays on many of them.

Many a time we towed from the Staffordshire area to Melrose in one go, Crofty, so it’s certainly doable. Without knowing your route it’s difficult to suggest anywhere to break the journey but I’d go along with what Moulesy said. You could check a map for a likely stopping place 2-3 hours into your journey.

One tip, don’t leave your van unattended in service areas. If necessary, visit the loos one at a time and have your coffee and snack in the van. A flask filled with hot water brought from home saves time and effort.

Enjoy, you've picked two good sites there and both are on the edge of villages/towns.

No need to worry Crofty. Both your journeys are easily doable with the van on the back and the roads are good all the way.  Plenty to do and see from the Granton on Spey AS site. The Border abbeys are worth a visit from the Melrose CMC site if you enjoy history.  

Have a good holiday.

K 

Thanks everyone. Thats all really helpful advice and glad I decided to post on here - its reassured me about the journey.

Kennine - do you have a recommendation of the route from Melrose to Grantown on Spey? From what i can see the 2 options are the A68 or the A7 to Edinburgh - I'm assuming the A68 might be easier as its a more major road?

To get to Melrose we'll be going A65 from Setlle, onto the M6 and then A7 across to Melrose.

Only concern now is making sure we plan enough potential stopping places for us and the van to allow for toilet stops for children

The main thing is dont rush as you have children I would stop every 2 hours if they are teenagers then 3 hours would be good, do you share the driving ? if so swop over at every stop do get out of the car and stretch you limbs dont forget to drink coffe or water and pack your sandwiches service stations are expensive.

Have a super holiday and relax

Paul      

Go overnight when it is cooler [not f you have night vision issues], the traffic is less, and any passengers are likely to sleep in the car [make sure they have enough room to be comfy]. Have the radio on at a low setting. One of the great delights is watching the sun rise and then eating a hearty breakfast.

Crofty - one tip I would give you based on my recent experience is to check your tyres carefully well before you set off.  I don't know how old your van is, or how often it is used - but I got the shock of my life when I looked at the tyres on my three and half year old 'van, to find serious cracks in the sidewall of one of them - just before we were due to set off to Devon. And that's a van that is used every month, throughout the year.

A long trip is going to be more punishing on tyres and the last thing any of us want is your holiday to be spoilt by a tyre 'disaster'.  If you have any doubts about them whatsoever - change them now!  

Thanks - some good tips.

Will definitely check the tyres!

Just  the  one  important  point,  crofty18  --  remember  its  a  holiday  and  not  a  military  manoeuver  (? spelling ?)  so  treat  the  drive  out  and  back  as  part  of  the  holiday  !!

All good stuff here especially the bit about remembering you are on a holiday.  We plan on 3 x 2 hour driving stints: 2 hrs then stop for coffee, 2 hrs stop for lunch and final 2 hrs in the afternoon.  We have done all around Europe with this plan and can usually do 200 - 250 miles a day..  As you probably know, children can get very bored travelling ('Are we there yet?'), so stop often and take things to amuse them in the car.