Rejigging trip due to Peugeot Open Europe Brexit Warning

Any planned Brexit has been postponed until October 31 (and if you've been paying attention, they haven't been terribly good about hitting their previous deadlines). While there are no guarantees in life, based on my (admittedly cursory) reading of the news, it seems there's a near-zero chance of Brexit happening anytime before we're all surrounded by pumpkins and that dreadful "candy corn".

I see no reason to change your plans (well, I might take issue with some choices, but I see no reason to worry that Brexit is going to sneak up on you and cause a 10% import fee). Do you have some inside information with the UK government that makes you think otherwise?

Not really interested the politics of this or the speculation thereof, just looking for itinerary suggestions for those 8 days.

Kate,

This is a very fast-paced itinerary and a lot of driving. However, my suggestion would be to look at the area around the Lake District and/or Yorkshire Dales. It would be on your way to Scotland.
Margaret

Margaret - Yes, this will be our 6th trip to Europe and we always do go at a good clip. But we like it! On a Canadian scale, these distances seem rather short :-)

I was thinking the Lakes District would be a good possibility, but I'm not familiar with Yorkshire Dales - I will check it out. Thank you.

Wales--Caernarfon, Conwy, Llandudno.

Scotland--Orkney Islands, Inverness, North Coast 500

It might be just as well that you may not be going to Ireland as you are trying to cover too much territory for the time you have available. You will mainly be driving from one part of Britain to the other without allowing time to see what is in each region. The drive from London to Cornwall would take most of 1 day. FromCornwall to The Cotswolds is about 4 hours driving time - not allowing for breaks. Look at the Cornwall Tourist Board site to get more of an idea of the places you should be visiting:> https://www.visitcornwall.com

If are able to, why not devote more time to Wales? Instead of going straight from the Cotswolds to Snowdonia - head west to the Brecon Beacons National Park for a night or 2. (You could then follow the A470 top through the middle of Wales to Snowdonia). If you cannot do that and must go direct to Snowdonia, then it certainly deserves more than 2 nights - especially as it would take you most of 1 day to get from The Cotswolds to Snowdonia.
Within Snowdonia, I would suggest that you at least do:> Snowdon Mountain Railway, Portmeirion, Plas Newydd, Harlech Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Conwy Castle, Bodnant Gardens. Also see the coast - drive around the Lleyn peninsula - Abersoch, Nefyn. Google the the places mentioned! See map:>https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.404089,-3.3364928,8.67z/data=!5m1!1e1
Also highly recommended > www.festrail.co.uk

Before leaving Wales, try and see the Pontcysullte Aquaduct and visit the historic English border city of Chester.

www.visitwales.co.uk
https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/west-wales/pembrokeshire/10-things-enjoy-holiday-tenby
http://www.breconbeacons.org

Even if you like a fast pace, driving 6-7 hours from London to Cornwall, not allowing time for any stops, depending on where you are heading plus time picking up your car, for just one day to explore the beauty of Cornwall in a month long trip is a waste of petrol!

4 July - a 4.5-5 hour drive without stops.

Before you go to Snowdonia, you could have a few days in the English/Welsh - Hay on Wye, Ross on Wye, Hereford, Monmouth and Symonds Yat are all pretty, with some good walking, kayaking and cider tasting.

Have a few days around Chirk - visit the Castle, see some of the National Trust houses in the area, explore the Llangollen Canal and walk over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct if you have a head for heights. Explore the trail for the old black and white houses in the area before you head to Snowdonia. There are plenty of Castles on the north Wales coast if these are of interest.

Between Wales and Scotland, visit Liverpool for 2 nights. Liverpool to Oban is a 7 hour drive, so you may want to break this with time in the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales.

Do you have accommodation booked on Skye? Oban to Skye is a 5 hour drive, which would only leave a day and a bit on the island. It takes time to get around the narrow roads and 3 days here is rushed.

If you added a night in Durham, you would have time for the excellent Beamish Museum, depicting life as it was. Drive from Durham to Stratford upon Avon. Unless your flight is in the evening, I would want to stay nearer to Gatwick for the final night. Early in the morning, that drive could be 4 hours plus time to return the car.

OK, I need to clarify, because I think this charge is out of line.

The reason I mentioned speculation was that I didn’t want it to become a thread focused on what would happen with the Brexit issue (see pinned thread from the Webmaster at the top of this forum). [And although I agree that the previous delays point in the direction of nothing imminent, the October 31st date is an extension to the deadline, not the date that Brexit will happen. Search “Brexit: what Happens Now” on the BBC News website.] And if the company leasing me the car felt the need to point out a risk that they had no intention of assuming, I figured I would do the same and manage my own risk. As such, I am not canceling my plans, but making a cancelable Plan B itinerary should I need one as my trip date draws near.

And to David, the poster I was responding to, thanks for your reply. I know it doesn’t show here for some reason, but I got it by email and you were very gentlemanly; I appreciate it.

you're welcome