Which way would you go? (question for south-easterners)

bompington

At the risk of being told I should just buy Campag and blame Wiggle, some advice please as I've not driven a lot down this way for a few years: heading for the ferry at Harwich, which route should I take?
(Perhaps I should point out that I'll be driving not riding, and what's more towing a caravan)

down the M6, M1, M25 and across
or
across the A66 and down the A1

jamm13dodger

Second one.

guinea

bompington wrote:

At the risk of being told I should just buy Campag and blame Wiggle, some advice please as I've not driven a lot down this way for a few years: heading for the ferry at Harwich, which route should I take?
(Perhaps I should point out that I'll be driving not riding, and what's more towing a caravan)

down the M6, M1, M25 and across
or
across the A66 and down the A1

First one.

I hate the Edinburgh->Newcastle->A1(M) journey.

rolf_f

A1 - not as spectactularly dull as the M1, M6 and often easier to escape in the case of traffic problems.

DrewDubya

My choice would depend on when you were travelling, and specifically what time of day you are going to hit J12 and further on the M1...

Generally I try to plan my journeys to use M25, M1 whenever possible

bompington

guinea wrote:

I hate the Edinburgh->Newcastle->A1(M) journey.

Wouldn't dream of coming down the east coast the whole way, M74-M6 is always the best way to get south from scotland.

Thanks for the suggestions - @Drew, we're travelling on sat 16th July to get to the ferry in the evening if that makes much difference - would hit M25, if going that way, at about 6-7pm.

Pross

Just stay at home, dragging your box on wheels around the country and causing delays to other road users is just selfish

DrewDubya

bompington wrote:

guinea wrote:

I hate the Edinburgh->Newcastle->A1(M) journey.

Wouldn't dream of coming down the east coast the whole way, M74-M6 is always the best way to get south from scotland.

Thanks for the suggestions - @Drew, we're travelling on sat 16th July to get to the ferry in the evening if that makes much difference - would hit M25, if going that way, at about 6-7pm.

I would expect that to be one of the quieter times - I'd certainly be palnning on using M25 if it was me

bompington

Pross wrote:

Just stay at home, dragging your box on wheels around the country and causing delays to other road users is just selfish

Yeah, it's not like a cyclist would ever hold up traffic is it?
Seriously, I find the main problem with towing a caravan is that it's really quite hard to overtake slow traffic on most roads. Last time I was towing through East Anglia we were fed up after the long drag south, the kids were being sick in the back and I wound up doing 80 for the last hour or so.

DIESELDOG

Second one.

I did the A66 - A1(M) a few weeks back, it was not too bad although I hate the A66 with a passion and I've only been on the damn road 4 times.

Last time hit the Appleby Horse Fair, (not literally), which caused a few minutes delay but overall a fairly decent drive. The first time was towing a caravan as well just watch for the cross winds. :shock:

Love n hugs

DD

Stewie Griffin

A1 hands down. The M1 and the M25? You couldn't pay me enough.

williamwasp

Stewie Griffin wrote:

A1 hands down. The M1 and the M25? You couldn't pay me enough.

+1 (and as for the M6...)

Monty Dog

More than route choice, timing is more critical - there's no need to drop all the way down to the M25 - cut across the A14 to Cambridge and down the M11 and then across to Harwich. As well as the M25 during the rush hours, the M1 between Derby and Leicester and the M6/M5 around Birmingham are worth avoiding at peak hours. Timing would dictate my choice between the M6 or A1 in order to avoid major conurbations - I use both regularly. The downside of the A1 is that it's mainly dual carriageway - one incident and it snarls up quickly.

Kieran_Burns

The M6 is a car park anywhere between junction... well.... 45 and 1

The very worst part is anywhere between 19 and 13 (Manchester Airport and Stafford South) that bit is just dire, and you'll be hitting it at one of the worst times.

Then you have Gravelly Hill interchange and THEN the M1 coming into London.

Avoid.

I'd just do the A66 and down the A1 (which I prefer, and the roadworks north of Ripon keep the traffic down to 50 mph so you won't feel left out )

Pross

bompington wrote:

Pross wrote:

Just stay at home, dragging your box on wheels around the country and causing delays to other road users is just selfish

Yeah, it's not like a cyclist would ever hold up traffic is it?
Seriously, I find the main problem with towing a caravan is that it's really quite hard to overtake slow traffic on most roads. Last time I was towing through East Anglia we were fed up after the long drag south, the kids were being sick in the back and I wound up doing 80 for the last hour or so.

I know how you feel. When I tow it is a horse trailer so I have to keep slow. I don't envy you towing that sort of distance!

APIII

I always go M1/M25/A12. I'm only coming from junction 12 on M1 though.