Discussion
Hopefully a bit of local knowledge will be useful.
Over the next 6 months or so I will be making regular trips from the West Mids to Canterbury area. Clearly I am going to be hitting the M25 each way, the question is - which way round? Looking at the map, M1 then clockwise to M2 via dartford crossing but is there any merit in heading the other way round - possibly after coming down M40. I reckon on hitting M25 at 6-6.30 in the am and then coming back probably sbout 19.00 ish the following day.
tips gratefully received.
Over the next 6 months or so I will be making regular trips from the West Mids to Canterbury area. Clearly I am going to be hitting the M25 each way, the question is - which way round? Looking at the map, M1 then clockwise to M2 via dartford crossing but is there any merit in heading the other way round - possibly after coming down M40. I reckon on hitting M25 at 6-6.30 in the am and then coming back probably sbout 19.00 ish the following day.
tips gratefully received.
i think the only way is to try a few routes and find whats best for you. If you are doing it often you might want to mix it up alittle anyway to make it less "boring". Currently M25 north is all roadworks around to the A12 junction, so 40-50mph max. I dont think the south is as bad but the Heathrow section near the M4 is one of the busiest parts so your avg speed there might not be any higher than the roadworks sections anyway.
A Rough guestimate (not knowing exactly where your coming or going to), the M1-M25 is shortest, A14-M11-M25 is second shortist, and the M40-25 is the longest of the routes. The A14-M11 route would miss most of the North M25 roadworks so may be faster?
Remember the Toll cost too.
A Rough guestimate (not knowing exactly where your coming or going to), the M1-M25 is shortest, A14-M11-M25 is second shortist, and the M40-25 is the longest of the routes. The A14-M11 route would miss most of the North M25 roadworks so may be faster?
Remember the Toll cost too.
I did Northampton to Swanley yesterday, M1, M25, Dartford crossing, Jcn 3 of M25, this should take at 70mph 90 mins, I allowed 2 hours due to road works, it took 3 hours 15mins of which 30 mins was spent on the dartford bridge!!!
Some of the road works are due to finish shortly, but the Dartford crossing can be a pain for no reason! well the reason is they put the price up to £1.50 so the automatic booths take twice as long to count the money but will anybody admit they got wrong!
Some of the road works are due to finish shortly, but the Dartford crossing can be a pain for no reason! well the reason is they put the price up to £1.50 so the automatic booths take twice as long to count the money but will anybody admit they got wrong!
A lot of it would depend on what part of the Canturbury area, if it's south then I'd go M40 and south side M25, the roadworks and crossing can be a nightmare. Then there is the M1 which is the road from hell at most times let alone peak hours.
Don't forget to get any traffic info from the radio before you set off.
Don't forget to get any traffic info from the radio before you set off.
Cheers chaps, I hadnt considered the A14, M11 i will look at that thanks
I'm heading to the north side of canterbury. Last week I went down there M40/anticlockwise M25, and came back anticlockwise M25/M1. Got stuck in the snow on the way back so cant really judge it on that basis.
Unfortunately, in my car I cant really hear the radio over 40mph, and I havent got RDS so making choices en route is not easy.
S
I'm heading to the north side of canterbury. Last week I went down there M40/anticlockwise M25, and came back anticlockwise M25/M1. Got stuck in the snow on the way back so cant really judge it on that basis.
Unfortunately, in my car I cant really hear the radio over 40mph, and I havent got RDS so making choices en route is not easy.
S
sawman said:
Puggit said:
Get a Tomtom with HDtraffic. It plans the route on the fly depending on traffic conditions.
It's not 100% reliable, but it's a damn site better than having no info!
havent got a power outlet in my ride either! whats the battery life of one of those?It's not 100% reliable, but it's a damn site better than having no info!
heebeegeetee said:
sawman said:
Unfortunately, in my car I cant really hear the radio over 40mph, and I havent got RDS so making choices en route is not easy.
S
You're surely not doing it in the Morgan?S
Although I may take the train sometimes. I'm still toying with the idea of a motorway beater. But i am nor sure I want to run another car - I'm already propping BP's profits up with err indoors' petrol cherokee
mind you the garage round the corner has a tidy alfa 156 up for grabs
sawman said:
heebeegeetee said:
sawman said:
Unfortunately, in my car I cant really hear the radio over 40mph, and I havent got RDS so making choices en route is not easy.
S
You're surely not doing it in the Morgan?S
Joking aside, it can be an horrendous journey. There will be times when you might breeze through, and at others it could take you hours and hours and hours.
I think i'd be tempted to see if I could find a route across Londodn (and that will still be highly unpleasant) or I'd seriously investigate the trains. Or find another job. Or buy a cheap limo - a diesel Passat with auto box abd cruise or something, and Sorn the Moggie if need be for the duration.
I reckon 6 months of that journey will test your mental strength. Good luck!
heebeegeetee said:
sawman said:
heebeegeetee said:
sawman said:
Unfortunately, in my car I cant really hear the radio over 40mph, and I havent got RDS so making choices en route is not easy.
S
You're surely not doing it in the Morgan?S
Joking aside, it can be an horrendous journey. There will be times when you might breeze through, and at others it could take you hours and hours and hours.
I think i'd be tempted to see if I could find a route across Londodn (and that will still be highly unpleasant) or I'd seriously investigate the trains. Or find another job. Or buy a cheap limo - a diesel Passat with auto box abd cruise or something, and Sorn the Moggie if need be for the duration.
I reckon 6 months of that journey will test your mental strength. Good luck!
How early do you need to be on the M25 to miss the majority of traffic - or is that a silly question? I havent really spent much time in that neck of the woods for 10-15 years - I'm guessing its worse these days.
I'm off down there this week in the Mog, but my schedule is not firm so if i get a bit bogged down it won't be an issue. SORNing the mog will only save me a bit of tax, and not having it available over the summer is a no go - I currently use it everyday, but I am concerned about putting 2k miles a month on it, not that it cant take it, Thers a morgan near me which is 17 years old and had nearly 250k on it. I suspect I may end up with a 3rd car on the drive. Ideally something comfy. well insulated, and cheap to fuel, for less than 2 grand - maybe I should start another thread
heebeegeetee said:
Trouble is you need to do the return trip 12 hours later or more, ie 6amoutbound 8pm return.
Factor in the times when you leave home and return home and that nmakes one bloody long day!
Have you considered buying a flat in Canterbury? You won't lose on the deal.
ah, no i will be southbound early one day and northbound end of the next Factor in the times when you leave home and return home and that nmakes one bloody long day!
Have you considered buying a flat in Canterbury? You won't lose on the deal.
Predicting which bit of the M25 will snarl at any given time is a nightmare. I used to do A/M3 to A1 regularly and round to M11.
As has been suggested, if this is something you're going to have to do a lot and you don't want to pile the miles on your Morgan, get something sensible for the rat run. Essential would be to get a satnav with traffic updating.
As has been suggested, if this is something you're going to have to do a lot and you don't want to pile the miles on your Morgan, get something sensible for the rat run. Essential would be to get a satnav with traffic updating.
sawman said:
heebeegeetee said:
Trouble is you need to do the return trip 12 hours later or more, ie 6amoutbound 8pm return.
Factor in the times when you leave home and return home and that nmakes one bloody long day!
Have you considered buying a flat in Canterbury? You won't lose on the deal.
ah, no i will be southbound early one day and northbound end of the next Factor in the times when you leave home and return home and that nmakes one bloody long day!
Have you considered buying a flat in Canterbury? You won't lose on the deal.
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