Edinburgh to Canterbury

[Dino D]

I am going to collect a Z3 2.8 in Edinburgh on a Monday. Will leave Edinburgh at around 11:30am and head down to Canterbury. So whilst I want to get home quick I would like to get some decent roads in before pounding down the motorway. It will have the hardtop on so no top down motoring unfortunately...

I think I want to avoid the M1 altogether.

Google suggest A68 up until Newcastle and then A1(M)and M11 which does cut down the time on the M25.

I see the A68 goes down to Darligton and then joins the A1M so could be interesting but still ok times wise?

After that is there any roads worth detouring from the A1M for?

[dcb]

Dino D said:

Google suggest A68 up until Newcastle and then A1(M)and M11 which does cut down the time on the M25.

A68 has very few passing places and those are
covered in speed cameras.

A697 to Morpeth much better.

Dino D said:

After that is there any roads worth detouring from the A1M for?

Nope. If you don't want the M1, then A1M it is.
M11 not bad, once south of Bishop's Stortford
or so where it goes three lanes.

BTW, most folks in Yorkshire seem to regard 65 mph
as way way fast enough and have hopeless lane discipline,
so whatever you drive, you'll be held up by clueless
flat capped numpties blocking lane 2 for about 80 miles or so.

A1 from Doncaster to Cambridge much improved since
they took out the roundabouts.

[fluffnik]

I'd be inclined to take the A701 to Moffat then down the M74/M6...

The Moffat road is

ETA: Map avoiding M-ways

Edited by fluffnik on Wednesday 14th September 04:20

[JM]

dcb said:

Dino D said:

Google suggest A68 up until Newcastle and then A1(M)and M11 which does cut down the time on the M25.

A68 has very few passing places and those are
covered in speed cameras.

A697 to Morpeth much better.

A68 has plenty of places to pass that don't have speed cameras.
The cameras are only on the Scottish bit.
All the camera positions are listed on the web.

A697 has cameras too.

A697 is better road if going to Morpeth or north side of Newcastle, otherwise A68/A698 is better bet.

But I'd probably opt for A701, then M74/M6. Or even better A701-A703-A72-B709-A708-M74/M6.

[Red Devil]

fluffnik said:

I'd be inclined to take the A701 to Moffat then down the M74/M6...

The Moffat road is

ETA: Map avoiding M-ways

Edited by fluffnik on Wednesday 14th September 04:20

Agreed. The A701 is a superb. Keep to the 30 limit in Broughton though. Plod were lurking both times (northbound and southbound) when I was last there. The OP wants to avoid the M1 though (I don't blame him) so M42 & M40 after the M6.

[Dino D]

JM said:

But I'd probably opt for A701, then M74/M6. Or even better A701-A703-A72-B709-A708-M74/M6.

How tight and bumpy is the B709?

One of these options are looking good and means I also get to use the M6 Toll and M40 which usually flow at a good rate. M42 was pretty good too last I used it.
It does mean I have to do the whole southern half of the M25 though...

[fluffnik]

Dino D said:

How tight and bumpy is the B709?

Fairly.

I still find it fun in an E39 though...