London Carlisle
Discussion
drivin_me_nuts said:
Best part of 5-6 hours. I would have thought the worst bit might be the M25 as it still hasn't normally cleared by that time. The rest should be clear.
Watch out as you drive up Shap and the flat bit above. Cumbria revenue generation have an almost infantile obsession with scameras.
+1 for the Scameras, nice road and very tempting !Watch out as you drive up Shap and the flat bit above. Cumbria revenue generation have an almost infantile obsession with scameras.
okgo said:
Thanks guys,
So avoid the m6 then?
if you are going on M25-M40, i guess you should be arriving at the midlands at around 9pm but as said, could be still busy between M42 and M6 J11, but after that the road should be reasonably clear, if you don't mind to pay use the toll road since after 9pm the M6 around that area could still be busy.So avoid the m6 then?
Or as mentioned M1-A50-M6, however I am not sure if the roadworks on M1 is finished, so possibly check on the traffic news before you decide whether you are going on normally M25-M40-M42-M6 or the M1-A50-M6.
at the time you reach M6 should be clear enough.
XDA said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
Watch out as you drive up Shap and the flat bit above. Cumbria revenue generation have an almost infantile obsession with scameras.
Infact, Anywhere between Shap and Carlisle (J44) is Cumbria Scamera territory.
If travelling on our lovely stretch of the M6 during daylight hours the scamera crew have been sticking to bridges without prior warning signs lately - one at the bottom of the downhill stretch after Jct 41 Northbound and one between Gretna and Carlisle Southbound (in fact the same place they used to operate before the A74 was upgraded).
After dark I'd watch the speed around the junctions as Plod like to hide on the entry slip roads.
In terms of time for the journey I quite frequently do Carlisle to M25 J6 and vice versa as we have family down that way. I'd suggest based on past experience at the sort of time the OP is looking at leaving the traffic should only be an issue on the M25 so would want to leave the Orbital ASAP and hence would go the M40 route. If you get a clear run at boring speeds it's a 5-5.5 hour trip. Upping the speed can shave an hour off easily in the abscence of traffic but obviously is rather expensive ATM!
okgo said:
Thanks all.
Its some time in June when I'll be doing it, I'm actually driving to Aberdeen, but thought that was a bit extreme in one day!
Depends what you're doing before you leave & how much of a rush you're in. If you can get a few hours sleep before setting off it's definitely doable but it's not a good idea to be driving while tired. You are leaving at a good time to miss the worst of the traffic & if you don't keep stopping you could be in Aberdeen by 3.30amIts some time in June when I'll be doing it, I'm actually driving to Aberdeen, but thought that was a bit extreme in one day!
okgo said:
Thanks all.
Its some time in June when I'll be doing it, I'm actually driving to Aberdeen, but thought that was a bit extreme in one day!
Jet lag when you've never left the ground is a weird thing to deal with...Its some time in June when I'll be doing it, I'm actually driving to Aberdeen, but thought that was a bit extreme in one day!
I did Henley to Aberdeen overnight once in about 8 hours. Average of about 65mph including stops I guess. Easily doable overnight, and you wouldn't average much less when you leave the M25...
okgo said:
Thanks guys,
So avoid the m6 then?
Without any doubt go m40 m42 m6 toll m6.So avoid the m6 then?
I do this journey a lot and the m25 is the only problem part so the later you leave the better it will be.
If the m25 is bad take j13 Runnymeade/Windsor then a404 towards Marlow to join m40 can save you a long delay on a fri eve!
I once left Leighton Buzzard at 1215 one Sunday morning and hoofed past Carlisle on the M6 at around 0330.
No really I did. M1/A50/M6
I pulled into my driveway in Fife at 0415 and that was after stopping twice for fuel.
But that doesn't help you, sorry.
That trip, door to door, usually takes about 6 hours at a reasonable 'fast cruise' so bank on something around that if you're not in a hurry and avoid Birmingham at all costs.
No really I did. M1/A50/M6
I pulled into my driveway in Fife at 0415 and that was after stopping twice for fuel.
But that doesn't help you, sorry.
That trip, door to door, usually takes about 6 hours at a reasonable 'fast cruise' so bank on something around that if you're not in a hurry and avoid Birmingham at all costs.
okgo said:
Thanks all.
Its some time in June when I'll be doing it, I'm actually driving to Aberdeen, but thought that was a bit extreme in one day!
Nah, piece of p. I've done it many times, different cars, even towing once. 7.5-10 hrs, stopping every 3hrs or so. I used to drive through the night but I can't stand the retina burn anymore.Its some time in June when I'll be doing it, I'm actually driving to Aberdeen, but thought that was a bit extreme in one day!
Stick to the motorways via M6/M72, although sometimes I'll use the A701 through the borders into Edinburgh as it's such a good road.
Refuel right at the end of the M6: there's a BP rest area (not services) where fuel is supermarket prices, so about 10p/l cheaper than the rip off services.
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