South of England - Scotland...To M6 or not to M6?

[Tromperie]

CrutyRammers said:

M6 will be a nightmare up to preston/blackpool or so, but then so will the M1. Personally I'd leave it and travel later if you can.

I've opted to mill around until around 6pm or later on the last few northbound drives I've had to undertake (Notts and Hertfordshire to name the longest examples) but sadly that's not really an option for me this time round; ideally, I have to be in Glasgow for about 10pm-ish.

[Davie]

I'm not sure about the roads nearer you but experience says that the M6 generally flows ok once you clear the Midlands but then again, anything can happen on the roads. Once you clear Preston it's an easy run and the M74 roadworks shouldn't cause any issues at that time of night. Have tried the M1 / A66 etc routes a couple of times and they weren't good... M6, cruise control and roll with it and hope there's no unplanned hold ups.

[davidpstock]

M6 toll around Birmingham-definitely worth the cost

[Puggit]

Use GPS with traffic, will help reduce the issues. Either TomTom go on the Mobile or free Google Maps.

[towser44]

I occasionally go to our office in Chorley and head South down the M6 from Charnock Richard services to Knutsford services at various times/weekdays between 4pm and 6pm and not once in the last 2 years have I seen anything but nose to tail stopped traffic on the Northbound carriageway after Thelwall Viaduct up towards Leigh and from Knutsford up to the viaduct.

On saying that, I was on the M1 from Milton Keynes to the A50 turn off at East Midlands Airport last week around 4.30-5pm and that was a nightmare heading Northbound too, so I don't think the alternatives are any better.

[hoegaardenruls]

Mammasaid said:

750turbo said:

CoolCurly said:

M6 - every time.

Its a bloody nice bit of road the more north you get - and time dependant I can highly recommend Tebay services, probably the best service station in the UK (Privately owned).

http://www.tebayservices.com/

The Mway after this is stunning, reminds me a little of driving through the alps in France/Italy.

Safe Trip

Absolutely this OP - I have been doing a similar journey for over 19 years, on a monthly basis.

Once you are across the border, watch out for Dumfries & Galloway Police Camera Vans on the bridges! Enjoy the view

Don't worry, they have them in Cumbria also...

Not just on the bridges - you also need to watch out around the junctions of the M74, as D&G often have one or two patrol cars parked on the on-ramps where you can't see them. I know that one from experience..

[Glasgowrob]

Do this run on a regular basis definitely M6


And as soon as you hit the border whack cruise control on at a nice sedate pace the enforcement up here is heavy in number and draconian