A1 to M25 anticlockwise: use A414?

[jamei303]

When coming down the A1 and then heading anticlockwise around the M25 do you take the A414 "shortcut"?

It's been a while since I've done this journey, not since the smart motorway "upgrade" of that stretch of the M25.

Staying on the A1 until it joins the M25 is obviously a greater distance but then you avoid seven roundabouts...

[Planet Claire]

Generally, no, unless the M25 traffic is really bad.

[Eddie Strohacker]

Always, it cuts out a decent chunk of M25, especially the South Mymms roundabout & cutting out any chunk of M25 is a good idea in my book.

[Chris71]

I used to live in Hertford (which is on the A414). Whenever I was in a car with live traffic on the sat nav it would invariably route me that way and then down the A405. Not worth doing if the M25 is totally clear, but I don't think it takes much to tip things in the A414's favour. That said, it too can get clocked up around the roundabouts.

So ... great if you've got something like Waze watching the traffic for you.