Xmas Drive to Cumbria Advice

[dontlookdown]

Not specific to your journey, but in many years of south/north/south Xmas driving I have found that boxing day is often the worst day of all for traffic. Be ready for the return trip to be slower than the outbound one.

I would use Waze, not only for the initial route planning but also because it is reasonably effective at dodging traffi that builds up while you are travelling.

[Biker 1]

dontlookdown said:

Not specific to your journey, but in many years of south/north/south Xmas driving I have found that boxing day is often the worst day of all for traffic. Be ready for the return trip to be slower than the outbound one.

I would use Waze, not only for the initial route planning but also because it is reasonably effective at dodging traffi that builds up while you are travelling.

A few years back I drove from Gatwick area to a place near Berkhamsted on December 27th. Normally the journey would be around 1 & a half hours - on that occasion it took over 4 !! So I suppose the question is whether the 26th will be as bad - maybe I'll just return late afternoon....

[Red Devil]

Skodillac said:

Mammasaid said:

Skodillac said:

It's a couple more miles, but can be faster when the M6 is buggered. Even when it isn't though, my route is only a few minutes longer. And it's so much prettier, with more options for non-motorway service station food and fuel. If you haven't used the A1(M) Doncaster to Scotch Corner recently, prepare to be amazed. IMHO it's the best motorway in the country now, in terms of traffic conditions, surface quality and lack of smart motorway gubbins.

But don't tell anyone or they'll all be doing it.

I agree with all that, however in winter in the A66 is prone to closure (wind, snow, etc) and when you arrive at Bowes and the A66 is shut Westbound, then you're faced with a large diversion via the A67, A68 & A69. (It was fun one year when there was 2ft drifts going through Tow Law up to Corbridge in a 1.2 Corsa!)

Er, yes, see my original post on the matter which mentions this propensity.

If there is a risk of the A66 being shut over Stainmore then avoid it altogether.
The B6275 via Piercebridge is a nice break from the motorway/A road tide - https://maps.app.goo.gl/xqsA9mwizutYnDZF9
Then a choice of the A69 or A689 to Carlisle.

[Skodillac]

Red Devil said:

Skodillac said:

Mammasaid said:

Skodillac said:

It's a couple more miles, but can be faster when the M6 is buggered. Even when it isn't though, my route is only a few minutes longer. And it's so much prettier, with more options for non-motorway service station food and fuel. If you haven't used the A1(M) Doncaster to Scotch Corner recently, prepare to be amazed. IMHO it's the best motorway in the country now, in terms of traffic conditions, surface quality and lack of smart motorway gubbins.

But don't tell anyone or they'll all be doing it.

I agree with all that, however in winter in the A66 is prone to closure (wind, snow, etc) and when you arrive at Bowes and the A66 is shut Westbound, then you're faced with a large diversion via the A67, A68 & A69. (It was fun one year when there was 2ft drifts going through Tow Law up to Corbridge in a 1.2 Corsa!)

Er, yes, see my original post on the matter which mentions this propensity.

If there is a risk of the A66 being shut over Stainmore then avoid it altogether.
The B6275 via Piercebridge is a nice break from the motorway/A road tide - https://maps.app.goo.gl/xqsA9mwizutYnDZF9
Then a choice of the A69 or A689 to Carlisle.

Thanks, that looks an interestingly straight road. Former Roman Road, I presume?

[dcb]

Skodillac said:

If you haven't used the A1(M) Doncaster to Scotch Corner recently, prepare to be amazed. IMHO it's the best motorway in the country now, in terms of traffic conditions, surface quality and lack of smart motorway gubbins.

Fair opinion, but there is an about 20 mile chunk at the Doncaster
end which is the old 1960s two lanes each way and most users
have no concept of lane discipline nor any understanding
of anyone doing over about 65 mph.

Dozens of drivers will sit quite happily in the wrong lane for 30+ miles,
which makes for frustrating slow progress.

Once it goes from two lane each way to three, then yes it's
a good fast road mostly without cameras, which is a deep joy.
The Yorkshire police force seem to understand that road safety
can't be measured in miles per hour.

Personally, I'd rate the M40 and the chunk of A1M four lanes
each way near Peterborough as better. Oxfordshire Police seem
to be as enlightened as the Yorkshire Police when it comes
to road safety.

[Opapayer]

It’s one hell of a journey you’re taking on there, especially hoping for daylight for the whole trip at this time of year. My thoughts would be to get going as early as possible and deal with the part to get up towards Oxford as quickly as possible. After that, it’s pot luck around Birmingham, but using the Toll road is absolute must. The M6 north of there is just frustrating with traffic often bunching for no apparent reason. Once you clear Thelwall viaduct it should be OK, but expect some hassle around the East Lancs A580 turn off amd again around Preston where nobody knows how to use a four lane section of motorway. Clear the M55 and you’re home free. It will be quiet and the temptation to go a lot faster will be there, but watch out as your speed will creep very easily to north of 100 without much effort.

In terms of the options to go up the eastern side of the country and then cut across, I’d be wary at this time of year. You’re crossing The Pennines and the height of these is often easily overlooked. Weather can be very bad on stretches and once you’re on that side, if one road is closed then most either will be, or very congested and just awaiting closure. Keep an eye on the weather well in advance if you’re thinking of taking these routes. Bear in mind us hardy Northern types like driving in snow and know how to do it, southern drivers tend to immediately crash at the first sign of a snowflake on the M25 and get trapped until April

Skodillac said:

Thanks, that looks an interestingly straight road. Former Roman Road, I presume?

I think it’s part of Dere Street which ran from York into Scotland.

[Biker 1]

The plan is to leave before 5am in order to get past the M25 asap.
I have thought of weather, & if there's a chance of snow enough route I will cancel.

[Opapayer]

Biker 1 said:

The plan is to leave before 5am in order to get past the M25 asap.
I have thought of weather, & if there's a chance of snow enough route I will cancel.

You’ll be fine if you stick to the Western side of the country. The only issue would be Shap, but even then the M6 will be kept open, it’s the A and certainly B roads that you’d be relying on if crossing The Pennines where the risk would be.

[Biker 1]

I'll report back on the 27th. I'm hoping it'll be a rather dull report!
Thanks all for the input

[BossHogg]

Skodillac said:

Thanks, that looks an interestingly straight road. Former Roman Road, I presume?

Be careful on the A69, large chunks of it are now covered by average speed cameras.

[rider73]

Never trust the a66, any weather, if you can avoid, avoid. A single accident causes chaos at the best of times

M6 M60 around Manchester avoid in anyway peak times or kids school.

After that the M6 is glorious all the way to Carlisle

There some 50mph limits over 3 bridges at the moment but traffic is light

[BossHogg]

And you won't see me as I'm on leave after the 21st until New Years day.

[Matthen]

Biker 1 said:

The plan is to leave before 5am in order to get past the M25 asap.
I have thought of weather, & if there's a chance of snow enough route I will cancel.

If you're leaving that early, check the toll is actually worth it (assuming you're going that way) - (just switch tolls off in google maps and check the arrival time)

Quite often it's over a tenner for less than 2 minutes gain.

M42->M5->M6 is where its at, and has been since HS2 started work on the Cruzon Street approach.

[Steve_H80]

Mammasaid said:

however in winter in the A66 is prone to closure (wind, snow, etc)

A few years back when the A66 was snowed closed we had them coming up Teesdale and promptly getting stuck
I don't know what they where thinking, if the A66 is shut because of snow you have no chance getting over the Pennines and down Hartside.
Cracking good summer route though

[Biker 1]

Update:
I drove M23, M25, M40, M42, M6 Toll, M6 with 15-odd miles of A/B roads either end. Left at 5am on Tuesday with 1 pitstop. Nothing to report. Arrived 11.30am.
Returned today - left at 9am, home by 4pm. Apart from a hold up near Birmingham due to a car crash causing maybe 15 minutes extra journey time & the usual nonsense at M25/M3 junction, nothing really to report on either!
Dull, very long motorway drive of over 750 miles round trip. I won't be doing it again for a while.
Thanks as ever for PH suggestions.
Oh, & the views in the Lake District are mega!

[TVR Sagaris]

Thanks to this thread I used the M5 around Birmingham (M40-M42-M5-M6) which was quick on the way up but the variable speed limit bit of the M6 was slow on the way down.

[Gary C]

Biker 1 said:

Update:
I drove M23, M25, M40, M42, M6 Toll, M6 with 15-odd miles of A/B roads either end. Left at 5am on Tuesday with 1 pitstop. Nothing to report. Arrived 11.30am.
Returned today - left at 9am, home by 4pm. Apart from a hold up near Birmingham due to a car crash causing maybe 15 minutes extra journey time & the usual nonsense at M25/M3 junction, nothing really to report on either!
Dull, very long motorway drive of over 750 miles round trip. I won't be doing it again for a while.
Thanks as ever for PH suggestions.
Oh, & the views in the Lake District are mega!

Yes, the weather has been fantastic. Today, the sunset was epic.

[Biker 1]

Gary C said:

Yes, the weather has been fantastic. Today, the sunset was epic.

Yep, but sun visors were deployed most of the way back!

[Earthdweller]

Biker 1 said:

Update:
I drove M23, M25, M40, M42, M6 Toll, M6 with 15-odd miles of A/B roads either end. Left at 5am on Tuesday with 1 pitstop. Nothing to report. Arrived 11.30am.
Returned today - left at 9am, home by 4pm. Apart from a hold up near Birmingham due to a car crash causing maybe 15 minutes extra journey time & the usual nonsense at M25/M3 junction, nothing really to report on either!
Dull, very long motorway drive of over 750 miles round trip. I won't be doing it again for a while.
Thanks as ever for PH suggestions.
Oh, & the views in the Lake District are mega!

If it's clear the views over shap are indeed mega

[Biker 1]

Forgot to mention: I only saw a single police car throughout, & that was in the opposite direction on blues.