Woodhead Pass

[alangla]

Very quick question - I'm thinking of driving the Woodhead pass next week, am I better continuing east on the A628 via Penistone to get to the M1 or down the A616 via Stocksbridge?

On the way home, I was planning to cross back over the Pennines via the A65 - any better options in that area or further north?

Many thanks!!

[Jimbo1404]

What time you planning on going over? Any time of day between 6am and 10pm and you'll average about 35mph stuck behind a wagon!

[alangla]

Argh! Probably a weekday, about 1pm.

[All that jazz]

alangla said:

Very quick question - I'm thinking of driving the Woodhead pass next week, am I better continuing east on the A628 via Penistone to get to the M1 or down the A616 via Stocksbridge?

On the way home, I was planning to cross back over the Pennines via the A65 - any better options in that area or further north?

Many thanks!!

A616 from Langsett resy all the way to J35A has average speed cams for the entire length. 40mph for wagons and although there are a few overtaking sections on the hillier bits, you're still restricted to 60 max and it's mind-numbingly boring. The A628 to Barnsley is also a heavy traffic road and you'll be stuck at whatever speed everyone else is doing. If you get to 60mph on either road you'll be doing well at the time you intend to travel. Neither are good driving roads anyway.

A65 from Skipton to Kendal is a good driving road, but only late night or very early morning when there's no traffic. It's very twisty but progressive - you can take the bends at good speed. Not many overtaking opportunities considering the length of the road and the only bit with an overtaking lane is just after the Settle rbt. Not a good road through the daytime, heavy traffic and loads of grain, animal feed and aggregate wagons to contend with. If you're going back to Scotland personally I'd go on the A1 to Scotch corner and across the 66 if you're travelling through the day.

[alangla]

Brilliant - many thanks!