Breaking up a journey from the N.E. to Essex

[SmilerFTM]

Very very short notice this one so can't see me getting too much info but I'm off from Hartlepool to Essex this week and want to break up the monotony of A1, M11 dullness. Got a couple of little detours already but wanted to know of any more that aren't too far out the way. This is what I have up to now

http://goo.gl/maps/G0Kk7

[alangla]

Middlesbrough - Scarborough via the coast is nice from what I remember - I see you've already included the Transporter Bridge, maybe hug the coast till Bridlington then head for the Humber Bridge?

[CAPP0]

Years ago there used to be a "proper" American diner, corrugated aluminium cladding & all, on the A1. Can't really remember where, maybe Leicester-ish? Haven't driven that way for a long time, but ISTR it was worth a stop.

[FRMATT]

Melton Mowbray to Market Harborough on the B6047 is a nice bit of road if that isn't too much of a detour for you:

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcyclegps.php?n...

[MrFrodo]

CAPP0 said:

Years ago there used to be a "proper" American diner, corrugated aluminium cladding & all, on the A1. Can't really remember where, maybe Leicester-ish? Haven't driven that way for a long time, but ISTR it was worth a stop.

The Okay Diner near Grantham is pretty good. The milkshakes are fantastic.

As far as roads go, well the B660 - one of Evo's favoured test routes - pretty much starts and finishes at junctions of the A1. Heading south, you could drop down on to it from junction 16 or 15 around Glatton, follow it to Kimbolton and then use the B645 (which also pretty good) to pick the A1 up again around St Neots. It will only add 20 minutes or so to your journey and it's a detour worth taking.

You can't go wrong once you enter Essex either. The northern portion of the county is awash with quiet, twisty B-roads. As a guide, I'd say detour off at Saffron Walden and follow the B184 down.

[Red Devil]

alangla said:

Middlesbrough - Scarborough via the coast is nice from what I remember - I see you've already included the Transporter Bridge, maybe hug the coast till Bridlington then head for the Humber Bridge?

If going that way then after the Humber Bridge:
A15 -> M180 junction and s/o across motorway
A18 towards Brigg then immediately left to Barnetby-le-Wold
Unclassified road -> Bigby
A1084 -> Caistor
A46 -> Market Rasen
B1202 -> Wragby
B1202 -> Bardney
B1190/B1202 -> Potterhanworth
B1178 to junction with A15
then
A15 -> junction with B1429
B1429 -> Cranwell
turn right onto A17 then left onto B6403
B6403 -> Ancaster -> junction with A52
turn right onto A52 then s/o at roundabout onto B6403
B6403 -> junction with A1
or
A15 -> Bourne -> Peterborough
A1139 ring road to A1(M)

A longer journey time but zero likelihood of any queues/tailbacks. The B roads have very little traffic and are much more rewarding than the headlong rush down the A1(M) and then the A1 through Nottinghamshire.

[SmilerFTM]

Cheers people, should give me an interesting drive although I'll miss out the Scarborough bit and do my favourite Moors run on the B1257 then from Malton head south on the B1248