M25 - Which Way?

[KeithE]

I'm trying to organise the logistics for a group doing the 3 Peaks (Ben Nevis, Scar Fell & Snowdon) in a couple of weeks time and am wondering which way to go around the M25 on the way up from Sussex to Fort William. The intention is to leave Tunbridge Wells with 2 mini-buses at 6.30ish on the Thursday morning, so hitting the M25 about 7.00. Essentially I have 4 options:

M25 anti clock then M40

M25 anti clock then M1

M25 clock then M1

M25 clock than A14/M1

All the route planners say option 1 but the mileage difference ebetween 1,2 and 3 is negligible (6 miles). Given the journey time is will be driven by traffic on the M25 rather than mileage what do people think.

Edited by KeithE on Wednesday 28th May 10:48

[lbc]

Buy a satnav with traffic and then decide.

Or use.. http://www.tomtom.com/livetraffic/

[Ved]

lbc said:

Buy a satnav with traffic and then decide.

Or use.. http://www.tomtom.com/livetraffic/

Or download Waze on your phone

[mygoldfishbowl]

None of the above. M25>M11>A1>A66>M74>etc.

[groomi]

What day of the week are you travelling?

[andy-xr]

I'd go M25/M40 but depending on roadworks at top of M25 I might be tempted to go M25/A1 then cut across the A66

[thatdude]

I used to drive from north london to brighton via the dartford crossing.

Now I go via heathrow; 10 mins quicker most times because I dont have to slow down / stop and saves me 4 quid over both journeys (which is about enough for 30 miles of fuel or so)

[rpla102]

Hi KeithE,

I'm doing the same trip end of June, good luck with your challenge.

rpla

[Ynox]

Too late to fly to Glasgow and get a one way rental on the vans? That's what I did back in 2011 when I did the 3 peaks. Much better than having to drive all the way to Fort Bill in a van that's limited to 62mph or so!

[Bill]

Tbh, if you get away on time then the M25 isn't the issue, I'd be more concerned about the lower stretches of the M1/A1 at rush hour. The M40 will likelybe clearer and you won't get to Birmingham until 9.30 or later.

[philmots]

I'd be setting off at 7-8!at night.. No traffic.

[rich83]

M25 clockwise. M40.

[BigBen]

I think avoiding Dartford is worth the few extra miles.

When I did the 3 peaks we used the A1 then A66, but were starting from Camrbidge.

From your start place I would use the M40 rather than M1, generally less traffic.

[Ozzie Osmond]

I'll give you another vote for clockwise and M40.

[KeithE]

Groomi, sorry, I meant to say this will be a Thursady morning. I knew I'd missed something from the original post and couldn't figure out what!!

[KeithE]

Thanks for all the suggestions, hadn't thought of the A66 option that might be worth a look but assuming the sat nav doesn't say otherwise I expect I'll go anti clock M40 which intuitively feels right.

A bit late for the flying to Glasgow idea but to be honest I can't see me getting 20+ people with all there kit etc organised enough to get to Gatwick, on the right plane and then find there kit at the other end.

RPLA good luck also with your try at this. We did a test in Brecon last month as most of the group had never done any mountain hiking and we nearly got blown clean off of Pen-y-fan so I'm hoping for slighly kinder weather on the day.

Keith