Durham to Southampton

[JustDerv]

Hi all,

Anyone know what's the best way to drive from Durham to Southampton? Will be going down on Friday 25th.

Since we're catching the ferry on Saturday morning, I've booked into a Travel inn for Friday night, which is located at junction 13 of the M3.

Options considered so far:
A1, M1, M25, M3
A1, M1, M25, M4, A34, M3
A1, M1, Daventry - Banbury, M40, then A34 past Oxford, Newbury, then M3.

Any other options? Anything I should be aware of on the journey (apart from the scameras!)? It must be 10 or 11 years since I drove that far south.

Thanks

Iain

[fxout]

JustDerv said:

Options considered so far:
A1, M1, M25, M3
A1, M1, M25, M4, A34, M3
A1, M1, Daventry - Banbury, M40, then A34 past Oxford, Newbury, then M3.

Hi, I use to live in Southampton.

The route I've taken a few times is A1, M1, Daventry-Banbury, M40, A34, M3. It's a pleasant direct route, dual carriageway towards Southampton. It may not be as quick as a motorway, yet less likely for traffic jams and you'll keep moving.

Forget your second option- especially in rush hour. M4 can be very busy.

A1, M1, M25, M3 is OK, yet if you hit the M25 and M3 in rush hour, be prepared to queue onto the M3. It can be slow-going.

Lastly, if not in rush hour, this is still a good route.

Have a safe journey.

[Planet Claire]

When I was at uni along the south coast I used to drive back home to N Yorks on the A34, M10, A43, M1.

Now, living in Berkshire I swear by the A1, I never venture onto the M1 at all. Too much traffic, too many accidents/hold-ups, too many cops.

So now I would suggest M3, M25, A1.

[JustDerv]

Planet Claire said:

When I was at uni along the south coast I used to drive back home to N Yorks on the A34, M10, A43, M1.

Now, living in Berkshire I swear by the A1, I never venture onto the M1 at all. Too much traffic, too many accidents/hold-ups, too many cops.

So now I would suggest M3, M25, A1.

Doesn't the A1 have loads of speed cameras on it though, with limits dropping to 50 and then back to 70? At least on the M1 I'd be able to use the cruise and just set it to 70 all the way (until I hit the inevitable trafiic jam!)

Now looking again at A1, M1 to J18, A361 to Banbury, M40, A34 and then M3.

[Planet Claire]

Yes, there are a few speed cameras along the A1, not that many though and because I travel that route often I know where they are, so that helps. As the A1 passes through a few towns the speed is reduced down to 50 in some areas and there's a few roundabouts. But now, with the improvements they've made you can still set the cruise control, it's only the stretch between Peterborough and London that you get most of the cameras/roundabouts/50mph. Generally I feel I have a better run on the A1 than M1.

Just re-reading my inital post I realised I put M10 when I should have said M40.

A short-cut, and usually quicker route, is to use the M18 to get from the A1 to M1, this will by-pass Leeds and Sheffield/Meadowhall (which can be a bit of a bottleneck). Keep in the left hand lane (A1(M)) as you pass the A64 turn-off for York, rather than taking the M1 route. Just after Doncaster is the turn off for the M18.

[JustDerv]

Thanks! I used to live/study in Oxford years ago when the M18 was the way to get from the A1 to the M1, used to drive that route every week. Looks like despite all the 'improvements' and new A1/M1 link road that the old way is still best!

So that's the route I'll take then...A1, M18, M1, A361, M40, A34, M3...

Thanks for the input!
Iain

[10 Pence Short]

Having spent 10 years doing silly miles all over the country from Cumbria, I would head down the A1 and go straight onto the M1 at Leeds- I wouldn't bother continuing down the A1 to Doncaster because the it is still two lanes and slow between Ferrybridge and Doncaster, where you'd join the M18.

South of Doncaster on the A1 there are some fairly major works on the roundabouts around Stamford which are still ongoing. These can be bad on Fridays.

If it was me going from Durham, I'd head down the M1, M25 and M3.

There isn't really any point in diverting across to the A34 from your direction.

If there's a problem on the M1/M25/M3 below Nottingham you can always divert down the A42 onto the M42 then along the M40 and down the A34, if you need to.

Otherwise I'd keep it simple.

[Planet Claire]

10 Pence Short said:

South of Doncaster on the A1 there are some fairly major works on the roundabouts around Stamford which are still ongoing. These can be bad on Fridays.

If it was me going from Durham, I'd head down the M1, M25 and M3.

There isn't really any point in diverting across to the A34 from your direction.

If there's a problem on the M1/M25/M3 below Nottingham you can always divert down the A42 onto the M42 then along the M40 and down the A34, if you need to.

Otherwise I'd keep it simple.

Many of the roundabout roadworks have been completed, such as at Grantham and Worksop, just a couple left but otherwise, on my recent trips up north, they haven't been any problem at all. Even the new by-pass bit near Ferrybridge is quite nice now that it has been widened.

If I was to travel down the M1 I would still detour off at J15a onto the A43 then M40/ A34/M3. There is a stretch of average speed restrictions south of Luton towards the M25 which are a pain. And it's never fun to come round the M25, especially when you can avoid it.

Edited: Just read your initial post again and see you're travelling on a Friday - AVOID THE M25 at all costs!!!! Don't even go there.

Edited by Planet Claire on Thursday 10th July 13:35

[JustDerv]

Thanks 10p, that's another alternative route then (A42, M42, M40, A34...). Haven't been that way before, but it looks a viable option if there's any problems en-route and I need to divert.

So the M25 should be avoided on Friday? If that's the case then I may be better diverting to Banbury and the A34, or as 10p said, try the A42 et al.

There's plenty of choice, and at least with the overnight stop I'm not in much of a rush. Only problem is I'm taking my 2 (young) Daughters, and don't want to be stuck in traffic jams for hours!

Iain

[dcb]

JustDerv said:

So the M25 should be avoided on Friday?
Iain

After 3 pm yes and the South end of the M1 at
all times until 2009.

I'd recommend A1, M18, M1, M69, A46,
Coventry ring road, A46, Warwick, M40 J15,
M40, Oxford, A34 etc.

The pace of life gets faster and faster
the closer to London you get.

Up North, don't expect to get over 75 mph and
watch out for lousy lane discipline across North
Yorkshire in the two lane bits.

Down South, expect to be undertaken if you drop
below 80 mph and you leave a gap on the left.