Dover To Manchester

[feb 47]

Hi,

I will be travelling from Dover to Manchester next week.

Usually, what is the route with the least traffic?

M25 anti-clockwise and M1 or M25 clockwise and M40?

Cheers!

Edited October 25, 2010 by feb

[AJA_GTi 0]

Hi,

I will be travelling from Dover to Manchester next week.

Usually, what is the route with the least traffic?

M25 anti-clockwise and M1 or M25 clockwise and M40?

Cheers!

 

 

I'd probably take M25, M1 mate (anticlockwise)

 

Rule of thumb is spend as little time on M25 as possible It can be like a big car park sometimes!

[feb 47]

Cheers dude, I was hoping to take M25 clockwise/M40 and make a stop at the Surrey rolling road but if this is going to add a few hours delay I'd better forget about it!

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

Whereabouts in London?

 

M1 then M6 all the way to Manchester.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

M20

M26

M25 - anti clockwise

M40

M42

M6

 

Works best for me

 

Manc to Croydon

3 1/2 hours in a rented Merc Sprinter!

[feb 47]

Alan, not London, Surrey rolling road is in KT16 0EE.

Seems like there are divided opinions here but 3 & 1/2h Manchester to Croydon is quick!

I need to make sure I have cameras POI loaded in the GPS!

[welshpug 1,657]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&sour...308647&z=12

[Alan_M 66 1 Cars]

Speed cameras on M25 between A3 and M40 on gantrys. Sometimes on, sometimes not.

 

No cameras on M40, but watchout for plod on bridges etc.

[Anthony 1,003]

What time are you going to be doing this journey, as it makes a huge difference whether the roads are quiet or gridlocked?

 

I certainly wouldn't envy you doing that trip in the height of rush hour, as you'll be screwed whatever way you go pretty much thanks to the usual snarl-up points and some long-term major roadworks that are taking place.

[feb 47]

Anthony, I aim to leave Dover as early as possible but having a late night the day before realistically speaking 8:30-9am.

Edited October 25, 2010 by feb

[brumster 135 1 Cars]

The section of the M25 between the M40 and M1 junctions is crap (or was a few weeks back) so definately stay away from that.

The M40 is pretty clear running most days but the short section of the M42 you need to get up to the M6 is crap, often employing temporary speed limits enforced with cameras. Mileage-wise there's little in it between the M1 and M40 routes, so I'd be tempted to take the M1/M6 as it's more clear of any of these new-fangled temporary speed enforcements. The choke points for me are the M25 and the M42... and the M6 northbound past Brum, of course, but either route can't get around that unless you fancy the toll road or a cross-country jaunt via the A5.

 

Put TP on the radio and listen for the worst bits....!

[AJA_GTi 0]

realistically speaking 8:30-9am.

 

 

Ouch!

 

I'd be tempted to grab a sausage & egg McMuffin breakfast at Dover and start after 9

[Batfink 201]

road widening on the m25 though you are going to hit it whatever as its around the M1 exit.

I would go M25, M40 to avoid the road widening, then join the M6, jump on the M6 toll road then up to Manchester

[Anthony 1,003]

Anthony, I aim to leave Dover as early as possible but having a late night the day before realistically speaking 8:30-9am.

You'll atleast miss the worst of the M25 gridlock then if you're leaving Dover at 9am.

 

Personally, I'd go:

 

A2 out of Dover

M2 to the M25

Over the Dartford Crossing

M25 around to the M1

M1 North to past Leicester

 

then either A50 across to the M6, and then M6 North to either the M56 or M62 (depending where in Manchester you need to get to)

 

or if you want a more enjoyable, scenic drive, head across the Peat District and drop into Manchester/Stockport. If you've time to spare, there's the famous "Snakes Pass" and "Cat and Fiddle" roads up there (although I think that they've put SPECS cameras on Cat and Fiddle now )

[AJA_GTi 0]

or if you want a more enjoyable, scenic drive, head across the Peat District and drop into Manchester/Stockport. If you've time to spare, there's the famous "Snakes Pass" and "Cat and Fiddle" roads up there (although I think that they've put SPECS cameras on Cat and Fiddle now )

 

They have but it's 50 mph average and you have to be giving it serious beans to average 50 mph along there.

 

It's a deterrent to sports bike mentalists more than cars mate.

[feb 47]

Cheers guys.

Anthony, I will be driving down to Nottingham on the same day after Manchester to spend the night so hopefully I can drive the cat and fiddle on my way down. I was told they have fitted average speed cameras there though, hence everyone stopping just before the pub and looking at their watches, lol.

I am not sure where the snake's pass is.

 

That't the info I got for the cat and fiddle from a local:

"the cameras are there but on the main twisty bit there is only one. So if you cane it from Macclesfield up to the first camera then can cane it even more on the run up to the pub. then just pull up before the pub and wait a few minutes. The other cameras are on the fast straight which is on the derbysh'ite side."

 

Edit: Aja beat me to it

Edited October 25, 2010 by feb

[damien 22 1 Cars]

i would take the A20/M20 over the A2/M2 at that time of day just becasue of traffic