Route Doon!!

[Blue Flame]

Hiya Peeps. :p

Just planning the route down and the first stab at it looks like this.

>>>Clicky Thing (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=A909&daddr=55.441479,-2.872925+to:A438&hl=en&geocode=FVF5WAMdZDjM_w%3B%3BFciwGgMdgOfP_w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=8&via=1&sll=55.556602,-3.603516&sspn=2.059911,5.817261&ie=UTF8&ll=54.610255,-4.460449&spn=8.442879,23.269043&t=h&z=6)<<<

Any suggestions on better roads?

[-Ralph-]

Intend to stay off the motorway as much as possible.

What happened?

Give me five mins, I'll map some of the roads I have used on the way up to GM's

[-Ralph-]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=A909&daddr=A7+to:A689+to:A684+to:B6480+to:Unknown+road+ to:53.834702,-2.513809+to:A438&hl=en&geocode=FVF5WAMdZDjM_w%3BFS6tTgMdOLzU_w%3BFcAARgMd 0qTZ_w%3BFeymPAMdolLe_w%3BFYXVOAMd5xbd_w%3BFZIaNwM d_ova_w%3B%3BFciwGgMdgOfP_w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=6&sz=11&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&sll=53.908788,-2.47261&sspn=0.328844,0.891953&ie=UTF8&ll=54.069059,-2.488403&spn=2.620763,7.13562&z=8

[Blue Flame]

What happened?


Nothing happened... I am just being lazy and letting others pick the route for me :p

[Blue Flame]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=A909&daddr=A7+to:A689+to:A684+to:B6480+to:Unknown+road+ to:53.834702,-2.513809+to:A438&hl=en&geocode=FVF5WAMdZDjM_w%3BFS6tTgMdOLzU_w%3BFcAARgMd 0qTZ_w%3BFeymPAMdolLe_w%3BFYXVOAMd5xbd_w%3BFZIaNwM d_ova_w%3B%3BFciwGgMdgOfP_w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=6&sz=11&via=1,2,3,4,5,6&sll=53.908788,-2.47261&sspn=0.328844,0.891953&ie=UTF8&ll=54.069059,-2.488403&spn=2.620763,7.13562&z=8

See..... it worked ;)

[-Ralph-]

If you're going to do my route give yourself 11-12 hours, especially if you are not riding alone.

[Blue Flame]

11- 12 hours is a bit of a killer esp when I have to build a tent at the end but it looks like there is plenty of bail out spots if I get a bit weary,

Thanks Col you are a superstar !!!

[-Ralph-]

Biggar to Moffat is much better than the A7 which sends me to sleep, but a bit boring from Biggar to Carlisle. If you want to do it take the old A70 from Currie/Balerno to Carnwath, then B7016 to Biggar/Broughton, then then the A701 to Moffat. I'd rather do that than the A7 any day.

[Blue Flame]

My original plan was the Biggar road but what put me off was arriving at the M74 too far North hence the A7. Although part of me is thinking to get the miles under the belt to Carlisle and then go off the motorway. If I leave about 6AM I should get there at a half decent time.

[-Ralph-]

11- 12 hours is a bit of a killer esp when I have to build a tent at the end but it looks like there is plenty of bail out spots if I get a bit weary,

Thanks Col you are a superstar !!!

No worries. Your route from Merseyside to the campsite is a bit uninspiring to be honest. Just main road through populated areas of England, lots of 30 mph limits, etc.

Personally if I wanted to bail out to motorway, I do it for the last 3 hours of the journey and stick with motorway from M6 @ Preston to M5 @ Worcester. Do all the nice roads in the North for your first half, and motorway the second half.

[-Ralph-]

Although part of me is thinking to get the miles under the belt to Carlisle and then go off the motorway

That makes sense, you'll dispatch that section of motorway in 40 minutes, but knock 60 miles off the journey in that time.

[-Ralph-]

That makes sense, you'll dispatch that section of motorway in 40 minutes, but knock 60 miles off the journey in that time.

What I mean is take the route to Moffat, which from the Forth bridge, on a bike, you'll do that just as quickly as you could on the M8/M74 anyway, them motorway that 60 mile chunk from Moffat to Gretna, before splitting back off to Brampton and having brunch at the Hartside cafe.

[Blue Flame]

That def sounds like a plan !!!

[timwilky]

I was chatting with Davepreston yesterday over coffee and no beer as he is feeling poorly (aaawww), we were thinking M6 to Warrington as there is no real route there otherwise and then jumping on the A49 down.

I guess this is going to be the way for most people north of the venue.

[MR UKI (1)]

I would definitely do the A49. From Sandiway (near Northwich) down there are very few large towns to go through as most are now by-passed. It's a cracking run down. Unfortunately for me living in Macc now the best route for me doesn't see me picking up the 49 until north of Shrewsbury, but I'm going back up on the Sunday all the way up the A49 and calling at the olds in Northwich.

[-Ralph-]

OK, ignore my comments about the A49, these guys are local and know it better than I do. I have found it a bit of a crawl on the few occasions I ahve used it (wife lived in Northwich when I met her) but maybe I was just catching it at the wrong time of day.

[MR UKI (1)]

OK, ignore my comments about the A49, these guys are local and know it better than I do. I have found it a bit of a crawl on the few occasions I ahve used it (wife lived in Northwich when I met her) but maybe I was just catching it at the wrong time of day.

It can be at times as people will use it as alternative to the M6/M5 at busy periods. But there are plenty of sections where overtaking is relatively easy if you're unfortunate to find a HGV in front of you summat. The road surface is generally good too, last time I was down the bit between Oulton Park and Whitchurch it had been resurfaced and was awesomely smooth. If I was off on Friday I would detour across to Northwich and run down it from there, but unfortunately I'm working a full day so will be doing the most direct route from Macc and picking it up at Shrewsbury :(. Given the option of the M6/M5 I would take the 49 every time :D

[Blue Flame]

Thanks for all the input guys.

I will take the A49 cos I hate motorways with a passion when on the bike.

I always look on the trip down as part of the fun of the weekend and am really looking forward to setting off.