View Full Version : Kent to Dumfries on Thursday afternoon...wise idea?
We are due to go to Dumfries on Thursday afternoon for the Xmas & New Year period.
Kent is bad enough, so what is the rest of the route going to be like and is it going to be safe to travel?
Where is the best place for checking roads etc so I can check most of the route before I leave.
Any other advice?
dizzyblonde
19-12-10, 09:50 PM
hmmmm wise idea
Bike ...no
Car ...no
HTH
Unless it all melts ;)
fizzwheel
19-12-10, 09:53 PM
I've got a similar ish kinda trip planned for Tuesday.
Taking my friend halfway to Scotland and her mum is meeting us and taking her on from there.
Travelling M5 / M6, apparently a light dusting of snow in the kirkudbright area. Its the inbetween thats concerning me.
I thnk we'll be in the Maverick, but worried about getting stuck somewhere due to muppetry of others driving.
I spoke to my friend tonight, both said the same, dont think we'll be going. Just not worth taking the risk we think.
Forecast is not looking good to be honest.
andrewsmith
19-12-10, 09:53 PM
Car, Leave early as you can! A1/ M1 all the way up.
Its clear North of Newcastle
Wideboy
19-12-10, 09:54 PM
i did from southampton right up to north lancashire, up the m40 and m6 in the first load of snow we had (in fact the day it hit). it snowed all week and the roads where fine, The day i left and for the whole week. I'll be doing it again boxing day
... A1/ M1 all the way up.
And get lost :rolleyes: Dumfries is SW Scotland ;)
Its clear North of Newcastle
Not up here its not, another 3" of misery dumped out the sky so far today :(
Rain is forecast later in the week...
andrewsmith
19-12-10, 10:00 PM
And get lost :rolleyes: Dumfries is SW Scotland ;)
Not up here its not, another 3" of misery dumped out the sky so far today :(
Its trying here but it ain't doing out!
Noticed that after I posted, challenge go via the Hartside and jump onto the M6
JamesMio
19-12-10, 10:39 PM
Its trying here but it ain't doing out!
Noticed that after I posted, challenge go via the Hartside and jump onto the M6
I can certainly keep you updated from this end, but to be honest by that point you'd already be here!? More than happy to help though if I can, just gimme a shout I'd needs be.
Current conditions here are 3-4" snow from Friday night, not sure what's due through the week yet...
Milky Bar Kid
19-12-10, 11:14 PM
Did you ask me for permission to enter my territory?? LOL!!!
I can certainly keep you updated from this end, but to be honest by that point you'd already be here!? More than happy to help though if I can, just gimme a shout I'd needs be.
Current conditions here are 3-4" snow from Friday night, not sure what's due through the week yet...
Keep me updated mate - would really appreciate it...
Did you ask me for permission to enter my territory?? LOL!!!
MBK - Have you not received my application? I sent it in the post.
I was hoping for an escort in, once I go over the border...what can you do?
JamesMio
20-12-10, 09:48 AM
No probs, will do - the main roads here are certainly passable, certainly the one's you'd be on (M74 & A75). They've actually been pretty good at dealing with it round here this year (which is a first), so you'll probably be Ok.
Did you ask me for permission to enter my territory?? LOL!!!
Back in my day, for most Stewarty girls, all it took was a couple of Blue WKD's to get that..! ;)
We have two guys in a Mondeo driving from Norwich to RAF Dounreay (think John O'Groats) today - if I hear anything I will pass it on.
(http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=doonray&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl)
Please mate anything at all. Will be traveling with the wife and kids. As much as I hate to waste money, I wouldn't want to get stuck with them in the car...
We have freezing fog here in Shroppie. And it really is very cold, lots of ice. Main road is reasonably care, back roads passable with care. The M54 and A5 are OK but you'd be a bit off course if you used them;)
timwilky
20-12-10, 11:32 AM
The M6 round here is horrid. It was closed for 7 hours on Friday night. Whilst it is not snowing, what is on the ground is well and truely stuck. I went on my backside in it yesterday trying to cross the A6 and foot went wrong in a rutted section.
Go out in these conditions. Mad Mad Mad. Even the daughter has phoned in work today to say she cannot get over from Preston to Leeds, we are struggling to do 100 yards without a skid/slid
im hoping it carries on. brighton from winchester for me christmas day, not a bad journey, but see thing is my sister in law is a vegetarian, and this will be my first turkey/roast free christmas day since the dawn of time. im not impressed as if, ney WHEN she visited me one year i laid both on.
veggies are weirdo's. fact.
Our guys have turned round and are heading back - they got as far as Newark and its undriveable apparently - the people in RAF Dounreay are on severe weather warnings and are probably going to be sent home.
All I can offer I am afraid!
Hmmmm, not sounding good to me...
Keep on posting peeps.
Just had a call from my opposite numbers in RAF High Wycombe they are closing down early as the roads around there are getting treacherous too - don't know if this impacts on your planned route, but it looks like things are getting iffy on the roads...
Just checked BBC and Dumfries says -14 for Thursday...so I might pack a jumper...
Just checked BBC and Dumfries says -14 for Thursday...so I might pack a jumper...
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html
and
http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/traffic.aspx
might help you out.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html
and
http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic/traffic.aspx
might help you out.
great websites. thanks.
JamesMio
20-12-10, 12:56 PM
Just out of interest... why Dumfries!?
http://www.trafficengland.com/ and http://trafficscotland.org/ might also help...
SoulKiss
20-12-10, 01:05 PM
Just out of interest... why Dumfries!?
To visit your mum......... again
Gotta love the "your mum" jokes :p
454697819
20-12-10, 01:06 PM
No..
HTH
Milky Bar Kid
20-12-10, 01:10 PM
Keep me updated mate - would really appreciate it...
MBK - Have you not received my application? I sent it in the post.
I was hoping for an escort in, once I go over the border...what can you do?
No....and No!!!
No probs, will do - the main roads here are certainly passable, certainly the one's you'd be on (M74 & A75). They've actually been pretty good at dealing with it round here this year (which is a first), so you'll probably be Ok.
Back in my day, for most Stewarty girls, all it took was a couple of Blue WKD's to get that..! ;)
I'm not from the Stewartry!!!
punyXpress
20-12-10, 01:13 PM
I was hoping for an escort in, once I go over the border...what can you do?[/QUOTE]
Reduce you to a gibbering wreck ? ;)
Owenski
20-12-10, 01:17 PM
Round here its fine,
A roads and motorways are clear of the snow, spotted a couple of patches of ice on the way in (by car) but if it wasnt for my road I would have taken teh bike. I know the motorway (M1) from here to ripon is clear as a friend travelled that on Sunday.
I'd ask the sheffield lot what its like around there this time as if they've got it cleared then I'd assume your clear from there up to the boarder so that 100mile stretch should be fine.
Just out of interest... why Dumfries!?
Honestly...no idea what-so-ever Mrs.H booked it and I do what I'm told.
Was to escape Xmas as I hate it and am a grumpy sod, but we appear to be taking it (ALL OF IT!) with us...
Don't know about D&G not sure I'll get out of Dartford...3 more inches of snow last night.
-Ralph-
21-12-10, 09:47 AM
I'm not from the Stewartry!!!
Just one Blue WKD 'll do the job then James ;-)
JamesMio
21-12-10, 10:00 AM
Just one Blue WKD 'll do the job then James ;-)
Pretty much! :D or failing that a bag of pork scratchings is their equivalent of Sex Panther!
http://www.the-frat-pack.com/images/sex-panther.jpg
Ahem, however - on the weather front - there's not been any fresh snow since the weekend, but with it being -17 out there (and I'm not kidding either!) none of the existing snow has melted.
That said, the roads here are still fine, as long as you're careful you'll be Ok, as things stand.
Milky Bar Kid
21-12-10, 01:16 PM
Don't know about D&G not sure I'll get out of Dartford...3 more inches of snow last night.
Yeh, I'm not convinced it would be a good idea.
fizzwheel
21-12-10, 01:19 PM
I talked to my friend last night and we decided not to travel.
M5 was down to one lane near bristol yesterday and didnt open the 2nd till tea time. Weather forecast looked rubbish and I decided that even in the Maverick it would be stupid idea.
I feel bad because she wont be going to see her parents for christmas but I dreaded the thought of being stuck on the M5 / M6 with a 3 year old in the car and a boot full of stufff.
At least now they can spend christmas at home with the family they have here so they wont be missing out.
Dicky Ticker
21-12-10, 01:25 PM
I have been trying to get to Clitheroe Lancs from mid Essex and turned back twice just due to the delays and as my dad doesn't know me anyway he will not miss me.
Owenski
21-12-10, 01:40 PM
I have been trying to get to Clitheroe Lancs from mid Essex and turned back twice just due to the delays and as my dad doesn't know me anyway he will not miss me.
:( that blows, I do hope you get up there to see him.
Dicky Ticker
21-12-10, 01:45 PM
Yeh,I was getting really scared in case I got stuck and had to crash in Preston and be converted to a raving alcoholic
oooh getting close now, setting off tomorrow at about 1230 ish...
Lots of snow overnight in Shroppie, I dug the car out this morning and then got stuck behind a snowplough. Roads should be clear by now though. Here in Scouseland there's about an inch and the whole city stops:rolleyes:
JamesMio
22-12-10, 02:33 PM
Literally no change here all week, no new snow, but as the temp's never been above -7, none of the existing stuff has gone either.
Roads here are still nothing to worry about (main ones at least), whereabouts is it you're actually going - is it Dumfries itself or somewhere near by?
In between castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright.
timwilky
22-12-10, 04:44 PM
No Snow in Lancashire (but expected), I understand Cheshire and Cumbria have it. The M6 is likely to be a biatch
fizzwheel
22-12-10, 05:06 PM
In between castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright.
Thats exactly the area I was heading for yesterday. They were due snow in that area yesterday, but dont know if it arrived or not.
Was thinking:
M25
M1
M6
M42
M6 Toll
...then finally A75.
Plan?
They were due snow in that area yesterday, but dont know if it arrived or not.
It was delayed by bad weather
-Ralph-
22-12-10, 05:59 PM
Was thinking:
M25
M1
M6
M42
M6 Toll
...then finally A75.
Plan?
There's a big chunk of M6 and M74 missing from your list ;) but yes, that's a fair route. Depends where around London you are coming from though. The M40 is an easier motorway for hitting the M42/M6Toll if it makes sense for you at the M25 end. It's a fast flowing motorway too, M25 to M42 inside of an hour easy. If you are sitting in the middle lane at 90mph, you often won't be catching anyone, and you'll have Merc's, Porshes and Beemers sailing past you in lane 3.
If you are easier getting on the M1 at the London end, then M1, A1(M) and across the A66 to Penrith is a fairly good route especially if Birmingham to Preston is snarled up, but don't bother with it in this weather.
The other one I use sometimes as an escape route to avoid a Birmingham snarl up, is M1 up to East Midlands Airport, then the A50 over to Stoke On Trent.
I drove Worcestershire to Pembrokeshire yesterday, worst part was right at the end, the cottage we're staying in is in a steep hill, bit slippy to say the least!
I used the BBC traffic camera's, was able to check the M5 and M4 the whole way. Roads were not as bad as I was expecting.
Milky Bar Kid
22-12-10, 11:24 PM
In between castle Douglas and Kirkcudbright.
Not really a lot in there....you staying on a farm or something?? You're only about half an hour away from me.
So are you going then Kev?
punyXpress
25-12-10, 04:10 PM
Did you make it?
We don't know if they set off yet...
Took about 7 hours and was bloody cold and icy in places, but the journey was pretty good actually apart form traffic on the m6.
Am staying on a farm, which was a nightmare to find in the dark just off of the A75...
Lovely place though.
Was freezing and getting some strange looks cooking the BBQ on Christmas Eve in the courtyard.
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