Best route, From AR to Dover

[Bluefish]

Google shows three, M6, A1m or the M1, I'm thinking the m6 as it's the easiest, as i am not familiar with the others, but they appear not to be motorway all the way, even though google says they are a bit quicker, are they in reality. Have to be at dover by 1725 hrs on sunday, your thoughts please.
The quickest A1 is only 6 mins quicker than the longest m6, and it's showing the M1 as only being 1 min quicker than M6.

[maviczap]

I'd take the M6, incl the toll, then maybe A14,M11 to M25.

Or M6, A50 and then A1 to M25.

But M6 toll takes all the carpy bit around Birmingham out, so that's my preffered route home

Don't like the A1/M1 south of Peterborough, as it's slow going at the best of times.

Going via the M11 cuts out a section of M25 and you're still heading south east to Dover.

[dizzyblonde]

Straight down the A1.

I did it that way when I went to Dover from here. For you, up to Ripon, plain sailing down there.

[orose]

A1 is a bit up and down in terms of speed limits, so I'd go with the M1 route - I've ridden it as far as Sheffield on the way back from the recees, and it's easy enough to get a wriggle on (especially as you can use the 2+ lane to slide from the M606 onto the M62)

[maviczap]

A1 is a bit up and down in terms of speed limits, so I'd go with the M1 route - I've ridden it as far as Sheffield on the way back from the recees, and it's easy enough to get a wriggle on (especially as you can use the 2+ lane to slide from the M606 onto the M62)

+1

Google maps says A1/M1 all the way until Cambridge then take M11 south. Cuts out the carp bit of the A1 and the carpy Northern bit of the M25 where most of the roadworks are.

Be aware that from the A12 junction on the M25 to the Dartford Crossing, there's widening of the M25 going on. Once its finished it'll be great, but on a hot Sunday the traffic building up to the bridge has been bad, as there's a 50mph limit in force in these roadworks. So allow a little extra time for this maybe.

But as you're on the bike you'll be able to filter through :D

[Bluefish]

Cheers guys, recon Mav's M6 A14 M1 is looking good what with the a14 being dual carriageway an all, does one have to pay for the dartford tunnell, and if so how much? And mav, as for allowing extra time, we will be flying like the wind lol, to leave any extra time at that end, minimal stops en route.

[maviczap]

Bikes go free on the toll, just don't go through the automatic pay lane, otherwise you'll have to hope a kindly motorist can chuck £1.50 into the basket from a distance, like I had to for a French biker :p

[maviczap]

Cheers guys, recon Mav's M6 A14 M1 is looking good what with the a14 being dual carriageway an all, does one have to pay for the dartford tunnell, and if so how much? And mav, as for allowing extra time, we will be flying like the wind lol, to leave any extra time at that end, minimal stops en route.

A14 from M6 isn't dual carriage way, but on a bike you can overtake.

Shouldn't be any scamera vans out on a Sunday, but they usually hide on the bridges.

Worst bit of the A14 is just North of Cambridge(old A604), where the average (forward pointing) speed cameras are, traffic builds up there because of the cameras. But then you're nearly on the M11 south, which is a nice road

I regularly travel to Liverpool on the M6 and I always go M6 - M6 toll - A14. Before the toll was opened we went M6 - A50 -A1 or M1.

Been down A1 - M25 - M2 to Sheerness, should have gone A1 - M11 -M25 - M2

Going to Dover we've been using the M2 recently instead of the M20, but there's not much in it

[MisterTommyH]

Bikes go free on the toll

I'd have some cash to hand though. All the signs round here say it's £2.80 for a bike at weekends.

[maviczap]

I'd have some cash to hand though. All the signs round here say it's £2.80 for a bike at weekends.

Dartford Toll is free, which was the question ;)

http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/4065.aspx

But you are correct

http://www.m6toll.co.uk/pricing/default.asp

[MisterTommyH]

Teach me to read the thread properly won't it.

[Bluefish]

I'd have some cash to hand though. All the signs round here say it's £2.80 for a bike at weekends.
Not a problem Tommy i'll chuck them a couple of euro's lol, Thanks for your help guys, i just have to hope the traffic is kind to us on the day, touch wood, will be there an hour befor time and be able to get some scran befor the ferry. You southerners have been having it scorchio down there haven't you? Filtering on the bike with 30 stone on it in blazing sunshine, deep joy.. not.

[maviczap]

Yep deffo scorchio.

At least you'll miss all the merchant bankers returning to Londinium from their weekend holiday homes which makes the ques to the bridge even worse. That doesn't happen til about 8pm

[dizzyblonde]

DOn't worry, it be slashing it down by then!

BTW, the A1 ain't that bad or slow, Pegs done it to and from Ipswich from here....2.5 hrs. Just in time for DT to put the kettle on and give him a bacon butty!

[maviczap]

As for scran the Tesco at Whitfield on the M2/A2 is the best/cheapest option if you have time. Fuel up there too

First roundabout after the double set of traffic lights on the A2, about 5 miles from Dover

[maviczap]

DOn't worry, it be slashing it down by then!

BTW, the A1 ain't that bad or slow, Pegs done it to and from Ipswich from here....2.5 hrs. Just in time for DT to put the kettle on and give him a bacon butty!

Too be fair any of the routes A1,M1, M6 & M11 can be a nightmare if theres a smash

[dizzyblonde]

I just don't like the Dartford Tunnel bit, lots of lorries, wall to wall....well it was on the wa back from France.

[Bluefish]

As for scran the Tesco at Whitfield on the M2/A2 is the best/cheapest option if you have time. Fuel up there too

First roundabout after the double set of traffic lights on the A2, about 5 miles from Dover
Cheers mate, what do you know about France, wanna be our guide lol ;)

[maviczap]

Cheers mate, what do you know about France, wanna be our guide lol ;)

Ha Ha Lol, I spend a fair amount of time in Dover and stay at a hotel nearby to that Tesco.

Going to France next month, so perhaps we'll start the Org rough guide to France :D