M6 or M1 south to Tunnel

vRSG60

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Travelling to my hotel Wednesday ready for tunnel crossing on Thursday morning. From Burnley area.
Options.
1) M65>M6 (toll or not) > M1>M25>M20
2)M65>M66>M62>M1>M25>M20
Now, I’ve done both these routes before , but I’ve not travelled the M62>M1 route for ages.
There’s 1 Mile difference and 10 minutes.

What’s the M62/M1 route like these days?

I’ll be leaving at around 7am

M1 route misses a big part of the M25 road from hell.

A simple question I know but one of the routes may avoid traffic hold ups on the other.


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Each potentially painful in different ways. I'd just check Google maps or waze or similar (anything with live updates and route planning) on the day and take whichever looks least terrible.

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Travelling to my hotel Wednesday ready for tunnel crossing on Thursday morning. From Burnley area.
Options.
1) M65>M6 (toll or not) > M1>M25>M20
2)M65>M66>M62>M1>M25>M20
Now, I’ve done both these routes before , but I’ve not travelled the M62>M1 route for ages.
There’s 1 Mile difference and 10 minutes.

What’s the M62/M1 route like these days?

I’ll be leaving at around 7am

M1 route misses a big part of the M25 road from hell.

A simple question I know but one of the routes may avoid traffic hold ups on the other.


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I’m not far from you and we have always used the A1, A14, M11 route. This meets the M25 further east and reduces the distance on it. To be honest though, there really is not a pleasant route once one gets down south. None of it is Pleasant riding. Having an overnight before crossing does take out the stress of trying to get to the tunnel on time though.
Either way have a great trip.
 
if you go M6, use the toll as the free option is horrible

another option is to go down the M5 and around the M42/M40 and then around the southern M25. This is the route we usually use coming from the M54 onto the M6. Usually a less horrible option if using motorways, although I try to make enough time to get to Oxford across country to reduce time on motorways if I have to use the tunnel.
 
Whenever I've had to go up to the grim North I've always gone A282, M25, M11, A14, A1M, A1 it has always been the best route even with a bit of traffic. Like others have said it is a bit soul destroying, but at least you don't have to put up with the worsening smell of chip fat and the fumes from the factory chimneys when heading South. Even if you hang about and hit a bit of traffic you should be down here by late morning so unless there's been a bad one you should just sail straight through on a Wednesday.
 
Whenever I've had to go up to the grim North I've always gone A282, M25, M11, A14, A1M, A1 it has always been the best route even with a bit of traffic. Like others have said it is a bit soul destroying, but at least you don't have to put up with the worsening smell of chip fat and the fumes from the factory chimneys when heading South. Even if you hang about and hit a bit of traffic you should be down here by late morning so unless there's been a bad one you should just sail straight through on a Wednesday.
M62 then A1 better than M6, i am in clitheroe so i know you pain,
 
I do a regular run from Salford to Thurrock, I always go M6,M1,M25
Usually hit a bit of traffic around Luton depending on time but nothing serious and remember I'm in an artic so I can't filter.
I find M6 A14 M11 a long way round and traffic around Cambridge is shit.
 
A14/M11 a much more relaxing route than M1 and nowhere near as many speed Cameras or hold ups.
 
M62 then A1 better than M6, i am in clitheroe so i know you pain,
For me... I prefer to travel at night... far less traffic. I try to time ferries/tunnel etc. accordingly.
Lat few times i travelled at night there were long diversions on the m6 due to them doing road works during the night .
 
This thread reminds me that whenever I can, I use the ferry from northern England when travelling to Europe from Scotland.

Have relations in Chesham so understand the pain the OP feels when driving to see them. One thought, using the A50 option can sometimes be better. Just watch there's no races at Uttoxeter though!
 
If you're on a bike then a bit of canny filtering here and there can be fun, thus making your own lane. The old M6 is too narrow for this and thus shit. Take the toll to avoid this bit as it's only a fiver for the bike, and gently weave your way down.
 


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