Info on the A1 and driving roads in Yorkshire

[m1980k]

I'm planning a little road trip that will involve driving up to York from London in the evening. Then the next day will be spent on the North York Moors, Dales and Peak District before heading back home in the evening. Just looking for a little local knowledge on anything to look out for or avoid.

First of all, Google Maps is telling me to take the A1, which I've never driven on (I'm in SE London so I'd go through the Blackwall tunnel and up the M11). Is it the sort of road that I'll be able to make 'good progress' on after 9pm, or is is all trucks, speed cameras and traffic lights? Wondering whether I'd be better off on the M1, where I'd hopefully be able to maintain a decent cruising speed..

As for the next day's driving I'm planning the routes below. Let me know if I'm bypassing anything I shouldn't or if there are certain places to avoid. Where to get a good dinner on the A1 (if I take it), breakfast in the Moors area, and lunch between the Dales and Peak district would also be useful information!



Then heading to Downholme to do the Dales:



(I've heard the road from Downholme to Nateby is good, but also want to do the Buttertubs, so that involves some doubling back..) Then I need to get down to Holmfirth to do the drive to Woodhead and then the Snake Pass:



And then it's a looong drive home.

 

[MrMickS]

The A1 is my preferred road to head back from London to York. There are a number of average speed limit roadworks on the M1 at the moment so that makes the A1(M) a much better bet anyway. Its mostly motorway, with the roundabouts that used to plague it having been made into junctions that you can drive straight through. There are a couple of speed cameras in one section, and a short 50 mph section.

M11. That's a tricky one. I drove up the M11 on the drive back from Brands and the road surface appears to be designed to break wheel rims. Even though its further I'm planning to avoid it in future and take the A1 the whole way. That said if you're happy with the M11 go for it.

The route from Pickering to Whitby looks good. Its my Fish and Chips route. There are plenty of opportunities to overtake should you get stuck behind anything once you've left Pickering. No speed cameras and a nice downhill turn, corkscrew like to some degree. The road through Castleton to Hutton-le-Hole is a little trickier as its narrower and doesn't have the same visibility. Its a good road to drive though.

The Downholme to Nateby road can be fun, it depends on the traffic. I've been through Reeth and down to Hawes a few times and usually draw some looks. I've never taken the road down from there to Skipton though as it makes more sense for me to head back via Leyburn.

I can't really comment on the Holmfirth section other than Holme Moss is fun. Woodhead can be plagued by trucks and is next to impossible to pass anyone on. Its a while since I've been on the Snake but I used to do it weekly and it was always a fun drive.

Hope you have a great time.

 

[MrMickS]

[deleted duplicate]

 

[m1980k]

Very helpful. Many thanks. I expect I'll hit traffic on some of the roads but get some clear runs at other times. I'll be in Whitby early in the morning so no fish and chips sadly. Although I'd possibly eat them at 9am if anyone would serve me them..

 

[GeoffCapes]

I travel the length of the UK on our marvellous road network.
And I do all I can to avoid the A1.

I'll leave that there.

 

[dem maser]

I just came from Mansfield to London and I preferred the A1 than the M1....no traffic and did it in 2hrs.....

 

[rockits]

I generally find everytime I use the A1 it is pretty good. Most of the rest can be very good and very bad. I have never been stuck for ages/hours on the A1 too many times over the years. Just my personal experiences of course.

 

[GeoffCapes]

It's the lorries, every time I've used the A1 I get stuck behind HGV's overtaking 64 other lorries who are doing 60, when the overtaking one is also doing 60, you end up looking at the back of said lorry for about 25 miles, and then you catch up with another that is doing the same.

 

[sospanbach]

fantastic driving road from Helmsley to great broughton bikers love it, pub half way along I believe the sun inn

 

[rockits]

It's the lorries, every time I've used the A1 I get stuck behind HGV's overtaking 64 other lorries who are doing 60, when the overtaking one is also doing 60, you end up looking at the back of said lorry for about 25 miles, and then you catch up with another that is doing the same.

Yep that can happen but a few more twist/turns & roundabouts on the A1 to compensate for the doldrums of your average M road evens it out.

I have often had to stop for a break from big especially busy M ways as got tired. Don't recall having the same issues on smaller or more varied roads like A1 though. Maybe that is more why I prefer it.

 

[Wack61]

It's the lorries, every time I've used the A1 I get stuck behind HGV's overtaking 64 other lorries who are doing 60, when the overtaking one is also doing 60, you end up looking at the back of said lorry for about 25 miles, and then you catch up with another that is doing the same.

Motorways are no better, I think many European drivers have bought they bad driving habits with them which have been readily adopted buy a good proportion of the indigenous population who either don't know how to drive in lane one or are too scared to change lanes

I've just been to immingham on the M62 , middle lane driving is now the norm effectively making a motorway a dual carriageway, I'd avoided the A1 for years because of the roundabouts but as mick says, they've all gone so good progress is possible

 

[MrMickS]

Nah. We had bad drivers without the influence of immigrants. Amazing that they get the blame for that too.

Driving on the Autoroutes in France was a pleasure compared to the journey back on the UK road network. Even Italy was better and they are crazy.

 

[Navcorr]

Driving on the Autoroutes in France was a pleasure compared to the journey back on the UK road network. Even Italy was better and they are crazy.

+1. Not as many trucks proportionately to be fair but lane discipline is much better observed. They tend to stick to the old RN roads - lower cost & the Routier network. Lunchtime is a great time to make good distance in France

 

[Ambient69]

A1 is more fun than M1, and often has more drivers that understand lane discipline so progress can be made. M1 is soon going to be the next M25 with an excess of cameras, road works, also 3rd and 4th overtaking lanes are often used by drivers doing <70mph whilst on mobile phones sat in their laps whilst not even looking in their mirrors or road ahead, flash em and they wouldn't even blink.

 

[Navcorr]

I'm planning a little road trip ...

Who'd have thought your trip would've caused such debate

Everyone has their favourites but for a relatively short journey I doubt it will make much difference which way you go. Especially at that time of the day. Would suggest the obvious thing to do is decide on the day having kept an eye on traffic reports. Best laid plans and all that.

 

[D Walker]

That's a lot of driving in 2 days!!
The Castleton to Kirby Moorside road is one of my favourites, it features in a number of magazines.
You'll be passing right past me but sadly I'll be grafting...
Not sure on the penne routes but your route to Whitby is another good one but will be busy early in morning..
Have fun,
Dave

 

[m1980k]

The A1 was great with some totally deserted stretches. Apart from the bit that was closed. That was ****. I then proceeded to ignore the diversion signs and follow the sat nav, going round in a circle for about half an hour. With road works on the A14 and me looking for my phone cradle for 15 minutes before I left, it took considerably longer than expected to get here... Now after 1am so no early start - I'll have to see how I get on tomorrow.

Lane discipline generally good. Pretty much everyone got out of my way... And GS is so loud at high speed that it keeps me awake on a drive like that...

 

[Nayf]

Like others I much prefer the A1 - those variable speed limit sections on the M1 are utterly boring.
However, keep an eye out for oddly clean Skoda Superbs between Huntingdon and Peterborough, and avoid the A47 junction at around 4.30-6.30pm on a Friday afternoon. There will always be a crash

 

[Keano]

M11 can have slow traffic between Cambridge and Huntingdon with average speed cameras a low as 40 MPH due to roadworks.

From M25 I go M1 to J13 then across to the A1, Go easy when it opens up to 4 lanes south of Peterborough as it is a hotspot for unmarked rozzers

 

[P R]

Theres a lovely pub on the Castleton to Hutton le hole stretch, called the Lion Inn. The food in there is very good.