Route advice: Heysham to York

lfc84

I've got to drive the above route in a few weeks. Some journey planners recommend A65 and A59 (via skipton and harrogate). 90 miles (but quoted vastly differing journey times)

Others recommend M6 and M62 then through Leeds (longer distance but shorter travel time depending on which site i use).

The journey will be about 11pm at night (in case that makes a difference).

I've done route planners on Google, RAC and AA but as i say above, I get differing answers.

So what do other forum users reckon.

Thanks

rev_henry

Well, the skipton route is a lovely drive and is much shorter, but I think the M6/62 is quicker. Depends if you don't mind fighting with lorries on the M62 which is pretty big and busy at times. M62 has quite pleasant views as well actually.

Wee_Willy_Harris

I ahte the M62, so I'd go Skipton. That time of night, I doubt if there would be a massive difference time wise.

jasonblake

i have done this journey a few times of late but to middlesbrough instead of the a66 the problem i found was even though it is a lovely drive and wonderful scenery if you get stuck behind a slow driver you are pretty much stuck for a while it isnt easy to overtake
your journey time might be late to avoid traffic but it is a unlit rd and would be extremly dark and you get the odd sheep on the road as well

rev_henry

jasonblake wrote: »

i have done this journey a few times of late but to middlesbrough instead of the a66 the problem i found was even though it is a lovely drive and wonderful scenery if you get stuck behind a slow driver you are pretty much stuck for a while it isnt easy to overtake
your journey time might be late to avoid traffic but it is a unlit rd and would be extremly dark and you get the odd sheep on the road as well

Yes I've found this as well, but shouldn't be a problem late at night. No tractors/old people. Depends what you prefer really!

Hammyman

A65 and A59 (to Harrogate) are not good roads in the dark if you don't know them. They're very dark, have narrow twisty sections as well. Buttertubs pass on the A59 which is unavoidable going that way has many hairpin bends with a sheer drop to the left.

Don't worry about the lorries on the motorways. At 11pm at night, there's only the night trunkers on the road and its not that busy.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Love the blast through from the Skipton turn near Leeds/Bradford airport to the A66.... As already said, nice and quiet at that time of night and plenty of safe overtake ops.

emmell

I would take the M62, you don't have to go through Leeds, the M1 north skirts round Leeds and joins the A64 at its junction with the A1 north. Once you join the A64 it doesn't take long to get to York.
ML.

Ian_W

Surely no route planner is suggesting M6 to M62 for your journey?

M6 to Preston then M61 past Chorley and Bolton would cut a big chunk linking you straight onto the M62 near Salford.

If you decide on the motorway route I'd consider M6 to M65 at Preston, between Blackburn and Burnley there is a turn-off the M65 onto the A56 signed to Bury (don't know the jnct number off-hand) . Its a fast dual carriageway with just one roundabout before it becomes the M66 and allows you to join the M62 near Birch Services, Rochdale just before the motorway starts up into the hills.

Also agree with the earlier comment that there is no need to go through Leeds. There is a relatively new link onto the A1(M) just past Leeds which brings you out just before the A64 to York.

MsHoarder

Unless you're a very confident navigator, go on the motorway. Just note down the junction numbers and directions you want to go in at each one. The A59/A65 route is much nicer, but is less well signed and there are likely to be animals on the road.

Harry_Flashman

The route through Skipton is a beautiful drive when it's sunny. At that time of night, I'd stick with the motorway route (with the M61 shortcut suggested above) as the country roads are very dark (no lights for the vast majority of it) as the chances of a hold-ups on the M62 are remote.

There are roadworks around Bradford/Leeds at the moment and this goes down to one lane late at night - but even so, shouldn't cause you a problem.