M6 Toll

am0329

Hi guys, I'm driving from North Scotland to Southampton next week, my question is should I use the toll road. Don't mind the cost as it's a one off journey also I'm not that confidant at driving on busy motorways.
TIA

DUTR

am0329 wrote: »

Hi guys, I'm driving from North Scotland to Southampton next week, my question is should I use the toll road. Don't mind the cost as it's a one off journey also I'm not that confidant at driving on busy motorways.
TIA

Who knows, it depends on the time of day and traffic conditions, how are you going to get to the M6 toll? As you will have to use the connecting motorways which maybe busy in any instance. Can you not let the train take the strain?

K33N3R

It really depends on the time of day, and whether any problems pop up on the M6 while you're on the way to the toll. Check whether you'd be travelling on alternative roads at peak times, and if so it might be worth going on the Toll road just for your peace of mind if you're not too confident on busy motorways.

DUTR

K33N3R wrote: »

It really depends on the time of day, and whether any problems pop up on the M6 while you're on the way to the toll. Check whether you'd be travelling on alternative roads at peak times, and if so it might be worth going on the Toll road just for your peace of mind if you're not too confident on busy motorways.

I live in the Midlands not too far from the M6 toll, I really don't see where the OP is going to be appeased , the connecting motorways are busy anyway, the line not confident on busy motorways just doesn't wash with me, and suggests not driving on the motorway at all or the journey, as the M6 toll is a very small fraction of the journey, once off the M6 Toll onto the M42, that is where one will learn about a busy motorway :eek:

Sportacus

I've done the opposite route fairly regularly the last few years. Taking the M6 Toll is a gamble, I've sorely regretted not taking it on occasions, and other times it would have been a waste of money. Definitely if it's rush hour I would take it.


The last time I went north however (from Southampton), I found a great alternative which avoids the M42 completely, and goes via the M5 to Gloucester, Cirencestor, Swindon, then the M4 to the A34. It was a few more miles on the sat. nav, but a lot less traffic.


Basically when you get near Birmingham ignore signs for the M6 Toll, and carry on down to the M5, then halfway down the M5 break off onto the A417 for Swindon, then pick up the M4 east for a few miles until the A34 south, which'll take you the M3, ending in Southampton.


Whatever you do, don't try to take this route AND the M6 Toll, you'll end up having to go west on the M42 to get to the M5.


Last time I came down from Scotland for a change I took the east route down the A1 and M1 - don't do it - 50mph average zones in multiple places, then the dreadful roundabout hell of the A43 around Silverstone.

Shielder

Hi am, I used to drive from Northwich to Thurso every week for work (yes, I'm mad ) and I found that the motorways were okay later at night. The M6 wasn't too busy going North on a Sunday afternoon, and the M74 is a doddle anyway.

Going south, the M9/M80/M73 bits can be a bit of a pain, but usually, the M6 is okay later on a Thursday night (when I used to come home).

You will have to watch for the roadworks that are on the M6 from about J14 through to J8. 50mph with average speed cameras on them.

Talking of which, you'll have to watch the A9, they are putting the average speed cameras up on that road too.

Anyway, the M6 Toll is quieter than the M6, but you do pay for the privelidge. Is it worth it? Well, that depends on the time of day. In the late evening, no. Rush hour or any time between 6am and 8pm, yes.

Andy

agrinnall

am0329 wrote: »

Hi guys, I'm driving from North Scotland to Southampton next week, my question is should I use the toll road. Don't mind the cost as it's a one off journey also I'm not that confidant at driving on busy motorways.
TIA

You might not be when you leave home, but by the time you get to the junction for the M6 Toll you will have driven approximately 290 miles on motorways, at least half of which is likely to be pretty busy, so your confidence should have increased by then.

Avoriaz

Sportacus wrote: »

..The last time I went north however (from Southampton), I found a great alternative which avoids the M42 completely, and goes via the M5 to Gloucester, Cirencestor, Swindon, then the M4 to the A34. It was a few more miles on the sat. nav, but a lot less traffic...

I live near Chichester, about 20 miles east of Southampton, and I can endorse that route.

AA route planner shows it as only 4 miles longer.

Last time I did it there was a long stretch of 50 mph roadworks on the M5 southbound south of Birmingham but that probably won't bother the OP too much.

Sportacus

"by the time you get to the junction for the M6 Toll you will have driven approximately 290 miles on motorways, at least half of which is likely to be pretty busy,"


North of Lancaster the M6 is beautiful, three lanes and hardly any traffic, and the great Tebay services.


Going south, once you hit Blackpool it'll start to get busier and busier the further south you go. It will get stressful, and won't ease up until after Birmingham (although it won't ease up much).


My advice is to definitely take the M5 route I suggested and avoid the M42, you'll also get a more scenic route through the cotswolds


For a one off trip though, have you looked at flybe to Southampton airport.?

am0329

Thanks guys. I'll be leaving early thursday morning. Not taking the train as need my car once I am there. I have done this journey a couple of times before always avoided the toll road. Always found the M6 to be so slow and busy. I know I'll havw driven a fair bit on motorways before this but they are definitely not as busy.
As for not driving on motorways at all, there is a difference between confidence and competence, I do consider myself a competent and safe driver. I just dont particularly like driving on busy, slow moving motorways.
Thanks for all your suggestions.

Avoriaz

Have a safe journey.