English Directions????

[up-the-dubs]

Fellow PH'ers

After advice from London Irish a month ago, it has occured to me that there may be a better way to go than that i was going to do, to take account of the traffic. If anyone has advice on the route it would be great...

Arriving in Holyhead at 00:20 on Thur night/Fri morn
Driving to Folkstone through the night.
Tunnel at 09:42

I was just automatically going to do the M1-M25 and down through Kent. Just occured to me that traffic might be a bugger on a friday morning. Any alternative reccommendations?

Cheers. (I am Mr.Guaranteed-to-get-lost)

[Tripps]

Perhaps getting a late afternoon crossing, then hooning over to the big smoke during early evening when you won't have to worry about traffic by the time you arrive.

Stay somewhere like Maidstone Services Travel Inn, on the M20, have a good nap and breakfast, then find your car surrouned by others going to Le Mans and make your way to Ashford.

You might even be able able to hook up with a group to help you getting there.

[Truckosaurus]

You can't avoid the M25 to get the The Tunnel.

The maps.msn.com route planner reckons it's a 5hr journey to Ashford from Holyhead, so you might be lucky in missing the traffic.

There might be an advantage to be gained from using the A14/M11 from the end of the M6 rather than a M1.

Don't forget a Pound Coin for the bridge @ Dartford.

[up-the-dubs]

Unfortunatly all the tunnel and ferry crossings are already booked. I did'nt really think this through, did I? Plus wanted to get to Le Mans as early as possible. Relax there, set up tent, a snooze and a few beers at speedchills.

And toll info too! Cheers for that truckosaurus, would'nt have been bring sterling at all!

>> Edited by up-the-dubs on Monday 16th May 16:36

[Tripps]

up-the-dubs said:

Unfortunatly all the tunnel and ferry crossings are already booked. I did'nt really think this through, did I? Plus wanted to get to Le Mans as early as possible. Relax there, set up tent, a snooze and a few beers at speedchills. And toll info too! Cheers for that truckosaurus, would'nt have been bring sterling at all! >> Edited by up-the-dubs on Monday 16th May 16:36

How much would it cost to change the crossings?

You wouldn't need to change the Eurostar one, but if the cost was sensible, you could make it earlier in the day, say 6-7, so you'll be able to get to Le Mans earlier, pitch up and start building your beer mountain!

[up-the-dubs]

My tunnel is at 9:42 AM. thought i was leaving eneough time, in case I hit traffic in the early morning commute. Do you mean 6-7am? I think the times are OK as we should be in Le Mans by maybe 3-4pm by all accounts. Just want to make sure i don't miss the train!

[Tripps]

up-the-dubs said:

My tunnel is at 9:42 AM. thought i was leaving eneough time, in case I hit traffic in the early morning commute. Do you mean 6-7am? I think the times are OK as we should be in Le Mans by maybe 3-4pm by all accounts. Just want to make sure i don't miss the train!

I think it's do-able time-wise and if you miss the tunnel they tend to be OK putting you on the next one (£30 fee as I recall if you have the cheapest tickets).

My thinking was more to do with getting some rest, as you won't get any on the Friday or Saturday night and with that may hour behind the wheel you'll be flagging.

An overnight stop and a hearty breakfast on the Friday morning will set you up well to enjoy the French roads on the way down, and avoid any worry about getting caught in rush hour traffic from 6am onwards.

[up-the-dubs]

Tripps said:

An overnight stop and a hearty breakfast on the Friday morning will set you up well to enjoy the French roads on the way down, and avoid any worry about getting caught in rush hour traffic from 6am onwards.

Excuse me, I mis-understood you .

There is four of us that can share driving, so should be getting some rest along the way. Hadn't thought of breakfast? When we need Diesel, we'll eat, Tdi should get to France on one tank. Plus would prefare to get there and relax rather than getting there late and missing the build-up.

Otherwise it'd be the route I'm more worried about. Cheers

[bmwcsl]

if the ferry gets in at 00.20 to holyhead, you will have bags of time to get to the tunnel before traffic starts. Conservatively you will be on the 25 by 5 am and down at folkestone by 6.30, thats not even going mad.

Rohan

[up-the-dubs]

Cool, Thanks csl.

Thats what I was thinking. Just got a bit worried, don't know the area so just thought I'd ask.

So if anyone's on an early tunnel - friday morn - schhhh! We'll be asleep

>> Edited by up-the-dubs on Monday 16th May 22:36

[London Irish]

Dubs,

I see from www.octane.ie that there are a few more Irish heading over. Are you connected with that group?

A

[barreti]

Truckosaurus said:

You can't avoid the M25 to get the The Tunnel. There might be an advantage to be gained from using the A14/M11 from the end of the M6 rather than a M1.

If you do use the A14 keep your eye on the little clock in front of you. Mr Plod are very keen on this road and a few of the guys in the office have been done here.

Have a safe journey and see you there.

[up-the-dubs]

London Irish said:

Dubs, I see from www.octane.ie that there are a few more Irish heading over. Are you connected with that group? A

Not yet!! looking into it now though, One of our group may have to pull out because of work, so may find a replacement there? We'll see

barreti said:

Mr Plod are very keen on this road

Cheers. Even at silly hours? The last two times we did a similar drive (Goodwood and Brands Hatch) was on a Saturday Morn, never saw a single cop.... except for the one that caught up with us (@100mph), waved his finger at us, and then drove off!

[bmwcsl]

Dubs, Im over in dublin and do the run fairly regular, haven't run into any cops on the traditional route a55 m6 m1 but thats probably just luck, at the silly hours youd be unlucky i reckon.

[FLAT 6]

Dubs - bit late now but why go the landbridge route at all..first time going from Ireland but we've opted for the Rosslare - Roscoff route. Leave c5.30 in the afternoon, much beers and scran and good nites kip in a real bed, large greasy breakfast in the morning to ward off sneaky late morning hangover and in to France c.11.30 am for fairly leisurly drive across/down to LeMans.

I thought the Holyhead route was just too much of a ball-ache and worked out a bit more expensive as well.

Hopefully there are other also going through Rosslare, although from posting about this route a few months ago, didn't get many replies so could be a lonely trip...

[up-the-dubs]

FLAT 6 said:

Rosslare - Roscoff

I looked into that route origionally, but we're a little tight for time off, and Holyhead means that it's only Friday and Monday off work. You're right though, it is a bit of an ache. Try following the link London left above to an Irish forum. there is apparently some more going on that route but I can't find details there yet. Have joined and posted a question, so it's wait and see at the moment.

Will deffo look into it better for next year, first time going this year so some adjustments may be made hereafter.