Best route London to Thurso via Sheffield

[Spikeyd01]

...........with our ultimate destination Orkney, we plan to leave home -London - on dec 27th c4am and stay overnight in Thurso before our ferry crossing the following day. We are picking up a friend at Sheffield Woodall services on route (non negotiable) and wonder if this is doable in 1 day given the time we are travelling?

[JM]

If there are more than one driver, then yes no problem.

As you are probably only wanting to do the journey rather than find 'good' roads your best bet is probably M6-M74-M73-M80-M9-A9. The A9 ends at the ferry terminal at Scrabster.
Presumably you are getting the Northlink ferry from Scrabster, rather than the quicker cheaper catamaran ferry from Gills Bay? Where are you staying in Thurso/Orkney?

Only problem with the trip could be weather causing delays, snow can be a problem on the M74 and A9 in places.

Edited by JM on Wednesday 20th November 21:47

[Lefty]

You could drive to Aberdeen and get the boat from there? Fair bit less driving at the end of a long day!

[alangla]

If you're tempted to use the A93 or A939 (both excellent driving roads, but a bit much on a run like this), then be aware that both are currently closed due to snow - check http://trafficscotland.org/currentincidents/ for more info

[JM]

Lefty said:

You could drive to Aberdeen and get the boat from there? Fair bit less driving at the end of a long day!

They would need to wait till the following evening to get the boat, it doesn't stop at Kirkwall on the 27th.

[Spikeyd01]

Thx to all for responding Decided to stop in Glasgow for night as well as Thurso b4 ferry frm Srabster ........ Only issue I can't quite suss now is best route from Woodall services on MI where we are picking up friend over onto M6 to continue journey. May I once again ask for your view pleas?

[chriscoates]

You're best going M18 then A1(M) to Scotch Corner then across on A66 (weather permitting, it's a high route).

[Who me ?]

Bit of a question of time .One way you've got to cross east to west ,then west to east. Might be worth timing keeping on A1(m) to Newcastle and taking either the A1 OR A696 .In actual fact according to Autoroute the time from Sheffield to Edinburgh( via Newcastle) is much the same as to Glasgow via M74. Distance via M74 is 100miles more. At one time many moons ago I used to commute weekly from Middlesbrough to Edinburgh over the 696 and found it an easy drive .
BUT if you go via M74, I'd suggest an eagle eye on the leptos ,especially in the bit marked "D & G" area ,where there be bridge sitters ,especially around J15 -J14. Better still ask on the Scotland forum for up to date info .
One thing to check is weather - on 696 you have go over Carter's bar, which can get a bit of snow .

[alangla]

spikeyd01 said:

Thx to all for responding Decided to stop in Glasgow for night as well as Thurso b4 ferry frm Srabster ........ Only issue I can't quite suss now is best route from Woodall services on MI where we are picking up friend over onto M6 to continue journey. May I once again ask for your view pleas?

Last time I did that run, I went over the Woodhead Pass, in the snow. I went over about 12:00, the road had only opened about 10:00 that morning after being blocked all night. Don't do this if you're in a rush. Woodhead is slow at the best of times apparently and as ever I got stuck in the hellish traffic you get where the Woodhead & Snake pass roads (A628/A57) join up in Hollingworth for the run down to the M57. If the weather's looking awful, stick to the M62 I reckon, if it's reasonable, go for the A66 offering a couple of posts above. I used that on the way down the day before the trip described above, the snowdrifts were above the height of the car in places but the road itself had been cleared that morning & there's plenty of traffic about to keep the road generally clear.
One thing I would say - if it's looking snowy, try to do the high bits in daylight, preferably around/after lunch - they should be clear by then.

[GreatGranny]

As above avoid Woodhead/Snake Pass at that time of the year.

If its looking like bad weather or even coldish take the M62, then M61 onto M6.

Even if clear I always take that route from Lincs to Lakes, just less chance of delays and/or slow traffic.

[mikR]

spikeyd01 said:

Thx to all for responding Decided to stop in Glasgow for night as well as Thurso b4 ferry frm Srabster ........ Only issue I can't quite suss now is best route from Woodall services on MI where we are picking up friend over onto M6 to continue journey. May I once again ask for your view pleas?

North on M1 to Scotch Corner then over the A66 to pick up the M6 at Penrith. ( I used to do Sheffield to Inverness quite a bit a few years ago & this was usually the quickest route
)

[jep]

It'll take you about an hour and a half (ish) to get from Sheffield (J's 31 or 32) to J18 of the M6 going across the hills if they're passable (it's my daily commute). Better, but not by much, is to get onto the A6 and pick up the M60 at Stockport. As has been said before, unless you're desperate to get off the motorway, I'd carry on either to the M62, or jink off onto the A1 from the M18 and then cut across the A66 up past Richmond, again if it's passable.