Nicest motorways in the UK to drive at night?

[ATV]

I'm doing a lot of driving at night so wanted to hit some nice quiet and well lit routes around the Manchester area heading in any direction (about 3-5 hours there and back would be ok)

Anyone got any good suggestions?

Something with a nice bit of scenery would be ok but main thing is I'd like it to be quiet without too many much LAPD patrols and relatively well lit too and if there's any (24hour) service stations worth stopping at let me know thanks.

Edited by ATV on Wednesday 5th March 16:22

[Einion Yrth]

M61 M6 up to Cumbria, nice breakfast at Tebay. Slow down a bit if going further north can be scam vans on the overbridges by Shap ( although I don't think they 'work' at night.)

[CommanderJameson]

A1M Ferrybridge Autobahn.

Swoopy smooth flat goodness.

ETA: Oh. Manchester. Oh well.

Edited by CommanderJameson on Thursday 28th February 07:30

[britten_mark]

CommanderJameson said:

A1M Ferrybridge Autobahn.

Swoopy smooth flat goodness.

Edited by CommanderJameson on Thursday 28th February 07:30

Are there any cams here as the temptation is to, well , errr.. press on?

[CommanderJameson]

britten_mark said:

CommanderJameson said:

A1M Ferrybridge Autobahn.

Swoopy smooth flat goodness.

Edited by CommanderJameson on Thursday 28th February 07:30

Are there any cams here as the temptation is to, well , errr.. press on?

No cams that I am aware of (I drive it about 3 times a week at the moment). Like the Peterborough Autobahn, it is possible to be doing 80-90 in L1 with two or three lanes of traffic passing you to your right.

[10 Pence Short]

M74 between Gretna and Abington Services heading northbound. Then do the return journey using the wide and deserted, fantastically surfaced, A-Roads that were left behind by the upgrading to motorway, which run directly alongside.

[A2Z]

If you want to strtch your legs try M58 Wigan - Liverpool. Not pretty but straight and quiet.

[jez4130]

you wont have any problems from the LAPD.....as they are in america

[Gad-Westy]

10 Pence Short said:

M74 between Gretna and Abington Services heading northbound. Then do the return journey using the wide and deserted, fantastically surfaced, A-Roads that were left behind by the upgrading to motorway, which run directly alongside.

This is the only motorway in the UK that I actually enjoy driving on. Its particularly sweet when you get a Virgin Voyager alongside to have a play with!

[minimoog]

britten_mark said:

CommanderJameson said:

A1M Ferrybridge Autobahn.

Swoopy smooth flat goodness.

Edited by CommanderJameson on Thursday 28th February 07:30

Are there any cams here as the temptation is to, well , errr.. press on?

I've seen both hairdryers under bridges and people pulled by unmarked plod on here, unfortunately Lovely bit of m-way otherwise.

M6 at Cumbria is ace, but always slow when you see the camera signs at the side of the road, as there may be a talivan on the next bridge. (er, during the day at least)

I still don't get the A1 autobahn north of the A14. It's wonderful, but whose palm did the contractor grease to get that approved? I mean why is it there?

Edited by minimoog on Friday 29th February 11:05

[Spokey]

Gad-Westy said:

Its particularly sweet when you get a Virgin Voyager alongside to have a play with!

What is a Virgin? And what is a Virgin Voyager?

[alphadog]

minimoog said:

britten_mark said:

CommanderJameson said:

A1M Ferrybridge Autobahn.

Swoopy smooth flat goodness.

Edited by CommanderJameson on Thursday 28th February 07:30

Are there any cams here as the temptation is to, well , errr.. press on?

I've seen both hairdryers under bridges and people pulled by unmarked plod on here, unfortunately Lovely bit of m-way otherwise.

M6 at Cumbria is ace, but always slow when you see the camera signs at the side of the road, as there may be a talivan on the next bridge. (er, during the day at least)

I still don't get the A1 autobahn north of the A14. It's wonderful, but whose palm did the contractor grease to get that approved? I mean why is it there?

I believe it was financed (in part at least) by the USAF due to the presence at Alconbury - they wanted a proper US style freeway near their base rather than the usual poor UK effort.

[D4VE 3LL]

Spokey said:

Gad-Westy said:

Its particularly sweet when you get a Virgin Voyager alongside to have a play with!

What is a Virgin? And what is a Virgin Voyager?

A train

HTH

[r129sl]

I drive the A1(M) "autobahn" between Ferrybridge and Dishforth about twice a week. The policing tends to be by marked cars (although I have on occasion seen unmarked cars); policing is most intense at the northern end (travelling in both directions), between Boroughbridge and Dishforth; the police cars either sit on those humps by the side of the road or hide up sliproads; they are not interested in you if you are under 100mph; at the southern end, on the northbound carriageway the "hump" after the M62 interchange is often policed, then it is free play all the way up to Wetherby.

I have never seen a police car on th A1-A14 stretch by Peterbrough and concur witht he previous poster. Lane 4 most be the most under used bit of motorway in Britain, lane 3 is good for 120 and lanes 1 and 2 tick along just fine. I believe a Japanese gentleman was spotted doing 196mph on this stretch some years ago.

[GregE240]

Several years ago, went to a friends wedding in Hull. Decided to come home via the Humber Bridge as I'd never been over it.

Got south to the M180 and drove it to the M18.

Fastest I've driven on a UK road. At 1am I was the only person on it.

[r129sl]

GregE240 said:

At 1am I was the only person on it.

It's like that during the day, too: apart from the police cars!

[hardcorehobbit]

The M6/M(A)74 etc Northbound is a niceish road, with some nice scenery, but it's currently broken up by about 4 sets of roadworks, and a contraflow 5 miles long.

In fact, anywhere in scotland would be great.

[Chris71]

Whenever I go up the A1M there seems to be quite a lot of police presence. Had a cosy chat with one of them last time, but to be fair he was being incredibly leniant (I was a tiny bit over the speed limit...)

Not helping really in Manchester, but isn't the M6 toll road supposed to be quite good?

[dcb]

Chris71 said:

Not helping really in Manchester, but isn't the M6 toll road supposed to be quite good?

I've used it a few times and I've always found it
to be excellent.

It seems to be mostly boycotted by lorries and poor
people, which helps keeps the number of users
down.

Lovely piece of three lane tarmac. The UK could
do with a lot more private motorways like this.

Even if you don't like private motorways, it takes
some traffic away from the ordinary mways, thus
helping us all.

[matchmaker]

The newish M77 over Fenwick Moor. Then you come to the A77/76 and mile after mile of SPECS