Presumably you used the M6 Toll to avoid the nightmare around Birmingham or simply arrived there before rush hour. Once past Birmingham you don't go near near any major cities until you reach Glasgow

The M6 I use goes pretty close to Manchester and Liverpool too.

OP doesn't say how he nvigated Birmingham, obvious oprions would be toll, 'classic' M6 or possibly (from M40) the M5. M1/A50 works for me in avoiding Birmingham and the all too often slow section beyond Wolves and through south Staffs.

Cheshire area, Thelwall and the various conurbations between Liverpool and MAnchester can be sticky too. Can only guarantee geting foot down after the Blackpool spur.

That's impressive - you must have been speeding nearly all the way? :-)

Google maps says 6:33 via the M6 and without traffic.

Twice a year we visit Aviemore, its about 432 miles each way. Leave home about 8 am and get there about 3.45 pm. We have 3 comfort breaks so the actual travelling time is about 7 hours. That is an average speed of 62 mph. I would estimate that about 390 miles is on motorways and dual carriageways with the remaining 42 on 60 mph roads. In recent years we have been very lucky and can travel pretty much all of the time with cruise set at the appropriate speed limit (using the sat nav speed and not the speedo) and other than the usual bunch of idiots not much passes us.

To do the same distance in 6 hours would require me to average 72 mph and that would mean setting cruise at well over 10 mph over the speed limit since the faster you try to go the more difficult it can be to maintain a constant speed. Not only would that potentially result in points but it would also cost me a fortune in fuel.

Edited by skidpan on 29/06/2015 at 16:08

No stop for lunch?

Or do you graze?

With 2 drivers one can drive and one can graze (helped by the dog) and drink.

Your nom de clavier 'HandCart' conjures up wonderful images.....

If iy just me I use the train as eating lunch and taking a pee is so easy and a little nap after lunch

Ditto me. If you book ahead and/or chhose travel times carefully rail travel can be absurdly cheap.

I've just booked my son a single from Liverpool to Northampton on Friday coming for £6.60. Specified trains only, travel via Birmingham on London Midland's services. Not just an odd train either; it was offerd twice every hour from just after 09:00 until after lunchtime.

Journey time about 3:20. Possible do do it via another route in 2:50 but at an extra £30. Most LM serices on the route are Class 320/1 with four abreast seats. If you find coach B there are 12 seats at one end in 'club four' set up round full size tables.

where safe cruise control is a great device to reduce the strain of driving and keeping the roadside cameras at rest.