Been away for a while...busy busy busy...but know this is still the best place for route advice.
Old hands might remember we almost never travel South of Biggleswade. However might have to go to Canterbury in a day or two, starting from Peterborough.
Could involve trailing a horse so static/slow moving traffic can be a serious problem.
Any idea of times/places to avoid etc would be appreciated.
M.M
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No easy way of avoiding the M25 so travel out of hours or face Dartford Bridge meltdown.
Might be quicker riding the horse?
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Believe me I really don't travel South at all, what is Dartford bridge meltdown and which times are best for veiwing this event?
M.M
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Sorry - to elaborate - the shortest route is down the A1/M11/M25/M2. M25 is problematic at any time really but gets busy during perak hours (obviously) and the toll at the M25 tends to back up.
Rest of the journey should be OK now as most of the roadworks on the M2 are (I think) finished.
RAC site calculates it as just under 140 miles.
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M2 roadworks are finished but the PITA A2 ones aren't. And the speed limit varies in them from 40-50 and back again. Lots of cameras! Keep an ear to the traffic reports on Invicta FM on 106.2 as you go over the bridge, if they start reporting problems then carry down the M25 and come off at the M20 junction which is after A2. Then go down to either J5 or 6 and either go up Bluebell Hill (not the bet if towing) or up the A249 Detling Hill and get onto the M2 their. Can save hours if a major problem in the raod works and not that many extra miles.
Jim
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>>Lots of cameras!
2 camera's in each direction on the A2 roadworks, one near the bottom of an incline going south/east, down to third, let the diesel engine breaking save your break pads...
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The Dartford bridge is that big tall thing made of wire that carries the M25 over the Thames. The tollbooths for the same are on the south side of the river. During rush hours the traffic can build up at the toll booths. If traveling south that means you get to queue on the bridge itself. You can acutally sit in your car and feel the whole thing moving!
Best time to avoid swinging on the bridge is lunch time.
I would go A1/A14/M11/M25 east/M2 or A2. Its about 130 miles I think.
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I would be queueing with RF, too! M11 is a nicer road than the A1, for my money. Avoid the A14 at rush hour though. I should think if you leave home at 10.30, you'll be over Dartford at lunchtime, and in Canterbury for a late lunch.
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So the section of M25 that has to be used....
Are we talking static/10mph/30mph at times??
How long might the bridge toll be..waiting 2mins/10mins??
If the horse gets cross not moving you might see me walking it about on the bridge for fresh air while waiting for the tolls!
M.M
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I passed round there between 12 & 2pm the other Friday, and it was absolutely fine. 70mph (busy, but 70mph). 20 seconds queue.
M25 is a shocker during (a rather extended) rush hour, but otherwise you should be OK.
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The bridge/tunnel is a real nightmare.
Allow anything from five minutes to an hour.
Around mid-day on Sat. 22/5 it was about 20 minutes.
You can never tell how long the tailback for the tolls is going to be so we never use it unless we absolutely have to and Kent/Sussex is a no-go area from Essex.
Still, discouraging traffic from using the M25 is one of the official aims of retaining the tolls (apart from raising £50 million per annum).
As most of you will be aware, the tolls were supposed to have ceased once the construction costs had been covered, which was 2002, but our leaders sneaked a special bill through parliament to extend them indefinately.
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Hi MM
Coming home from Leeds on Weds 2 June, used A1/A14/M11/M25 etc. Dartford bridge at 3pm was a mare (no pun intended) - something had broken down in the morning and tail-backs were still 45mins at 3pm. Otherwise no problems.
Having said that, have done it other times with only minutes delay at the tolls - it's the luck of the draw really.
Toll for car and horsebox trailer will be £2.
Of course, strictly speaking Dartford crossing isn't M25 but we all call it that. So don't be fooled by signposts!
--
Terry
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M.M:
Well, I seem to disagree with others, but I do travel north (and back!) from Kent quite often, including the M25, Dartford the A2, M2, M20 etc. Also know Canterbury reasonably well.
I would come down the M11 if that's convenient, because that way you minimise M25 time. I'd avoid the short section of M25 you'll now cover between 0730-0930 and 1600-1900, but other than that I've never suffered, dunno about others' lunchtime problems. There's no point doing M20-A229 because it just adds extra journey distance and times, the roadworks on A2 are not much of a problem if you can manage to obey the speed limit for a few miles. Whatever you do don't do the A249 with a horsebox!
The key place to avoid really is Canterbury city centre around rush hours. If you need to go round the ring road at all, avoid between 0800-0930 and 1630-1800 like the plague, your horse will get hot!
Good luck with the trip
Andy
ps. You could try looking on www.theaa.com at the travel news section for delays during a few days before your trip, to spot the Q's?
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...ah, but middle of the day at weekends can be a proper nightmare at the bridge - loads of inexperienced drivers who can't decide which lane to use, or find the right change, all going shopping!
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Not to mention Roy Rogers and Trigger in his box! ;)
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If you really want to cut down on M25 time then go down the A12, either by continuing on the A14 to Ipswich or by exiting the M11 at Stansted and using the A120 to get to Braintree, then to Chelmsford on the A131 where by driving round the outskirts of town you can pick up the A12, then head south on the A130 towards Basildon and then pick up the A13 towards London which then joins the M25 at the last junction before the bridge. Then, if the queue for the bridge is really bad you'll get in it some distance from the back!
This is the preferred way to Ikea at Lakeside and the Dartford Crossing for your more thoughtful resident of mid / north Essex. Yes, such things do exist but not in great numbers.
This route would best be utilised once they've finished building the new road from Stansted to Braintree - should be open now but it's been put back to next month.
I was also at university in Canterbury, but as I haven't been back for a number of years I can't offer much useful advice.
Matthew Kelly
No, not that one.
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I did that route once and ended-up driving through the multi-storey car parks at Lakeside.
It was like being in my own version of Grand Theft Auto.
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Come off it! The M25 is only bad during rush hour!
You'll be at Dartford if you go via the M11 before you reach Ipswich if you stick to the A14.
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Many thanks all..even those that don't agree on a route! I'll pick the bones out of the advice and paste onto a route sheet for the map book...then I can read it when we're in the jams.
Have to say such a journey with a horse in tow does not appeal.
M.M
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.....now your route is sorted don't forget to gen up on the Transit of Animals Orders.
Horses have rights you know in relation to watering, feeding and rest periods....
DVD
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But Peterborough to Canterbury is only spitting distance and an easy drive - provided you avoid the rush hour.
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Ah yes but animals have transport rights. Not allowed to be over 28c if I recall, fresh water avialble etc etc. Funny thing is humans dont have transport rights. Underground at 33c etc.....
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Hmm...I don't like rights. Any person (or animal) will only need rights when those taking decisions affecting them are insensitive. I hope no-one ever needs to exersise their rights when dealing with me. ;-)
But seriously it is the animals comfort and the safety of all involved uppermost in my mind. Hence this thread and careful planning to avoid trafic levels or jams that would hardly trouble members of the forum on their own in a car.
Thanks
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