Hi All
Tomorrow im travelling to Edinburgh for the weekend.
Im Travelling from Darlington so my thoughts where just to nip up the A1 past Newcastle etc - however my dad seems to reckon that its better to go along the A66 (W) up the M6, that way, what do you guys reckon is better ( i have been to Stirling going that way before and i really enjoy the drive, and my dad reckons that there is no point going up the a1 because its single carriageway past Newcastle (more or less) and you will just get stuck behind lorries and it will take just as long
If we where to go up the M6, can anyone recommend somewhere nice to stop and eat ( i dont think i will be taking the "tourist route" that is signposted unless someone could really recommend it
As always Thankyou in advance, and i really apreciate it
Ste
Edited by redviper on 28/10/2009 at 14:19
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Head towards Newcastle airport, Belsay, Otterburn, Jedburgh, Dalkeith.....Edinburgh. Great drive.
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 28/10/2009 at 14:30
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Thats the one I use to get to Durham from Edinburgh.
Edited by Old Navy on 28/10/2009 at 14:31
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Having regularly travelled Peterborough to Inverness and occasionally gone through Edinburgh I can't see any advantages to using the M6 to Edinburgh you either go a long way round to use the M8 or end up with a single carriageway A road.
The A1 north of Newcastle is largely single carriageway and camera infested. My preference is to take the A769 up through Coldstream, single carriageway but in my experience quiet and a present drive.
If using the M6 I would take the A702 to Edinburgh from Moffitt, Lockerbie is a better place to stop less touristy than Moffitt, when I worked in the area 5 years ago Cafe 54 or a similar on the main street offered good food and a decent espresso.
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I do a very similar journey twice a week. The A66 route is marginally faster but quite a bit longer. Following the A1 all the way is OK but does get to Edinburgh in a round about way.
I currently go the A697 from Morpeth through Cold stream then eventually join the A68 up to the Edinburgh city bypass. The south end of the A68 near Newcastle is very twisty and not a relaxing drive so that's why I don't use it all the way.
Generally the A697 is a very good flowing road with not a lot of traffic, but there is a few tricky corners to watch out for.
Beware that there is resurfacing work on part of the A697 at Longframlington I think due to start on Nov 2 and the road signs say to avoid if possible during that week. This may affect your return journey.
The A1 has a lot of roadworks at the moment, so a lot of 50mph sections.
Edited by Zub on 28/10/2009 at 15:00
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I came up the M6 on Monday from Stroud, lots of section of road works 50/40 limits but crawling at less than 10 mph even in half term. I would be tempted to use the A1. Regards Peter
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Thanks everyone, all suggestions taken on board ill have a think about it tonight
im looking forward to the trip its been a long time since i drove to Scotland but i think its going to be a brilliat trip
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...im looking forward to the trip...
The A68 up through the Borders is a tremendous drive, but very twisty in places.
It's the route I would choose if not in too much of a rush and looking to enjoy the journey.
You could always use the major roads on the way back.
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You could always use the major roads on the way back.
What makes you think the A68 isnt a major road?
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...What makes you think the A68 isnt a major road?...
ON,
The OP was talking about the A66 - mostly dual carriageway - and the M6 which is, er, a motorway.
So in comparison, the A68 - largely one lane in each direction - is a smaller road.
Do I really need to explain all this?
And if we are going to be pointlessly picky, kindly put an apostrophe in the word 'isn't' to denote the missing 'o'.
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And if we are going to be pointlessly picky kindly put an apostrophe in the word 'isn't' to denote the missing 'o'.
Ah, the apostrophe police are in town. Watch out, theyre coming to get you.
OK, Ill come quietly officer!
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...Ah, the apostrophe police are in town...
safedriver,
Consider yourself charged with the serious offence of deliberately leaving out apostrophes in an attempt at humour.
Far too much of it about, if you ask me.
Good evening all.
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SQ
Far too much of it about if you ask me. Good evening all.
Its a fair cop, guv.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 29/10/2009 at 01:03
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What makes you think the A68 isnt a major road?
The fact Northumberland council have received £730,000 to detrunk the route.
www3.northumberland.gov.uk/Councillor/Upload/CDocs/1461_M151.doc
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You can, or you could, if you have time, pay something to drive through Kielder forest on the rally stage. There is or there was a speed restriction but.......well.....
I did it on hard packed snow in a Westfield once. Fairly awesome experience.
;-))
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Having done the Wilton (near Middlesbrough) to Dunfermline run many times over the last 14 years, I would always go the A1. Reasons?
1. The drive from Berwick upon Tweed to Edinburgh is fast with beautiful sea views (if it's daylight) and it's mostly dual carriageway.
2. Although there are a lot of single carriage ways from Morpeth to Berwick, it is a beautiful road as well. No sudden curves, no towns to go through, get the Radio 2 country music show on at 7:00 pm and relax all the way home.
I will keep doing this run until I retire or Wilton closes its last petrochemical plant. I don't know which will come first.
Watch the speed cameras tho'.
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A68 for a scenic and interesting drive. But please watch out for a number of speed cameras.
Not many garages en route.
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Hi all
Many thanks for all your advice this is the route that I took
Because we had to get there at a certain time, and my Girlfriend has not seen Scotland before we decided to go along the A66, and up the M6 (in part so we could have a clear run for most of the way as there are hardly any road works on the A66 and M6 as I said I would be at the hotel at a certain time as they had a bucket on ice for me ;-))
Driving up the A66 I was doing a sat nav speed of about 76 mph, and went round the bend to go downhill to the Kirkby Stephen turnoff, I stupidly didn?t notice a bright orange van with a huge speed camera sign on the side with its side door open ? so I don?t know if ive been ticketed for speeding or not
As suggested by a9er we stopped of in Lockerbie and had a pub lunch there , which is nicer and better value than stopping of at a service station , and the lunch was a lush.
We went round Glasgow and entered the west side of Edinburgh which was handy for the hotel. Although I found myself driving through a bus lane and no-one would let me out.
For people driving to Edinburgh beware as princes street is fully closed due to the resurfacing works going on at the moment, however that wasn?t a problem for us as we where at the west side of Edinburgh and there was a bus stop right outside our hotel with buses every 10 min, so we just bought a day ticket for £3 and left the car at the hotel for 3 days.
Leaving I decided to try the A1 route, I joined the ring road to go south round Edinburgh, and that took us onto the A1 although it was very slow moving traffic to about Berwick, as it was torrential rain all the way to Darlington, and there where caravans everywhere (seriously there where loads of them) ? however I like driving in adverse weather conditions so I didn?t mind the rain so much.
I think we arrived into Darlington at about between 1pm -2pm leaving Edinburgh at about 10 so it wasn?t a bad trip at all
Thanks again everyone for your advice we are going to be going back so I will try out the other suggested routes, as I wont need to get there for a certain time
Ste
Edited by redviper on 04/11/2009 at 12:53
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"beware as princes street is fully closed due to the resurfacing works going"
Thats not just roadworks - thats tramworks!
And they are all over the place at the moment & change regularly just to confuse the visitors (& locals).
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Thats not just roadworks - thats tramworks! And they are all over the place at the moment & change regularly just to confuse the visitors (& locals).
Princes Street, now otherwise known as "Ground Zero", due to it looking a bit like the site of the WTC shortly after 9/11...
Best to avoid the city centre altogther if you're driving really...
Edited by Typ 8L on 04/11/2009 at 14:21
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Edinburgh's roads have mobile bomb sites at the moment. It's not just the laying of tram tracks which is the problem, what is taking the time is moving all the underground services from where the tracks will be laid. As said above, the locals get confused, visitors have no chance!
Edited by Old Navy on 04/11/2009 at 16:32
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Ironic really when you consider that as a child in Edinburgh I witnessed the removal of the remaining tram tracks from some streets. I remember going elbow over backside on them a few times when racing to or from school in the city centre on my bike.
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We seem to have gone full circle, Humph, I wont be around long enough to see what will replace the trams when these new tracks are eventually ripped up. Our planners are really on the ball, as usual. Will be interesting to watch the car / tram interaction in the early days of the trams. At least I have easy public transport, (wash your mouth out), links to central Edinburgh.
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