NW London to Halifax Yorkshire

[antman]

Hi,

Just putting together a new trip North and wondered if anyone had any advice.

I'm trying to avoid the A1 and noticed that I can pick up the A6 at Luton and follow it pretty much all the way to Derby, then hit the A38, followed by A61 and on.

Does anyone have any advice on the A6 or alternative route. Time is not too much of a problem, but max should be 3 days.

Thanks

[NUKe]

I personally would try and avoid A roads, particularly trunk roads where possible unless it was essential. I am assuming you are talking cycling here. why not put it into bike route toaster and see what it comes up with.
http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com

[JohnW]

What I'd do is..........Grand Central operate from Kings Cross direct to Halifax three times a day. Bring your bikes up on that, and have 3 days (or 6?) longer up here. There's plenty to see.

[Ron]

I had a pleasant tour north from London to Edinburgh and just followed the roads nearest to the east coast, I cannot recall any unpleasantly busy roads. Might be an idea for you and just peel off to the left when you approach the latitude of Halifax.

[thirdcrank]

Antman

I'd say that your proposed route isn't a very good one for cycling.

I think that Ron has the right idea - and you might consider the National Cycle Route 1, which does pretty much what he suggests. You would have to consider how to cut across country to Hx.

[Big T]

I would use the A6 as a start point but ride on B roads or minor roads that run parallel to it. May be more of a pain to navigate but a much more pleasnt option than riding on the A6 itself. A38 should be avoided at all costs. It's a dual carraigeway that links the M1 to Birmingham via Derby and carries much fast and heavy traffic.

[foxyrider]

Follow the A6 to Leicester then head up to Nottingham, Worksop, Doncaster/Rotherham, Wakefield and on to Halifax, nothing too stupidly busy and certainly after Nottingham you can use fairly quiet lanes up into Yorkshire.

[antman]

Thanks for your help guys, the East Coast route may be fun.

Bike Route Toaster gave a good alternative.

Oh JohnW, haha:) I like the Halifax humour, am from there me sen originally.

Cheers!

[JohnW]

Thanks for your help guys, the East Coast route may be fun.

Bike Route Toaster gave a good alternative.

Oh JohnW, haha:) I like the Halifax humour, am from there me sen originally.

Cheers!

Ah, well tha's comin' oam then.

Currently, my daughter lives in Portsmouth, and I have tried to find a suitable, safe, pleasant cycle route that didn't take forever. I've only tried it by Ordnance Survey, but I really have put some time into it and concluded that the best way is indeed to go east from here, and down through central Lincolnshire, but when I got to about the latuitude of Chelmsford and Harlow, it all went pear shaped and I gave it up. I didn't even look for options for getting around London.

I still haven't cycled it.

If you can get as far north as Chelmford/Harlow on the train, then the possibilities are beautiful - and basically pretty level. You'd have to cross the Trent, but if you turn west about Selby you can, honestly, get right to Halifax on rural roads and greenways.

Bon Voyage.

[antman]

HI John,

Yep... London is a bit of a 'blot on the landscape', I guess the best way down to Portsmouth would be to start veering West after Lincolnshire and come down through Aylesbury, stay west of Reading, Basingstoke and head South, should be a pretty good corridor, some nice scenery and hills.

I like the idea of a steady ride up the East of England then across to the 'Fax'.

best

[nez]

Thanks for your help guys, the East Coast route may be fun.

Bike Route Toaster gave a good alternative.

Oh JohnW, haha:) I like the Halifax humour, am from there me sen originally.

Cheers!

Ah, well tha's comin' oam then.

Currently, my daughter lives in Portsmouth, and I have tried to find a suitable, safe, pleasant cycle route that didn't take forever. I've only tried it by Ordnance Survey, but I really have put some time into it and concluded that the best way is indeed to go east from here, and down through central Lincolnshire, but when I got to about the latuitude of Chelmsford and Harlow, it all went pear shaped and I gave it up. I didn't even look for options for getting around London.

I still haven't cycled it.

If you can get as far north as Chelmford/Harlow on the train, then the possibilities are beautiful - and basically pretty level. You'd have to cross the Trent, but if you turn west about Selby you can, honestly, get right to Halifax on rural roads and greenways.

Bon Voyage.

If you get as far as Chelmsford surely it's Chelmsford Billericay West Horndon Tilbury foot ferry to gravesend, then find your own way to Portsmuff. Us Essex types don't easily cross the great river to bandit country Kent

[mig]

I would use the A6 as a start point but ride on B roads or minor roads that run parallel to it. May be more of a pain to navigate but a much more pleasnt option than riding on the A6 itself. A38 should be avoided at all costs. It's a dual carraigeway that links the M1 to Birmingham via Derby and carries much fast and heavy traffic.

A38? i avoid it in the car!!! the scene of some of the fastest/daftest driving i've ever seen!! not one for the bicycle sir.