I wouldn't fancy trying it. You could go through Worcester and then pick up the A49 at Leominister. If you avoid the M6 you're eventually going to hit Wigan and Warrington not to mention Haydock roundabout. I even avoid Warrington without towing. And Haydock roundabout.......the thought gives me the shakes. After Preston it isn't too bad but I'd close my eyes and go via M6.
H
------------- "A lot of people mistake a short memory for a clear conscience."
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once you get past the turn off for the M55, just after preston, and the A6 is a nice easy road from north of Preston up to south of Lancaster, in fact there is a great pub on the way, Guys Inn (aka Old nells)..yummy food and great beers, in summer everyone sits outside by the canal...lovely! anyway once you get just south of Lancaster there is a roundabout where you can get on the M6 north... I know you don't want to go on motorways but it's generally pretty quiet as you go further north ans is quite a nice drive. You can go through Lancaser but there is really bad congestion at rush hours so avoid at those times if you can!!! it's the only way to get from the uni to the city/morecambe way, you have to go through the city centre as there's no by pass. anyhow, the M6 is fine, you can just sit in the slow lane all the way up from lancaster, there's not that much traffic coming on to it, especially once you get nr Kendal and if you're going to windermere area you come off at kendal anyway.
Sorry really can't help with the bits further south.
A nice route would be: A515 to Buxton, A6 to Chapel en le Frith, A624 to Glossop, B6105 then A628 to Penistone, A629 to Skipton (bit tricky through Huddersfield, Halifax & Keighley), A65 to A591 (or follow through to Kendal via Kirby Lonsdale) & you are there. This route goes through some wonderful countryside, the peaks, pennines & Yorkshire dales, but it would take you at least 6 hours as opposed to 3 or 4 on the M6. I have driven this route many times but not all in one go!
If you want to get further off the beaten track there are some spectacular routes through the peaks & dales.
Went all the way from North London to the Lake District on the A5 to Tamworth, then travelling via Lichfield, Rugeley, Stoke on Trent and picking up the A6 somewhere in deepest, darkest Manchester and travelling on to the Lakes. It was in 1960, on a school trip done in an old Bedford coach. It took over 12 hours and we were all knackered when we arrived at our destination.
Of course, there were no motorways then to speak of except a bit of the M1 from Watford to just short of Rugby and I think the Lancaster by-pass(which went on to form part of the M6) had just opened. Apart from that we were on "A" roads all the time.
If I may say, I think you'd find it quite an arduous journey nowadays and you would need to allow a lot of time. That's progress for you!
Vic
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A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Cumbria avoiding Motorways
