We are looking to drive from Thirsk in Yorkshire to Porthmadog in North Wales. It is really a matter of getting from point to point as sightseeing is not a particular issue on this day. Is it feasible to do in one day? What is the best route?
Note: We are from Australia so are familiar with driving on the left. Also, not jetlagged as we will have been in the UK for about 3 weeks already.
Thanks for your help.
Less than five hours with a quick lunch stop.
There'll be a variety of software routes, but I'd go with Leeds/Warrington/Conwy. If there's a logical choice, pass north of Manchester. I'll be the first to admit that Yorkshire isn't my strong area, however, so anybody's idea about getting past Bradford and Leeds will be better than mine.
The natural route is AI/M1link then the M62 west..
That bit of motorway in west yorks,west of Bradford to Pontefract (A1), is the 2nd busiest in country and often,near daily, at a crawl in morning rush.
If you have the radio on traffic info mode,(TA) might save you a lot of grief.
Otherwise drop down to the A628,Woodhead Pass, it also has the benefit of putting you on the Much less busy section of the manchester ring. road and the M56 towards north Wales
Yes, it can be done in 1 day.
I have not driven the English leg that I suggest here but my route avoids the built up conurbations around Leeds & Manchester - which you would pass on the busy M62. My route uses an ordinary 'A' road (non divided) which is north of these big cities and mainly passes through countryside.
Leave Thirsk on A168. Go straight across M1 Junction 49 and follow *minor road to RIPON. Then, A61 towards HARROGATE but take B6161 at Killinghall to join A59 going west towards SKIPTON. Follow the A59 all the way across to the west side of Britain & join the M6 at J31 (just East of Preston) & then head south. (Not having driven this route, I can't be 100% sure it is the best).
Anyway, whichever way you go, you will eventually leave the M6 & take the M56 towards CHESTER = well worth a visit. Then, it is the A55 North Wales Expressway - which I suggest you leave at J19 (Llandudno Junction) & follow A470 south to LLANRWST. Here you will see an old stone bridge crossing the river - leave the A470 & cross this humped bridge to join the B5106 on the other side of the valley. Now turn left (south). You will eventually reach the A5 just W of Bettws-y-Coed.Then turn R & take A5 westbound to CAPEL CURIG > A4086 >A498 to BEDDGELERT & finally through the Aberglasyn Pass to PORTHMADOG. (This route from Llandudno Junction is incredibly scenic but not exactly fast. Your alternative is to stay on the A55 North Wales Expressway to Bangor & then the A487 via Caernarvon to Porthmadog. The roads are better but it is a longer route & lacks the stunning scenery of the first suggestion).
Try and follow these routes on Google Earth to help you decide what you think will suit you best. * This junction is complicated so make sure you draw a little sketch map from Google Earth to take with you - should you choose this option. Another route from Thirsk to Ripon exists just to the north.
Thanks for the suggestions which are all useful in our planning. Fab1 - thank you for the detailed directions from Chester. I did not really just want to follow the North Wales Expressway, although that is what all of the planning software was indicating.
Pay close attention to what Fab said about the North Wales Expressway and where to get off to cut through Snowdonia.
That's the point I was trying to make, but less eloquently, with the Conwy turning point. Once you cross the river, the road can get jammed up all the way in to Caernarvon and the subsequent turn south as well.
Thanks, Emma. Holmfirth looks lovely and we will definitely stop there. My husband enjoyed watching 'Last of the Summer Wine' which is set there and our last name is Holmes and his ancestors came from the general vicinity.
Thanks again for all of the suggestions.
I am just reviving this thread as it is now a little over a day until we tackle this step of the trip.
A couple of you mentioned Woodhead Pass, however, I am unable to locate it on Google maps. Can anyone give me any more detail as to where it is?
Thank you.
A628 = Woodhead Pass.
Junction 37 on M1.
If doing Holmfirth ,theres a great drive over Holme Moss where 60'000 gathered to watch the tour de france riders toil up. Drops you down to T junct. with A 628 with the slopes of Bleaklow to your south
In my opinion it would be best as you go to Manchester, then at Leeds and later at Porthmadog.
Here you have a link to a page where you can check the route: http://www.routeplanner24.com/route-finder
