Road Trip - Bradford to Cairnryan, route advice.

[gunman]

After 3 months searching for an Audi 80 TDI saloon in Northern Ireland I widened the search and have bought one from Heckmondwike, just south of Bradford. I am flying over on Saturday morning and driving it back up to Cairnryan for the ferry home. The flight gets into Leeds Bradford airport at 12.00 and the guy is meeting me and bringing me back to his house.

Now, the ferry choices are 7.30, 8.00 or 11.30. Each have a min check in time of 30 mins. My satnav and google maps show nearly every route to be about 5 hours which is cutting it fine for 7.30 or 8.00, but I would like to be home before 2.30am!

There are 3 route choices, first the satnav's favourite which is west on the M62, onto the M6 and northbound on very familiar routes. Second we have east on the M62, onto the M1, across the A66 and joint the M6 around Kendal. Third is to head north on various A roads (and the M606) and round Bradford to the A65 and join the M6 just south of Kendal.

All these routes show no more difference than 10 mins journey time, but that is using the satnav world, not the real world. What would be the advice of people who actually use these roads as to which would be quicker in reality? Is the ring road round Bradford going to be heavy with traffic on a Saturday?

Thanks for any advice.

[rynaqui]

I'd go with the quietest one and ring roads are a no no, causes all hell over here in Malta .

But then again the UK is different

[gunman]

Thats kinda what I'm asking, which is the quietest route, I suspect M62 to M6.

[rs2315]

Thats kinda what I'm asking, which is the quietest route, I suspect M62 to M6.

The roads these day's, lap of the gods.

Today m62 16 mile tail back after vans crashed, roadworks, no hard shoulder, no where to put the stuffed vans. Rush hour, every hours a rush hour these days.
If effing drivers kept a safe distance, then there wouldn't be so many crashes, then we'd all get to our destinations on time.

Sorry for the

Go with gut instinct, and hopefully you should get your ferry.

rs2315.

[chezz]

Where is your ferry departing from - Liverpool...if so consider going slightly out of your way and connecting up with the M65 as it is a fairly quiet motorway...this will bring you south of Preston and you can drop down onto the southbound M6 and so on.

[gunman]

Ferry is from Cairnryan, hence the topic title

Really dislike the liverpool ferry, takes far too long and I'd have to be on an overnight crossing. Last time I was on it I had a cabin, they banged the door to wake us up at 4.30 am for breakfast, then didn't serve it to 6.30am

[rj scotty]

banged the door to wake us up at 4.30 am for breakfast, then didn't serve it to 6.30am

really!!!!! id have incandescent with rage!!!!!!!!!!!

[chiefmechanic]

Road trip

Having done these trips a few times I would leave myself plenty of time. I also like motorways as its easier to cruise at 70 mph than cut across country and go slower even if it is shorter.
If you book a flexible ticket you can get on the earlier boat for a £20 change fee providing you get there in time.
Book the late one with the proviso that you can change and get on the 8pm if you make it.
I would also have booked an outward flight that allowed me to get a return flight the same day if the car was a dog and I didn't want it.
Brian

[gunman]

Having done these trips a few times I would leave myself plenty of time. I also like motorways as its easier to cruise at 70 mph than cut across country and go slower even if it is shorter.
If you book a flexible ticket you can get on the earlier boat for a £20 change fee providing you get there in time.
Book the late one with the proviso that you can change and get on the 8pm if you make it.
I would also have booked an outward flight that allowed me to get a return flight the same day if the car was a dog and I didn't want it.
Brian

Stena is 7.30 or 11.30. The 8pm crossing is with P&O so cant swap onto that one from the 11.30.

At the price of the car involved this time it won't really matter, it's coming home with me

[chiefmechanic]

Stena is 7.30 or 11.30. The 8pm crossing is with P&O so cant swap onto that one from the 11.30.

At the price of the car involved this time it won't really matter, it's coming home with me

Ok. Go for the 11.30 but set your timetable for the 7.30. You will know early on in your journey if you are going to make it. I always find there are unexpected delays.
Brian have a good trip.

[chezz]

Ferry is from Cairnryan, hence the topic title

I'll be totally honest and tell you that I have never previously heard of this Ferry port...Good luck with your journey all the same..I hope the car is worth the trip.

[Neutech]

Why fly and drive? You could get it collected and back to NI for £200 or so and save you hassle

[macspring]

No help, but looking forward to the photos in due course.

Best wishes.

[gunman]

Why fly and drive? You could get it collected and back to NI for £200 or so and save you hassle

I don't see it as hassle, I've done it before and will again.

It is fairly cheap this time of year too, flight was £60, can get the ferry for as little as £80 so its not expensive anyway.

[ericd]

whatever way you go you'll end up at dumfries and heading to stranr. before you get to cairnryan, the a75 is the main truck route out/in, if it's blocked due to accidents you'll be stuck behind the lorries , have a backup plan via somewhere like newton stewart -> barr-> ballantrae which in a worst case scenario would let you approach cairrnryan from the north in an emergency (ballantrae to cairnryan approx 20 min) , watch out for unmarked cars on your journey north from dumfries