A1 or M1? (1 Viewer)

[philw111]

After many years of exile in NE Scotland, we are planning a trip down (or is that up?) to London. As I haven't driven that far south for a while I was looking for advice/suggestions as to which road to take - A1, M1 or is there another possibility that won't take forever? I know the actual driving will be much the same on either road but, having 2 dogs that will need rest stops, which road has the better service areas or opportunities to go slightly off-route to stop? BTW we are stopping off in Whitley Bay for a night so the western routes are not really an option.

 

[PhilMary]

I travel fairly frequently up the East side and much prefer the A1 as places to stop or pull off for a break are better and more frequent.
Edit. I often stop in the large layby at the Angel of the North's feet, large layby, good tea wagon.
Phil

 

[Zains Pops]

I always opt for A1 generally less traffic and better stops.

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[Dazzlin]

As above. Prefer the A1. Maybe not quite as fast as M1 but much more relaxed.
Good layby near Haggerston Castle, off the road, behind trees and with a loo.

 

[Reallyretired]

Always the a1. Better stops and more scenic.

 

[Puddleduck]

Once you get onto the A720 Edinburgh bypass I would take the A68 from there, turn off at Carfraemill and go down the A697 to join the A1 just north of Morpeth then stick to the A1. It's the route with least hills and more interesting than other routes.

Taking the A1 past Berwick will add miles to your journey. Plus if you take the A697 I can tell you of a free, serviced nightstop for vans of less that about 7.2m

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[Jev88]

A1. They have steadily removed lots of the big roundabouts that used to mean queues and plenty of places to pull off for a break.

 

[Lenny HB]

Another vote for the A1.

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

A1. Less idiots on the road, many more stopping places

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[Stagman]

We do M74/M6/A66/A1 when crossing the border. Its the quickest if you have a lot of miles to cover as we do. Still plenty of stops for the dog

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

We do M74/M6/A66/A1 when crossing the border.

That was always my route, except when A66 had 8ft of snow....

 

[Stagman]

After many years of exile in NE Scotland, we are planning a trip down (or is that up?) to London. As I haven't driven that far south for a while I was looking for advice/suggestions as to which road to take - A1, M1 or is there another possibility that won't take forever? I know the actual driving will be much the same on either road but, having 2 dogs that will need rest stops, which road has the better service areas or opportunities to go slightly off-route to stop? BTW we are stopping off in Whitley Bay for a night so the western routes are not really an option.

Junction 16 A74 Annandale Water has a nice park you can walk the dogs round.
Wetherby services A1- have a lakeside walk from where you can directly access some very good public footpaths on arable land
Scotch Corner A66/A1 has a decent amount of the green stuff for the dogs to empty themselves.
Depending on how far up North you are, there is a nice waterfall walk for the dogs at the House of Bruar on A9.

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[TheAleMan]

A1, all day long. It's the best road in the Uk.

 

[TheAleMan]

We do M74/M6/A66/A1 when crossing the border. Its the quickest if you have a lot of miles to cover as we do. Still plenty of stops for the dog

Yep, that's the way to do it.

 

[Puddleduck]

We do M74/M6/A66/A1 when crossing the border. Its the quickest if you have a lot of miles to cover as we do. Still plenty of stops for the dog

But not if Phil is going to the Newcastle on Tyne area for a night Otherwise I would agree with you.

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[bigtwin]

Interesting. I’d opt for the M1 on the basis that it has more lanes and hence the impact of losing a lane (due to a breakdown) is less. I accept that it carries more traffic but I’d still reckon it had less potential to disrupt your journey.

Ian

 

[pappajohn]

Daftest thing they ever did with the A1.....remove the truck stop cafes... The proper spit and sawdust ones with a rubble carpark and pint mugs with chipped rims.
Ahhh! Nostalgia.
Today they're all sanitized little chefs and the like

 

[Nirvanauk]

We do M74/M6/A66/A1 when crossing the border. Its the quickest if you have a lot of miles to cover as we do. Still plenty of stops for the dog

We do this one. A bit further but with much better roads.

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[peterc10]

Daftest thing they ever did with the A1.....remove the truck stop cafes... The proper spit and sawdust ones with a rubble carpark and pint mugs with chipped rims.
Ahhh! Nostalgia.
Today they're all sanitized little chefs and the like

Still plenty of good cafes just off the A1 if you know where they are, and most of the HGV drivers do.

 

[Stagman]

But not if Phil is going to the Newcastle on Tyne area for a night Otherwise I would agree with you.

Didnt see that bit

 

[pappajohn]

Still plenty of good cafes just off the A1 if you know where they are, and most of the HGV drivers do.

Yes, but it's the roadside ones which were an institution and part of motoring heritage.

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[Puddleduck]

Interesting. I’d opt for the M1 on the basis that it has more lanes and hence the impact of losing a lane (due to a breakdown) is less. I accept that it carries more traffic but I’d still reckon it had less potential to disrupt your journey.

Ian

The A1 is slightly shorter and less ups and downs if I recall correctly. If there is a hold up on one then the other gets busy anyway.

If coming down from Edinburgh I would not join the A1 until just north of Morpeth (come down the A697 and join the A1 after the garden centre which has an overflow carpark for motorhomes, dog walking etc) or if doing the A68/A696 just after the airport. My own preference is for the A697 as it is a better road, less ups and downs and less remote if you need help. Distance there is very little in it between A697 and A68. The A1 is a lot further round in the Scottish section as it hugs the coast.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Daftest thing they ever did with the A1.....remove the truck stop cafes... The proper spit and sawdust ones with a rubble carpark and pint mugs with chipped rims.
Ahhh! Nostalgia.
Today they're all sanitized little chefs and the like

Not quite - I offer award winning A1 Truck Stop at Colsterworth or maybe Grizzly's at Sandy?

 

[thebriars]

Just to be different, you could come from Whitley Bay on the A19 and join the A1 further south near Thirsk. It saves the awful Tyne Valley bypass round Newcastle. There is the Tyne Tunnel to pay for (£1.70 I think). For me, as many others have said I prefer the A1. Nasty bottleneck round Ferrybridge but otherwise OK.

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[tribalbrit]

I live dead centre of A1 east and M1 to the west. I always use the A1 if going South. much better road and more places to stop off.

 

[Baggydave]

Hi
Heading for London? Watch out for the low emission zone. It starts a long way out.

Best of luck

 

[Podney]

A1 all day long bruv. Get in the Ol jam jar,head sarf and you’re there my son. Don’t forget your passport.
Tip: when in London,drive like a Londoner. You’ll soon pick it up.

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[Debs]

Another vote for the A1 and I travel on bits of both quite often.

I really don't like the 4 lane parts of the M1 where there's no hard shoulder. Myself and my daughter got caught in the aftermath of an accident the other week. Who ever came up with that idea was mad.

 

[Drifter]

I prefer A1 but last time we went down the road was closed entirely with an accident, so not sure how often that happens
On a side note, I’m a regular radio 2 listener and a fairly recent topic was the demise of truck stops on it being replaced by sex shops. I wasn’t even aware of it and it did make me chuckle a bit