traveling to dover

JohnM

JohnM

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Since Feb 2009 and 40yrs c/vaning
A friend of ours from east midlands, recons that if i use m6 toll and on to m42 then m40 ,would be a good alternative to avoid the Dartford crossing on route to ferry. ps we will be traveling from central Scotland
any advice welcome.
JohnM
 
M6 toll will cost much more than Dartford Crossing

Why not use Dartford Crossing at night, quieter, no charge
 
Well I personally would also miss the M6 toll as well,
Try and advoid the M25 near m4/m3 between 1500/1900 and you should have a easy run, just continue straight onto the M26 then M20 and its plain sailing to Dover,
 
Why do you want to avoid Dartford? The most you can possibly pay for it is £2.50 and it can be less than that without much difficulty. It really isn't worth bothering with elaborate detours.
 
ivorantony said:
Well I personally would also miss the M6 toll as well,
Try and advoid the M25 near m4/m3 between 1500/1900 and you should have a easy run, just continue straight onto the M26 then M20 and its plain sailing to Dover,
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Thanks for that only reason i use m6 toll is cc discount

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If you are coming down the M6 stay on and go down M5, then M42 and M40,,, Then anticlock around the M25..
No need for the toll unless you want to save some time, however it can catch you out as they often have holdup's at the far end where it joins the M42 and passing the NEC can be a pain..
I live almost on top of the M6 / M6TOLL junction and do this journey many times..
You may get some slow traffic by junction 10, it's a bit hit and miss at the moment as they still have roadworks on.
 
tonka said:
If you are coming down the M6 stay on and go down M5, then M42 and M40,,, Then anticlock around the M25..
No need for the toll unless you want to save some time, however it can catch you out as they often have holdup's at the far end where it joins the M42 and passing the NEC can be a pain..
I live almost on top of the M6 / M6TOLL junction and do this journey many times..
You may get some slow traffic by junction 10, it's a bit hit and miss at the moment as they still have roadworks on.
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Thanks Tonka i hope to make an overnight stay around the Birmingham area and leave sun 17th may at around 0800.Would this idea sound ok.We have made the journey eight times before but not using this route.
John.
 
Hey hope you and Joyce have a wonderful time away, hope to catch up with you again some time. :)
 
Nice van hope you have many enjoyable journeys.
John
 
From Central Scotland I would come South on M74, M6 and across to A1 Scotch corner, South on A1 to Peterborough, then A14, M11, M25 and M20 to Dover.
The southbound Dartford crossing is no problem now with the auto toll system. I use it two or three times a week, different days and times and so far all crossings have been trouble free. Northbound still needs the roadworks to finish, probably another two months. M25 around M40 to A3 is a pain nearly all the time.

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JohnM said:
Thanks Tonka i hope to make an overnight stay around the Birmingham area and leave sun 17th may at around 0800.Would this idea sound ok.We have made the journey eight times before but not using this route.
John.
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If any use.
Jn 11 on the M6 there is a pub, only 2 mins. Wheatsheaf.. They allow free motorhome parking and do some pub food deals....
 
Thanks Tonka that sounds like a plan.
 
I nearly fainted when I came down the M6 Toll and got caught for a load more than I thought because I had a trailer on the back of the car. £12 i think especially as at that time of the night the proper road would be free running. Dearer than the french autoroutes?
 
Hi.
The way you know,is always quickest ?... Me? i would come Zains Tops way. That is not saying the other suggestions are wrong.
Tea Bag
PS. M6,turn off at Penrith,nearly all dual carr. now to S/Corner
 
JohnM said:
Thanks Tonka i hope to make an overnight stay around the Birmingham area and leave sun 17th may at around 0800.Would this idea sound ok.We have made the journey eight times before but not using this route.
John.
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M25 very quiet on a sunday past Heathrow so dont think you will have any hold ups. I go that way for Newhaven Dieppe ferry which i find more economical and less mileage when heading for Spain rather than using Dover. BUSBY.

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Agree with Tonka,re route M5/M42/M40 and Wheatsheaf off jct 11 good choice, you also could try Tumbledown farm if you come off jct 12, and go towards Cannock,then get back on at jct11.Would suggest 5.00am restart from this area should get into Dover without much hassle by 9.00am.
 
The dartford crossing is no worse than the Kingston or forth road bridges at peak times
 
Strongly dislike tolls, I also live in central Scotland when I am going to France I don't think the Dartford crossing at a max of £2.50 is worth worrying about. How much does that work out over the length of the trip?
 
I was going to say about the CC discount on the M6 toll, excellent VFM.

Still a lot of roadworks on the ordinary M6 round the M5 Jct (Jct 8) and Spaghetti and beyond (Jct 6). On the M42 it depends whats on at the NEC - Crufts for instance is an absolute PITA when that's on. Especially on a Sunday! And of course, it's still noisy cos it may well be all tarmac now but that's still laid over the original concrete, with all the joints.

IMHO.
 
GrahamX said:
Strongly dislike tolls, I also live in central Scotland when I am going to France I don't think the Dartford crossing at a max of £2.50 is worth worrying about. How much does that work out over the length of the trip?
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Your about 12 miles from me,not the cost that i was thinking about more the delays and paying online.
 
JohnM said:
A friend of ours from east midlands, recons that if i use m6 toll and on to m42 then m40 ,would be a good alternative to avoid the Dartford crossing on route to ferry. ps we will be traveling from central Scotland
any advice welcome.
JohnM
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Thats the way i go
 
We must just be lucky. Never had any major hold ups at Dartford. Admittedly heard some horror stories about tailbacks. At the end of the day, your money = your choice. Just enjoy the drive whichever route you choose. Nice to know another funster member lives closeby. It would be nice to meet up somewhere, sometime.

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JohnM said:
more the delays
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What delays? Going Southbound over the bridge there won't be any unless you catch rush hour wrong but that can be said of any motorway and I promise you that the western M25 from the M40 round to at least the A3 is so many more times worse that it can't even be compared. Coming Northbound through the tunnel there are roadworks at the moment where the old toll booths are being removed but as there are speed limits into the tunnel anyway it doesn't really make that much difference.
 
As someone who lives in Kent and uses the M25 to go North, I would say that your best bet is after Birmingham use the M6 then A14 (at M6/M1 junction) then M11 and M25 and over the Dartford bridge. Much better and quicker than using M1 or M40 and around the west side of the M25, which can really snarl up very quickly (got that T shirt many times).

The bridge at Dartford is now more free flowing since they removed the toll barriers, and it should be no problem on a Sunday morning/lunch time. Of course as with any motorway it can snarl up if there is an accident or incident.

Just check the weather forecast before you leave to make sure there are no very high winds expected, which can sometimes close the bridge and cause chaos (although not that often).
 
Dartford Crossing is now only £1.67 if you open an account with them. We use the crossing several times a year so opened an account for which we now have little transponders which stick on the screen of the van and the car. Last time we went through, in December, we just drove straight through. No hold ups at all for probably the first time ever.

Richard.
 
Clarky said:
Dartford Crossing is now only £1.67 if you open an account with them. We use the crossing several times a year so opened an account for which we now have little transponders which stick on the screen of the van and the car. Last time we went through, in December, we just drove straight through. No hold ups at all for probably the first time ever.

Richard.
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Although the transponders are still operative you don't need them with the new system, it's all done with ANPR cameras. I guess once all the works are complete they will turn off the transponders.
How the ANPR system deals with Bulgarian and Polish trucks and cars etc. is still a mystery, my suspicion is its doesnt and they get through for free........just like we do in France....not!!
 
put a Bulgarian or Polish no plate on your van. just to see if it works.:pinocchio::devil::roflmto:

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