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Subject Topic: Best route to euro tunnel with a caravan Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonLcamper
22/7/2015 at 2:35pm
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Hi All,

We are travelling to France tomorrow on the tunnel. We are travelling down from Yorkshire so I'm not looking forward to the added journey time due to the 50mph on the M1, and now to top it off operation stack is in operation again. We now have the dilemma of which route to take if it is in operation tomorrow.

We have a caravan so do we go M2 A2 then back out of Dover on the M20? If so which junction do we come off at for the tunnel (due to the A20 entrance being closed). Or do we go M2 A2 A28 M20? Has anybody used these diversion routes? And did they take much more journey time due to volume of traffic.

I'm so glad that I don't live near the ports.

Thanks for any help.


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PersonVal A
22/7/2015 at 4:48pm
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
 Outfit: Swift Speedbird 490 Mondeo Estate View Val A's Profile View Profile   Reply to Val A Reply   Quote Val A Quote  
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Don't go down the M1 - use the A1 if you live in Yorkshire. Even south of Sheffield you can still join the A1 south of Worksop via the A57. From there it's much easier. You then take the A14, and the M11, M25 and currently (because of Operation Stack being intermittent) the M2/A2 is recommended. Friends have done that journey this morning and had no problems getting to the Dover/Folkestone area.

We're travelling down that way shortly and have rarely had problems - but we now choose to travel on a Sunday when traffic both at home, and in France, is less.


Personjanus
22/7/2015 at 4:54pm
 Location: Rochdale
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Just out of interest and slightly off topic, we are going down to Hythe on Sunday and had planned on using A1 and M20 but judging from what you have said it seems we might be better off using the M2. Your opinion would be welcomed.

-------------
Bill

For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013

Mondeo Titanium 140 tdci


PersonDi+Glyn_W
22/7/2015 at 6:34pm
 Location: Ashford Kent
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Itdoes depend what time you are travelling. If you are on an early ferry,and will be in Dover by about 0700hrs, then M20, A20 (off at j8) and back onto M20 at Ashford would probably be okay.

But it is a bit of a nightmare if it's busy! If you go M2 / A2 then you go through Dover, back out onto the M20. Exit at J11, then rejoin the M20 coastbound, and leave at J11A.

Keep an eye out between J11 & J11A; lorries may well be stacking in lanes 1 & 2, waiting to get into the tunnel.

Police have been pushing tourist traffic along lane three of the M20, and then ensuring that there is access into the tunnel at J11A.

-------------
Glyn W.


What if the Hokey Cokey really is what it's all about....?


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PersonVal A
22/7/2015 at 6:42pm
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
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The M2 is recommended because of the problems with Operation Stack (parked up HGV's waiting for cross-channel ferries or Eurotunnel) on the M20. It is still being recommended as the best route to Dover, by the ferry companies. Perhaps you should have a look on their websites before travelling, and see what they are saying.


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PersonLcamper
22/7/2015 at 7:01pm
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Thanks Val. We were debating A1 as we sometime use that route but we were thinking that the traffic may be bad first thing in the morning. I know it will be bad M1 as well so may give A1 a try to avoid the mundane M1 50mph restrictions. We are West Yorkshire so pick up A1 at Worksop. I'm keeping everything crossed for a trouble free journey.


Personbellringer18
22/7/2015 at 8:11pm
 Location: Pocklington near york
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we go friday sail hopefully 2/30 am sat, always go A1 way.Dfds saying go M2/A2.


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Personbellringer18
22/7/2015 at 8:18pm
 Location: Pocklington near york
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does the M2 come of the dartford crossing.


PersonVal A
22/7/2015 at 8:56pm
 Location: West - North Yorkshire
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Yes, the A2 comes off just after the Dartfort crossing, and becomes the M2, and then the A2 again.

Someone on another forum suggested a route as far as Canterbury, here:

If there are still problems when you plan to use the Tunnel, you could try this route.
Go M2 onto the A2 past Canterbury, continue until the A260 junction take this exit for Folkestone until you come to the M20 J12, join the M20 west until you reach J11 come off
here go all the way round and rejoin the M20 East and join the M20 forward to J11a channel tunnel.
I went past the channel tunnel entrance on the A20 (not the M20) yesterday and it was closed with diversions.

Hope you can understand this.

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Personwelshwyn
22/7/2015 at 9:02pm
 Location: essex
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After you cross over the Dartford crossing you keep to the left and follow the signs for the M2. As you come off the M25 you actually go onto the A2 which merges and becomes the M2 a few miles further along. The A2 is still dual carriageway so you wont even notice that you've gone from the A2 onto the M2. Then just keep following the signs for Canterbury and Dover. I drove down to Canterbury yesterday for work, and the M2 was definitely busier than normal with quite a few caravans and camper vans on the road.

Val must have been typing my post as you posted your...lol


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PersonPinkpigeon
22/7/2015 at 9:43pm
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I use the stretch of the M1 between Nottingham and Sheffield several times a week for work and actually on the whole (fingers crossed) the traffic moves really well most if the time. It's a nuisance being restricted to 50mph but it does keep things moving.



Can I just ask as an aside (sorry not meaning to hijack) does the operation stack thing have an impact in the evenings too? We are travelling next Monday evening and are meant to be travelling in the 9.50pm Chunnel. Should we be concerned if it's still in place?


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Personbellringer18
22/7/2015 at 10:16pm
 Location: Pocklington near york
 Outfit: Bailey Ranger View bellringer18's Profile View Profile   Reply to bellringer18 Reply   Quote bellringer18 Quote  
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thanks we realise we been that way few yrs ago stayed at site at whitfield.



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