route to Whitby

Subject: route to Whitby
From: Mo the caller
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 05:00 PM

What do you think is the best route from Cheshire to Whitby on Friday?
M62 then York bypass and risk traffic jams, or over the top of the Moors, via Thirsk which is 17 miles further?

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: selby
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 05:23 PM

For me York, there are traffic lights on the roundabout now plus better lanes so do not think its a pinch point now from what I have seen
Keith

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Wyrd Sister
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 05:29 PM

It's not the roundabout at the end of the York bypass that's the problem. Yes, that's improved with the traffic lights, but just beyond that the road goes to a single lane, which is what causes the delay. Nevertheless I'll no doubt be going that way, but I'd be tempted to go over the moors if it were feasible just for the pretty countryside.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 05:46 PM

Mo,
If you can set off early enough to avoid the tea-time traffic around York the bypass should be okay.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: LesB
Date: 14 Aug 12 - 06:21 PM

From Southport (not Cheshire I know) I always go to Preston then A59 to just outside Harrogate, then Ripon bypass, little white rd s/post Sharrow this takes you straight to the A19 then A172 to Guisborough, then A171 to Whitby. I have gone this way since sitting for an hour on the York bypass. On paper it's surprisingly, slightly shorter than M62 York, Pickering, but takes about 20 mins longer, but so less stressfull.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 03:48 AM

We thought we'd try the Thirsk route to avoid A64 round York during Ebor horseracing festival a couple of years ago, and it's definitely prettier! May go home the pretty way, as the racing festival is 22-25 August this year...

Kitty

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 04:12 AM

Coming from the north I have no option but to go over those lovely moors. It's a hard life, but somebody's got to do it!

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: stallion
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 04:16 AM

Yup the roundabout and ring road can be a bit of a 'mare, which ever way you go you would be better off going via pickering which makes the thirst option a better bet, however if you are towing a caravan, as far as I can remember, you will struggle if not even be permitted to get up Sutton Bank, stop over in York Friday night and go to the Victoria vaults session, strike camp early in the morning, A64 to Pickering turn off on Malton bypass then across the moors to whitby

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 04:19 AM

IF you dont have to be there in short order , the pretty way HAS to be more relaxing , with not so much sitting stationary in traffic jams ! I would far rather drive over the moors than the Motorway IF
time permits

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 04:45 AM

It very much depends on the time of day, if you hit the York/Malton/Bridlington roundabout on the A64 after 4pm you will probably have a long delay

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Betsy
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 04:50 AM

John if you could cut over onto the coast road ( there's a couple of options e.g.Grinkle turn off ), there are some good views over the North Sea. If you can ignore the Boulby Potash on your right you will see Staithes - and from then on, to Whitby, it is an eventful and picuresque run .

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Diva
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 12:38 PM

Now for the past couple of years I have travelled down (from Ayrshire and the Borders) with my pal Maggie and we always get a bit lost,usually round Middlesborough. I have to admit we are usually blethering or singing. Hints and tips most welcome!

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Roger Knowles
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 01:35 PM

Living in Harrogate, I'd say LesB has one of the nicest routes. It's what I'll use.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: r.padgett
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 02:51 PM

Tend to agree with Betsy M1/A1 A19 towards Teesside Redcar down the coast maybe faster and avoid some traffic queues depends where you start from!

Thirsk rd is circuitous
A64 can get snarled up, I am an early morning person not tea time!

Ray

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 02:58 PM

I would use the train to scarborough, then catch a bus, or altenatively, get off at malton and hitch or walk

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: The Sandman
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 03:11 PM

or better still, Iwould get off at malton and walk across the moors to commondale, call in and see richard grainger have a pint and catch the train to whitby

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Ebor_Fiddler
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 05:48 PM

My sister, who lives at the top of The Wirral, uses M62/M1/A1M/A64 to Malton, then Pickering and the Whitby Moors. However, avoid the York Bypass final roundabout if possible - we usually turn off onto the Bridlington Road and take the Malton turnoff just past Stamford Bridge (the real one, where we killed the Norwegian Army, not the poncy Southern imitation).

You can also get a bus directly from Leeds if you are so inclined - The Coastliner.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Jack Campin
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 05:53 PM

I guess they still won't have managed to assign more carriages to the York-Middlesborough train for the busiest day of the year?

It's like a caricature of the Indian railways.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 15 Aug 12 - 08:31 PM

I personally would avoid the A64 past the A1079 as it is bound to get jammed up because of the reduction to single carriageway immediately past the roundabout with traffic lights.

Take the A1079 junction and head towards Stamford Bridge. There are two or three routes to turn onto before Stamford Bridge going via Buttercrambe or Bossall and if you have a good SatNav you should be OK.

Rejoin the A64 before Malton or go through Malton and on to the A171.

You will no doubt have some delays but if you got stuck at the pinch point it could be at least an hour before you got moving again.

There are of course roadworks on the M62 around the M1 junction (nothing new there) as well as a couple of other spots so the A59 route might not be a bad plan.

Best of luck.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Peter
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:13 AM

This is starting to sound a bit like the opening of the "Minehead By-election" sketch.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: LesB
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:21 AM

If you descide on the A59 here are a couple of little pointers to make it easier.
When coming down the hill to Harrogate just outside Harrogate you will come to a roundabout, turn left on to the B6161 to Killinghall, (it joins the A61 after a couple of miles & cuts the corner off).
Then when you get to the final roundabout on the Ripon by pass, you will see a small road to the right signposted Sharrow, take this & it eventually goes under the A1M then round a couple of small roundabouts & then down the slip road onto the A166 /A19.
(There is a Littl Chef not far down the road for a comfort break)
Turn off the A19 at the A172, if you cut the corner off by going on the A173 through Gt Ayton just before you rejoin th A173 you will pass a car park for walks to Rosebury Topping, there is a loo in the car park ( I can usually make it to there in one go but not Whitby)!!!
Then A171 all the way to the promised land.
Enjoy yourself however you get there.
Cheers
Les

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Mo the caller
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:40 AM

All that is most helpful - though I'm even more confused now. The carpark/loo info particularly useful.
The Traffic England website says that there is a sliproad closed between the A19 and A 172 "The A19 northbound entry sliproad from the A172" Am I right in reading that to mean it won't affect journeys between Thirsk and Whitby either way.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Malcolm Storey
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:56 AM

Whoops

re my previous posting for A171 please read A169.

There are also alternative pretty routes via Strensall, Sheriff Hutton and Hovingham which take about 20 minutes longer than a clear run, but you will not get one of those on Friday or Saturday.

I see someone is recommending Little Chefs but I have not seen one open recently. They look most fetching in brick and plywood!

cheers

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: nutty
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:59 AM

It means that you can either take the A170 Thirsk - Helmsley route or carry on up the A19 and take the A174 and then the A171.

Remember, as it is regatta weekend as well as Folk Festival every route into Whitby is likely to be congested.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 07:05 AM

In 40 or so years, we've tried most routes but for the past 3 years we have used the train as Dick suggests. OK, we're lucky as Liverpool Lime Street station isn't far away and there's a First Trans-Pennine Express service hourly which will have you in Scarboroygh 3 hours later with no changes. Then the X.93 bus stop (Middlesborough service) is right outside the station. With a mere 10 minute wait, it'a another hour to Whitby and presto! - just over 4 hours. We couldn't drive there any quicker with a following wind, it's less stressful and with current petrol prices, a comparable outlay. It does mean I can't take my own drums anymore, have to hire a kit in and the stage suits don't get packed (where DID Guards Vans go!?) but I doubt we'd travel any other way again.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 07:08 AM

well said, clive take the train avoid the strain

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 07:10 AM

PS
The Scarborough spelling in the last post (cue that solo bugle!) isn't a local variant - just my gardening-weary fingers getting less agile!

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: LesB
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 10:21 AM

" just my gardening-weary fingers getting less agile! "
Better rest them before Wed lunchtime then. Mind you a drummer with bandaged fingers might start a fashion trend. Wish I was going to Whitters :-(
Mind I will be at Fylde :-)
Cheers Les

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 12:27 PM

Keep going east. If your feet get wet, you've gone too far...

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 02:43 PM

TRAFFIC ALERT !!!!

Someone in North Yorkshire County Council Highways Department has decided that this week would be the best time to replace the armco barriers at the Hole Of Horcum. A convoy system was in operation this evening (Thursday) with a ten minute delay at 7pm, normally a quiet time of the day.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Clive Pownceby
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 03:23 PM

PPS
A final note on the train option. It's obviously far more economic to book the journey both ways in advance on Trainline or similar. I think we save over £20 each with advance tickets. There's always the option to 'posh it' and upgrade to First Class going home on the Sat. for a little extra!

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 03:49 PM

clive , i speak from xperience, it is normally cheaper to book in advance through trans pennine express, rather then train line

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:58 PM

You can't book for the York-Middlesborough segment, which is like something out of a Third World war documentary on the Saturday morning the Folk Week starts. And there isn't a first class option.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: The Sandman
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 05:23 PM

the middlesborogh whitby line has beautiful scenic views, that are notany better in the first class section, furthermore more you can hop off at commondale and get a pint and catch the next train, richard grainger will buy the round.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Jack Campin
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 06:15 PM

Oops - I meant Darlington to Middlesborough.

Agreed the views from Middlesborough to Whitby are wonderful. And the train isn't quite as packed.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Mo the caller
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 11:26 AM

Same question as last year, York bypass or N of the moors? leaving mid morning tomorrow

The route planners are saying York this time. Has the single lane bit of the A64 been improved.

And are there any other delays on either route that I need to know about (Traffic England website is down just when I need it!)

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 12:57 PM

A59 from Skipton to York

York - Roadworks at roundabout on A1237 (bypass around north side of York) were causing long delays on A59 last week.

Harrogate - On the return journey, we took the A658 and A65 via Pool to avoid the centre of Harrogate. We should have gone that way too!

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Nick
Date: 15 Aug 13 - 06:38 PM

Depends how fast you drive and what part of Cheshire but...

If you are leaving mid morning (11am?)you'll be going round York at lunchtime (1pm) so I'd just keep going up the A64 to Malton, Pickering and across the moors.

Whitby at about 14:00 - 14:15 I'd guess.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 11:02 AM

We live in Harrogate would not dream of going anywhere near York. Up th A1 cross to the A19 go by Thisk not through up Sutton Bank across to Helmsly then Pickering and to Whitby. Quietist and most Scenic.See
You All there.

Joe Nicholson

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: JHW
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 04:16 PM

A1 to just past ie North of Wetherby Services.
Take A168 slip which becomes the A19 and on as Joe says.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Vic Smith
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 04:22 PM

It's going to be a long old drive for us tomorrow from the Sussex Coast. We want to get there to have a bit of a rest before performing in a concert tomorrow night.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: JHW
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 04:55 PM

Ref A19 way, at Thirsk you DO have to go into Thirsk briefly for the roundabout that gives you the Scarborough road to Sutton Bank and on to Pickering.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 13 - 07:22 PM

Yes but you only touch the edge of Thirsk you don't go through the middle of the town

Joe N

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Mo the caller
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 09:51 AM

And Tesco on the edge of Thirsk do a good coffee & teacakes (+ clean loos). Much nicer than Wetherby services which we queued to park at on the way up.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 11:32 AM

i'm working a lot around Whitby and find the 171 172 route suggested by Nutty the quickest but not the shortest.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Fred McCormick
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 11:54 AM

Jessssus! Not having been to Whitby for a few years and unable to remember the route, I decided to leave the thinking to my (usually) trusty satnav. It directed me to the A1m and around the York by-pass. Not a very good route at any time, I'd have thought, but it was made infinitely worse by the holiday traffic and the fact that huge stretches of the road were being resurfaced.

I arrived 2 hours later than I'd anticipated. In future I'll see what the satnav says and then see what the road map says.

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,henryp
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 03:18 PM

As usual, Joe Nicholson's advice, given above, was correct!

"We live in Harrogate would not dream of going anywhere near York. Up the A1 cross to the A19 go by Thirsk not through up Sutton Bank across to Helmsley then Pickering and to Whitby."

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: GUEST,Guest with a capital G
Date: 25 Aug 13 - 06:23 PM

Are there people still looking to get there?

Did not realise the traffic was quite so bad!

Subject: RE: route to Whitby
From: Mo the caller
Date: 26 Aug 13 - 05:44 AM

No, we've got our ticket and flat booked for next year, now just the route to decide.