Driving to Lake District

**alzsxi** · 3rd August 2009, 12:23

Next Monday (10th August) I'm driving up to Keswick in the Lake District for a short break. Aiming to leave at @5am and get as far past London as I can before stopping for breakfast at 8am.
What I'm after is if anyone has any advice regarding best route, where to stop for a break etc. as I like to do my homework before a longish road trip! Thanks in advance.

**Sean-2.2Direct** · 3rd August 2009, 12:27

Not to sure my self mate never been up there but been meaning to for a while hope you have a good safe trip

**signum_1.9** · 3rd August 2009, 12:37

3 hours should (traffic permitting) take you onto the M6 Toll. Norton Caines Services is there and its new, clean and a few decent eating establishments in it.

Nice drive up the M6 as you approach the Lakes, not been there for a couple of years, but looking forward to the next trip.

**19CDTi** · 3rd August 2009, 12:44

Take the M6 Toll at Birmingham, the traffic will probly be mental on the free road...!!

**eashton** · 3rd August 2009, 12:51

Have a good drive up, really nice place Keswick. Don't forget to wave on the way past

**KTM Chris** · 3rd August 2009, 13:24

I spent a long weekend in Keswick about 6 weeks ago. Really nice place, stunning scenery and fantastic roads (I was on my motorbike). To be honest I was stunned that such scenery exists in England!!

Can't really help with the route as we came in from a different direction from you, and we had a strict no motorway rule

**Governor** · 3rd August 2009, 14:39

Im a trucker by trade use M6 all the time, although the signs will say congestion on M6 toll road clear, ignore them, M6 is usually ok although you might slow to 50ish past birmingham, Corley services is ok, 1st service area on M6 from A14, plenty of service stops on A14 too all ok, although i normally stop at BP nr Kettering.

If your coming from Kent would recommend, M25, M11, A14 onto M6 will avoid Roadworks on M25, can be a ****** in mornings everyone heading towards M1 & M40 during rush hour. a slightly quicker journey to M6

**dac100** · 3rd August 2009, 16:19

Definitely agree with previous posts recommending M6 Toll. For a few quid it can save a lot of time and its a pleasure to drive on compared to the rest of the motorways in the Midlands and North. Also Norton Caines Serives is by far the best service station between you and the Lakes. Some of the rest on the M6 are not much better than slums.

If its a really good sunny day, expect to get held up around Preston as there'll be a mass of traffic heading for Blackpool unless you hit the area around Junction 32 after about 11am. Wouldn't normally be a problem except at weekends and bank hols, but with school hols, might be on a Monday too.

**Governor** · 3rd August 2009, 17:01

[QUOTE]Some of the rest on the M6 are not much better than slums./QUOTE]

coudn't agree more.. overnight parking costs are a total ripoff for truckers..

**Shifty** · 3rd August 2009, 19:31

Don't be tempted to get off at J36 and take the "scenic route" - it'll ad an hour to your journey. Hammer it up to J40 then head east along the A66?? I think, it's a big road, first left off the J40 roundabout.