First time to Abbey Wood site
I have travelled south to Le Shuttle a number of times and have always lost a couple of hours on the M25 usually because of the volume of traffic, sometimes because of multiple accidents.
I am booked onto Abbey Wood in a couple of weeks. I know that the club handbook gives directions from the M25 but wondered if anyone had travelled from the north and used any other routes. A friend, without caravan, uses the M11 when visiting his daughter in East London.
All advice gratefully received.
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I’ve had a quick look, and seemingly the most straight forward way is to use the M11, pick up the M25, over the Dartford crossing, then pick up the A2. I’ve been to Abbey Wood a few times and using the A2 is pretty straight forward. Just a word about the Dartford crossing, it gets very busy.
PS I would imagine alternative routes could take even longer.
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Karma
I am not sure there are any better routes other than the M25? You have been very unfortunate if you have been regularly delayed on the M25, perhaps it was the time and day you travelled? We made many trips down the M1 from MK onto the M25 on the way to France and been fortunate not to encounter problems. Having said the we did get payback last year on the M40 with a five hour delay, just glad we had the motorhome then!
There is an alternative route from the M25 to Abbey Wood which I will list here:- "From M25 leave at junction 1A and take A206 in the direction of Erith and Thamesmead. The road changes to the A 2016. (don’t take any other signed route to Abbey Wood as this could prove difficult) Exit A2016 onto A2041 signed for Abbey Wood/Thamesmead. Continue on the road which takes you over Abbey Wood Station to next roundabout and take first exit into Knee Hill. Within a couple of hundred metres turn right into Federation Road (site signed) and site is on left. (This is not the official CC route which takes you to Abbey Wood from the A2 and is signed throughout, however the route above is easier with better roads)" Its not quite as residential as the official Club Route. Have a look at it on a map or Google to see what you think. When I discussed it with the warden at Abbey Wood he thought it perfectly OK but they are only allowed one signed route apparently.
David
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When heading for Eurotunnel at Folkestone, I join the M11 from where I live - Bury St Edmunds - just south of Cambridge and continue to the M25 and the Dartford crossing. Then down the M20 to the tunnel. It's 123 miles from my home and I allow 2.5 hours for the journey in my MH plus a bit of margin for holdups.
On this route, timing is everything and I always try to avoid arriving at Dartford between 8am to 10am (or 4pm to 6pm for an evening crossing) as the delays on the M25 can be quite long during peak periods. Outside of these times, I don't often encounter too much delay on the M25 unless there has been an incident.
Having recently stayed at Abbey Wood (our 3rd visit), I personally wouldn't want to divert there off the M25 for an overnight stay as the traffic between the M25 and the site can be very congested with major queues to rejoin the motorway. If I needed to break my journey (unlikely) I think I would consider staying at the CMC site at Bearsted (near Maidstone) or Black Horse Farm (near Folkestone) instead.
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Karma, I’m guessing you haven’t visited Abbey Wood before? I’d just like to say that as you approach the site, it doesn’t look promising at all, but once inside, the whole vibe changes, it’s like an oasis. The station is just a 10 minute walk, which gives direct access into the city. Elizabeth line trains are frequent, modern and clean. Enjoy 👍
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Glad you found the route OK. I had previously used the official route which I felt went through to many residential roads so I had a close look at Google Maps to work out my route.
David
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I realize I am a month behind the curve here, but I had to comment on this:
DK wrote:
"You have been very unfortunate if you have been regularly delayed on the M25"
Really?!
I wonder why it is colloquially known as the country's biggest car park? I can hardly recall a time when I have been able to use the M25 without a traffic jam at some point or other.
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Greyjames
I can only speak from my own experience of the M25 and fortunately that has not been too bad. I have tended to use it clockwise rather than the southern part which is more inclined to holdups. Much of the M25 is now four lanes which does help a lot. Much of the criticism seems to come from people who have not used it! Last year we were held up for 5 hours on the M40 and that was the worst holdup we have been involved with.
David
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