M25 rush hour

JPOSH
JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
edited April 2016 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Can someone shed some light for me

i am going down to dover for the ferry

not booked it yet.

leaving home sunday evening possibly staying on a cl in the m4-m25 region  arriving about 10/11pm

would the m25 be fairly clear at around 7 am

Comments

  • PATMAU
    PATMAU Forum Participant Posts: 250
    edited April 2016 #2

    I assume you mean Monday a.m.  It is the start of commuter traffic on M25 so allow yourself plenty of time to reach Dover for a ferry.  it may be better to look for a night stopover further down the line rather than M4/M25 area, as there are not many in
    that area anyway, you would probably have to look around Windsor for one. 

  • KJLC
    KJLC Forum Participant Posts: 84
    edited April 2016 #3

    I very strongly doubt it.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,149 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #4

    Personally, I'd get well clear the night before and not risk it on the day of sailing.

  • DEBSC
    DEBSC Forum Participant Posts: 1,364 ✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #5

    M25, never flipping clear! Try 2am.

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited April 2016 #6

    Don't bother stopping until the M20. In which case there are CL's near Dover that are familiar with ferry 'vanners'.

    The more experienced will be along with more details, I have no doubt Happy

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2016 #7

    Do you have to leave Sunday pm ? the m25 is normally not bad on sundays, and make for a ferry pitch at Black Horse Farm

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #8

    My problem is not being able to leave Carmarthenshire until 6 pm at the earliest .

    Are there any cl s near Dover that would allow us in after midnight

  • Pliers
    Pliers Forum Participant Posts: 1,864
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    edited April 2016 #9

     

    would the m25 be fairly clear at around 7 am?

       *************************************

    7am on a Monday morning, I'm afraid not. Avoid if at all possible!

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #10

    I'm afraid you're being a bit naive to think the M25 will be clear at 7am on a Monday morning. The chances are nil and zilch.

    I don't know your personal circumstances but Sunday afternoon/early evening would be the "best" time and if you could do that then so much the better. At least try to get to a CL or site near Maidstone. Good luck.

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #11

    I have done the run down to Dover many many times 

    I know what it is like 

    That's why I said fairly quiet

  • johnathome
    johnathome Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited April 2016 #12

    You won't find it relatively quiet on a Monday morning rush hour begins at about 5 am and just gets worse.

    if there happens to be an accident then you could be on the m25 all day.

    i don't know what time ferry your booked on but you would need an late afternoon sailing to be on the safe side.

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #13

    Ferry not booked yet

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #14

    between 5and 9 am are the worst ,and there are always delays , local radio are always reporting some sort of delay

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
    500 Comments
    edited April 2016 #15

    There is a c.c. site at Bearsted (just after Maidstone off the M20)but you need to be aware of there times of opening and closing!There are a number of CL sites just off your route (5 to 10 miles) which would probably suit.Do not even think about the M25
    on a Monday morning after 5 am!!!

  • freddie
    freddie Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited April 2016 #16

    Why not just get yourself to Dover and book in when you get there it's not peak time so should have no problem getting on a ferry.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2016 #17

    The other alternative if you just want to get your head down for a few hours is to utilise Tesco's car park just to the south of Ashford ( it's off the second turnoff for the town)A2070, then right at third roundabout. 

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #18

    That's a good idea 

     

  • freddie
    freddie Forum Participant Posts: 25
    edited April 2016 #19

    Tesco is junction10 M20.

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #20

    ferry booked for 04:20

    may leapfrog the services on way down

    and try and get on the port early as possible to get an hour or 2 there

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #21

    just looking at crooksfoot tesco car park on google maps

    should be good for a few hours there as it will be closed early monday morning

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited April 2016 #22

    We live not too far from the M25 and try and leave on a Saturday or Sunday morning to miss the rush hour traffic. If you leave Windsor at 7 am on a Monday you will hit the M25 at the worst possible time. If you joined the M25 at 6.30 am near Heathrow T5
    you might clear the busy section before it gets too bad.

    We used to drive to Dover after work on a Friday and get a midnight crossing then stop on an Autoroute Aire about an hour from Calais. Many people are not comfortable with that Idea but all I can say is that we did it for many years with two children. Slept
    like logs and straight on route next morning after a shower in the service station. No unhitching/hitching etc.

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #23

    Just looking at the services near channel tunnel

    2 hours free parking 

    Which will be perfect 

    Get there about 1 am 

    Back on the road for 3 .

    Just in time to get get another hour rest at the ferry terminal.

    By the way over night stop at these services for caravans costs £20 which includes £5 meal voucher + free showers

  • artyboo
    artyboo Forum Participant Posts: 457
    edited April 2016 #24

    Just looking at the services near channel tunnel

    2 hours free parking 

    Which will be perfect 

    Get there about 1 am 

    Back on the road for 3 .

    Just in time to get get another hour rest at the ferry terminal.

    By the way over night stop at these services for caravans costs £20 which includes £5 meal voucher + free showers

    Write your comments here... Hi JPOSH, the services there look quite comprehensive but I have not been in them. Do you have to book or anything?  Please do feed back on what they are like. We are lucky given that we live just 40 minutes away from Dover so
    have no need to stop anywhere although we DO tend to stay at Bearsted the night before we catch an early ferry. I know the Tesco at Ashford and from memory, the turn is quite tight; I think my heart would be in my mouth if I tried to get in there with a van.
    Do have a lovely break and let us know how you get on.

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #25

    Will do Arty 

    Unfortunately Mother Nature has decided to put the kybosh on our Germanic odyssey

    So Languedoc-roussillon appears to be the area we have been squeezed into by the weather. 

    We have a tad under 3 weeks away so let's see what happens.

    I have 31 days off but OH Could only manage 19 days .

  • artyboo
    artyboo Forum Participant Posts: 457
    edited April 2016 #26

    Will do Arty 

    Unfortunately Mother Nature has decided to put the kybosh on our Germanic odyssey

    So Languedoc-roussillon appears to be the area we have been squeezed into by the weather. 

    We have a tad under 3 weeks away so let's see what happens.

    I have 31 days off but OH Could only manage 19 days .

    Write your comments here...19 days is still enough to have a wonderful time (civil servant per chance?) and wherever you go will be just wonderful.

  • JPOSH
    JPOSH Forum Participant Posts: 131
    edited April 2016 #27

    Will do Arty 

    Unfortunately Mother Nature has decided to put the kybosh on our Germanic odyssey

    So Languedoc-roussillon appears to be the area we have been squeezed into by the weather. 

    We have a tad under 3 weeks away so let's see what happens.

    I have 31 days off but OH Could only manage 19 days .train driver here so got ferry cheap also 

    And we will have a great time

    Write your comments here...19 days is still enough to have a wonderful time (civil servant per chance?) and wherever you go will be just wonderful.

    Write your comments here...

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