A19 or A1?
Hi all, going up to Whitley Bay from Harrogate very soon and AA Auto route recommended using the A19. RAC gave me the A1 option. Any advise would be appreciated.
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Hi karlpeg. We go up to Whitley Bay from South Yorks, and have tended to use the A19 more than the A1 route. Not sure on where they are with the roadworks at Catterick area at moment, and get the timing wrong and the A1 stretch around Gateshead/Metrocentre can be a nightmare. We had very little trouble using A19. Once you are through Tyne Tunnel, it is basically turn right! That was the only busy stretch we encountered.
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Hi takethedogalong, many thanks for your reply. My only reserve is that I drive under 50mph most of the time on the fast roads and didn't want to upset other drivers been a dual carriage way. Also we tend to stop off every hour of driving so didn't think there would be any services.
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as someone who lives very near both (as in a few minute drive from both) you can come northwards up either but after Washington services on the A1 take the A194(M) and it will join the A19 just before the Tyne tunnel. Don't go through Newcastle or around it for Whitley Bay, these will be quite congested at any time of day and the longer way round. The Tyne Tunnel out of peak hours should be a quiet run through, but check the toll charges and have the exact change ready to drop into the automatic payment baskets and as you'll be towing your caravan may need to be to be checked see http://www.tt2.co.uk/faq.html (quote : but it will need to be checked before entering either of the tunnels. Please pull into the inspection lay by on approaching the tunnel.
The good news is there is no extra charge for your caravan.
Then as said above its an easy run.
I always prefer the A19 as it's a quieter road (out of peak) and more interesting to drive through than the A1 (been doing Washington to Hartlepool this week (for an inspection) and even at peak it's a good run through).
Post edit, there is one services at Easington (after Peterlee about 30 minutes from the tunnel ) that you could stop at but beware it is very difficult to get out of even without a caravan. Use layby's on the A19, The A1 has better services (Wetherby is great for caravans as it has dedicated drive through parking bays for car and caravan, and Washington services could also be used. Have a good trip.
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sorry got it wrong, it used to be caravans had to be inspected
Light goods vehicles and caravans no longer need to be inspected
and it's £1.70 no change given
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Driving so slowly do you really think you should still be towing or driving at all?
Not advocating speeding or reckless driving but from memory the highway code has a section stating you should keep up with the flow of traffic, by travelling at less than 50 on a dual carriageway or motorway then I consider this as dangerous and, even 40 on a straight single lane road is worse as other users may not be able to overtake and you would hold up traffic.
Obviously it all depends on road, weather and traffic conditions but I am talking here about good road and weather with average or light traffic.
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Hi karlpeg. Can't help with the services and stops, but at under 50 mph you will be a bit slower than most other road users either route. Probably best on A19, although there is often slow moving traffic on both. It shouldn't be a long journey from Harrogate to Whitley Bay, we can do home to Middlesbrough in under two hours, and you are a good bit further North than us. Use google earth to find a pull off?
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A19 everything Karl peg. Much easier run-in to the Tyne Tunnel.
Just be very aware of the huge roadworks at the Silver link interchange. Just take the extreme right hand lane on approach to the Silver link roundabout and you will be fine for travelling east to Whitley Bay.
Tj
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