Best route to Pickering

[mealsonwheels]

We shall be towing our caravan to Pickering, North Yorkshire via the A14, joining the A1 northbound.
We wondered whether to plan our route via the A64 and go around York to Pickering or is there a better route we should take?
Also, a recommended Service area we could stop at after about 2 hrs towing on the A1 would be really helpful, as not all Service areas are 'caravan friendly'.
Many thanks.

 

[Sproket]

http://goo.gl/maps/U8ff
I would use Ferrybridge services http://goo.gl/maps/oBG8
That will be about half way & then back onto the motorway up the A1 to the A64 & then onto Pickering
www.shirker.co.uk/services/

 

[mealsonwheels]

Thanks for that Sproket.

 

[Red_Mick]

Yes, the A64 to the A169, I went up there a few weeks ago. Loved the steam trains (may not be your thing though)

 

[mealsonwheels]

Thanks Red Mick, that's the way we'll go. Yes, we love steam trains and plan to go from Pickering to Whitby on one.
If Sproket is reading this, we google mapped Ferrybridge Services and used your video to see how we find the caravan slots at Ferrybridge Services, but we can't see how we get back on to the A1 again

, we keep ending up on the M62! What are we doing wrong?

 

[Sproket]

Thanks Red Mick, that's the way we'll go. Yes, we love steam trains and plan to go from Pickering to Whitby on one.
If Sproket is reading this, we google mapped Ferrybridge Services and used your video to see how we find the caravan slots at Ferrybridge Services, but we can't see how we get back on to the A1 again

, we keep ending up on the M62! What are we doing wrong?

http://goo.gl/maps/QlrX

When you come out of the services you do come onto the M62 heading towards ( http://goo.gl/maps/Acc7 ) keep in the left lane for approx 1 mile ( http://goo.gl/maps/lpAQ ) then you are on the A1 north again up to J45 A64 ( http://goo.gl/maps/Z4qI ) keep right to York

This might be of use for you

2012 NYMR-timetables-and-fares

 

[mealsonwheels]

You're a star Sproket

!! Very many thanks for your detailed reply, which is much appreciated. Thanks too for the NYMR timetable. What a great forum this is, with folk like you

able to help us out. By the way, we found the Shirker website, with many of the Motorway Services suitable or not suitable for caravans listed, very interesting and helpful. Cheers.

 

[lulubelle]

I personally would use the Blyth services south of Doncaster. Thery are easier access than Ferrybridge. Ferrybridge being at the junction of the A1(M) and M62 tends to be a bit crowded and more difficult to return to the moroway system as a result. It is approx 1hr less travelling time than Ferrybridge. We have found that Peterborough services are very tight on space for caravans. This of course is a personal preference.

 

[Martin24]

Although not able to recommend a route as it's only an hour cross country for us going through Malton, We hope you have a nice time! We stay on a CL in a forest outside of Pickering regularly and if we want to go into Pickering use the Levisham station and catch the train from there, especially if there are events on at the time such as war weekend.

 

[mealsonwheels]

Thanks Martin24. We're all ready for the off and am sure we'll have a great time, whatever the weather!

 

[mealsonwheels]

We're back - and what a great holiday we had.

Thank you all for the information you gave, not forgetting Lord B, who gave us some names of CL's in the Pickering area and one of which we stayed at.
We stopped at Blyth Services in the end and found the parking very 'caravan friendly' with drive in/drive out bays, which are easy to find. Caravans share with HGV's, but there were several empty bays (probably because it was a Sunday). Blyth Services have a well stocked Marks & Spencer food shop too.

We shall return to North Yorkshire again, I'm sure of that!

 

[Martin24]

Glad you had a nice time!!!

 

[lulubelle]

Glad you had a good time. This area being close to home never fails to deliver the goods. Always plenty to do. Hope you can visit again.

Lulubelle