Is the CAMC UK Route Planner fine to use?

[Saxo Appeal]

Going to try the CAMC Route planner for travelling down from Scotland to England again this weekend.

We have an 8M / 8ft Caravan and wondered if anyone else had used this routing planner succesfully?

Last time our Tomtom took us down a road which dind't allow caravans

I'm also on the Tomtom planner and looking at various routes to plan ahead, which is pretty good as I can select/deselect road to travel then save as a 'route 1'

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Changed my mind using it, seems like it takes you down roads across bridges only suitable for thin cars...

Why have this on specific camping / caravan site when it's absolutely useless

 

[Dustydog]

Exactly from where to where?
As many of us have said before do not rely on any sat stuff.
Best study your own road atlas first and use the sat nav as a semi back up but not the definitive way!

 

[Mr Grumpy]

I always check the map to get a general idea of the route and then plug in a HGV sat nav while travelling.
No problems to date.

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Exactly from where to where?
As many of us have said before do not rely on any sat stuff.
Best study your own road atlas first and use the sat nav as a semi back up but not the definitive way!

Hi Dusty,

I'm going from Dunbar Campsite Scotland tomorrow morning down to West Ayton England.

Then on return going from West Ayton to Dundee

On both journeys I want to completely avoid Sutton Bank which is caravan prohibited due to the sharp bends and degrees of road

 

[otherclive]

Hi Dusty,

I'm going from Dunbar Campsite Scotland tomorrow morning down to West Ayton England.

Then on return going from West Ayton to Dundee

On both journeys I want to completely avoid Sutton Bank which is caravan prohibited due to the sharp bends and degrees of road

There are detour routes for caravans and large vehicles around Sutton Bank. These are signed in advance.

 

[Saxo Appeal]

Yes thanks

Would like to avoid them in advance and route them on the Tomtom planner

Do you know which roads they tell you to take?

It's either go down the east past Whitby or travel down to north of York, but if there was alternative roads beside Sutton thn I would just take that...it would mike much easier

 

[otherclive]

Yes thanks

Would like to avoid them in advance and route them on the Tomtom planner

Do you know which roads they tell you to take?

It's either go down the east past Whitby or travel down to north of York, but if there was alternative roads beside Sutton thn I would just take that...it would mike much easier

Not sure road numbers but we took our van along with no trouble. Other times went via Pickering when going to Hutton le Hole camp site.

Try Google AI “how to avoid Sutton bank with a caravan”.

Google Search

 

[RogerL]

Hi Dusty,

I'm going from Dunbar Campsite Scotland tomorrow morning down to West Ayton England.

Then on return going from West Ayton to Dundee

On both journeys I want to completely avoid Sutton Bank which is caravan prohibited due to the sharp bends and degrees of road

Google Maps doesn't use the A171 Sutton Bank for it's main route to/from West Ayton, but it does use the A19 through the Tyne Tunnel which has tolls - this can be avoided by using the A689 to get across to the A1(M) and then the Western Bypass round Newcastle - personally I'd use the A19 through the Tyne Tunnel and pay the toll.

That applies to both your journeys.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Do you know which roads they tell you to take?

Any signed alternative route will be suitable for the vehicles being diverted, so trust and follow them.

 

[Jcloughie]

Have a look at the Co-Pilot app, caravan edition, under £30/year. I found it did a good job without trying to be extortionate.

John

 

[Dustydog]

Google Maps doesn't use the A171 Sutton Bank for it's main route to/from West Ayton, but it does use the A19 through the Tyne Tunnel which has tolls - this can be avoided by using the A689 to get across to the A1(M) and then the Western Bypass round Newcastle - personally I'd use the A19 through the Tyne Tunnel and pay the toll.

That applies to both your journeys.

Saxo, as per Roger,
Just follow the coast road , Newcastle , Middlesborough onwards. You don’t need to go anywhere near Sutton Bank which is well inland.
Please look at your atlas.Here’s to a safe relaxing trip👍

 

[Beardy]

I'm also on the Tomtom planner and looking at various routes to plan ahead, which is pretty good as I can select/deselect road to travel then save as a 'route 1'

Have you input the dimensions of your car / caravan on Tomtom planner? I've found that it generates reasonably good routes.

 

[Mel]

As I remember a certain DD of this forum met up with a few of us having taken the signposted detour around Sutton bank while towing. I believe his exact words were “Never Again” 😉
Mel

 

[Mel]

We use Google maps plus me navigating with an AA paper road map and any site directions. Google says “turn right” and I say “ignore her”. He knows who to listen to.
Mel

 

[Woodentop]

Standard route is A19 to Thirsk then exit onto what becomes the A168 and stay on the A19 towards York.
Turn left off the A19 at the SECOND exit which is signposted "Helmsley avoiding Sutton Bank"; it also takes you to Coxwold. At the bottom of the hill in Coxwold village turn left to Byland Abbey, pass the ruin and keep on to Wass. DO NOT go up Wass Bank but follow the signs to Ampleforth. As you come to the far end of Ampleforth village keep straight on to Oswaldkirk and Ampleforth Abbey. Through Oswaldkirk and at the B1257 junc turn left to return to the A170 to Pickering and Scarborough.

On the other hand, as you have a big box behind you, you would probably be better to continue on the A19 to York, At the A1237 northern by-pass turn left and follow the road until it meets the A64 where you turn left (at the second island) to head to Malton and Scarborough. Longer route but you won't have any size difficulties and only one real hill to climb.
Don't bother going on the A168 to the A1(M) and then exiting onto the A64 - it;s just a long (and very busy) way round.

 

[Gafferbill]

Any signed alternative route will be suitable for the vehicles being diverted, so trust and follow them.

......you must be joking!
The signed alternative to Sutton Bank is notoriously bad for caravans and larger vehicles.

Just towed my caravan down the A379 Exeter to Dawlish. The road narrows to a single width for some distance at Starcross. No controls such as traffic lights etc.
.....just total chaos!
Won't be going that way on the return journey

 

[Dustydog]

......you must be joking!
The signed alternative to Sutton Bank is notoriously bad for caravans and larger vehicles.

Just towed my caravan down the A379 Exeter to Dawlish. The road narrows to a single width for some distance at Starcross. No controls such as traffic lights etc.
.....just total chaos!
Won't be going that way on the return journey

As Mel said earlier I was the one who towed following the signed alternative route.

Never to be repeated! The narrow steep lanes , bends twists made me wonder if the actual Sutton Bank may have been the easier safer route 🙀

 

[RogerL]

As Mel said earlier I was the one who towed following the signed alternative route.

Never to be repeated! The narrow steep lanes , bends twists made me wonder if the actual Sutton Bank may have been the easier safer route 🙀

I've used the "Caravan Alternative Route" and concluded it needs an alternative route itself! It's telling that only caravans are signed to use the alternative, HGVs just have to cope with Sutton Bank itself.

 

[Dustydog]

The road is clearly wide and safe enough for HGV s😉Note the number of HGV failures!

 

[otherclive]

The road is clearly wide and safe enough for HGV s😉Note the number of HGV failures!View attachment 9418View attachment 9417

I’d have had no hesitation in taking my caravan up Sutton Bank, and at least from the early 1990s the cars would have been able to do a hill start in the event of a blockage.

Now going to CMHC Rosedale via Hutton le Hole via Chimney Bank isn’t for the faint hearted.Caravans are banned from that hill. I have seen drivers (solo) do an about turn when confronted in both directions.

 

[Hutch]

It too late to state a route, so I hope you got there ok. There is a lovely butchers in Brampton, not far from Aynton. Also a nice pub, the Coachman, in Snainton.

 

[Hutch]

I’d have had no hesitation in taking my caravan up Sutton Bank, and at least from the early 1990s the cars would have been able to do a hill start in the event of a blockage.

Now going to CMHC Rosedale via Hutton le Hole via Chimney Bank isn’t for the faint hearted.Caravans are banned from that hill. I have seen drivers (solo) do an about turn when confronted in both directions.

Yes that snake bend is, certainly not for the faint hearted.

 

[Dustydog]

It too late to state a route, so I hope you got there ok. There is a lovely butchers in Brampton, not far from Aynton. Also a nice pub, the Coachman, in Snainton.

Is that where we went with Parksy and His and hers buggies🤔.looks familiar .Dave A Mel etc were with us👍

 

[Hutch]

Is that where we went with Parksy and His and hers buggies🤔.looks familiar .Dave A Mel etc were with us👍

Yes the last Woosies fest, We stayed at The Coachman caravan site, 50 yards from the Pub, Mel managed to get the whole site for us, after being turned down by the Black Bull outside of Pickering. .
Thanks Mel and Rodger for that.