Ping: Elder

I would too.

I think Pete got it right, coming out of Manchester won't be too bad, crossing arround it on the M60 before and through stockport will be mad though, upto the airport on the M56 will be a pinch, normally one or two crashes. Then after opening up for while it bunches again for the two M6 junctions. It is always busy arround the M6S/M56 link because of the roadworks there. After that is gets a lot better until you hit the Chester end.

Distance is about right but I would double the time as you might have to tackle Chester one way, depending on where you are going.

This is why I always set off at silly o'clock when I'm driving back to Wales from Manchester. That, and the inevitable congestion around the M6/M5 junction.

The Ramada, on the A55 / A41 intersection.

You think. Be prepared to crawl from about 2 miles prior to J12, M62 all the way round to J21 if you're planning to go the M62 way.

Rush hour around Manchester finishes around 11am and starts again around 1pm.

Alternatively continue up the M56, through the centre of Manc on the M60 and get off at 23 for the south side of Ashton or off at 22 then A6104 up to traffic lights at Park Cake Bakeries which puts you on Ashton Rd for the north side.

How did you get on with the trip in the end?

I've worked out, on average time to work, and how far I travel, I'm doing 17mph average.

Well, it wasn't the Ramada - my mistake - it was the De Vere at Carden.

As things worked out, I went up and stayed in Crewe on Wednesday evening, then drove back from the Karting Centre somewhere around Deeside to home this afternoon - I need to be in Norwich by lunchtime Monday, so I didn't really want to spend all my weekend stuck on motorways.

Crewe to Chester is easy enough, through Nantwich and A road instead of motorway. Avoids the worst of the mess.