A1 (London to Edinburgh)

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A1 - The Great North Road.

Itinerary - The Great North Road - London to Edinburgh (395 miles)

By Dave Joyner


Day 1 - London to Retford (145 miles)

London (Smithfields) to Hatfield (20 miles)
Leave Smithfield's Grand Parade up St John's St.
Cross Clerkenwell Rd, cross City Rd at the Angel
Along Upper St. Islington and on into Holloway Rd
Bear right into Archway Rd at Highgate Hill
Bear right on to A1000 through Finchley and into Barnett
Stay on A1000 through Potters Barr into Hatfield.

Hatfield to Baldock (20 miles)
At Old Welwyn take B197 Knebworth, Stevenage
Stay on B197 to Graveley (Jacks Hill Café) and into Baldock.

Baldock to Alconbury Hill (Huntingdon) (25 miles)
Leave Baldock on the Stotfold Rd, join A1 at J10
Turn off A1 at Biggleswade drive through and rejoin A1
Past Sandy and on to Eaton Socon
Take Socon exit and rejoin on B645 (Kimbolton) road
Stay on A1 through Buckden to Alconbury.

Huntingdon to Stamford (20 miles)
Leave at start of A1(M), head for the Stukeleys
Take the B1043 past Sawtry to Stilton (back track)
Head for Norman cross and rejoin A1
Continue along A1 and take first Stamford exit.

Stamford to Grantham (25 miles)
Through Stamford centre and out on B1081 Gt. Casterton
Rejoin A1 and continue to Stretton (stop at Ram Jam inn)
Rejoin A1 and continue to Grantham
Take B1174 through Grantham Centre rejoining A1 after Gt. Gonerby.

Grantham to Newark (15 miles)
Along A1 diverting through Long Bennington
Take first Newark exit and head for centre.

Newark to Retford (20 miles)
Find A6065(A616) exit toward North Muskham, rejoin A1
Take B1164 at Carlton-on-Trent through Weston to Tuxford
Dogleg over A1 on A6075 and connect to A638 at Markham moor
Continue to Retford (stop here if still first day).


Day 2 - Retford to Durham (115 miles)

Retford to Doncaster (20 miles)
Leave Retford on A638 for Bawtry
Continue on A638 through Scrooby, Bawtry, and into Doncaster.

Doncaster to Wetherby (25 miles)
Exit Doncaster on A638 through Adwick-le-Street to rejoin A1
Up A1 diverting through Wentbridge
Cross M62 and on to Brotherton (via old Ferry-bridge?)
Take A63 fork (Boot & Shoe), divert through Micklefield
Divert through Aberford and then on to Wetherby centre.

Wetherby to Kirby Hill (Dishforth) (25 miles)
Leave Wetherby centre and rejoin A1 but exit at Walshford
Take parallel A168 avoiding A1(M)
Divert through Boroughbridge
Divert through Kirby Hill and rejoin A1 near Dishforth.

Kirby Hill (Dishforth) to Darlington (25 miles)
Leave A1 at Londonderry diverting through Leeming
Divert through Catterick (try oldest road not 50s bypass)
Leave A1 at Scotch corner and find C road to Darlington - through Barton and Stapleton and on to Darlington centre.

Darlington to Durham (20 miles)
Take the A167 Durham road from Darlington centre
Continue through Aycliffe, ignore Ferry Hill and follow A167 past Durham.


Day 3 - Durham to Edinburgh (135 miles)

Durham to Newcastle (15 miles)
Leave Durham on (A167) through Pity Me
Exit for Chester-le-Street and go straight through centre
Rejoin A167 at A693 and continue to Birtley
Cross A1 and continue on A167 through Gateshead to Newcastle centre over Tyne Bridge.

Newcastle to Morpeth (15 miles)
Use any means possible to find B1318 Gosforth (south) road
Stay on old road through Wide Open to Stannington
Divert into Stannington, then take A197 into Morpeth centre.

Morpeth to Alnwick (15 miles)
Rejoin A1 from A197 out of Morpeth
Divert into Felton
Divert into Newton-on-the-Moor, then take exit for Alnwick centre.

Alnwick to Berwick-on-Tweed (35 miles)
Leave Alnwick on the B6341 rejoining A1 near S. Charlton
Divert into Belford and take back road to Fenwick
(rejoin A1 or visit Holy Island via Beal)
Exit on A1167 for Berwick centre.

Berwick-on-Tweed to Dunbar (20 miles)
Cross the old bridge if possible and head north to A1
Through to Burnmouth divert through Ayrton and Reston
Rejoin A1 through Grants House to Cockburnspath
Through Cove and divert into Dunbar.

Dunbar to Edinburgh (35 miles)
Exit Dunbar by Belhaven and rejoin A1
Leave A1 at Haddington and take A199 for Gladsmuir
Stay on A199 across A1 and through Musselburgh
Keep on A199 through Joppa and on to Portobello
At Portobello bear left and head for Edinburgh centre
At Princes Street, stop - journey's end.


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