Best Route to Largs Towing please

davidpbo

davidpbo

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Largish trailerable boat 2.4 tonnes. From Cheshire Via M6. Friday or Saturday this week

I am fairly used to towing it and have a Nissan Pathfinder (towing capacity 3 tonnes).

I have taken it up before. Last time in 2008. Prefer Motorway/ dual carriageway, good A roads if possible but happy to do smaller ones if it results in significant distance saving.

I can't remember which route I took. I seem to remember up to Glasgow along the M74 then along the M8 in the direction of Greenock and down.

Any suggestions greatfully received.

David
 
Hi David

The route you suggest above seems good... we don't tow but I cant think of a better route than going through Greenock, Kip, then Largs. The roads are good, but there's quite a narrow/bendy stretch as you enter Largs.


Al
 
davidpbo said:
Largish trailerable boat 2.4 tonnes. From Cheshire Via M6. Friday or Saturday this week

I am fairly used to towing it and have a Nissan Pathfinder (towing capacity 3 tonnes).

I have taken it up before. Last time in 2008. Prefer Motorway/ dual carriageway, good A roads if possible but happy to do smaller ones if it results in significant distance saving.

I can't remember which route I took. I seem to remember up to Glasgow along the M74 then along the M8 in the direction of Greenock and down.

Any suggestions greatfully received.

David
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This is your best route as it gives you 90% motorway. dual c. after Greenock it is single road but the easier for yourself
The A71 is single road until Bellfield interchange, then Dual carriage way to Ardrossan then single road up to Largs
 
Dukester52 said:
Hi David

The route you suggest above seems good... we don't tow but I cant think of a better route than going through Greenock, Kip, then Largs. The roads are good, but there's quite a narrow/bendy stretch as you enter Largs.


Al
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+1. Last time I towed (a rib) to Largs was in 1997!

I now travel from Cheshire to Largs/Clyde fairly regularly and always use this route. It’s motorway or dual carriageway until Port Glasgow so not too far on 30/40 limit roads.

That said, I’m glad that I plan to stay in Cheshire this coming weekend:)
 
The suggested route is not the shortest by quite a bit but for easy driving and towing it's the best route as long as you can avoid the M74/M8 through Glasgow anytime between 3.30 and 6.30 on a Friday afternoon. After Glasgow I'd consider heading for lochwinnoch-Kilbirnie-largs. Lochwinnich to Kilbirnie has a few twists and turns but once through Kilbirnie it's up and over a decent quiet road down into Largs. The last mile or so has quite a descent with a couple of hairpins near largs but it might mean missing rush hour traffic through Greenock which can be busy around late afternoon. IMO it's no worse than the road from Inverkip to Largs.
 
Spyro said:
The suggested route is not the shortest by quite a bit but for easy driving and towing it's the best route as long as you can avoid the M74/M8 through Glasgow anytime between 3.30 and 6.30 on a Friday afternoon. After Glasgow I'd consider heading for lochwinnoch-Kilbirnie-largs. Lochwinnich to Kilbirnie has a few twists and turns but once through Kilbirnie it's up and over a decent quiet road down into Largs. The last mile or so has quite a descent with a couple of hairpins near largs but it might mean missing rush hour traffic through Greenock which can be busy around late afternoon. IMO it's no worse than the road from Inverkip to Largs.
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Having had the pleasure of towing a large display caravan I would not recommend going any other than the M8 A8 A78 all of which is dual carriageway till kip and then a little bit windy.
Going the other way suggested is a lot more twists along the loch followed by a long descent with an accute turn into largs which on a holiday weekend could be very busy
 
If going into Glasgow it is worth thinking of the M77 to Kilmarnock then to Irvine then up to Largs or leaving the M74 at the A71 junction once again heading for Kimarnock etc. Much less dual carriageway but much shorter and keeps you well clear of Glasgow.
 
Just to add what was said about Glasgow , Avoid the times given 3.30to 6.30 it is a nighmare espically on Friday and there all Mad as hatters
:D M boat is at Adrossan and I leave at 5.45 to get to Glasgow and no real traffic to worry about
so the A71 might be better if heading for those times
 
maxi77 said:
If going into Glasgow it is worth thinking of the M77 to Kilmarnock then to Irvine then up to Largs or leaving the M74 at the A71 junction once again heading for Kimarnock etc. Much less dual carriageway but much shorter and keeps you well clear of Glasgow.
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The only downside to the M8 / M77 route is there is quite a long uphill section between Silverburn and Newton Mearns, though sounds like the OP has a decent tow car. I'd personally avoid going the road from Kilbirnie to Largs in order not to have to go down the Haylie Brae coming into Largs.
 
It's not looking good for travelling tomorrow. A puncture on my car, knackered spare of an uncommon size for the boat trailer which I had forgotten about, two dental appointments instead of one and a leak in the central heating boiler rather put a dampener on today.

What is the traffics likely to be like around Glasgow on Saturday afternoon?
 
FlyingGoose said:
Just to add what was said about Glasgow , Avoid the times given 3.30to 6.30 it is a nighmare espically on Friday and there all Mad as hatters
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My experience is that while the M8 through Glasgow is as bad as ever, the M74 along the south side rarely clogs up and although the junction with the M8 to the west can be a little slow, it's usually only a few minutes delay. A bit of a crawl to the airport then full speed ahead again.
 
davidpbo said:
It's not looking good for travelling tomorrow. A puncture on my car, knackered spare of an uncommon size for the boat trailer which I had forgotten about, two dental appointments instead of one and a leak in the central heating boiler rather put a dampener on today.

What is the traffics likely to be like around Glasgow on Saturday afternoon?
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Much better than a Friday.
 
JumbleDuck said:
My experience is that while the M8 through Glasgow is as bad as ever, the M74 along the south side rarely clogs up and although the junction with the M8 to the west can be a little slow, it's usually only a few minutes delay. A bit of a crawl to the airport then full speed ahead again.
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I would never head from the M74 to the M8 east of Glasgow, the new extension gets you past many of the bad bits and I often take it from the M8. Also whilst the M8 can be congested for a bit south of the river it does ease quickly as traffic tends to be leaving not joining
 
Worth noting the shortened journey time since the extension of the M74 through the south side of Glasgow about 5 years ago joining the M8 where it crosses the river.Avoids the snarl ups through the city centre M8.
 
+1 for M74 extension route, trail sailed up for over 20 years to clyde or over Erskine br to west ,definitely inverkip down to Largs route so much more leisurely would usually time run up to pass or leave Hamilton services 7pm+ day time traffic tailed of by time hitting southern Glasgow / Greenock proper quiet for climbing up through town centre another 30/40 mins to largs already to sort launching next day, curious I assume with your size its travel hoist lift offf trailor so why Largs. gave up on the place years ago ,no point in passing Kip to good there for me.
 
Hi A78 good can be busy port glasgow onwards till passing inverclyde. Hospital but all a question of timing! ,M74 4miles after Hamilton service it splits you want lane 3, airport not as you did last time going north round Glasgow . Have a good trip
 
davidpbo said:
We can self launch on a decent slipway with a floating pontoon.

My sat nav says M74, A77 Kilmarnock and up to Largs. Is that a viable alternative?
Looks a good deal further.

Presumably the alternative that people are suggesting is M8, A8, A78. What is the A78 like please?
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Yes. Dual carriageway all the way from Glasgow to just north of Ardrossan then about 20 mins of decent A road to Largs marina.
 
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