[Drew]

This seems like a stupid question, but what route do the good folk of Sheffield use to get to Almscliff/Caley. How about Earl? Or Bridestones? I'm sure TomTom going through the centre of Leeds is being to simple, and Google Maps isn't much better.

Anyone got a fail safe, sub 1hour route?

[tommytwotone]

When returning back to North Leeds from further north I've had mixed results with exiting the A1(M) at J45 then going west through Collingham, Harewood etc...might be worth a look?

Guess it's a bit further, but that extra distance is at motorway speed which if nothing else will make you feel like it's quicker!

[lagerstarfish]

my folks live in Ilkley, so I've been doing Sheff to there since I got a car in '97 - gazing longingly at The Cliff every time I go past

through the middle of Leeds works as long as Headingly isn't jammed up

option 1 = J3 on M621, under train station, past the Real University of Leeds and take A660 - with A658 to The Cliff

option 2 = J2a? on M621, A543 to A660 then A658 to Cliff

on a quiet Sunday morning and with a heavy foot, this will be less than an hour

from ours it works out better to join M1 at J34 rather than fuck around on the parkway

when I had a fast car and petrol was cheaper, going up the A1 to J45 took a similar time, bit longer, but as T³ said, felt like I was getting there quicker

[tommytwotone]

option 1 = J3 on M621, under train station, past the Real University of Leeds and take A660 - with A658 to The Cliff

That takes you pretty much past my front door, and would be the way I'd go home from Sheffield.

Depends when you're doing the journey really - if it's 9am on a Sunday then going through town should be OK depending on your luck with traffic lights, but if you're heading over at 11am on a Sat avoiding town / White Rose / Elland Rd traffic would be preferable!

Have to say, Works to The Cliff in sub-1hr would be a good run!

[tomtom]

When returning back to North Leeds from further north I've had mixed results with exiting the A1(M) at J45 then going west through Collingham, Harewood etc...might be worth a look?

Guess it's a bit further, but that extra distance is at motorway speed which if nothing else will make you feel like it's quicker!

If you go this way, don't hang a left after dropping down the hill from Harewood to head towards Pool then north to the cliff.. Instead carry on over the Wharfe and take a left 2 miles further on, coming to the cliff from the east..

I normally come from Hull side, so up the A1 and as 3T suggests is my ormal way, though its 'technically' (middle of the night) faster to go through the city centre...

You heading there today Drew? If so I should be there after lunchtime if the weather behaves..

[Johnny Brown]

Having lived in Hyde Park I always go round that way - ie from south M621 to J2, A643 to get you onto A65, turn right onto Cardigan road and follow it through to join the Otley road past the traffic. Looks a bit weird on a map but the longer bits are on dual carriageway, was definitely the knowledge when we lived there.

For Earl don't go through Leeds, go up the motorway to Bradford area.

[andy_e]

Johnny's on the Cardigan Road beta. An even more local extension:

http://goo.gl/maps/f2P12

cuts out all of Headingley traffic lights. Rush-hour business.

[Johnny Brown]

We used to use a right-hand variant of that, but it was blocked off last time I tried.

[andy_e]

The right-hand variant is less distance but you can get snagged up in the queue for the lights at the bottom of St. Anne's Road. Every few seconds shaved off makes it 0.1% more likely to have a great session.

[lagerstarfish]

my mum used to have a shop on Brudenell Road by Hyde Park in Leeds and so did the journey from Ilkley 6 days a week

she had some rush hour beta that cut cross country from that sharp bend in the A660 at Bramhope - moor road? - and then through a load of quietish residential areas

I can't remember the route, but it was quicker during busy times

it seemed very complicated and counter-intuitive at the time

this was 20 years ago....

[andy_e]

Spen Lane can be good beta but is speed-bumped to shit now. Throwing a right at the ring-road and on to the A660 that way is also good beta as Burley Road is never too busy.

[tomtom]

my mum used to have a shop on Brudenell Road by Hyde Park in Leeds and so did the journey from Ilkley 6 days a week

she had some rush hour beta that cut cross country from that sharp bend in the A660 at Bramhope - moor road? - and then through a load of quietish residential areas

I can't remember the route, but it was quicker during busy times

it seemed very complicated and counter-intuitive at the time

this was 20 years ago....

what was the shop?

[andy_e]

The shop where you get 3 DVDs for a £5 (but they're all knock-offs)? Fat Tony's? Jacksons?

[lagerstarfish]

Pullen's Chemist

where you can get your methadone - and one of the first needle exchanges in the UK

[andy_e]

A pal of mine went in there the other day to pick up some prescription or other for some illness he had. He was in there at the same time as all the people collecting their methodone. Because he was ill, he was looking a bit ropey. Some police followed him out of the chemist and into Sainsbury's (neé Jackson's) and followed him around the entire shop because they thought he looked suspect...

[lagerstarfish]

we found 3/4 of a pound of pharmaceutical grade cocaine (very old so might have sublimated a bit) in the cellar - it used to be a dentists

unfortunately it was passed to the relevant authorities

my mum kept the cool looking glass jar though

[andy_e]

The problem with dentist-grade cocaine is you have to take it after two-thirty.

(sorry)

[SA Chris]

Depending on time of day and traffic avoidance necessities I've gone to Todmorden / Bridestones and Widdop in the past by leaving J21 and heading up A6033. Can use it for similar access to Keighley and Skipton. Longer route, but mostly open countryside driving rather than fighting your way through small rural towns with poor road systems.

[lagerstarfish]

The problem with dentist-grade cocaine is you have to take it after two-thirty.

(sorry)

that doesn't leave you much time if you collect it at high noon
 
(sorrier)

[Obi-Wan is lost...]

The problem with dentist-grade cocaine is you have to take it after two-thirty.

(sorry)

that doesn't leave you much time if you collect it at high noon
 
(sorrier)

my cursor is on the punter button, my right index finger is feeling heavy...

[lagerstarfish]

these are not the punters you're looking for

[\jedi]