Does anyone know...

[przed]

So, I'm in the final stretch of writing the Pros story that wouldn't end (it's now officially the longest thing I've ever written and heading firmly into novel length territory) and I find I need a couple of driving times. The British guidebooks I have are great on history and culture, but not so good on how long it takes to get around, and even Google has failed me.

So, does anyone know how long it would take to drive:

From Crossmaglen to Belfast

From Liverpool to London

At least I found times for Belfast-Liverpool ferries on the net.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

[tovalentin.livejournal.com]

From Crossmaglen to Belfast

Just over an hour; it's about 52 miles.

From Liverpool to London

3 1/2 hours; 112 miles.

Good ol' Mapquest.

[faramir-boromir.livejournal.com]

Google Maps claims that it's 224 miles from Liverpool to London, and would take a little under 5 hours. Of course, you *are* planning to correct for the late 70s and different speed limits and freeways, right? *iz evil*

It's about 40 miles from Crossmaglen to Belfast, but the first 10 are on shit roads, so it might take longer than a projected one hour. Of course, Crossmaglen being in the midst of nasty territory, I'm assuming you'll have patrols across the road and checkpoints? *can't wait to read this*

[tovalentin.livejournal.com]

I just looked at ask.com and they're saying 212 miles from Liverpool to London; I must have read the Mapquest one wrong. Time to go to bed, I guess.

[justacat.livejournal.com]

I'm at VVC ... but I've actually been working on the story in my spare time! (I know I'm so delinquent, but it *is* happening). Glad to hear it's coming along ...

VVC is overwhelming as usual, but perhaps a bit more fun than usual! Full report to follow...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I'm almost certainly too late to help with this, and you've got at least one motorway site already, but AA Route Planner (http://www.theaa.com/travelwatch/planner_main.jsp) double-checked with CBRD (http://www.cbrd.co.uk/reference/) (there's timelines for the A-roads and motorways) are really helpful!

Back then I would have allowed about 4 hours for Liverpool to Manchester, assuming motorway driving at 70mph (well, that's what the speed limit says) but depending heavily on the time of day. And bear in mind that I'm pretty careful about times "just in case"! I've done Manchester-London in two and a half on a good day, and Liverpool is only an extra half an hour on that. Same route as they would have used. If they were gonna hit London or Birmingham around 5pm it could have been more... If they're driving at night then much less. No speed cameras back then either *g* Mind you, it depends where in each city as well...

Okay, I'm not helping, am I?!

[paris7am.livejournal.com]

No help for you, just wanted to say that WOOOHOOOO! I'm over the moon to hear that you're writing Pros and *lenthy* Pros at that! Wonderful, wonderful news :)

[kortirion.livejournal.com]

Ummm - I'd go on the generous side with times - and he'd have to use the M1 - the M40 didn't exist then - rushhour starts north of Birmingham at about 7.30-8am - driving from Manchester to 20 miles S of B'ham on the motorway system took me five+ hours in the late nineties, N to S B'ham is a distance of about 20 miles. [I hit the northern outskirts just before 8am]- you could easily half that for your time frame, but remember you've got 'London traffic' starting at High Wycombe - 30+ miles from the centre of London, speeds wouldn't be much over an average of 25-30 miles an hour [lots of crawling thro queues of near-static traffic when you got inside the North Circular]

Hope I'm not raining on your parade!