cav551:
AndrewG:
pierrot 14:
Is she aiming for the midnight Newhaven boat after loading ?
No mate,out of the way i know but its back through the chunnell…
Don’t try cross country then, go back to the M25 or rebook Newhaven. IIRC there is no access at the Northbound A21 M25 M26 junction for Eastbound M26. That is not the end of the world but requires going right back as far as Swanley to pick up the M20 Eastbound or take M25 Westbound to J6 Godstone A22 and do a 180.
On the way to Uckfield I assume M25 A21, A26, there will likely be very slow traffic through Southborough and Tunbridge Wells so make sure OK with breaks.
I know the company you sub for book the channel crossings but putting a different hat on it is this sort of unnecessary mileage which so gets up peoples’ noses in SE England. That is not the reason for saying go back to the M25 however, there are genuine issues with the coast road at Winchelsea and the A 262 at Goudhurst for artics on those routes, apart from the actual time taken to get to Cheriton.
Be easier to use the a26 a228 to j4m20
^^^^ +1
Definitely be my route too.
I would agree except that I am thinking LHD. Pembury to Five Oak Green means the narrow section from the end of the dual carriageway and then down Colt’s Hill. Then the section along Malling road from the roundabout after Mereworth where the A228 branches off from the A26 is also very narrow with potentially fast moving local HGV traffic to meet. I don’t like either bit of road and I am local and have driven these bits countless times. Both are dive in the hedge to save the mirrors bits of road because frequently the lorry coming the other way is going too fast or unaware of the road width. Yes it is certainly quicker and hence there is a lot of HGV traffic, particularly from the supermarket RDCs. IIRC Waitrose do not use this route for their Uckfield and Lewes shops even though it entails greater mileage from Aylesford, unless things have changed their only shop served by that route is Crowborough.
AndrewG:
Shes a very capable driver but from a safety point must admit to worrying, shes little and although fiesty and has her wits about her from a physical viewpoint very vulnerable.
If you’re…
Worrying. Why send Mrs AndrewG at all in the first place?
You have stand-in drivers who you pay very well, can’t they do the run?
It just seems a tad contradictory to worry about someones safety and welfare and then send them.
yourhavingalarf:
AndrewG:
Shes a very capable driver but from a safety point must admit to worrying, shes little and although fiesty and has her wits about her from a physical viewpoint very vulnerable.
If you’re…
Worrying. Why send Mrs AndrewG at all in the first place?
You have stand-in drivers who you pay very well, can’t they do the run?
It just seems a tad contradictory to worry about someones safety and welfare and then send them.
That is a very good point to be fair. I certainly wouldn’t be sending my Mrs out.
cav551:
I would agree except that I am thinking LHD. Pembury to Five Oak Green means the narrow section from the end of the dual carriageway and then down Colt’s Hill. Then the section along Malling road from the roundabout after Mereworth where the A228 branches off from the A26 is also very narrow with potentially fast moving local HGV traffic to meet. I don’t like either bit of road and I am local and have driven these bits countless times. Both are dive in the hedge to save the mirrors bits of road because frequently the lorry coming the other way is going too fast or unaware of the road width. Yes it is certainly quicker and hence there is a lot of HGV traffic, particularly from the supermarket RDCs. IIRC Waitrose do not use this route for their Uckfield and Lewes shops even though it entails greater mileage from Aylesford, unless things have changed their only shop served by that route is Crowborough.
No need to go through Pembury or Five Oaks !
A26 to T/Wells carry on through Southborough to Tonbridge, then still on the A26 to Hadlow and Mereworth, then pick up the A228 towards West Malling, Leybourne and the M20,. Only one narrow bit and that’s between Hadlow and Mereworth.
Someone should nip down and get a picture of the mysterious FH16 700 
yourhavingalarf:
AndrewG:
Shes a very capable driver but from a safety point must admit to worrying, shes little and although fiesty and has her wits about her from a physical viewpoint very vulnerable.
If you’re…
Worrying. Why send Mrs AndrewG at all in the first place?
You have stand-in drivers who you pay very well, can’t they do the run?
It just seems a tad contradictory to worry about someones safety and welfare and then send them.
Not to mention posting online exactly where she will be and when
switchlogic:
Someone should nip down and get a picture of the mysterious FH16 700
I Agree ,there does seem to be a lot members on here with a lot to say but they never manage to post on pictures of your truck 
switchlogic:
Someone should nip down and get a picture of the mysterious FH16 700
Youre welcome to do so if you like Luke. Ridgewood ind est weds morning. She’ll even pose for you in front of the very real FH16 700 for you with no issue at all 
yourhavingalarf:
AndrewG:
Shes a very capable driver but from a safety point must admit to worrying, shes little and although fiesty and has her wits about her from a physical viewpoint very vulnerable.
If you’re…
Worrying. Why send Mrs AndrewG at all in the first place?
You have stand-in drivers who you pay very well, can’t they do the run?
It just seems a tad contradictory to worry about someones safety and welfare and then send them.
At the moment i have no one else to do the runs. I still have a fractured skull and dont feel fit enough for distance so thats me out of the equation.
I dont worry about her actual driving as shes likely a better (and more than likely) safer driver than i am! Its just the one overnight stop in the UK i wanted some advice about, the places she stops at in F/E i have no issue with.
Tbf to her, shes done everything possible to help me out and nothings been too much trouble, i really wouldnt want to put the dampers on her spirit by suggesting shes not suitable to do the job…
Also, chester1, cav551 and Pierrot 14, thanks for the detailed route back to the chunnell, appreciated… 
Bloody hell, it’s just a woman driving a lorry, what a load of handwringers. 
AndrewG:
yourhavingalarf:
AndrewG:
Shes a very capable driver but from a safety point must admit to worrying, shes little and although fiesty and has her wits about her from a physical viewpoint very vulnerable.
If you’re…
Worrying. Why send Mrs AndrewG at all in the first place?
You have stand-in drivers who you pay very well, can’t they do the run?
It just seems a tad contradictory to worry about someones safety and welfare and then send them.
At the moment i have no one else to do the runs. I still have a fractured skull and dont feel fit enough for distance so thats me out of the equation.
I dont worry about her actual driving as shes likely a better (and more than likely) safer driver than… i am! Its just the one overnight stop in the UK i wanted some advice about, the places she stops at in F/E i have no issue with.
Tbf to her, shes done everything possible to help me out and nothings been too much trouble, i really wouldnt want to put the dampers on her spirit by suggesting shes not suitable to do the job…
Can I change the above for you Andrew ?
as shes likely a better (and more than likely) safer driver than…
probably lots of idiots on this website !!!
slowlane:
Bloody hell, it’s just a woman driving a lorry, what a load of handwringers.
Reading through this, the person worried about her is the OP, which is her husband, the rest have just been giving ideas where to park, or routes to take, or taking the ■■■■, which we would have made the same comments regardless of the gender of the driver.
pierrot 14:
cav551:
I would agree except that I am thinking LHD. Pembury to Five Oak Green means the narrow section from the end of the dual carriageway and then down Colt’s Hill. Then the section along Malling road from the roundabout after Mereworth where the A228 branches off from the A26 is also very narrow with potentially fast moving local HGV traffic to meet. I don’t like either bit of road and I am local and have driven these bits countless times. Both are dive in the hedge to save the mirrors bits of road because frequently the lorry coming the other way is going too fast or unaware of the road width. Yes it is certainly quicker and hence there is a lot of HGV traffic, particularly from the supermarket RDCs. IIRC Waitrose do not use this route for their Uckfield and Lewes shops even though it entails greater mileage from Aylesford, unless things have changed their only shop served by that route is Crowborough.
No need to go through Pembury or Five Oaks !
A26 to T/Wells carry on through Southborough to Tonbridge, then still on the A26 to Hadlow and Mereworth, then pick up the A228 towards West Malling, Leybourne and the M20,. Only one narrow bit and that’s between Hadlow and Mereworth.
Again granted you can go that way, but I would hardly describe the route through Tonbridge as the easiest to follow, which still leaves you with Malling rd.
I would follow your original route every time, but then I know it like the back of my hand. I wouldn’t however recommend it to someone who not only does not know the whole area at all but is not used to driving on the left.
cav551:
pierrot 14:
cav551:
I would agree except that I am thinking LHD. Pembury to Five Oak Green means the narrow section from the end of the dual carriageway and then down Colt’s Hill. Then the section along Malling road from the roundabout after Mereworth where the A228 branches off from the A26 is also very narrow with potentially fast moving local HGV traffic to meet. I don’t like either bit of road and I am local and have driven these bits countless times. Both are dive in the hedge to save the mirrors bits of road because frequently the lorry coming the other way is going too fast or unaware of the road width. Yes it is certainly quicker and hence there is a lot of HGV traffic, particularly from the supermarket RDCs. IIRC Waitrose do not use this route for their Uckfield and Lewes shops even though it entails greater mileage from Aylesford, unless things have changed their only shop served by that route is Crowborough.
No need to go through Pembury or Five Oaks !
A26 to T/Wells carry on through Southborough to Tonbridge, then still on the A26 to Hadlow and Mereworth, then pick up the A228 towards West Malling, Leybourne and the M20,. Only one narrow bit and that’s between Hadlow and Mereworth.
Again granted you can go that way, but I would hardly describe the route through Tonbridge as the easiest to follow, which still leaves you with Malling rd.
I would follow your original route every time, but then I know it like the back of my hand. I wouldn’t however recommend it to someone who not only does not know the whole area at all but is not used to driving on the left.
Coming from T/Wells to go to Maidstone M20, when you get to Tonbridge, you don’t go through the town, you follow the BLACK lorry signs that take you through the industrial estate
To go via Cannon lane you need to go down Quarry hill into Tonbridge. Miss the turn at the Police station roundabout and where is the sat nav sending you? If you are lucky Bordyke, if not Vale rd.
I had been trying to keep things simple, A22 which will be signed London and then M25 . Beeching Way in East Grinstead is easy to follow.
ANDREW,
PM sent re Crowborough B&B