Things you go directly past or under on one of our major ‘M’ roads.

I’ll start with a few from the M62

Scammonden Bridge (originally the longest single-span motorway bridge on the world)


And here’s what Radio Two often used to (during their travel reports) as “The Little House on the Prairie.”


Which places around Great Britain catch your eye as your drive along our motorways?

I've no photos to post...

A few motorway "places of interest" that come to mind:

1) M60 (I think, used to be M63) over the Manchester Ship Canal. Great views from the top, especially if you were stuck in stationary traffic and had time to look around;
2) M25 by Heathrow - watching the planes take off and land when they are coming in from the west over Windsor;
3) M6 heading north toward the Lakes and over Shap;
4) M6 spaghetti junction heading south around Birmingham - and the bit where the M5 and M6 join...

With reference to your 4th point, I like the M5/6 split to. As you get into the M5, I often look over my left shoulder for the West Brom floodlights, but at the same point, there’s a fabulous church building in the right. I’m sure it must be listed.


St.Helen’s Church

The Heart Shaped Wood.
Well known sight travelling on the M6 north of Kendal.
Remember being told a couple of the tales mentioned in the article.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/cumbria/hi/ ... 294475.stm

Can be seen from the M62 by St Helens

Paul Waine wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 7:02 pm

I've no photos to post...

A few motorway "places of interest" that come to mind:

1) M60 (I think, used to be M63) over the Manchester Ship Canal. Great views from the top, especially if you were stuck in stationary traffic and had time to look around;

I used the M63 for just over a year going to and from work. You could just about guarantee you would be stuck on there.

Now got the view of the AJ Bell Stadium which is set to become a Football League ground in the near future.

The M5 camel.

Angel of theNorth was a good one. Very difficult to see last time I was past.

Not a motorway, but the marble church at Bodelwyddan on the A55 expressway is stunning.

The Kelpies at the side if the M9 in Scotland

Farleton Knott. Reminds you to take the South Lakes turn off.

Great suggestions

Willow man, M5 Somerset
Angel of the North, A1m, Gateshead
QE2 Bridge, M25 Essex/Dartford

Love driving down the M5 south of Bristol where it splits with a higher section and a lower section, looking down across the Avon valley. Also like when the M6 splits going up into Cumbria. Bit sad but it's just exciting driving along with no traffic directly adjacent coming the other way.

groove wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:51 pm

Willow man, M5 Somerset
Angel of the North, A1m, Gateshead
QE2 Bridge, M25 Essex/Dartford

I think, unfortunately, the running (willow) man is no longer.

Lancaster services on the M6 always looks odd with that tower.

For the younger folk on here.

It's 22 years ago since the M63 was renumbered to become part of the M60.

I'm just saying and not trying to be provocative.

Dream by Jaum Plensa (the white child's face pictured above) was designed by the artist with a mile high beam of light shining vertically from her head. The authorities rejected this for fear of it distracting drivers.

The Angel of the North remains very visible. I pass it almost daily. Some tree cover from directly alongside but it's clearly visible on the approach in both directions.

Something I've noticed a lot recently are Eagles flying above our motorways. Tend to see more South of Stoke. Once I started spotting them on journeys South I've noticed loads.

Does Motorpoint count?

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 7:39 pm

I used the M63 for just over a year going to and from work. You could just about guarantee you would be stuck on there.

Now got the view of the AJ Bell Stadium which is set to become a Football League ground in the near future.

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:56 pm

For the younger folk on here.

It's 22 years ago since the M63 was renumbered to become part of the M60.

I'm just saying and not trying to be provocative.

34 years this month that I moved from south Manchester to south west London. Still got family in north west and, of course, still come back "up north."

Last place I worked before I moved south was chemical plant at Carrington. Part of the area is now ManU training ground. I assume they've cleaned up the air, a little. I used to travel on M63 twice a day going to and back from work. I couldn't have put a date on when it became the M60. Similarly, my memory says that it was always the M62 across north Manchester with the M63 branching off somewhere around Worsley (have I got that right?) a little west of what was then called (and maybe still is) "death valley" because of the volume of motorway traffic in rush hour. I assume the M60 name came in when the east side of the motorway was completed making a complete Manchester circle.

I've never been to Salford Quays and the Lowry or the Bridgewater Gardens, new RHS place. I'm guessing the AJ Bell Stadium is Salford's ground (I'll look it up, sometime). Lot's for me to explore sometime when travelling is a little easier.

Paul Waine wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 12:47 am

34 years this month that I moved from south Manchester to south west London. Still got family in north west and, of course, still come back "up north."

Last place I worked before I moved south was chemical plant at Carrington. Part of the area is now ManU training ground. I assume they've cleaned up the air, a little. I used to travel on M63 twice a day going to and back from work. I couldn't have put a date on when it became the M60. Similarly, my memory says that it was always the M62 across north Manchester with the M63 branching off somewhere around Worsley (have I got that right?) a little west of what was then called (and maybe still is) "death valley" because of the volume of motorway traffic in rush hour. I assume the M60 name came in when the east side of the motorway was completed making a complete Manchester circle.

I've never been to Salford Quays and the Lowry or the Bridgewater Gardens, new RHS place. I'm guessing the AJ Bell Stadium is Salford's ground (I'll look it up, sometime). Lot's for me to explore sometime when travelling is a little easier.

Salford Reds play at the AJ Bell I think but heard that Gary Neville was going to move Salford City there with the rugby club moving to the football ground at Moor Lane.

2 Bee Holed wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:56 pm

For the younger folk on here.

It's 22 years ago since the M63 was renumbered to become part of the M60.

I'm just saying and not trying to be provocative.

It was 1989 to 1990 when I had to negotiate the M63 twice per day, long before the M60 was completed.

It’s not a great piece of architecture etc but, as I live abroad and don’t get to the UK very often, seeing the first sign on the motorway that says Burnley is a great sight for me.

Use to love driving over Thelwall bridge M6, and getting that first view of Peel Tower. Half hour from home, traffic pending of course.

I used to like the cooling towers at Tinsley Viaduct near Sheffield on the M1. Knocked down and replaced with a big recycling plant now, which all makes sense but they were a real landmark.

Still a good view of Sheffield and the Peak District in the distance from the viaduct, but the Towers had the added bonus of blocking the view of Rotherham on the other side..

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:18 pm

I think, unfortunately, the running (willow) man is no longer.

Lancaster services on the M6 always looks odd with that tower.

The running man is still there Doug, just about, but badly in need of some “running repairs”

I always notice the big flag on the M5 near Birmingham. Sometimes it’s a Union Flag and sometimes it’s St George.

How many football grounds can you spot from the motorways? I suppose Walsall is the most obvious. Leeds, Bolton, Cov, any more?

Foulthrow wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 7:32 am

How many football grounds can you spot from the motorways? I suppose Walsall is the most obvious. Leeds, Bolton, Cov, any more?

Newcastle, from near the Metro driving South.
Aston Villa, M6 driving North.

Foulthrow wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 7:32 am

How many football grounds can you spot from the motorways? I suppose Walsall is the most obvious. Leeds, Bolton, Cov, any more?

Blackburn
Villa
Wembley
Newcastle (a167m)

Foulthrow wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 7:32 am

How many football grounds can you spot from the motorways? I suppose Walsall is the most obvious. Leeds, Bolton, Cov, any more?

Can definitely see Old Trafford (both of them) from the aforementioned Barton Bridge, and I suspect the Etihad is visible too if you have the time to find it.

Villa Park from M6 and West Brom from M5 too.

You can see Preston from M61

I think you can see Rotherham from the M1 and you could see the old Birmingham floodlight pylons from the M6.

Scunthorpe from the M181, West Brom from the M5, Oldham from the A627(M) and Reading from the M4.

Horwich from te m61. The Ashton memorial at Lancster strikes me as fantastic landmark.

Griffin park, Brentford from the M4. Not sure on the new ground though

The M90 over the Forth where all 3 bridges come into sight takes some beating for landmarks.

Foulthrow wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 7:32 am

How many football grounds can you spot from the motorways? I suppose Walsall is the most obvious. Leeds, Bolton, Cov, any more?

WBA from M5

Shappie wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 9:16 am

Griffin park, Brentford from the M4. Not sure on the new ground though

The new stadium is a car park from the M4. Good shout.

Bosscat wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 9:19 am

WBA from M5

Aston Villa

Fazz wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:12 pm

The Kelpies at the side if the M9 in Scotland

IMG_2448-2.jpg

Fantastic sight aren't they

Fazz wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 8:12 pm

The Kelpies at the side if the M9 in Scotland

IMG_2448-2.jpg

Fantastic sight aren't they also Jodrell Bank from the M6

The Rossy valley revealing it’s beauty as you come under the bridge at Rammy.
North end of M66.

what_no_pies wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 11:55 pm

Dream by Jaum Plensa (the white child's face pictured above) was designed by the artist with a mile high beam of light shining vertically from her head. The authorities rejected this for fear of it distracting drivers.

The Angel of the North remains very visible. I pass it almost daily. Some tree cover from directly alongside but it's clearly visible on the approach in both directions.

Something I've noticed a lot recently are Eagles flying above our motorways. Tend to see more South of Stoke. Once I started spotting them on journeys South I've noticed loads.

Does Motorpoint count?

The child’s head sculpture is slowly being hidden by trees also unfortunately. It’s a great story though. Erected on a slag heap and with non of the usual nods to industry in its form that you often get from ‘heritage’ art. Won’t the eagles be buzzards or perhaps even red kites which have recovered from almost extinction amazingly?

As a child I used to always be amazed by the Stanlow Oil Refinery when my Mum and Dad drove us into North Wales, viewable from the M56. The sheer size and length of it and the plumes of fire coming from the towers always impressed me. At night it looked like a Bond villains lair with all the lights on too.

Tebay services.

The only services worth stopping at. Good food and shops. Always stop when going north.

Walsall stadium and RAC building for me, plus always have a look at Fort Dunlop. Maybe I should move to the Midlands!!!

Lowbankclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 11:16 am

Tebay services.

The only services worth stopping at. Good food and shops. Always stop when going north.

The folk that own Tebay and Gloucester are looking to open a new one next to junction 7 of the M56 in the next couple of years. Fingers crossed that's just as good.

The two carnival camels by the M5 at Bridgewater. Always makes me smile.

Alanstevensonsgloves wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 11:28 am

Walsall stadium and RAC building for me, plus always have a look at Fort Dunlop. Maybe I should move to the Midlands!!!

Agree on RAC and Dunkop

Down_Rover wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 8:42 am

You can see Preston from M61

You can see it from M65

welsbyswife wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 10:15 pm

Love driving down the M5 south of Bristol where it splits with a higher section and a lower section, looking down across the Avon valley. Also like when the M6 splits going up into Cumbria. Bit sad but it's just exciting driving along with no traffic directly adjacent coming the other way.

That’s one of my favourites too (M5). Done that journey many times. My wife always insists on me not driving in the third lane though as she says it’s too close to the edge. Pointing out that the barriers would probably stop a wagon let alone a car does no good.

It's just occurred to me.


No wonder there's so many
Fu**ing accidents.

ChrisG wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 21, 2021 8:31 am

Can definitely see Old Trafford (both of them) from the aforementioned Barton Bridge, and I suspect the Etihad is visible too if you have the time to find it.

Villa Park from M6 and West Brom from M5 too.

Salford rugby ground from there as well. It’s almost under the bridge.