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A6 road (England): Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 53°21′38″N 2°03′28″W / 53.3605°N 2.0578°W / 53.3605; -2.0578 (A6 road)
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{{About|the '''A6 road''' in England|other roads of the same name, and all other uses|A6 roads (disambiguation)}}
{{About|the '''A6 road''' in England|other roads of the same name, and all other uses|A6 roads (disambiguation)}}
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The '''A6''' is one of the main historic north south roads in [[England]]. It currently runs from [[Luton]] in [[Bedfordshire]] to [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] in [[Cumbria]], although it formerly started at a junction with the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] at [[Barnet]].
The '''A6''' is one of the main historic north south roads in [[England]]. It currently runs from [[Luton]] in [[Bedfordshire]] to [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]] in [[Cumbria]], although it formerly started at a junction with the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] at [[Barnet]].

⚫
Running north west from Luton, the road travels through [[Bedford, Bedfordshire|Bedford]], bypasses [[Rushden]], [[Kettering]] and [[Market Harborough]], continues through [[Leicester]], [[Loughborough]], [[Derby]] and [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]] before going through the [[Peak District]] to [[Bakewell]], [[Buxton]], [[Stockport]], [[Manchester]], [[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford]], [[Pendleton, Greater Manchester|Pendleton]], [[Irlams o' th' Height]], [[Pendlebury]], [[Swinton, Greater Manchester|Swinton]], [[Walkden]], [[Little Hulton]], [[Bolton]], [[Chorley]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[Kendal]] and [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]] before reaching [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]].


South of Derby, the road is paralleled by the [[M1 motorway]], and north of Manchester the [[M6 motorway|M6]] and [[M61 motorway|M61]] motorways approximate its course. Between Derby and Manchester the A6 follows a completely different routing to the motorway network, crossing the [[Peak District]] rather than going around it. Because of these duplications, the A6 is less important than formerly.
South of Derby, the road is paralleled by the [[M1 motorway]], and north of Manchester the [[M6 motorway|M6]] and [[M61 motorway|M61]] motorways approximate its course. Between Derby and Manchester the A6 follows a completely different routing to the motorway network, crossing the [[Peak District]] rather than going around it. Because of these duplications, the A6 is less important than formerly.


==Present route==
==Present route==
{{Main|Route of A6 road (England)}}
===Luton - Kettering===
{{Expand section|date=February 2012}}
It begins as ''St Mary's Road'' at an elongated roundabout with the [[A505 road]], part of the Luton inner ring road. This becomes ''Guildford Street'' and passes near the [[Luton railway station|railway station]]. It leaves the ring road and crosses under the Midland Main Line, becoming ''New Bedford Road''. It meets the A5228 outer ring road at a roundabout. On the outskirts of Luton as ''Barton Road'', it passes the [[BP]] ''[[Streatley, Bedfordshire|Streatley]] Express'' station on the left and [[Texaco]] ''Barton Road Service Station'' just after the ''Grasmere Road'' roundabout where it meets the [[Icknield Way Path]]. At the next roundabout, there is a [[J Sainsbury|Sainsbury's]] at the ''Bramingham Park Centre'', which is near Bramingham Business Park and the [[Cardinal Newman Catholic High School (Luton)|Cardinal Newman High School]]. Leaving Luton, it enters [[Central Bedfordshire]] as ''Barton Road'' after a roundabout with ''Quantock Rise''.


⚫
Running north west from Luton, the road travels through [[Bedford, Bedfordshire|Bedford]], bypasses [[Rushden]], [[Kettering]] and [[Market Harborough]], continues through [[Leicester]], [[Loughborough]], [[Derby]] and [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]] before going through the [[Peak District]] to [[Bakewell]], [[Buxton]], [[Stockport]], [[Manchester]], [[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford]], [[Pendleton, Greater Manchester|Pendleton]], [[Irlams o' th' Height]], [[Pendlebury]], [[Swinton, Greater Manchester|Swinton]], [[Walkden]], [[Little Hulton]], [[Bolton]], [[Chorley]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]], [[Kendal]] and [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]] before reaching [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]].
[[Image:Roundabout on the A6 - geograph.org.uk - 420.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Start of Barton in the Clay bypass near [[Streatley, Bedfordshire|Streatley]] ]]
There is a roundabout at [[Streatley, Bedfordshire|Streatley]], where the road becomes the dual-carriageway ''Luton Road''. The one mile (1.6 km) £9.4m dual-carriageway [[Barton-in-the-Clay]] Bypass was opened in December 1990. The former route is now the B655 (for [[Hitchin]]). It passes through the ''Bartonhill Cutting''. It becomes single carriageway at the roundabout with the B655 at the other end of the bypass. It enters [[Central Bedfordshire]] as ''Bedford Road'', passing the ''Speed Plough Service Station'' (now a Car Wash operation) near the now defunct ''Speed the Plough'' pub (this has now re-opened, as Grove Family Bar and Restaurant). The one mile (1.6 km) £2m [[Silsoe]] Bypass opened in February 1981. It meets the [[A507 road|A507]] (for [[Shefford, Bedfordshire|Shefford]] and [[Ampthill]]) at a roundabout at [[Clophill]], crossing the [[River Flit]], and passing the ''New County Service Station''. It passes through Maulden Wood as the dual-carriage ''Deadman's Hill'', crossing the [http://www.greensandridge.freeuk.com Greensand Ridge Walk] then passes through Haynes West End, becoming ''Wilstead Road'', which passes the ''Four Winds Service Station''. It enters the district of [[Bedford]] and bypasses [[Wilstead]].A 1.5 mile 2.4 km Dual Carriageway, opened in 2007, then Bypasses [[Wixams]]. It meets the [[A421 road|A421]] at the Elstow Interchange [[Grade separation|GSJ]] near the large [[BP]] ''Bedford Connect'' service station and [[Asda]] distribution centre, then meets the [[A5134 road|A5134]] at a Large Signal Controlled Junction. From here, the Bedford Western Bypass will be built.

The road crosses the [[Marston Vale Line]], then enters Bedford as ''Ampthill Road''. There is a roundabout with the [[A5141 road|A5141]], then it crosses the railway again near [[Bedford St Johns railway station]]. It meets the [[A600 road|A600]] and [[A5140 road|A5140]] at a roundabout, then passes [[Bedford College (Bedford)|Bedford College]] and crosses the [[River Great Ouse]] as ''King Street''. It takes two one-way routes (''Tavistock Street'' - ''High Street'' and ''Horne Lane'' - ''Union Street'') through the town centre, which meet at a roundabout. It meets the A5141 again at a roundabout near [[Bedford Modern School]] and becomes the dual-carriageway ''Clapham Road'' near a large [[J Sainsbury|Sainsbury's]].

[[Image:Oakley, A6 Clapham Bypass - geograph.org.uk - 91316.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Clapham bypass near Oakley]]
North of Bedford, the three mile (5 km) £26m dual-carriageway [[Clapham, Bedfordshire|Clapham]] Bypass opened on December 12, 2002, named the ''[[Paula Radcliffe]] Way'', after the marathon runner who went to school at nearby [[Sharnbrook]]. It crosses the [[River Great Ouse]] twice, and is crossed by the [[John Bunyan Trail]], near a GSJ for Clapham and [[Oakley, Bedfordshire|Oakley]]. There is another GSJ for Highfield Parc Industrial Estate. At the end of the bypass, the road suddenly loses the broad expanse of tarmac and looks like a minor [[B roads in Great Britain|B road]] and becomes ''Bedford Road''. There are speed cameras here. It passes through [[Milton Ernest]], passing [http://www.miltonernest.beds.sch.uk Milton Ernest Lower School], and ''[http://www.queenshead-miltonernest.com Queens Head Hotel]''. As ''Rushden Road'', it passes the ''[http://www.pub-explorer.com/beds/pub/falconinnbletsoe.htm Falcon Inn]'' close to [[Bletsoe]] and a Traveller's site. It meets a roundabout for Sharnbrook, then passes a right turn towards [[Riseley, Bedfordshire|Riseley]] and two left turns to [[Sharnbrook]], then passes a right turn to [[Knotting, Bedfordshire| Knotting]] and a left turn to [[Souldrop]] and passes [http://www.bna-naturalists.org/branches/ouse/ouse.htm West Wood].

[[Image:Irthlingborough Viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 90947.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Irthlingborough Viaduct built over the Nene in 1936]]
It is crossed by the [[Three Shires Way]] on the border of [[Northamptonshire]] and the district of [[East Northamptonshire]],there is a right turn to Avenue Road [[Rushden]], then there is a turn for [[Wymington]]. The three mile (5 km) £10m part-dual-carriageway [[Rushden]] & [[Higham Ferrers]] Bypass opened on August 14, 2003, where the road meets the [[A5001 road|A5001]], B645 and [[A45 road|A45]]. The old route, which goes through Rushden itself, is now the A5028. It crosses the [[River Nene]] and the [[Nene Way]], bypassing [[Irthlingborough]] and meeting the B571 at a roundabout. The road still goes through [[Finedon]]. There is the [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] ''North Bound Service Station'' just north of the village on ''Burton Road''. The two mile (3 km) £2.6m [[Burton Latimer]] Bypass opened in October 1991. ''[[Weetabix Limited|Weetabix]]'' is accessible from the roundabout with the A14. On this stretch it has gap in km, which it is signed A6/A14.{{What|date=August 2010}}

===Kettering - Leicester===
Kettering was bypassed when sections of the east-west corridor [[A14 road (Great Britain)|A14]] were built. Between the A6 junction and A509 junction, there are the two [[BP]] ''Kettering East & West Connect'' garages, [[Little Chef]] and [[Burger King]] restaurants on each side of the road. Near the Rothwell junction, there is the [[Esso]] ''Rothwell Service Station'' and [[McDonald's]] restaurant on the east-bound carriageway. The five mile (8 km) three-lane £11.4m [[Rothwell, Northamptonshire|Rothwell]]-[[Desborough]] Bypass opened on August 14, 2003. The road enters [[Leicestershire]] and the district of [[Harborough]] as ''Harborough Road'' at the start of the five mile (8 km) £9.5m Market Harborough Bypass, which was opened in June 1992. It briefly re-enters Northamptonshire again, and at this point there is a roundabout with the [[A427 road|A427]] (for [[Stoke Albany]]) and A4304 (former A427), and an exit for [[Great Bowden]].

[[Image:A6 towards Market Harborough - geograph.org.uk - 203584.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Southern end of the Great Glen bypass looking south]]
It is crossed by the [[Leicestershire Round]], and there is the ''Malthurst A6'' [[Texaco]] garage and [[McDonald's]] restaurant at the junction with the [[B6047 road|B6047]] (for [[Melton Mowbray]]) at the north end of the bypass. There is a turn to the left for [[Foxton, Leicestershire|Foxton]] and [[Foxton Locks]]. It is crossed by the Midland Main Line. The A6 still passes through [[Kibworth]], where it passes the ''[http://www.diningpubs.co.uk/pub_details.asp?id=291 Coach & Horses]'' pub. The road becomes ''Leicester Road''. The three mile (5 km) dual-carriageway [[Great Glen, Leicestershire|Great Glen]] Bypass opened on February 19, 2003, though operated as a dual-carriageway only after April 4, 2003. It crosses the [[River Sence]] and there is a roundabout. The bypass ends with a roundabout, just before the road enters the district of [[Oadby and Wigston]].

===Leicester - Peak District===
On the outskirts of Leicester the road becomes ''London Road''. There is a roundabout with ''Florence Wragg Way'', where the road becomes ''Glen Road''. It passes a [[J Sainsbury|Sainsbury's]] supermarket at [[Oadby]] on the left. and becomes ''Harborough Road'', then ''Leicester Road''. Further in, it passes the [[BP]] ''Oadby Filling Station'' and an [[Asda]] supermarket on the right, before reaching the outer ring-road ([[A563 road|A563]]), next to [[Leicester Racecourse]]. There is the [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] ''Oadby Garage'' just after the roundabout on the left where A563 and A6 join, with the two-track tram shed/terminus, now used for storage, next door. It becomes ''London Road'', where the dual-carriageway ends, and it enters the city of Leicester, passing the [http://www.leicesterhigh.co.uk Leicester High School for Girls] on the right. There is a crossroads, for ''Stoughton Road'' ([[A6030 road|A6030]]) at [[Stoneygate]], and a roundabout with the ''[[Victoria Park, Leicester|Victoria Park]] Road'' (B568). It passes close to [[University of Leicester|Leicester University]] and many take-away shops. To the right is [[Highfields, Leicestershire|Highfields]], a largely immigrant community. It crosses the [[Midland Main Line]] near [[Leicester railway station]]. In the centre of Leicester, it is subsumed into Leicester's inner ring-road, the [[A594 road (Leicester)|A594]]. Before this, it went via ''Charles Street'', and before then, down ''Granby Street'' and ''Gallowtree Gate''. Then around the Clock Tower, and along ''Belgrave Gate''. The current route via the Inner Ring Road and ''Abbey Lane'' is also altered from the old route, which from ''Belgrave Gate'' went via ''Belgrave Road'' (along the ''[[Fosse Way]]'') as did the old course of the A46 turning left at [[Melton Mowbray]] turn onto ''Loughborough Road'' and then into [[Birstall, Leicestershire|Birstall]], where it meets with the current route at the start of the dual carriageway just before the A563 roundabout.

[[Image:A6 towards Leicester - geograph.org.uk - 187690.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Quorn-Mountsorrel bypass north of Leicester]]
It crosses the [[Grand Union Canal]] and the [[River Soar]] as ''St Margarets Way''. It becomes dual-carriageway on the northern outskirts of Leicester, and passes the [[National Space Centre]] in [[Belgrave, Leicestershire|Belgrave]] as ''Abbey Lane'' then meets at a roundabout with the A563 outer ring-road entering the borough of [[Charnwood (borough)|Charnwood]], then passes the [[BP]] ''St Paul's Filling Station'' on the left. [[Leicestershire Constabulary]] have a training college near here in [[Birstall, Leicestershire|Birstall]]. North of Leicester, as ''Loughborough Road'' it meets the A46 [[Leicester Western Bypass]] just south of [[Rothley, Leicestershire|Rothley]] and the start of the four mile (6.4 km) £43.3m dual-carriageway [[Quorndon|Quorn]]-[[Mountsorrel]] Bypass, which opened in October 1991. The road at this point follows the [[Soar Valley]], and is mostly on embankment or viaduct, crossing the river four times. From here the road goes through Loughborough. although a new section of road from a roundabout with ''Ling Road'' ([[A6004 road|A6004]]) can be quicker and follows ''Epinal Way'' past the [[Loughborough University|university]], avoiding the many traffic lights in the town centre. In Loughborough there is the [[BP]] ''Elms Park Service Station'' on the right, and in the middle of Loughborough there is a [[J Sainsbury|Sainsbury's]] supermarket. Just north of [[Hathern]], where the A6006 (for [[Sutton Bonington]]) and B5324 (for [[Long Whatton]]) meet the road, there is the [[Esso]] ''Hathern Turn Service Station''. There is a much-needed dual-carriageway section which skirts the Leicestershire/[[Nottinghamshire]] border (the River Soar) and the road becomes ''London Road'' and enters the district of [[North West Leicestershire]]. It passes through [[Kegworth]], passing the ''Britannia Inn'' and becomes ''Derby Road''. It joins the [[M1 motorway|M1]] and [[A453 road|A453]] at the extremely busy roundabout of junction 24, which is where the [[A50 road|A50]] Derby to Stoke-on-Trent Link begins. The road follows one of the former A6 dual-carriageway sections, passing [[Lockington, Leicestershire|Lockington]], before meeting traffic from the south-bound M1 at junction 24a. South-bound traffic on the A6 here has to negotiate a roundabout and a set of traffic lights, which has numerous and lengthy hold-ups at peak times. The three-laned A6 overlaps the A50 for a couple of miles, and there is a junction with the B6540 (former [[A453 road|A453]]) and crosses the [[Trent and Mersey Canal]] and [[River Trent]], where it enters [[Derbyshire]] and the district of [[South Derbyshire]]. The A50/A6 passes a [[Welcome Break]], with a [[Burger King]] and [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] garage on both sides of the road near [[Shardlow]]. The next section, the A6 Spur, was opened with the A50 in September 1997. The £10.6m dual-carriageway [[Alvaston]] Bypass/Improvement opened on 17 December 2003.

[[Elvaston Castle]] is to the right. The road enters Derby initially along ''London Road'', then at [[Alvaston]] it meets the [[A5111 road|A5111]] Derby Ring Road (''Raynesway'' built in the 1930s) at a new junction (2010), which includes access to Derby Commercial Park. Most traffic heading north continues along ''Raynesway'' and follows the Derby inner ring road to meet the A6, or follows the [[A61 road|A61]] and [[A38 road|A38]] north to rejoin the A6 at [[Ambergate]] via the [[A610 road|A610]]. It passes the [[BP]] ''Island Service Station'' on the left at the next roundabout, and the ring road leaves to the left. It enters [[Crewton]] and just after a hum-backed bridge it passes [http://www.stosmundsderby.org.uk St Osmund's] church to the left. There is a roundabout with ''Ascot Drive'' near the [http://www.thederbyconferencecentre.com Derby Conference Centre], and the road exits to the right as ''Pride Parkway'', which is related to the adjacent [[Pride Park]] Business Park and [[Pride Park Stadium]], home of [[Derby County F.C.]]. Nearby to the right, the former [[Wilmorton]] Campus of [[Derby College]] has now been demolished for housing. The former route of the A6 (''London Road'') is the A5194 and has an 18 tonne [[weight limit]] on a [[weak bridge]], and passes the former [[London Road Community Hospital|Derby Royal Infirmary]]. The new section of the road initially dual-carriageway to the first roundabout, known as the ''Wilmorton Link'', opened on 23 August 2001, and cost £3.86m. It is a [[Parkway]] type of road and crosses the [[Midland Main Line]],with three large roundabouts, adjacent parallel cycle ways, and passes by many [[Car dealership|car showroom]]s. At the first roundabout is the ''Pride Park'' [[Innkeepers Fayre]] pub, the [http://www.oberoi-consulting.com Oberoi Consulting], [http://www.cooperparry.com Cooper & Parry], [[Egg Banking]] (second roundabout), [[Geldards LLP]], an [[Old Orleans]] [http://www.oldorleans.com/home/restaurants/derby restaurant] (third roundabout), a [[Harvester (restaurant)|Harvester]] [http://www.harvester.co.uk/find-a-harvester/prideparkderby.html restaurant] and a [[Holiday Inn Express]]. It eventually reaches [[Litchurch]] near Derby College's new [[Roundhouse]] site. The land on which it was built was a former gas works, and there are still two [[gas holder]]s left to the north at the first roundabout. This £7m section from the first roundabout to ''Station Approach'' (B6000) was opened in January 1997, and includes a 900 ft viaduct, with 180 ft spans, that crosses the Midland Main Line. It meets the old route at ''The Cock Pitt'', beside the new [[Westfield Derby]], a former roundabout that was replaced with traffic lights in 2008, close to the centre of Derby with a multi-storey car park in the centre. The road overlaps the A601, Derby's inner ring-road and the [[A52 road|A52]], crossing the [[River Derwent, Derbyshire|River Derwent]], then leaving to the left as ''King Street'' at an intersection on ''St Alkmund's Way'' near the former site of [[Alcmund of Derby|St Alkmund]]'s Church, and passes ''[http://www.rawpromo.co.uk The Flowerpot]'' pub on the left. This section to the A38 has a weight limit. As ''King Street'', it passes the ''[http://www.derbycity.com/pubs/7stars.html Seven Stars]'' pub. As ''Garden Street'', it splits in two at an elongated roundabout surrounding the [[Texaco]] ''Allens Service Station'' and ''Five Lamps'' pub. At a roundabout known locally as the ''Five Lamps'', which has had [http://www.seered.co.uk/five_lamps_fiasco.htm controversial] [http://www.derbygripe.co.uk/lamps.htm alterations], it becomes ''Duffield Road'', passing the ''[http://www.viamichelin.com/b2b2c/gbr/dyn/controller/dlPoiAccess?idx=6&id=177245&productId=80630&return_url=%2Fb2b2c%2Fgbr%2Fdyn%2Fcontroller%2FDLAmbiguous%3DproductId%3D80630%26strLocid%3D3bMG1SRVBfVEFfMjQ4MjYwMzQwMDAxMTY2NlNFUlJFUDExMTBjTlRJdU9URTJNVFE0Y0xURXVORFl6TVRVMw%3D%3D%26mapId%3D-tm94pdvtdnydye&fromlist=true&wnoss=true&IconFileID=8&ie=utf-8 Broadway Hotel]''. At this roundabout, the older Derby inner ring road (''Broadway'' - A5111) met the A6, before 1983, and the section until Allestree was also the A38 from 1975-83. North of Derby, there is the ''Palm Court'' roundabout (named after the former Palm Court café which closed in 2005 and was set up by the cricketer [[Sydney Barnes]]) junction with the [[A38 road|A38]]. In leafy [[Allestree]], it passes the ''[[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] Allestree'' garage. The road follows the [[River Derwent, Derbyshire|Derwent]] Valley, entering the district of [[Amber Valley]] through [[Duffield, Derbyshire|Duffield]] and [[Belper]], passing a large [[Morrisons]] (formerly [[Safeway (UK)|Safeway]]) store. In Belper, it becomes ''Bridge Street'', passing the [[Total S.A.|Total]] ''Lion Garage'' on the right. The road goes past a [[Derwent Valley Mills|large mill]], formerly owned by [[Jedediah Strutt]] and now a [http://www.derwentvalleymills.org museum]. Further north it passes the [[Esso]] ''Riverside Station'' just before the A610 junction. At [[Whatstandwell]] it meets the B5035 (for [[Crich]] and [[Wirksworth]]), then enters the district of [[Derbyshire Dales]]. There is an [[Esso]] ''Ridgewood Motors'' on the left, then at [[Cromford]], it meets the [[A5012 road|A5012]] ([[Via Gellia]]). [[Matlock Bath]] is a [[mecca]] for [[Motorbiking|motorbikers]], and many use the A6 for pleasure and speed, and close by is [[Gulliver's Kingdom]]. Entering [[Matlock, Derbyshire|Matlock]], the road passes under the [[Derwent Valley Line|railway]] and along a new bypass past the new [[Sainsbury's]] development and new bus station and then over the River Derwent, meeting the A615 at a roundabout. The road then continues on ''Bakewell Road'' into [[Darley Dale]], where the road, as ''Dale Road'', passes the hospital, the [[Texaco]] ''Two Dales Service Station'', and crossroads with the B5057. On the right is the ''Dale Road Filling Station''

===Peak District - Manchester===
From Matlock the road enters the [[Peak District National Park]]. From [[Rowsley]], it follows the [[River Wye, Derbyshire|River Wye]], meeting the B5056 near the endpoint of the [[River Lathkill]]. It passes [[Haddon Hall]] and enters [[Bakewell]] passing the Murco ''Park View Filling Station'' on the right and [[Total S.A.|Total]] on the right, meeting the B5055 and A619 at a roundabout. At [[Ashford-in-the-Water]], there is a junction with the A6020 (for [[Baslow]]). The road passes through Taddington Dale. [[Taddington]] has a dual-carriageway bypass. There are junctions with the B6049 (for [[Blackwell in the Peak|Blackwell]]) and A5270, and it enters the district of [[High Peak, Derbyshire|High Peak]] and passes under four railway bridges. It enters Buxton as ''Bakewell Road'', passing a [[Morrisons]] on the left and meets the B5059 at a roundabout. It leaves Buxton as ''Fairfield Road'', and heads towards [[Stockport]] slightly north-east to [[Dove Holes]] and to a roundabout with the A623

[[Image:A6, Chapel-en-le-Frith - geograph.org.uk - 54813.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The A6 near Chapel-en-le-Frith]]
The four mile (6.4 km) £38m part-dual-carriageway [[Chapel-en-le-Frith]] & [[Whaley Bridge]] Bypass opened in August 1987. The former route is the B5470. The bypass ends with a roundabout with the [[A5004 road|A5004]] for Whaley Bridge and [[Macclesfield]] (via the [[B5470 road|B5470]]). It crosses the [[Peak Forest Canal]] and the B6062 leads to [[Chinley]], then goes under the [[Buxton Line]]. At [[Furness Vale]] it passes the [[Furness Vale railway station|railway station]] and the primary school. It meets the A6015 (for [[New Mills]]) at Newtown, near the [[New Mills Newtown railway station|railway station]] and primary school, where the road enters [[Cheshire]]. At [[Disley]] on Market Street, there is the ''[[Total S.A.|Total]] Disley'' garage, and the road passes the [http://www.disley.cheshire.sch.uk primary school], the Crescent Inn, police station and the Dandy Cock then crosses the Buxton Line near the [[Disley railway station|railway station]] near the Rams Head Vintage Inn. At [[High Lane]], the road enters the Borough of [[Metropolitan Borough of Stockport|Stockport]] in [[Greater Manchester]].

There were plans in the 1970s for a bypass around Stockport, by a motorway initially known as the A6(M), which never was given the go-ahead, although many construction schemes were designed. It was kicked into [[touch (rugby)|touch]] in July 1998, in the distant early years of the [[Labour Party (UK)|1997 Labour government]]. Due to build up of traffic in the Stockport area, the same scheme is now going to be built as the A555, to link up east of Stockport with the [[M60 motorway|M60]]. In July 2006, it finally received the full funding to proceed. In [[Hazel Grove]] it goes under the viaduct carrying the [[South TransPennine]] railway line, and meets the [[A523 road|A523]] (for [[Macclesfield]]) from the left and the A627 (from [[Romiley]]) from the right. There is [[McDonald's]] on the left near the [[Hazel Grove railway station]].

[[Image:Crumbs^ - geograph.org.uk - 65694.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Passing the [[McVitie's]] factory where Stockport meets Manchester]]
Towards [[Stockport]], there is a [[J Sainsbury|Sainsbury's]] on the right, and the road becomes ''Buxton Road''. In Stepping Hill, it goes near the [[Stepping Hill Hospital]]. <!-- on the left. - I have taken this out because it's on the right if you drive the other directon--> There is the ''[[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] Stockport'' garage near the [[Woodsmoor railway station]] and in Great Moor, the [[Esso]] ''Great Moor Service Station'' relatively near the [[Davenport (Stockport) railway station|Davenport railway station]], where it meets the B6171, the A5102 (for [[Bramhall]]) to the right. As the road approaches Stockport town centre there is the [[Texaco]] ''Grosvenor Service Station'', near the crossroads with the B5465. At Mersey Square, Stockport just before the road crosses the [[M60 motorway|M60]], the road becomes ''Wellington Road North'', crosses the [[Stockport to Stalybridge Line]] and the ''[[Total S.A.|Total]] Wellington Road'' garage is on the right. At [[Heaton Chapel]], there are crossroads with the B5169 (for [[Reddish]]), and the A626 joins to the right. It enters the city of [[Manchester]] just before it meets the B6178 and becomes ''Stockport Road'' near the ''[[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] [[Levenshulme]]'' station on the right. Near the junction with the B5093 is the [[Levenshulme railway station]]. It goes under the railway and meets the A5079 ''Slade Lane'' from the south. There are crossroads with the A6010, and the A5184 leaves to the left. In [[Longsight]], it meets the A665 Manchester inner ring road and the [[A57 road|A57]] at a roundabout, which it overlaps until it goes under the [[A57(M) motorway|A57(M)]]/[[A635(M) motorway|A635(M)]], passing the old site of [[UMIST]] (now the [[University of Manchester]]).

===Manchester - Chorley===
North of Manchester, the road continues through [[Manchester]] and [[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford]], and passes through the various former cotton mill towns of central [[Lancashire]], notably through [[Chorley]], [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] and [[Lancaster, Lancashire|Lancaster]]. Its route remains paralleled by the M6 and M61 motorways here, including the oldest motorway stretch in the UK ([[M6 motorway|M6]] [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] by-pass).

In Manchester, the road crosses the [[River Irwell]] and enters the city of [[City of Salford|Salford]]. Here the road is called ''Chapel Street'' where the original [[Salford Royal Hospital]] stands (now flats) at its junction with Adelphi Street. At the Adelphi Street/Oldfield Road junction its name changes to ''the Crescent''. Along this stretch we now pass several places of cultural interest including the [[University of Salford]], and [[Salford Museum and Art Gallery]] on the right, as well as the Old Fire Station and the [[Working Class Movement Library]] on the left. Along this stretch it also passes [[Salford Crescent railway station]] near the junction with Albion Way. It then carries on as the dual carriageway ''Broad Street'' through [[Pendleton, Greater Manchester|Pendleton]] past Salford Shopping City ([[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford]] Precinct) and the junction with Langworthy Road (A5186). It next arrives at [[Irlams o' th' Height]] where it departs from the dual carriageway (where the [[A580 road|A580 East Lancashire Road]] begins) at the old Irlams o' th' Height/[[Pendlebury]] (roundabout) boundary. Once round the Height roundabout it becomes Manchester Road as it goes through [[Pendlebury]] for a short distance passing both the site of the former [[Royal Manchester Children's Hospital]] and Hospital Road on the right. Next we enter [[Swinton, Greater Manchester|Swinton]] and pass Victoria Park on the right opposite the junction with Barton Road. The Farmer's Arms, the White Lion (both on the left) and the Cricketer's Arms (on the right) pubs are all shortly followed by the junction with Worsley Road (A572) where its name changes to Chorley Road. Along Chorley Road we soon pass Swinton Post Office and [[Swinton and Pendlebury]] Town Hall (''Salford Civic Centre'') on the left with Swinton Shopping Centre on the right. At this point is the town centre's crossroads with Partington Lane (on the left) and Station Road (on the right) which are both part of the B5231. On the left are the town hall's once hallowed lawns and Swinton Parish Church ([[St Peter's Church, Bolton|St. Peter's]]) on opposite corners. Both the Central Library and the Bull's Head pub are seen on the right on opposite corners. The new Swinton Police Station is just {{convert|138|yd|m}} along on the left from the town centre junction. Then once past the Forester's Arms pub (on the right) and the junction with Moorside Road and the Red Lion pub ("''The Cat''") to the left we very soon arrive in Manchester Road, [[Wardley, Greater Manchester|Wardley]] (at Sindsley Brook) passing the Morning Star pub (on the right) as the road heads north west towards [[Linnyshaw]] and [[Walkden]].

It then goes under the [[M60 motorway|M60]] near the junction with the [[M61 motorway|M61]], near the ''Worsley Braided Interchange'' and [http://www.wardleyhall.org.uk Wardley Hall] (home of the Roman Catholic [[Bishop of Salford]]) and enters [[Whittle Brook]] and [[Walkden]] as ''Manchester Road'', passing the [[Linnyshaw]] Industrial Estate on the right. It passes the [[Texaco]] ''Gordon Limes Service Station'' on the left, and meets the A575 (for [[Worsley]] and [[Farnworth]]) and B5232 (for [[Boothstown]]) at crossroads where the road is dual-carriageway as the ''High Street''. It becomes ''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/112903 Manchester Road East]'' and passes a [[Tesco]] on the right, progressing towards the district of [[Little Hulton]], which it enters a few minutes later. It meets the A5082 (for [[Tyldesley]] and Farnworth) at crossroads near [[St. Paul's, Peel]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/449240 Church], becoming ''Manchester Road West'', passing St. Paul's, Peel and Wharton primary schools.

On leaving Little Hulton, the road enters the Borough of [[Bolton]] near the Chloride Battery [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/86549 Works] on the left. Near Farnworth, the road meets the [[M61 motorway|M61]], at junction 4, which closely follows parallel with the A6 up to Preston. The road is now the primary route ''Salford Road'' and meets the A579 at crossroads at [http://www.bolton.org.uk/hultonlaneends.html Hulton Lane Ends] near the ''[http://www.pub-explorer.com/lancs/pub/redlionoverhulton.htm Red Lion]'' and ''Hulton Arms'', becoming ''Manchester Road''. It meets the [[A58 road|A58]] at a roundabout at [[Chequerbent]] and is no longer a trunk road, close to M61 junction 5, then enters [[Westhoughton]], passing the ''Mercury Filling Station'' on the left. There is the B5235 near the ''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/419102 White Horse Tavern]'', then it crosses the [[Manchester-Southport Line]], and it meets the B5236 at [[Wingates]], near the St. John's Primary School and the St. John the Evangelist [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/96516 Church]. On leaving Westhoughton, the road becomes ''Chorley Road''. At Four Gates, there is the B5239 for [[Aspull]] at the ''Royal Oak'' pub. It meets the A6027 roundabout close to the M61 junction 6 for [[Horwich]]. It passes through Hilton House, at Scot Lane End, it meets the B5408 (the former route) for [[Blackrod]], becoming the ''Blackrod By-Pass Road''. It meets the B5238, for Horwich, at crossroads near [[Blackrod railway station]] and the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/80315 Ridgeway Arms Hotel]. Close by on the M61 is the [[Rivington services]] (formerly Bolton West services). It rejoins the old route where it meets the B5408, near the ''Thatch & Thistle'' pub. It enters [[Adlington, Lancashire|Adlington]], and the district of [[Chorley (borough)|Chorley]] where it [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/52322 crosses] the [[River Douglas (Lancashire)|River Douglas]] as ''Chorley Road'', becoming ''Market Street'' and passing the [[Texaco]] ''Les Walkden Garage'' on the left. In the centre of Adlington it meets the B6227 near Adlington [[Adlington (Lancashire) railway station|railway station]], and the police station, becoming ''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/118447 Church Street]'' then ''Westhoughton Road''. It crosses the [[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]] and meets the A673 from Bolton and [[A5106 road (Great Britain)|A5106]] from [[Standish, Greater Manchester|Standish]].

It crosses the [[River Yarrow (Lancashire)|River Yarrow]] and passes the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/118455 Miller's] pub and the [http://www.albany.lancsngfl.ac.uk Albany Science College] as ''Bolton Road''. In Chorley, the central section is dual-carriageway with many [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/52307 roundabouts]. It meets the B6228 at a roundabout, passes a [[Morrisons]] and the [[Chorley railway station|railway station]], then meets the A581 and B6229. It passes the [[Texaco]] ''Preston Road Service Station'' and a hospital on the left and meets the B5252 at a roundabout where it crosses the [[TransPennine North West|railway]]. The dual-carriageway A674 to the right goes to [[Blackburn]] via the nearby junction 8 of the M61 and a [[Mormon]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/118142 temple].

===Chorley - Carnforth===
From Chorley, it meets the B6229 and B5248 at [[Whittle-le-Woods]], passing the St John the Evangelist Church and [[Texaco]] ''Jubilee Service Station'' on the right, crossing the [[River Lostock]]. It enters [[Clayton-le-Woods]], passing the ''[[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] Clayton Green'' on the left, and meets the B5256 (for [[Leyland, Lancashire|Leyland]]) at a roundabout, near a large [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/467649 Asda], [http://www.cuerdenvalleypark.org.uk Cuerden Valley Park] and [[Cuerden Hall]]. It passes through [[Clayton Brook]], passing the [[Esso]] ''Clayton Brook Service Station'' on the right, and crosses the [[M65 motorway|M65]], entering the district of [[South Ribble]], near its western terminus. There are two roundabouts for the [[Walton Summit]] Industrial Estate, either of which lead to the Walton Summit Motorway. Next is a roundabout with the [[M6 motorway|M6]] at junction 29, which is now shared with the M65 where the it becomes a trunk road. This was the start of Britain's first motorway, built in 1958. The road becomes dual-carriageway as it enters [[Bamber Bridge]]. There are crossroads with the northern terminus of the [[A49 road|A49]] and the B6258 near a large [[J Sainsbury|Sainsbury's]] on the right and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/415512 B & Q] on the left, then a roundabout with the A582 - where the road heads north to the right. The start of the M65 is accessible only from this roundabout at junction 1a. It crosses the [[East Lancashire Line]] and meets the B5257 at a roundabout. It meets the B6230 at a roundabout at [http://www.wt-woods.org.uk/DogKennelWood Dog Kennel Wood], crosses the [[River Darwen]] and meets the A675 (for [[Walton-le-Dale]]).

[[Image:London Road Bridge over the River Ribble - geograph.org.uk - 151776.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Crossing the River Ribble south of Preston]]
It [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/151776 crosses] the [[River Ribble]] and the [[Ribble Way]], entering the district of Preston. The road enters Preston as a single carriageway, meeting the [[A59 road|A59]] (for [[Blackburn]]), B6243 (for [[Ribbleton]]), and A6063. It passes through the centre of Preston, becoming ''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/137778 North Road]'', passes the [[Texaco]] ''North Road Service Station'' on the right, meets the A5071 ''Moor Lane'', then becomes ''Garstang Road'', passes the [[BP]] ''Key Filling Station'' on the right and [[Moor Park, Preston|Moor Park]], and crosses the A5085, passing the ''[[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] Fulwood'' garage on the left. At [[Fulwood, Lancashire|Fulwood]], it meets the B6242 at crossroads, then passes the [[Texaco]] ''Fulwood Service Station'' and [[Sharoe Green]]. It meets the B6241 Preston ring road near junction 1 of the [[M55 motorway|M55]], the other end of Britain's first motorway where it no longer is a trunk road.

It passes the [[Texaco]] ''Broughton Filling Station'' on the left and crosses Woodplumpton Brook and meets the B5269 at crossroads at [[Broughton, Lancashire|Broughton]], passing the [[Texaco]] ''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/46794 Kinders Garage]'' on the right. It meets [[Barton, Preston|Barton]] as ''Garstang Road'' and passes the ''[http://www.bartongrangehotel.com Barton Grange Hotel]'' and the ''[http://www.thebartonfox.co.uk Barton Fox]'', running along the Preston and Wyre district boundary, and begins to run parallel to the West Coast Main Line, which it crosses. The district boundary crosses to the other side of the road and it enters the district of [[Wyre]]. It passes through [[Bilsborrow]] and the ''[http://www.pub-explorer.com/lancs/pub/roebuckbilsborrow.htm Roebuck]''. It leaves the district boundary, and crosses the [[River Brock]] at Brock, near the ''[http://www.lunesdalecamra.org.uk/pubs/display.php?pub=24 Brockholes Arms]'', over the [[Lancaster Canal]]. On the right, it passes the [[Esso]] ''Claughton Garage'' and [[Total S.A.|Total]] ''Rogers of Brock''. At [[Catterall]], it meets the B6430 and crosses the [[River Wyre]], and meets the A586 (for [[Kirkland, Lancashire|Churchtown]]). It passes the ''Churchtown Service Station'' on the right and enters [[Garstang]] and crosses the Lancaster Canal again. It meets the B5272 and B6430 near the ''[http://www.croftershotel.co.uk Crofters Hotel]'', passes the ''Houghton's Filling Station'' and ''Redline Garage'' on the left, and enters [[Cabus]], passing ''[http://www.quattros.co.uk/main_cabus.htm Quattros's]'' restaurant. At [[Forton, Lancashire|Forton]], it passes the ''Pennine Filling Station'' on the left and the ''[http://www.newholly.co.uk New Holly Inn]'', close to the [[Lancaster (Forton) services|Forton service station]] on the M6. At [[Potters Brook]], it meets a crossroads and enters the [[city of Lancaster]]. It meets the M6 at junction 33 and goes [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/30478 through] [[Galgate]] as ''Main Road'', passing the ''[http://www.the-plough.co.uk Plough Inn]'' and ''[http://www.newinngalgate.co.uk New Inn]'', and under the West Coast Main Line, which it then runs adjacent to. The [[University of Lancaster]] lies in the one kilometre separation between the A6 and the M6, where there is a short section of dual-carriageway on the A6 alongside the West Coast Main Line. There is a right turn for [[Bailrigg]]. The road enters Lancaster as ''[[Scotforth]] Road'' then ''Greaves Road'', passing the now defunct [[Texaco]] ''Toll Bar Service Station'' on the left, [[BP]] ''Bowling Green Service Station'' on the right, [http://www.scotforth-st-pauls.lancs.sch.uk/ Scotforth St Paul's Primary School] on the left and St Paul's [http://www.lancashirechurches.co.uk/lancasterscstp.htm Church].

It meets the A588 for [[Preesall]] at a roundabout, goes past the [[Royal Lancaster Infirmary]] on the left, then crosses the [[Lancaster Canal]]. It splits up in two as it passes through the centre of Lancaster. It rejoins and splits again to cross the [[River Lune]] on the [http://www.priory.lancs.ac.uk/greyhound_bridge.html Greyhound Bridge] and older [http://www.priory.lancs.ac.uk/skerton_bridge.html [[Skerton Bridge]]]. The A589 leaves to left for [[Morecambe]] and the A683 to the right for [[Caton, Lancashire|Caton]] and M6 junction 34. The road rejoins as ''Owen Road'' near [[Skerton High School]] and there is the B5231 to the right for Morecambe, and a road to the right for [[Halton, Lancashire|Halton]]. It passes the [[Texaco]] ''Slyne Road Garage'' on the left and crosses the Lancaster Canal and heads through [[Hest Bank]] as ''Lancaster Road'', passing the ''[http://www.slynelodge.co.uk Slyne Lodge]'', and [[Bolton Town]]. It crosses the Lancaster Canal and meets the A5105 (from Morecambe) to the left at [[Bolton-le-Sands]]. As ''Main Road'', it passes the ''[http://www.mitchellshotels.co.uk/royal-hotel.shtml Royal Hotel]''. Here the road is at its closest point to [[Morecambe Bay]]. It follows the Lancaster Canal and enters Carnforth as ''Lancaster Road'', passes the Christ Church parish church on the right and ''[http://www.mitchellshotels.co.uk/county-hotel.shtml County Hotel]'' and the [[BP]] ''Carnforth Service Station'' on the left, and meets the B6254 to the right which leads to M6 junction 35.

===Carnforth - Carlisle===
[[Image:A6 - geograph.org.uk - 173666.jpg|thumb|140px|right|Near Shap]]
Leaving [[Carnforth]], famous for its connections with the film [[Brief Encounter]], the road as ''Scotland Road'' crosses the [[River Keer]]. It passes the [[Esso]] Truckhaven [[truck stop]] on the left just before it meets the [[A601(M) motorway|A601(M)]] at junction 35a of the M6 near [[Warton, Lancaster|Warton]]. There is a roundabout with the A6070, and the road, which has a short section of dual-carriageway, crosses the [[West Coast Main Line]] near [[Yealand Conyers]]. It enters [[Cumbria]] and the district of [[South Lakeland]] near the [http://www.wildlifeoasis.co.uk Lakeland Wildlife Oasis Centre] and [http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cumbria/Reserves/Hale%20Moss.htm Hale Moss]. Nearby on the M6 is the [[Burton-in-Kendal services]]. The [[Esso]] ''Mossdale Service Station'' is on the left. It passes through [[Hale, Cumbria|Hale]] and the ''[http://www.pub-explorer.com/cumbria/pub/kingsarmshotelhale.htm King's Arms Hotel]''. At [[Beetham]], it crosses the [[River Bela]] then passes through [[Milnthorpe]] as ''Beetham Road'' and ''Church Street'', meeting the B5282 and B6385. It goes through [[Heversham]] passing by the ''[http://www.bluebellhotel.co.uk Blue Bell Hotel]'' on the left. It passes [[Levens Hall]] on the left, crossing the [[River Kent]] at the old ''[http://www.visitcumbria.com/sl/levens-village.htm Levens Bridge]'', then meets the [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/65276 A590] and overlaps the [[A591 road|A591]] becoming a trunk road, the dual-carriageway [[Kendal]] bypass. It passes [[Sizergh Castle & Garden|Sizergh Castle]] and the [[BP]] ''Prizet Filling Station'', before leaving at a GSJ becoming the single carriageway ''Milnthorpe Road''. It passes the [[BP]] ''Helsington Service Station'' and passes through [[Kendal]] splitting in two, where it meets the northern end of the [[A65 road|A65]].

In Kendal, it passes [http://www.kendal.ac.uk Kendal College] and the [[Queen Katherine School]] next to a [[Morrisons]] superstore. It crosses the River Kent on the ''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/97858 Nether Bridge]'' and ''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/168040 Miller Bridge]''. It passes under the [[Windermere Branch Line]] near [[Kendal railway station]] then meets the [[A685 road|A685]] (to [[Kirkby Stephen]]), passes over the [[River Mint]] as ''Shap Road'' and is crossed by the [[Dales Way]]. It passes the former''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/227203 Plough Inn]'' near [[Selside]], where it becomes the boundary of the [http://www.lake-district.gov.uk Lake District National Park]. It crosses Borrowdale Beck (a tributary of the River Lune) and at ''[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/305105 Huck's Bridge]'' at [[Borrowdale]], it enters the district of [[Eden, Cumbria|Eden]].

[[Image:A6 Underpass at Shap - geograph.org.uk - 164134.jpg|thumb|140px|left|Passing under the M6 at Shap]]
It climbs up to over 1,400&nbsp;ft and heads over the [http://www.shapcumbria.co.uk Shap Fells] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/294782 into] [[Wasdale]], [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/173666 passing] near the [http://www.shapwells.com Shap Wells Hotel], where it leaves the National Park, and passes the [[RMC Group|RMC]] granite works. A spur of the A6 [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/88766 meets] the B6261 and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/88767 joins] the M6 at junction 39. The road is no longer a trunk road and passes the [[Corus]] [[Lime kiln|Lime]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/293749 Kilns] on Hardendale Fell and [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/88480 enters] [[Shap]] where it is crossed by the [[Coast to Coast Walk]], and over the West Coast Line. It passes [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/164134 under] then over the M6, then passes close to [http://www.lowther.co.uk/business_centres/hackthorpe_about.php Hackthorpe Hall] and the ''Lowther Castle Inn''. It passes [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/88873 over] the M6 near [[Lowther (parish)|Lowther]], which is near the [http://www.visitcumbria.com/pen/lboprey.htm Lakeland Bird of Prey Centre]. It passes over the railway at [[Clifton, Cumbria|Clifton]] near [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]]. There is a right [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/88877 turn] for [[Brougham, Cumbria|Brougham]] and it crosses the [[River Lowther]] at [[Eamont Bridge]] where passes the ''[http://www.travelpublishing.co.uk/HiddenPlacesEngland/Cumbria/ENG32049.htm Beehive Inn]'' and the ''[http://www.pub-explorer.com/cumbria/pub/crownhotelpenrith.htm Crown Hotel]'', then meets the B6262 and crosses the [[River Eamont]] over a narrow [http://www.visitcumbria.com/pen/eamontbridge.htm bridge]. It meets the [[A66 road|A66]] at ''Kemplay'' roundabout next to [[Penrith Hospital]].

[[Image:The A6 - geograph.org.uk - 195885.jpg|thumb|150px|right|The Roman road section south of Carlisle]]
It takes a central route through [[Penrith, Cumbria|Penrith]], entering the town as ''Bridge Lane'' then ''Victoria Road'' and leaving as ''Stricklandgate'' then ''Scotland Road'' it passes the [[BP]] ''Townhead Garage'', then the [[Esso]] ''Davidsons Garage''. [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/101093 North] of Penrith, it meets the B5305 (which heads to [[Wigton]]) at the ''Stoneybeck'' roundabout next to the ''[http://www.pub-explorer.com/cumbria/pub/stoneybeckinnbowscar.htm Stoneybeck Inn]'' situated on a new section of the A6 built for junction 41 of the M6. The next section of the A6 is one of the most dangerous roads in the county and follows a former [[Roman road]], having seen several deaths in the past few years [http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=365938] [http://www.cumberland-news.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=382145].

This section essentially follows a parallel path to the M6, and passes through [[Plumpton, Cumbria|Plumpton]] where it meets the B6413; an old Roman fort called ''[http://www.roman-britain.org/places/voreda.htm Voreda]'' at Castlesteads; [[Hesket, Cumbria|High Hesket]] which it bypasses; Low Hesket where it passes the ''Rose & Crown''; [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/195885 enters] the district of [[City of Carlisle|Carlisle]] near [[Cotehill]]; and meets the M6 (and the B6263) eventually at junction 42: the start of the Carlisle bypass. Entering [[Carlisle, Cumbria|Carlisle]], it passes the [[BP]] ''Carleton Service Station'', a [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/342947 C-op] at Harraby, the [[Esso]] ''Harraby Green Service Station'' then [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/343144 crosses] the [[River Petteril]] (near a large [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/343135 radio mast]) then the [[Tyne Valley Line|Tyne Valley railway line]]. The A6 travels through south-eastern Carlisle as ''London Road'', before finishing at ''Botchergate'' in the centre of Carlisle where it transforms seamlessly into the [[A7 road (Great Britain)|A7]] which runs out of Carlisle and across the Anglo-Scottish border terminating eventually at [[Scotland]]'s capital city of [[Edinburgh]].


==Former route south of Luton==
==Former route south of Luton==

Revision as of 18:23, 10 February 2012

This article is about the A6 road in England. For other roads of the same name, and all other uses, see A6 roads (disambiguation).
A6 shield
A6
Major junctions
South endLuton
51°52′42″N 0°24′29″W / 51.8782°N 0.4080°W / 51.8782; -0.4080 (A6 road (southern end))
Major intersections

A421

A45

A14 Junctions 3 and 10

A38

A53
A57
A580
A58
A59
A590
A684
A66
A69
A7

North endCarlisle
54°53′43″N 2°55′52″W / 54.8954°N 2.9311°W / 54.8954; -2.9311 (A6 road (northern end))
Location
CountryUnited Kingdom
Primary
destinations		Bedford
Rushden
Leicester
Loughborough
Derby
Matlock
Buxton
Stockport
Manchester
Preston
Lancaster
Kendal
Penrith
Road network

The A6 is one of the main historic north south roads in England. It currently runs from Luton in Bedfordshire to Carlisle in Cumbria, although it formerly started at a junction with the A1 at Barnet.

South of Derby, the road is paralleled by the M1 motorway, and north of Manchester the M6 and M61 motorways approximate its course. Between Derby and Manchester the A6 follows a completely different routing to the motorway network, crossing the Peak District rather than going around it. Because of these duplications, the A6 is less important than formerly.

Present route

Main article: Route of A6 road (England)

Running north west from Luton, the road travels through Bedford, bypasses Rushden, Kettering and Market Harborough, continues through Leicester, Loughborough, Derby and Matlock before going through the Peak District to Bakewell, Buxton, Stockport, Manchester, Salford, Pendleton, Irlams o' th' Height, Pendlebury, Swinton, Walkden, Little Hulton, Bolton, Chorley, Preston, Lancaster, Kendal and Penrith before reaching Carlisle.

Former route south of Luton

The route of the old A6 south of Luton is now the A1081 for most of its length. In the initial road numbering scheme, the A6 started in Barnet where it joined what was then the A1 Great North Road. From Barnet the road went to London Colney, St Albans, Harpenden to join the current start of the road at Luton. At St Albans, the road met the then A5 at a crossroads: going north on both roads, the A5 arriving from the southwest, and leaving the crossroads northwest, and the A6 arriving from the southeast and leaving to the northeast. Nowadays that stretch of the A5 has also been renumbered so that the crossroads in St Albans is now A5183 and A1081.

Other former routes

Nelstrop Road North, which runs adjacent to Houldsworth Golf Club, approximately half a mile (800 m) east of Levenshulme was originally a stretch of the A6 before it was moved westwards to its current route. Being on the border of two districts, the road has fallen into a state of disrepair as neither the City of Manchester nor the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport claims responsibility for it.[citation needed]

See also

External links

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

53°21′38″N 2°03′28″W / 53.3605°N 2.0578°W / 53.3605; -2.0578 (A6 road)

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