As I am a natural skinflint and very rarely under time pressure, I avoid motorways unless there is no serious alternative.

Doesn't seem to .make sense.

There are still quite a few journeys where there is no serious alternative, Ed. I wouldn't go form Cheshire to the Lakes without using the M6, painful tho that might be.

There are still quite a few journeys where there is no serious alternative, Ed. I wouldn't go form Cheshire to the Lakes without using the M6, painful tho that might be.

My example above would be really hard work without motorways,

Especially with many roads in a terrible state of repair these days. When I've cycled the 40 miles to my parents' house in south Herts (by car its 37.5 miles), I deliberately avoid as many major-ish roads (obviously including those I'm legally not allowed to cycle on) to avoid the pollution, higher risk of accidents as well as the country lanes being more picturesque, but it certainly is much more of a challenge!

Even more so in a car, given it's far easier to avoid potholes on a bike on such narrow roads than a car.

When I've gone on holiday from Royston to Cornwall and back, I stay on the major routes for the most part unless there's major hold-ups because I just want to get there as quickly as possible, given I'm the only one in the car. Not so bad if you're not in a hurry and you know nicer routes like the back of your hand.

One of the benefits of (now) being a regular cyclist in the region - I now know many alternative routes along country lanes (and which to avoid), just in case when I'm in the car as well as on the bike. Haven't yet been as far east as Colchester on the bike as yet, nearest is Finchingfield.

At least the A14 isn't as bad around the Huntingdon area nowadays with its changes.