I thought the bit between Carlisle and Glasgow a bit uninspiring. Probably because I thought the distance was less, the old "Ooh, Carlisle... not too far now" Next sign... GLASGOW 98
The M74 is dull as ditchwater...
Going to have to respectfully disagree. Carlisle to Glasgow on the M74 is as close to pure driving pleasure as you're ever likely to find on a British motorway. In fact, once you're north of the Blackpool/M55 turn on the M6, traffic levels drop away dramatically and you'll have nearly 200 miles of wonderful, open road with - in places - breath-taking scenery.
I make this trip several times a year (wife's family are in Argyll) - and will be doing so again on Saturday. Plan to leave at around 5am with a view to making it up north and past the worst of the traffic pinch points before most of the traffic hits the road. And it's the M74 stretch that I most look forward to. Has to be the most over-engineered stretch of road in the UK by some distance. Six lanes all the way up to within about 30 miles of Glasgow (when, mysteriously, it drops to 4 lanes, just as the traffic starts to pick up again). And as janaage says, there is next to no traffic on it. In terms of the scenery, the stretch from Beattock to Lesmahagow is terrific as the road winds through heavily pine-forested hills. And further south, the hills around Tebay, Cumbria are, if anything, even more special.
North of Glasgow, I would highly recommend heading up around Loch Lomond (on the A82). And if your itinerary permits it, pick up the A83 at Tarbet and head over the 'Rest & be Thankful' towards Cairndow. I can guarantee that you will not be disappointed. The scenery is simply spectacular...every bit as impressive (in my book) as Glencoe. It's almost en route to Oban as well, which is worth a visit/overnight stay if you have time.
I'll stop waffling now. But more than happy to fill a few more pages if encouraged.
