Scotch Corner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Approach to Scotch Corner roundabout from the A66, Scotch Corner Hotel in background, this view has since changed due to work to widen the A66

Scotch Corner is an important junction of the A1 and A66 trunk roads. The A1 leads north towards north east England and Scotland. The A66 leads north west towards Penrith & the M6. There are also two other exits from the junction: the A6108 towards the Yorkshire Dales and Richmond and a minor road to Middleton Tyas and Croft-on-Tees.

The name originates from being the junction where travellers to eastern Scotland (via A1 and/or A68) are separated from travellers to western Scotland (via A66 and M6/A74(M)/M74).

The Romans were responsible for building the first roads to meet at this point and the site of the original junction is just a few hundred yards away from the modern day intersection. In AD 71 the Romans took control of the North when they defeated the Brigantes, a Northern Celtic tribe at The Battle of Scotch Corner. Nowadays Scotch Corner is marked by a transport cafe, large hotel, two pubs and a Moto service station with Travelodge motel. The £8m Scotch Corner diversion opened in 1971, which created a grade separated junction on the A1.

Scotch Corner is also one of the stops on Megabus's M20 route.

Scotch Corner is mentioned by Jethro Tull on the title track of the album Too Old to Rock 'n' Roll: Too Young to Die!.