Good routes down to the South West?
Discussion
Morning all,
We are off down to Devon/Cornwall next week. We aim to get to Padstow by Thursday (for a night at Rick Stein's hotel/restaurant
) stopping off once or twice (staying overnight) along the way.
So, your Friday task is to come up with some good roads to take that we allow me to exercise the Tiv. Or just some good scenic routes, perhaps with some places to visit along the way (just town names, but if you know of any good hotels/B&Bs then shout out as we've nothing planned yet).
Neil
We are off down to Devon/Cornwall next week. We aim to get to Padstow by Thursday (for a night at Rick Stein's hotel/restaurant
) stopping off once or twice (staying overnight) along the way. So, your Friday task is to come up with some good roads to take that we allow me to exercise the Tiv. Or just some good scenic routes, perhaps with some places to visit along the way (just town names, but if you know of any good hotels/B&Bs then shout out as we've nothing planned yet).
Neil
If you're heading down from the south east, I'd recommend the M3 / A303 route. It's usually quicker than the M4/M5. There is a bit of single carriageway there and around 2 cameras on the route but it a good drive. And if you time it right you can stop off for stonehenge on the way down (just avoid the solstice weekend around the 21st...
My advice take the red roads, especially those from south of bath onwards. All the main routes are a pain. The A30 is only good for a full throttle dash at night - too busy otherwise.
The real fun starts off of the beaten track, the A361 to the A303 is a nice one IMO.
Where are you coming from? Southeast i am assuming...
The real fun starts off of the beaten track, the A361 to the A303 is a nice one IMO.
Where are you coming from? Southeast i am assuming...
One of the all time best roads down this way is from Taunton to Great Torrington about 45 miles of old A road bliss now a B road. It's called the B3227 & runs East West across North Devon.
Pukka twisties most of the way, mind the bridges, about the only person you'll see on it will be another ph'er doing two to three numpty "units" on it. Even bank hols it's open & empty.
Had a few run ins with some Tiv's, a Porker or two, a fezza. Top road
>> Edited by cptsideways on Friday 28th May 09:59
Pukka twisties most of the way, mind the bridges, about the only person you'll see on it will be another ph'er doing two to three numpty "units" on it. Even bank hols it's open & empty.
Had a few run ins with some Tiv's, a Porker or two, a fezza. Top road
>> Edited by cptsideways on Friday 28th May 09:59
cptsideways said:
One of the all time best roads down this way is from Taunton to Great Torrington about 45 miles of old A road bliss now a B road. It's called the B3227 & runs East West across North Devon.
Pukka twisties most of the way, mind the bridges, about the only person you'll see on it will be another ph'er doing two to three numpty "units" on it. Even bank hols it's open & empty.
Had a few run ins with some Tiv's, a Porker or two, a fezza. Top road
>> Edited by cptsideways on Friday 28th May 09:59
Now you're talking. Sounds just the ticket....or hopefully not!
within 10 miles of Barnstaple If your coming down on the M4 I can recommend driving to Hungerford and getting off there. Take the A338 out of Hungerford and enjoy. Its a superb road. Lots of twists and turns with generally good visibility. It links up with the A303 so you can go past Stonehenge.
The A338 has no speed cameras ( last time I went down it was 4 weeks ago ). There is one very dodgy corner so keep your wits about you. It looks like you go straight on but actually your turning right - very deceptive !
It will take you through some small villages where there are camers but they are sensibly placed and in places where you shoudl be doing 30 or below.
The A303 has a few speed cameras around there's a couple after Stonehenge.
There's a really awful one halfway up a hill on the only bit of overtaking road for miles. I'm sure it must be the most dangerous camera in Britain.
You pull out to overtake a lorry as it turns into a dual carriageway, then wham - you have to slam on the anchors because there's a camera halfway up. Ludicrous.
I usually drive to Devon and Cornwall from Marlow. I leave at 3am to get nice clear roads and a stress free drive down ( approx 3 hours to Croyde )
Its quicker on the motorway but they are boring and more likely to have talivans and unmarked cars around.
Waves are meant to be very good this weekend !
>> Edited by wik on Friday 28th May 10:55
>> Edited by wik on Friday 28th May 10:55
The A338 has no speed cameras ( last time I went down it was 4 weeks ago ). There is one very dodgy corner so keep your wits about you. It looks like you go straight on but actually your turning right - very deceptive !
It will take you through some small villages where there are camers but they are sensibly placed and in places where you shoudl be doing 30 or below.
The A303 has a few speed cameras around there's a couple after Stonehenge.
There's a really awful one halfway up a hill on the only bit of overtaking road for miles. I'm sure it must be the most dangerous camera in Britain.
You pull out to overtake a lorry as it turns into a dual carriageway, then wham - you have to slam on the anchors because there's a camera halfway up. Ludicrous.
I usually drive to Devon and Cornwall from Marlow. I leave at 3am to get nice clear roads and a stress free drive down ( approx 3 hours to Croyde )
Its quicker on the motorway but they are boring and more likely to have talivans and unmarked cars around.
Waves are meant to be very good this weekend !
>> Edited by wik on Friday 28th May 10:55
>> Edited by wik on Friday 28th May 10:55
cptsideways said:
One of the all time best roads down this way is from Taunton to Great Torrington about 45 miles of old A road bliss now a B road. It's called the B3227 & runs East West across North Devon.
Pukka twisties most of the way, mind the bridges, about the only person you'll see on it will be another ph'er doing two to three numpty "units" on it. Even bank hols it's open & empty.
Had a few run ins with some Tiv's, a Porker or two, a fezza. Top road
>> Edited by cptsideways on Friday 28th May 09:59
Yup, that's the one, there are some seriously nice twisty bits on it!
cptsideways said:
One of the all time best roads down this way is from Taunton to Great Torrington about 45 miles of old A road bliss now a B road. It's called the B3227 & runs East West across North Devon.
Pukka twisties most of the way, mind the bridges, about the only person you'll see on it will be another ph'er doing two to three numpty "units" on it. Even bank hols it's open & empty.
Had a few run ins with some Tiv's, a Porker or two, a fezza. Top road
I'll second that. Superb road. A much more entertaining way to get to barnstaple than the link road (A361). The B3137 is good too (runs parallel but on the southern side of the link road). However, if neil is making his way to cornwall these roads are probably a bit of a detour.
PS. Rick Stein's place is ok but well over rated (I should know, my father-in-law is a fish merchant at Padstow and Looe). The locals like the business he has brought to the town but hate the fact he practically owns the place and that its now referred to as 'Padstein' . He has his restaurant, deli, gift shop, wine shop, cafe, hotel, B&B's, chef school, bistro....
There are other restaurants in Town which are just as good and a bit cheaper -'Ripleys' for one (he used to be head chef at Steins). Its not as if you're paying for Rick himself to cook your grub either.
>> Edited by jam1et on Friday 28th May 11:26
B+B wise
This place is absolutely amazing....
www.polrodemillcottage.co.uk/
Really nice people. Top class food ( I had wild boar when I was there ).
Really nice feel to the place.
Not too far from Padstow
>> Edited by wik on Friday 28th May 10:53
This place is absolutely amazing....
www.polrodemillcottage.co.uk/
Really nice people. Top class food ( I had wild boar when I was there ).
Really nice feel to the place.
Not too far from Padstow
>> Edited by wik on Friday 28th May 10:53
If oyu're having dinner at Mr Stein's place and the Monkfish Vindaloo is on the menu - be bold and have it. It's simply superb, not blow your head off hot, but just full of wonderful flavours.
The other bold thing is to try the Camel Valley Brut instead of a champagne. It's made a few miles up the Camel Valley from Padstow and is a top drop.
If you want to taste before committing yourself the vineyard can be visited, see [url]www.camelvalley.com[/url] and you can taste there and wander around.
If you're staying a day in Padstow and want to get out a bit you can rent bikes and bike along the old Camel valley railway. Picnic ingredients can be sourced from the various delis in Padstow.
You might also want to visit the Lost gardens of Heligon. Quite interesting.
Chris
The other bold thing is to try the Camel Valley Brut instead of a champagne. It's made a few miles up the Camel Valley from Padstow and is a top drop.
If you want to taste before committing yourself the vineyard can be visited, see [url]www.camelvalley.com[/url] and you can taste there and wander around.
If you're staying a day in Padstow and want to get out a bit you can rent bikes and bike along the old Camel valley railway. Picnic ingredients can be sourced from the various delis in Padstow.
You might also want to visit the Lost gardens of Heligon. Quite interesting.
Chris
If you're thinking that Rick Stein's good, you might also try the Marina Hotel, Fowey - chef there is Nick Fisher, every bit as good as the Stone man....
From Gloucester to Paignton usually takes two and a half hours on the M5 route. Your last chance to make a change, unless things come to a total standstill, is at the M4/M5 junction. From here you can head to the A46 and pick up the Foss way South of Bath. The Foss starts out slow past Bath, lots of low speed limits, a few cameras etc. but speeds up as you go down. Don't try to change from the Foss to M5 past Bristol. Not worth it.
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