central London to Weymouth
Discussion
I regularly make a similar journey, but starting from around J4/J5 of the M3.
There's an alternate, more scenic, route taking the A303 to Salisbury => Blandford => Dorchester.
On the M27 route, the main bottleneck at peak times is where the A31 goes down to one lane at the roundabout near Ferndown and then it can be slow all the way through Canford Bottom to the Merley roundabout.
Since the 'new road' into Weymouth (12yrs old) has been built then there's rarely queues into Weymouth itself.
There's an alternate, more scenic, route taking the A303 to Salisbury => Blandford => Dorchester.
On the M27 route, the main bottleneck at peak times is where the A31 goes down to one lane at the roundabout near Ferndown and then it can be slow all the way through Canford Bottom to the Merley roundabout.
Since the 'new road' into Weymouth (12yrs old) has been built then there's rarely queues into Weymouth itself.
Truckosaurus said:
I regularly make a similar journey, but starting from around J4/J5 of the M3.
There's an alternate, more scenic, route taking the A303 to Salisbury => Blandford => Dorchester.
On the M27 route, the main bottleneck at peak times is where the A31 goes down to one lane at the roundabout near Ferndown and then it can be slow all the way through Canford Bottom to the Merley roundabout.
Since the 'new road' into Weymouth (12yrs old) has been built then there's rarely queues into Weymouth itself.
This is the route I would takeThere's an alternate, more scenic, route taking the A303 to Salisbury => Blandford => Dorchester.
On the M27 route, the main bottleneck at peak times is where the A31 goes down to one lane at the roundabout near Ferndown and then it can be slow all the way through Canford Bottom to the Merley roundabout.
Since the 'new road' into Weymouth (12yrs old) has been built then there's rarely queues into Weymouth itself.
I think it depends on the time you travel but I used to live down that way and would avoid the a303 during “busy” times because the queues (and the numpties in the queues) made it unnecessarily painful. Some fun roads available to the north and south to bypass most of it, or stick with the motorways…
Chris
Chris
ScoobyChris said:
I think it depends on the time you travel but I used to live down that way and would avoid the a303 during “busy” times because the queues (and the numpties in the queues) made it unnecessarily painful. Some fun roads available to the north and south to bypass most of it, or stick with the motorways…
Chris
For the very short stretch the OP will be using the A303 there shouldn't be any traffic problems if they get off at Barton Stacey and follow the A30 to SalisburyChris
Saleen836 said:
For the very short stretch the OP will be using the A303 there shouldn't be any traffic problems if they get off at Barton Stacey and follow the A30 to Salisbury
This. Much quieter than the A343 too. I used to live near Wimborne - avoid the A31 except at very quiet hours.JurassicGTS said:
Living in Weymouth I do this frequently.
A34 to Sutton Scotney and then the A30 through Stockbridge, Salisbury, Blandford, Dorchester to Weymouth.
The A30 is a fantastic road!
A slight twist - I would leave the 303 earlier, just after m&s service stn. Very straight pleasant road past micheldiverA34 to Sutton Scotney and then the A30 through Stockbridge, Salisbury, Blandford, Dorchester to Weymouth.
The A30 is a fantastic road!
tgr said:
E46 Alpina B3, loaded up
But my mum will be on board, so smoothly does it!
What I meant was should I return by a different route
I think once you have done it one way, you will want to do the same route back.But my mum will be on board, so smoothly does it!
What I meant was should I return by a different route
When in Weymouth make sure you drive the coast road from Weymouth to Bridport and back. The views at the top of Abbotsbury Hill over Chesil Beach and Portland are spectacular.
JurassicGTS said:
tgr said:
E46 Alpina B3, loaded up
But my mum will be on board, so smoothly does it!
What I meant was should I return by a different route
I think once you have done it one way, you will want to do the same route back.But my mum will be on board, so smoothly does it!
What I meant was should I return by a different route
When in Weymouth make sure you drive the coast road from Weymouth to Bridport and back. The views at the top of Abbotsbury Hill over Chesil Beach and Portland are spectacular.
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff