Driving to Wales tomorrow ... what time to leave?
Discussion
The Mrs and I are driving down from Sandhurst, Berkshire to the Mumbles for a couple of days tomorrow morning.
She always looks at worst case scenario, and is convinced that due to the holidays and the weather, the traffic will be a nightmare.
For this reason, she wanted to initally leave at 3am, I managed to persaude her that this was ridiculous, but will not agree to leaving any later than 7am...
Apparently the AA / RAC are predicting gridlock??
She always looks at worst case scenario, and is convinced that due to the holidays and the weather, the traffic will be a nightmare.
For this reason, she wanted to initally leave at 3am, I managed to persaude her that this was ridiculous, but will not agree to leaving any later than 7am...
Apparently the AA / RAC are predicting gridlock??
Not likely!
Get the car packed the night before. Set off at half 5. Should give you a good 2 or 3 hours of reasonably clear roads.
Did the same thing myself driving from Manchester to Cornwall last year. Set off at half 5 to beat the traffic, arrived in Cornwall before 10am, hitting no traffic at all!
Did the same thing myself driving from Manchester to Cornwall last year. Set off at half 5 to beat the traffic, arrived in Cornwall before 10am, hitting no traffic at all!
Being from Swansea I would advise as follows:
It will be busy from the bridge (Jct 23) right the way through until you clear Cardiff (Jct 32) after this point traffic should easy and you will be looking at about a 30-40 minute run to the Mumbles turn off (Jct 42) the speed will drop considerably when you hit the Port Talbot bottle neck (Jct 38). I would suspect at no point will you become stationery.
Once your off the M4, despite the Mumbles being in site, it is still a right pain in the rear to get to. From the M4 river bridge (Jct 42) you can still expect it to take 25+ (sometimes +++) minutes to get down there due to there being many lights through Swansea City Centre and then once you have cleared that and the university, the road changes to a single lane, this will be very slow depending on the time you visit.
My suggestion would be to hit the bridge at around 10am or later, this would result in reduced congestion through to Mumbles. Out of Interest, where you staying?
It will be busy from the bridge (Jct 23) right the way through until you clear Cardiff (Jct 32) after this point traffic should easy and you will be looking at about a 30-40 minute run to the Mumbles turn off (Jct 42) the speed will drop considerably when you hit the Port Talbot bottle neck (Jct 38). I would suspect at no point will you become stationery.
Once your off the M4, despite the Mumbles being in site, it is still a right pain in the rear to get to. From the M4 river bridge (Jct 42) you can still expect it to take 25+ (sometimes +++) minutes to get down there due to there being many lights through Swansea City Centre and then once you have cleared that and the university, the road changes to a single lane, this will be very slow depending on the time you visit.
My suggestion would be to hit the bridge at around 10am or later, this would result in reduced congestion through to Mumbles. Out of Interest, where you staying?
Boba Fret said:
I'm with this. MUCH prefer driving at night. Quite frankly I try not to go ANYWHERE at easter bcause it's s*it out there.
I'd agree with that, normally. I've heard a few people saying they can't afford the juice to go away for a weekend so with the nice weather are staying at home. I drove to Mumbles last week and had a totally clear run both there and back (though, obviously that wasnt a BH weekend!)
twiglove said:
y2blade said:
I'm heading the same way, leaving at 07:00....
....on my Motorbike
I will laugh and toot when I pass you
Also leaving at 7am Heading to Cornwall... You wont spot me because i'm in the GF's new eco box that I bought for her to learn in ....on my Motorbike
I will laugh and toot when I pass you 
stick a PH smiley on the back..I'll wheelie past you
Joking aside have a great weekend chap
Compromise is your best option.
3am departure is ridiculous. You'll have to get up at 2am, which means there's little point going to bed. What about a 430 or 5 am departure? You get a reasonable night's sleep, she gets there early and you won't get stuck in much / any traffic worth thinking about and can have a nice relaxing drive and a nice relaxing arrival for the hols.
My sister, b-i-l and small child are heading up to mine (loch lomond) from Plymouth tomorrow.....that's 7 hours on a good journey. I won't expect them much before 9pm! They've just decided to grin and bear it.
3am departure is ridiculous. You'll have to get up at 2am, which means there's little point going to bed. What about a 430 or 5 am departure? You get a reasonable night's sleep, she gets there early and you won't get stuck in much / any traffic worth thinking about and can have a nice relaxing drive and a nice relaxing arrival for the hols.
My sister, b-i-l and small child are heading up to mine (loch lomond) from Plymouth tomorrow.....that's 7 hours on a good journey. I won't expect them much before 9pm! They've just decided to grin and bear it.
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