Interesting alternatives to the A303?
Discussion
I'm going to pick my TVR up from Devon at the weekend and I'm looking for a more entertaining - and hopefully less congested - alternative to the A303. It doesn't have to be a flat out hoon, just something a bit more interesting than caravan spotting in the queue past Stonehenge.
It's a journey I do quite frequently, so I know my way around fairly well, but never really tried to make an occasion out of it before.
I'm guessing the A30 would be quite a good start? Something like this?
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Dalwood&d...
It's a journey I do quite frequently, so I know my way around fairly well, but never really tried to make an occasion out of it before.
I'm guessing the A30 would be quite a good start? Something like this?
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Dalwood&d...
I spent years going from the south east to devon,i like the 303 now but it was soul destroying stuck behind the caravans and that was for me driving a motorhome!
A30 made a change but was even slower and always busy too.
A35 down to poole is a picturesque rd then across or a303 then a36 through salisbury to the m3.
Id stick to the 303 then head for the hindhead tunnel if i had a tvr!
A30 made a change but was even slower and always busy too.
A35 down to poole is a picturesque rd then across or a303 then a36 through salisbury to the m3.
Id stick to the 303 then head for the hindhead tunnel if i had a tvr!
I'm familiar with the South Western area you've shown on the map, and am very familiar with the alternative route you've suggested - I'm based in North Dorset and regularly go East/West along the A303 - I always avoid it during the summer as I can't be dealing with losing a chunk of time leading up to & passing Stonehenge!
The route from Dalwood to Yeovil is fine, the road isn't too bad atall and fairly scenic in a Westcountry sort of way (lots of fields!)
Once you pass Yeovil and onto the A30 towards Shaftesbury, the road is again decent, with some nice sections to open up the car a little and enjoy it. I use this section a fair amount as I live in Sherborne, which you will pass through.
Where the map you linked shows you diverting off the A30 after Shaftesbury and heading less directly for Salisbury, it will take you up the well-known Zig Zag hill, the road is pretty good again, and with very good hilltop countryside scenery. I personally don't use this route as it is slower than sticking to the more direct A30 towards Wilton & Salisbury. Either road is good, it just depends on what mood you are in IMO.
Again, past Salisbury, your map shows you peeling off the A30 and heading for Andover & the A303, this is fine and not overly busy and you'll join the A303 around 1/3 or 1/2 way along the Dual Carriageway section that eventually meets the M3 - again, I would personally not peel off so early, and stick to the A30 towards & through Stockbridge, then joining the A303 at its junction with the A34
After this and eventually picking up the M3, I would be using the Motorway network.
The route from Dalwood to Yeovil is fine, the road isn't too bad atall and fairly scenic in a Westcountry sort of way (lots of fields!)
Once you pass Yeovil and onto the A30 towards Shaftesbury, the road is again decent, with some nice sections to open up the car a little and enjoy it. I use this section a fair amount as I live in Sherborne, which you will pass through.
Where the map you linked shows you diverting off the A30 after Shaftesbury and heading less directly for Salisbury, it will take you up the well-known Zig Zag hill, the road is pretty good again, and with very good hilltop countryside scenery. I personally don't use this route as it is slower than sticking to the more direct A30 towards Wilton & Salisbury. Either road is good, it just depends on what mood you are in IMO.
Again, past Salisbury, your map shows you peeling off the A30 and heading for Andover & the A303, this is fine and not overly busy and you'll join the A303 around 1/3 or 1/2 way along the Dual Carriageway section that eventually meets the M3 - again, I would personally not peel off so early, and stick to the A30 towards & through Stockbridge, then joining the A303 at its junction with the A34
After this and eventually picking up the M3, I would be using the Motorway network.
Whenever I head to Cornwall i take the A30 all the way, a more pleasing scenery and although the aingle lane nature of the road can result in some slow progress behind Tractors/Lorries, on certain days at certain times it is an excellent route.Plenty of cafes/farmshops and villages to make pleasant staging posts.
The last car I bought from the west country was a BMW Convertible from Torquay on a bright chilly February day. I had the roof down all the way back up the A30 to Surrey, the traffic was exceedingly kind to me and it remains one of my most memorable drives
The last car I bought from the west country was a BMW Convertible from Torquay on a bright chilly February day. I had the roof down all the way back up the A30 to Surrey, the traffic was exceedingly kind to me and it remains one of my most memorable drives
djgritt said:
I'm familiar with the South Western area you've shown on the map, and am very familiar with the alternative route you've suggested - I'm based in North Dorset and regularly go East/West along the A303 - I always avoid it during the summer as I can't be dealing with losing a chunk of time leading up to & passing Stonehenge!
The route from Dalwood to Yeovil is fine, the road isn't too bad atall and fairly scenic in a Westcountry sort of way (lots of fields!)
Once you pass Yeovil and onto the A30 towards Shaftesbury, the road is again decent, with some nice sections to open up the car a little and enjoy it. I use this section a fair amount as I live in Sherborne, which you will pass through.
Where the map you linked shows you diverting off the A30 after Shaftesbury and heading less directly for Salisbury, it will take you up the well-known Zig Zag hill, the road is pretty good again, and with very good hilltop countryside scenery. I personally don't use this route as it is slower than sticking to the more direct A30 towards Wilton & Salisbury. Either road is good, it just depends on what mood you are in IMO.
Again, past Salisbury, your map shows you peeling off the A30 and heading for Andover & the A303, this is fine and not overly busy and you'll join the A303 around 1/3 or 1/2 way along the Dual Carriageway section that eventually meets the M3 - again, I would personally not peel off so early, and stick to the A30 towards & through Stockbridge, then joining the A303 at its junction with the A34
After this and eventually picking up the M3, I would be using the Motorway network.
I grew up in Dalwood and went to school in Crewkerne, so I have no shortage of ideas as far as Yeovil. East of that it starts to get a bit sketchy, though.The route from Dalwood to Yeovil is fine, the road isn't too bad atall and fairly scenic in a Westcountry sort of way (lots of fields!)
Once you pass Yeovil and onto the A30 towards Shaftesbury, the road is again decent, with some nice sections to open up the car a little and enjoy it. I use this section a fair amount as I live in Sherborne, which you will pass through.
Where the map you linked shows you diverting off the A30 after Shaftesbury and heading less directly for Salisbury, it will take you up the well-known Zig Zag hill, the road is pretty good again, and with very good hilltop countryside scenery. I personally don't use this route as it is slower than sticking to the more direct A30 towards Wilton & Salisbury. Either road is good, it just depends on what mood you are in IMO.
Again, past Salisbury, your map shows you peeling off the A30 and heading for Andover & the A303, this is fine and not overly busy and you'll join the A303 around 1/3 or 1/2 way along the Dual Carriageway section that eventually meets the M3 - again, I would personally not peel off so early, and stick to the A30 towards & through Stockbridge, then joining the A303 at its junction with the A34
After this and eventually picking up the M3, I would be using the Motorway network.
I've done the roads Zig Zag Hill before too, but it's a bit of a detour. If there's a reasonable chance of the A30 being okay I might just stick with that all the way to Salisbury.
djgritt said:
Again, past Salisbury, your map shows you peeling off the A30 and heading for Andover & the A303, this is fine and not overly busy and you'll join the A303 around 1/3 or 1/2 way along the Dual Carriageway section that eventually meets the M3 - again, I would personally not peel off so early, and stick to the A30 towards & through Stockbridge, then joining the A303 at its junction with the A34.
Even betterA30 Stockbridge -> Sutton Scotney
Turn right at the roundabout, signposted Micheldever Station.
At the far end turn left, go under the A303, then right to Popham Airfield.
It joins the A303 about half a mile before Popham Services.
Some fast curves with long straights and almost totally traffic free.
In earlier times the A30 took a completely different course, nowhere near Stockbridge.
The route was Salisbury->Lopcombe Corner->Andover->Whitchurch->Overton->Basingstoke.
Today this now A30->A343->B3400
Thought I'd piggyback on this thread, since - once I pass my practical - I intend taking the A303 on either a Thursday or Friday morning from London to Devon [Paignton] for a long weekend. Does anyone have recommendations for a nice spot of lunch en route along the A303 or just off the A303? A nice rural pub (strictly a coke for me) to take the girlfriend so we can relax, eat a Ploughman's lunch or equivalent, before rejoining the A303.
Motorway service stations are soul-destroying; although there is one en route to Birmingham that was adequate re: had more than a McDonald's and Starbucks.
Cheers!
Motorway service stations are soul-destroying; although there is one en route to Birmingham that was adequate re: had more than a McDonald's and Starbucks.
Cheers!
Try this, more or less what djgritt said:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Dalwood&d...
But yes, there's nothing wrong with going straight to Salisbury on the A30. The only caveat is the route through Salisbury will be a bit busier.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?saddr=Dalwood&d...
But yes, there's nothing wrong with going straight to Salisbury on the A30. The only caveat is the route through Salisbury will be a bit busier.
Red Devil said:
Even better
A30 Stockbridge -> Sutton Scotney
Turn right at the roundabout, signposted Micheldever Station.
At the far end turn left, go under the A303, then right to Popham Airfield.
It joins the A303 about half a mile before Popham Services.
Some fast curves with long straights and almost totally traffic free.
I've never thought of that bit...A30 Stockbridge -> Sutton Scotney
Turn right at the roundabout, signposted Micheldever Station.
At the far end turn left, go under the A303, then right to Popham Airfield.
It joins the A303 about half a mile before Popham Services.
Some fast curves with long straights and almost totally traffic free.
Checked Maps and looks like another good little corner taken off of the A303! Will try that one next time - cheers!
putonghua73 said:
Thought I'd piggyback on this thread, since - once I pass my practical - I intend taking the A303 on either a Thursday or Friday morning from London to Devon [Paignton] for a long weekend. Does anyone have recommendations for a nice spot of lunch en route along the A303 or just off the A303? A nice rural pub (strictly a coke for me) to take the girlfriend so we can relax, eat a Ploughman's lunch or equivalent, before rejoining the A303.
Fox and Hounds at East KnoyleOr, if you want to push the boat out head for
The Lamb at Hindon
Both are a smidge over half way between London and Paignton.
Red Devil said:
putonghua73 said:
Thought I'd piggyback on this thread, since - once I pass my practical - I intend taking the A303 on either a Thursday or Friday morning from London to Devon [Paignton] for a long weekend. Does anyone have recommendations for a nice spot of lunch en route along the A303 or just off the A303? A nice rural pub (strictly a coke for me) to take the girlfriend so we can relax, eat a Ploughman's lunch or equivalent, before rejoining the A303.
Fox and Hounds at East KnoyleOr, if you want to push the boat out head for
The Lamb at Hindon
Both are a smidge over half way between London and Paignton.
Red Devil said:
Targarama said:
The small town of Mere is a good stop-off point too. The George Inn has great food.
Ah, good call. I had forgotten all about that one. Went there for an evening meal many years ago after visiting Stourhead. And mere has an excellent wine merchant.
Edited by bitwrx on Monday 2nd September 22:16
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