London to Swanage
Discussion
The roads in north Wilts (south of M4) are a bit variable for both driving experience and enjoyment. If you're really keen and not bothered about a major dog leg then M4 to Jn 14, drop down to Hungerford and join the A4 west to Beckhampton (west of Marlborough). The A4 here is generally a good road. I'd avoid the A345 and A346 that take you to Salisbury.
At Beckhampton take the A361 to Devizes (good road but be aware of the scamera vans). Devizes is a bit of a drag and the road south, A360, as far as W. Lavington is a bit of a crawl but then you get up on the Plain and it's a good run down to Airman's Cross, the intersection with the A303 and onwards towards Salisbury.
If you don't want the dog leg then ignore that bit above and head down the M4/A303 to the A360 (first roundabout after Stonehenge).
Take a left to Salisbury and after about 5 miles a right to Wilton. Cross the A36 in to Wilton itself. Pass Wilton House, turn left at the lights and take a minor road towards Bishopstone. Interesting road but it does narrow in places so beware.
At the T-junction take a right to Broad Chalke (or left to Coombe Bissett, all depends how quickly you want to join the A354 Blandord road). If B. Chalke then go left just before entering the village - this'll take you up over the Downs and join the A354 just at the west end of the DC section - beware fast traffic!
Go right to Blandford - good road!. At Blandford round the bypass to A350 Poole road through Charlton Marshall and Spetisbury. The most frustrating piece of road in the country with more interactive speed signs and cameras per mile (and probably councillors) full of old dodderers doing 25mph with eyes glued to speedos after having done the Tesco run....
Anyway after that take the right at the southern end of Spetisbury to cut across to the A31. Turn right on A31(once again can be very busy and fast) for about a mile before taking a left to Morden. At Morden cross over the A35 to Sandford and Wareham. Once again good road with undulations but be aware of dog walkers etc using Wareham Forest.
At Sandford turn right to Wareham, the bypass and the road to Swanage. Apart from this last bit which can get horribly busy at peak times this is a traffic jam busting route I use fairly often.
At Beckhampton take the A361 to Devizes (good road but be aware of the scamera vans). Devizes is a bit of a drag and the road south, A360, as far as W. Lavington is a bit of a crawl but then you get up on the Plain and it's a good run down to Airman's Cross, the intersection with the A303 and onwards towards Salisbury.
If you don't want the dog leg then ignore that bit above and head down the M4/A303 to the A360 (first roundabout after Stonehenge).
Take a left to Salisbury and after about 5 miles a right to Wilton. Cross the A36 in to Wilton itself. Pass Wilton House, turn left at the lights and take a minor road towards Bishopstone. Interesting road but it does narrow in places so beware.
At the T-junction take a right to Broad Chalke (or left to Coombe Bissett, all depends how quickly you want to join the A354 Blandord road). If B. Chalke then go left just before entering the village - this'll take you up over the Downs and join the A354 just at the west end of the DC section - beware fast traffic!
Go right to Blandford - good road!. At Blandford round the bypass to A350 Poole road through Charlton Marshall and Spetisbury. The most frustrating piece of road in the country with more interactive speed signs and cameras per mile (and probably councillors) full of old dodderers doing 25mph with eyes glued to speedos after having done the Tesco run....
Anyway after that take the right at the southern end of Spetisbury to cut across to the A31. Turn right on A31(once again can be very busy and fast) for about a mile before taking a left to Morden. At Morden cross over the A35 to Sandford and Wareham. Once again good road with undulations but be aware of dog walkers etc using Wareham Forest.
At Sandford turn right to Wareham, the bypass and the road to Swanage. Apart from this last bit which can get horribly busy at peak times this is a traffic jam busting route I use fairly often.
^^^^ That's brilliant route, once you get to Wareham there are so many routes to Swanage avoiding the main roads, with some great views especially if you use the Creech/Kimmeridge road taking you into the back of Corfe Castle, great road just watch for tractors and dawdlers!!!
So much exploring to do, so much fun to be had one of my regular summer late evening haunts
So much exploring to do, so much fun to be had one of my regular summer late evening haunts
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