Brighton to Totnes - A31/ A35?

[IROC-Z]

I’m going away with my g/f for a weekend in Totnes in mid June, a friend of hers is working at their Mum’s B&B so free accommodation!

Anyway I was going to do the natural thing and take the M23, M25, M3 and then the A303 down to Exeter. However it’d be nice to avoid the throngs on the M25. Even though I’m leaving around 8pm on a Friday I should imagine it'd be bad and I can't stand the M25.

Google maps suggests using the A35, the first section travelling on the A27 and M27 to Southampton I’m familiar with. However, beyond Southampton it’s the A31 and A35, which I’ve never used before. What are these roads likely to be like at around 22:00 on a Friday night? How much is dual carriageway and how much Micra infested single carriageway?

Thanks!

[Highway Star]

By that time on a Friday night on a non-holiday weekend, the A31 and A35 shouldn't be that bad.

From the end of the M27, it is DC all the way through the New Forest to Ferndown (about 20 miles) then it is mostly SC from there on with some stretches of DC.

[CarlT]

The A31 is ok to Wimborne, but the journey from there to Exeter is pretty horrid.

Allow just under 2 hours for the Wimborne to Exeter run.

[Jack Butcher]

When you are down around Totnes, try and make it down to Slapton Sands on the coast. There is a long straight section of road there running for almost 2.5 miles. the road back towards Dartmouth is nice if you get it without traffic. Also check out Dartmoor for some scenic driving best areas being around the Dart valley and over towards Widecombe.
The White Hart at Dartigton Gardens is great for chilling out and a beer.

[Chris71]

I do that pretty regularly and if you're leaving it 'till 8pm or so I'd just take the normal route. You can always drop off the A303 a little early if you feel like making things a bit more interesting.

Twice I've done the whole section from Salisbury onwards on the A30 and on both occasions it took a lot longer than the A303. Once it was quite good fun with reasonably clear roads, the other time it was as bad as the dual carriageway.

[IROC-Z]

Thanks for the advice, I think on this occasion I will steer clear of the A35/A31 route as we don't want to be arriving too late, I'm aiming for around midnight!