Fosse Way

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Discussion

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

42 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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Anyone driven the Fosse Way and how much of it is enjoyable?

Doofus

25,732 posts

172 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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SymJack said:
Anyone driven the Fosse Way and how much of it is enjoyable?
Enjoyable for what? It's a Roman road, so it's mostly straight, and it has lots of speed cameras. If you like busy A roads, then it's probably fun, yes.

johnpsanderson

494 posts

199 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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Doofus said:
Enjoyable for what? It's a Roman road, so it's mostly straight, and it has lots of speed cameras. If you like busy A roads, then it's probably fun, yes.
Looks like there’s a bit more to it than that https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fosse_Way but no idea whether it makes for a good drive.

I’ve always thought it would be interesting to follow some of the ancient routes, I mtb’d the Peddars Way about 10 years ago which was moderately interesting, but I suspect Doofus is generally right: old major roads do tend to be covered by new (busy) roads in a lot of cases.





SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

42 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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I live in Devon and my parents are in Cambridgeshire so thought it would make a change from the usual routes when I visit.

dontlookdown

1,684 posts

92 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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Why not give it a go? Its an interesting route if not that interesting a road;) Cross country routes always have plenty to offer so long as you are not in a hurry.

Used to go the other way along the Fosse Way as kid en route from Yorks to Cotswolds to see grandparents. It wad a fast and flowing road in those days - late 70s - but not so much now. Speed cameras and 40/50 limits abound. Plus lots more traffic of course.

SymJack

Original Poster:

40 posts

42 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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Thanks, will give it a go when we’re allowed.

FiF

43,965 posts

250 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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|https://thumbsnap.com/dgjZdg9n[/url]


link

Some more pics



and in Bath


stogbandard

366 posts

49 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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I once drove from Blandford Forum up to the north east after a camping trip and decided to try the Fosse Way. This was over 10 years back.

I found it to be typical of most unspectacular A roads in terms of passing through a lot of towns and villages and having more than its fare share of traffic to make driving the usual 40-50mph slog.

Into Warwickshire it becomes a chain of B road, is quieter but straight. It’s interspersed by junctions with other roads that have priority. Staggered layouts and huge checker plates remind you that you have to slow down and be ready to give way before crossing onto the next section. I followed this as far as Hinckley, joined the M69 then around Leicester into the A46 to the A1, only to carry on up to Lincoln because we found out the A1 was closed. Hence we did pretty much most of it that day.

Riley Blue

20,915 posts

225 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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stogbandard said:
I once drove from Blandford Forum up to the north east after a camping trip and decided to try the Fosse Way. This was over 10 years back.

I found it to be typical of most unspectacular A roads in terms of passing through a lot of towns and villages and having more than its fare share of traffic to make driving the usual 40-50mph slog.

Into Warwickshire it becomes a chain of B road, is quieter but straight. It’s interspersed by junctions with other roads that have priority. Staggered layouts and huge checker plates remind you that you have to slow down and be ready to give way before crossing onto the next section. I followed this as far as Hinckley, joined the M69 then around Leicester into the A46 to the A1, only to carry on up to Lincoln because we found out the A1 was closed. Hence we did pretty much most of it that day.
That's a good summary. I've been using it since the 1970s when it was a good route from Somerset to circuits in the Midlands. Nowadays, in addition to the safety measures that have appeared, more HGV, agricultural and tourist traffic make it far less appealing.

There are interesting places along or not far from it to visit but it's not the driving experience it once was.

gareth h

3,504 posts

229 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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Even on a reasonably quick bike you can get stuck behind traffic on some sections, and it’s not that scenic, either use the backroads and enjoy the drive or get on the motorway would be my view.

coppice

8,564 posts

143 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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Dere Street - Eboracum (or York , if you prefer ) to Vallum Hadriani (Hadrian's Wall) and beyond is more fun . It involves many different roads in modern terms , but one can track the centurions route pretty well. A suitable chariot is a Caterham Septem .

bigmowley

1,879 posts

175 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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Last lockdown I was in Leamington Spa and I had to tow a car trailer to the other side of Bristol to drop off a car, then back to Lem with an empty trailer. Next day I had to collect another car from Louth near to Skegness. Just for the badness I decided to do as much of it as possible on the Fosse Way. The drive South was actually really nice, towing a trailer limits the speed so the long 50mph stretches were fine, through the Cotswolds at a sensible pace is great. I lost it a bit on the last bit going into Bristol obvs smile The trip North was not so good, bits of it have disappeared or been developed over so it’s more hit and miss. Good fun though when the roads were quiet and it kept the mileage down.

brisel

872 posts

207 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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The only mildly interesting bit is from Tetbury in Glos to Halford in Warks. The A429 is a trunk road - best driven early in the morning when traffic is light if you want to make progress.

hairy v

1,167 posts

143 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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FiF said:
|https://thumbsnap.com/dgjZdg9n[/url]


link

Some more pics



and in Bath

So jealous!

jonobigblind

754 posts

81 months

Sunday 14th February 2021
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Few too many lorries to make decent progress and traffic around Moreton-in-Marsh is usually pretty crappy around market days.

Nice road with good scenery - just enjoy the drive and take it as a bonus if you get some clear stretches.

anonymous-user

53 months

Monday 15th February 2021
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If I'm heading to swindon ill use the Fosse way rather than M5, A417 and only because i get to go up Fish Hill.

Roads East/West of the Fosse can have some fun parts.

julianm

1,531 posts

200 months

Wednesday 17th February 2021
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A very long time ago on the Fosse Way, I travelled at 100mph for the first time. As a passenger.
Rover 3500.

nutsyH

566 posts

197 months

Thursday 18th February 2021
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Many moons ago HRH The Princess Royal got done for 90mph in her Reliant Scimitar on NSL bit towards Leicester. Her case was on the Leicester Magistrates Court list the same day as my 109 on the M1. I got a 6 week ban, as I think she did, although she didn't appear....