West London to Caffeine & Machine

West London to Caffeine & Machine

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Varlic

Original Poster:

5 posts

66 months

Monday 27th May 2019
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Hi All,

I wanted to share with you a route I've plotted from West London out to Caffeine & Machine near Stratford-upon-Avon. The route takes in some excellent driving roads and largely avoids motorways (except for a short section of the M40). On a Sunday morning, leaving Richmond at 7am had us arrive at Caffeine & Machine by just after 9am (2 hours and 5 minutes).

1) Head off on the A406 towards the A40

2) Take the A40 West, make sure to exit at the junction for Amersham (before you hit the M40)

3) A413 to Amersham, then Great Missenden, then Aylesbury - This is a lovely road with some fairly quick sections. Please keep it slow through towns and villages as, apart from the safety aspects, there will likely be speed cameras

4) At Aylesbury, take the A418 towards Oxford and Thame

5) Just as you're arriving in Thame, take the B4011 (signposted Long Crendon) - This is a fantastic road, really enjoyed it. It takes you through the village of Long Crendon which is like a English village theme park with thatched roofed houses a plenty

6) B4011 will take you into Bicester, from where you can pick up the A41 to the M40

7) Take the M40 a couple of junctions until you reach Junction 11

8) Take the A422 (another brilliant road) until you go through Ettington... Caffeine & Machine will be on the left shortly thereafter.

Enjoy, and let me know if you have any suggest improvements.

MrBig

3,123 posts

136 months

Tuesday 28th May 2019
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If you wanted to avoid the motorway you could head north from Bicester on the B4100 to Baynards Green > Aynho > Adderbury and onto the A4260 which brings you in to Banbury from the south. From there its easy to pick up the A422 up to Ettington.

Engelberger

509 posts

74 months

Tuesday 28th May 2019
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If you are going to Ettington then you need to make one very important detour.

At Moreton in the MArsh instead of taking the A429 to Ettington take the A44 to Evesham. Just past Broadway tower is Fish Hill.

Thank me later.

Then when youve gone up and down that a bit turn right at the bottom to Willesy and Mickleton, Halford and then you arrive in Ettington.

No trip to the cotswolds is complete without a trip to fish hill.

Varlic

Original Poster:

5 posts

66 months

Tuesday 28th May 2019
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Thanks for the suggested changes. Will test them out next time and will update the route accordingly.

Commander2874

377 posts

92 months

Saturday 23rd October 2021
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Nice tip's here. Thank you and will be using some of these routes when travelling from Reading

bolidemichael

15,136 posts

208 months

Sunday 30th January 2022
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I've plugged this route into google maps and it suggests about 4 hours to drive the 130ish miles!

OP took 2 hours from Richmond, how long is it likely to take on a brisk drive at 7am on a Sunday morning?

plenty

4,880 posts

193 months

Monday 31st January 2022
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bolidemichael said:
I've plugged this route into google maps and it suggests about 4 hours to drive the 130ish miles!

OP took 2 hours from Richmond, how long is it likely to take on a brisk drive at 7am on a Sunday morning?
Your map contains a significant detour into the Cotswolds that isn't on OP's route.

This is more like what OP has in mind - which according to Google Maps is 3 hours dead at 6 pm on a Monday. Early on a Sunday morning if driving briskly that will be closer to 2.

bolidemichael

15,136 posts

208 months

Monday 31st January 2022
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Thanks... I should've clarified that it's a splurge of all three suggestions above.

plenty

4,880 posts

193 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
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Ah yes I see what you mean.

However your route misses out the A44 Fish Hill bends which is the point of the detour. You will actually need to go even further out of your way to visit the A44, and you'll need to double-back on yourself as Fish Hill needs to be done uphill west to east - going downhill east to west is completely different and nothing special.

Going to C&M via Fish Hill only makes sense if you're coming from the west. Fish Hill west to east is fun but it's a one-hour detour if you're coming to C&M from the east.

bolidemichael

15,136 posts

208 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
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Good to know, thanks.

Since Surrey may no longer be the field of plenty when it comes to driving at more than 40mph, I may have to start looking at more of these longer drives to get my kicks and it helps to have a destination.*


*there's the suitability for motorbikes too, which I have half an eye on smile

Nurburgsingh

5,216 posts

245 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
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If you’re doing fish hill be warned - if you approach it from the top there is a lay-by on the right hand side that is used by the police to sit in.
If you’re on it on the way up the hill they’ll hear you coming…

bolidemichael

15,136 posts

208 months

Tuesday 1st February 2022
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Are they usually marked on waze? I know that sometimes they flag themes for a laugh hehe