Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.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.
There are interesting places along or not far from it to visit but it's not the driving experience it once was.
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 
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.
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.Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff