Best route from Reading to Hereford?

[4004]

(Realised that the 15 year old thread I resurrected was in a now-gone subforum, so opening a new one).

Planning to do an early morning drive on a Friday, heading from Reading to Hereford (Madley) and back.
OSM routing, Apple Maps and TomTom/Michelin all suggest going via Gloucester on the A419, but the section of A40 after Gloucester (mostly 50) bothers me, and I am actually routed around it via Newent instead (which is also 50 and a B-road) to get a bit of the M50.

So I wondered if I could make more progress by staying on the M4 until M48 and then going up via A449 Rhaglan-A465 Abergavenny; or A466 to Monmouth?
I see A449 is 70 pretty much throughout, dropping to 60 on A465, whilst A466 is not as much of a detour but is 60.

Although I can see how I can get stuck on the A466 or A449 if there is slow moving traffic, maybe they're quiet enough?

OSM shows a few more cameras going via M48, but not sure if all are mapped, and assume there will be some vans as well. This is also a factor, so any feedback appreciated

Edited by 4004 on Tuesday 28th November 09:24

Edited by 4004 on Tuesday 28th November 13:23

Edited by 4004 on Tuesday 28th November 13:23

Edited by 4004 on Tuesday 28th November 13:30

Edited by 4004 on Tuesday 28th November 13:32

[4004]

Drove today.
Chose the Abergavenny option for the outbound, and I think it's better suited for early departure as by the time I was coming off the wide, lit roads and into Wales, it was getting lighter.
A465 was quite nice. M4 was busier than expected, and I ignored a 50 in a construction zone, so given the yellow HADECS poles that probably was quite stupid. Loads of grime so had to top up the screenwash.
Inbound was via A40/Gloucester. Some construction delays, some fog, more traffic overall, but once on the A417 (that was noisy) and M4 made ok progress.
As expected, two-lane single carriageways were too twisty to rack up overtakes, so do end up sitting behind a lorry quite a bit. But some nice frosted scenery to compensate

[EW109]

If you do it again a more interesting route is A40 to Burford, then via Stow-on the-Wold, Toddington, Tewkesbury, then A438 to Ledbury and on to Hereford.

[intergraleevo]

EW109 said:

If you do it again a more interesting route is A40 to Burford, then via Stow-on the-Wold, Toddington, Tewkesbury, then A438 to Ledbury and on to Hereford.

For Hereford yes, Madley no. Hereford has no ring road and at wrong time of day is absolute nightmare to get across the bridge.
OP the A465 is decent but I don’t think you’re sat nav is that wrong, the Swindon to Glos road is ok until Birdlip hill, which will be all change soon anyway. When you get to A49 after Ross, turn off at Llandinabo, cut through on fun B road to Wormelow, then staggered straight over and cut through again another nice B road to the compulsory stop at Locks Garage, it’s one of those country garages which doubles as a proper hub. Then out the back of there on up to Madley.
And nice views but I don’t like the A466, get stuck behind the Monmouth to Hereford bus and that’s all your looking at for next half an hour.

[journeymanpro]

4004 said:

Drove today.
Chose the Abergavenny option for the outbound, and I think it's better suited for early departure as by the time I was coming off the wide, lit roads and into Wales, it was getting lighter.
A465 was quite nice. M4 was busier than expected, and I ignored a 50 in a construction zone, so given the yellow HADECS poles that probably was quite stupid. Loads of grime so had to top up the screenwash.
Inbound was via A40/Gloucester. Some construction delays, some fog, more traffic overall, but once on the A417 (that was noisy) and M4 made ok progress.
As expected, two-lane single carriageways were too twisty to rack up overtakes, so do end up sitting behind a lorry quite a bit. But some nice frosted scenery to compensate

Fantastic news