Reading to SE Cornwall

Reading to SE Cornwall

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Discussion

HarveyB

Original Poster:

408 posts

227 months

Sunday 24th June 2007
quotequote all
I've got all day later this week to drive from Reading to Whitsand Bay.

I'll not be a hurry.

How would you do it? Where's good for lunch?

Cheers

HB

PGM

2,168 posts

264 months

Sunday 24th June 2007
quotequote all
I did this and went down to Basingstoke, M3 and A303 to Exeter with some little detours off the main road - was pleasant enough, although a lot of people complain about the traffic. Lots of pubs en-route too.

driverrob

4,809 posts

218 months

Sunday 24th June 2007
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Oh Whitsands bay! Me and my mates would cycle out there from Plymouth most weekends when I was about 16. Happy days. The best part was the path down from the road was so steep and dangerous you never got old people or families with little kids down on those miles of sand. Haven't been there for years. Hope you enjoy it.

Puggit

49,088 posts

263 months

Friday 29th June 2007
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I live in Reading, and use the A303 most of the time but never during peak times! smile

Never stop though, as it's only 2.45hr to Axminster

tuffer

8,901 posts

282 months

Friday 29th June 2007
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If you are going to use the A303 then get your foot down, I hate getting stuck on the way home from work wink Seriously, watch out for Camera vans between Andover and Amesbury, its a nice quick stretch woohoo if no one is about but could be a loser if you get seen!

hugoagogo

23,416 posts

248 months

Monday 2nd July 2007
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i was going to start a thread asking about driving to exeter

this A303, it's a fairly main road then i suppose? how long from M3 to Exeter?

tuffer

8,901 posts

282 months

Monday 2nd July 2007
quotequote all
Hour and a half.

Edited to add, not on a BH weekend and can sometimes feel like 8 hours.

Edited by tuffer on Monday 2nd July 16:37

Puggit

49,088 posts

263 months

Tuesday 3rd July 2007
quotequote all
hugoagogo said:
i was going to start a thread asking about driving to exeter

this A303, it's a fairly main road then i suppose? how long from M3 to Exeter?
The A303 was the major route down to the SW for a while, it was built to replace the A30 which passed through too many towns to be upgraded.

A lot of the route is now motorway standard dual carriageway without a hard-shoulder, but there are quite a few roundabouts and 3 or 4 pinch points where it goes down to one lane - Stonehenge being the worst.

As mentioned speed cameras are prevelant (some static gatsos and real talivan threat).

It is plagued with caravans and numpties in the summer months - in the winter it's better than using the M4/M5 - certainly far less boring.

hugoagogo

23,416 posts

248 months

Tuesday 3rd July 2007
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have they started sending NIPs to german addresses yet? if not, I should be alright

Gingerbread Man

5,007 posts

229 months

Thursday 19th July 2007
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What time should I leave it till at night before attempting to drive from Cambridge to Gwithian in Cornwall? Or shall I just shoot myself now and save myself the pain? I think I need to buy a helicopter.

tuffer

8,901 posts

282 months

Thursday 19th July 2007
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You need to leave your place at about 3pm on a Bank Holiday Friday if you want to get the full experience....Should get you crossing the Tamar some time Sat afternoon wink

Dogwatch

6,322 posts

237 months

Thursday 19th July 2007
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The A303 gets a bit dire between Ilminster and Honiton. The tree-huggers have vetoed any improvements to the twisty, single lane bit through the Blackdown Hills.
As an alternative you can turn onto the A358 to Taunton and cut through to the M5. It was announced that this would be upgraded as a bypass for the untouchable Ilminster-Honiton section but I don't suppose much has happened.

Fixed and mobile Scameras hiding in every bush in Somerset.

dcb

5,978 posts

280 months

Thursday 19th July 2007
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Gingerbread Man said:
What time should I leave it till at night before attempting to drive from Cambridge to Gwithian in Cornwall?
7 or 8 pm.

Gingerbread Man said:
Or shall I just shoot myself now and save myself the pain?
maybe.

Gingerbread Man said:
I think I need to buy a helicopter.
Bottom of the range is a Robinson.

About 44K IIRC. Add in a few thou for licence,
maintenance, and it's still less than a brand
new 911.


Gingerbread Man

5,007 posts

229 months

Friday 20th July 2007
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I think i'd want something a bit bigger that doesn't look like it's depending on wishful thinking to stay airborne. Maybe a Merlin.

pugwash4x4

7,609 posts

236 months

Friday 20th July 2007
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Dogwatch said:
The A303 gets a bit dire between Ilminster and Honiton. The tree-huggers have vetoed any improvements to the twisty, single lane bit through the Blackdown Hills.
As an alternative you can turn onto the A358 to Taunton and cut through to the M5. It was announced that this would be upgraded as a bypass for the untouchable Ilminster-Honiton section but I don't suppose much has happened.

Fixed and mobile Scameras hiding in every bush in Somerset.
really? i haven't seen a scamera down taunton way for ages! lots of speed cameras though. most of the scamera lot seem to inhabit the area around the mendips nowadays.

if you go down the A303 there are some truly excellent roads you can blat across near stonehengey.