London to Cornwall
Discussion
I have a "do" in deep Cornwall this weekend and will be setting off from London on Saturday. Apart from getting up damn early, any tips on roads to take or avoid?
I am unsure as to whether start by taking the M4 to Bristol then M5 or alternatively take the M3. Either one less likely to have traffic?
Also, once the M-ways finish, any decent free flowing roads? Just keen to avoid big traffic mostly, and have a bit of fun second, if possible!
Thanks in advance.
Very nice, but yes it's the arse end of nowhere.
If you want a nicer drive down you could head down the A38 to Plymouth, then past liskeard, through st Austell to St Mawes.
Otherwise the normal route would be down the A30 as far as Lanivet then pick up the A391 and across to your destination.
Are you staying at a hotel there?
If you want a nicer drive down you could head down the A38 to Plymouth, then past liskeard, through st Austell to St Mawes.
Otherwise the normal route would be down the A30 as far as Lanivet then pick up the A391 and across to your destination.
Are you staying at a hotel there?
As someone who lives in the South West and often drives to Cornwall in the summer..... Leave EARLY. Not just a bit early, very EARLY. Aim to arrive before 9am or even earlier if you can.
The carnage that is the roads in that area once the tourists arrive is not worth sitting in, even if it means losing sleep.
The carnage that is the roads in that area once the tourists arrive is not worth sitting in, even if it means losing sleep.
spookly said:
As someone who lives in the South West and often drives to Cornwall in the summer..... Leave EARLY. Not just a bit early, very EARLY. Aim to arrive before 9am or even earlier if you can.
The carnage that is the roads in that area once the tourists arrive is not worth sitting in, even if it means losing sleep.
Careful. I got shot down for suggesting it might not be a fun journey because of traffic...The carnage that is the roads in that area once the tourists arrive is not worth sitting in, even if it means losing sleep.
Butter Face said:
Very nice, but yes it's the arse end of nowhere.
If you want a nicer drive down you could head down the A38 to Plymouth, then past liskeard, through st Austell to St Mawes.
Otherwise the normal route would be down the A30 as far as Lanivet then pick up the A391 and across to your destination.
Are you staying at a hotel there?
Brilliant, just the kind of info I was looking for! I had seen that way as an altedrnative and was indeed wondering if its worth going that way. If you want a nicer drive down you could head down the A38 to Plymouth, then past liskeard, through st Austell to St Mawes.
Otherwise the normal route would be down the A30 as far as Lanivet then pick up the A391 and across to your destination.
Are you staying at a hotel there?
Yep, staying there at the Tresanton (friend's wedding), apparently its very nice!
spookly said:
As someone who lives in the South West and often drives to Cornwall in the summer..... Leave EARLY. Not just a bit early, very EARLY. Aim to arrive before 9am or even earlier if you can.
The carnage that is the roads in that area once the tourists arrive is not worth sitting in, even if it means losing sleep.
Best I can do is 5:00am departure from London, which I suppose means I'll be in Exeter around 8:00am? Not looking forward to coming back on the Sunday mind!!The carnage that is the roads in that area once the tourists arrive is not worth sitting in, even if it means losing sleep.
RiccardoG said:
egor110 said:
O/P have you looked into flying to newquay airport?
I just did, but unfortunately Stanstead/Newquay leaves too late in the day (15:30)... Plus, its the first "road trip" I'm doing in the 911 this year, so was kind of looking forward to driving.
On way home we got to the roadworks in 2 miles signs and the traffic was already stopped so we headed onto the a39 to Plymouth.
If it's your 1st roadtrip and you have time come off the motorway at taunton and cut over exmoor then into devon before picking up the m5 again or take the north devon link road to bude then onto newquay.
Iva Barchetta said:
TooMany2cvs said:
RiccardoG said:
Best I can do is 5:00am departure from London, which I suppose means I'll be in Exeter around 8:00am?
<chuckle>Would leave London suburbs at 4am and be there in 4 to 4.5 hours so could be doable.
Driving a 7.5t,using the A303 every time.
We were down in Paignton, Devon last week. We drove down M4/M5 after rush hour on Thursday and then did Lands End (A38/A30) on the Friday morning and back in the afternoon without any major dramas. Only suggestion I'd make is to keep eyes open for cameras bizarrely positioned on only overtaking opportunities along the way.
Chris
Chris
egor110 said:
If it's your 1st roadtrip and you have time come off the motorway at taunton and cut over exmoor then into devon before picking up the m5 again or take the north devon link road to bude then onto newquay.
Not very practical for the OP though given his destination is St Mawes.An option if he has time and wants a more interesting route than miles of d/c is to head over Dartmoor.
Come off the A30 at Ide
B3212 to Moretonhampstead and Two Bridges
B3357 to Tavistock
A390 to Liskeard
Then A38/A390/B3287/A3078 to St Mawes.
RiccardoG said:
Butter Face said:
Very nice, but yes it's the arse end of nowhere.
If you want a nicer drive down you could head down the A38 to Plymouth, then past liskeard, through st Austell to St Mawes.
Otherwise the normal route would be down the A30 as far as Lanivet then pick up the A391 and across to your destination.
Are you staying at a hotel there?
Brilliant, just the kind of info I was looking for! I had seen that way as an altedrnative and was indeed wondering if its worth going that way. If you want a nicer drive down you could head down the A38 to Plymouth, then past liskeard, through st Austell to St Mawes.
Otherwise the normal route would be down the A30 as far as Lanivet then pick up the A391 and across to your destination.
Are you staying at a hotel there?
Yep, staying there at the Tresanton (friend's wedding), apparently its very nice!
spookly said:
As someone who lives in the South West and often drives to Cornwall in the summer..... Leave EARLY. Not just a bit early, very EARLY. Aim to arrive before 9am or even earlier if you can.
The carnage that is the roads in that area once the tourists arrive is not worth sitting in, even if it means losing sleep.
Best I can do is 5:00am departure from London, which I suppose means I'll be in Exeter around 8:00am? Not looking forward to coming back on the Sunday mind!!The carnage that is the roads in that area once the tourists arrive is not worth sitting in, even if it means losing sleep.
egor110 said:
If it's your 1st roadtrip and you have time come off the motorway at taunton and cut over exmoor then into devon before picking up the m5 again or take the north devon link road to bude then onto newquay.
Great road between Porlock and Lynmouth then over the top into Devon.But, if concerned about traffic this route makes it about 90 minutes or more between motorway junctions which would take 20 minutes at 80mph. Even if you really crack on then you'll struggle to average 50mph... unless you're on two wheels.
I think I just found the solution.... you need a power ranger outfit and a Yamaha R1
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