Johnaldo Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 (edited) Hi all, I’m going to be taking the van from Cheshire to Swanage, and the route-planners are offering me various possibilities. The first part is straightforward … M6 south to Brum. Then there’s 3 variations on offer … two to the SW using the M5, and one to the SSE using the M40. Basically it comes down to the final run-in to Swanage … 1/ Bath, Warminster, Shaftesbury, Blandford Forum and Wareham (249m, 4'52"). 2/ Taunton, Yeovil and Dorchester (277m, 5'12"). 3/ Oxford, Winchester, New Forest and Poole (272m, 4'40"). (I obviously don’t intend to go into any of the above-mentioned towns!). Any thoughts on the best route please? TIA, John. Edited July 19, 2015 by Johnaldo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jaydug Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 My choice would be M6/M40/A34/M3/M27/A31 Quote Citroen C5-X7 Tourer+Avondale Rialto 480/2 https://jondogoescaravanning.com Link to post Share on other sites
KontikiKid Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 I've done both option 2 and option 3 - personally I prefer the Taunton route. If you are travelling on a Saturday though, you might find the M5 to be overloaded with holidaymakers and the Oxford route serve you better. I'm down that way again in October and will be via Taunton southwards and t'uther way northwards. Russ Quote Online blog and travels, although sometimes there is a lack of travel due to work! It's an uncharted sea, it's an unopened door but you've got to reach out and you've got to explore. Link to post Share on other sites
DeeTee Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Despite sometimes experiencing delays on the slip road exiting the M40 my preferred route from West Cheshire, from where I would travel via the A41/M54 to join M6 south of Hilton Park services, would be route 3. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MalH Posted July 19, 2015 Share Posted July 19, 2015 Cheshire is a large county, but coming from where we live in Wirral, I reach the M6 at J16 via the M53, A51 and A500. I would then go via your route 1. Quote Nissan X-Trail Tekna + Coachman Festival 450 Link to post Share on other sites
Johnaldo Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 Cheshire is a large county, but coming from where we live in Wirral, I reach the M6 at J16 via the M53, A51 and A500. I would then go via your route 1. I know Mal, but as I said the first third of the journey is going to be M6 down to where the Toll goes off . .. whichever route I choose. As regards route 1, I assume you've experienced it towing - what's it like? John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MalH Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 As regards route 1, I assume you've experienced it towing - what's it like? John I can't recall any problems, but thinking about it some more (it was a few years ago now) we did a slight variation to miss out Bath, from Warminster we went via Chippenham and Cirencester to join the M5 at J10a. This was because we broke the journey on a great CL at the top of Birdlip Hill (sadly no longer available). Quote Nissan X-Trail Tekna + Coachman Festival 450 Link to post Share on other sites
AndyPoole Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Okay personally I would use route 1 if towing, whilst route 3 is quicker solo I don't think it would make much difference towing, the only issue I have with using route 1 when solo is if you get stuck behind lorry / caravan! etc. it can sometime take a while to be able to overtake. Route 2 can be a bit narrow in places the only narrow bit on route 1 will be around Bathampton 1/ Bath, Warminster, Shaftesbury, Blandford Forum and Wareham (249m, 4'52"). 3/ Oxford, Winchester, New Forest and Poole (272m, 4'40"). Quote Bailey Pageant Bretagne Series 6 - LR Discovery Td5 Auto Link to post Share on other sites
Cheltenham Caravanner Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 You don't say what day, or time of day, you will be travelling. Think I would go M6 Toll, M40, A34, M3, M27 but maybe not on a Saturday. Quote Volvo V70 D4 Estate automatic Swift Challenger SE 580 Link to post Share on other sites
Johnaldo Posted July 20, 2015 Author Share Posted July 20, 2015 You don't say what day, or time of day, you will be travelling. It'll be on a Sunday, hopefully leaving about 7. 30am. John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Clubman Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 Route 3 every time. Can be a bit slow through the New Forest but would still be my preferred route. Quote Volvo V70/Lunar Clubman 475/2 CKW Link to post Share on other sites
JTQ Posted July 20, 2015 Share Posted July 20, 2015 As a local its got to be #3, M40, A34, M3, M27 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Johnaldo Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 Thanks for all the advice . .. I think I'll try route 3 coming in through The New Forest . .. and If I don't like it I can always try heading over to the M5 for the return journey. John 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
poolebob Posted July 24, 2015 Share Posted July 24, 2015 Having done these routes a number of times both towing and solo, I would also go for route 3. Mind you M27 and A31 through the Forest were horrendous today Quote Honda CRV Diesel Petrol & No caravan now. Link to post Share on other sites
Cheltenham Caravanner Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 We came back from Swanage on Wednesday using the Dorchester, Yeovil, Taunton, M5 route. . Chose this in preference to A31 M27 M3 M4 as a: it looked shorter on the map although it isn't; (by 10 miles) b: lots of hold ups showing on satnav on A31 and M27 We were able to travel at max permitted speed for practically the whole journey Quote Volvo V70 D4 Estate automatic Swift Challenger SE 580 Link to post Share on other sites
Johnaldo Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 Hi, OP here, Well, in the end we went route 1 (Warminster and Saftesbury) on the jorney south, and route 3 (Ringwood, Oxford and M6 Toll) coming home. Traffic around Bath was dreadful and the rest of the cross-country route to Swanage very slow entailing 7'15" drive-time. Coming back took just 5'05" and was stress-free, and cost an extra £4. 80 toll fee (well worth it). Thanks for all the advice, John Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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