London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury

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Tue 23 Jun 2009 09:55
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - romeo156
Somehow managed to book a weekend away this weekend in Newton Abbot and now realise that its Glastonbury.

I need an alternative route than A303 as I am travelling on Friday afteroon, and this cannot be changed. Considered M4 and M5 but think this might also be affected by Glastonbury traffic.

Anyone know what the A31 via Dorchester is like as a road? Is it similar to A303 in being a fast A road?

Thanks
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 10:05
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - oldnotbold
London to NA via the M4/M5 is far more sensible. Glastonbury starts on Thursday, so my guess is that by Friday pm the motorway route will be fairly sensible.
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 12:24
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - dieselicious
Just bear in mind that the M4/M5 junction, and the M5 from there down to around Clevedon on a Friday afternoon can be very bad. I know, I have to do it to get home from work every day!
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 12:35
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - drbe
I am thinking of going to the Haynes Motor Museum which is just off the A303, Saturday or Sunday. Is the traffic going to be bad?
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 13:04
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - dieselicious
I would think Saturday would be better. Depends where you're coming from / to though.
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 15:46
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - R75
Using the A31 will add at least an hour to your journey, whilst it is a nice enough road it is not as fast as the M4/M5 or the A303.

Personally I would use the A303, nice road and if things get a bit sticky you can divert off the main road onto some of the back roads for a while. Would not worry too much about Glastonbury, most will already be there by the time you are going to travel and those that aren't will likely be using public transport.
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 16:09
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - oldnotbold
Google says it's 20 miles further on the M4/M5 than on the A303, but about the same journey time. Frankly the risk of unexpected hold-ups on the A303 is far higher than on the M4/M5, though you will get held up as you join the M5 for as much as 15 miles, but it will keep moving, almost certainly.

Both routes will be full of caravans - the forecast is good....
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 16:54
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - perro
If you have the time, you could give the A31 a go and say hullo to the Tolpuddle Martyrs + see some fine Darset properties.
Sunday would be a quieter day IMO.
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 17:54
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - BB
As said above, 80-90% of festival goers will be there by Thursday so the traffic wont be as bad around Glastonbury.
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Tue 23 Jun 2009 22:27
London to Exeter - Avoiding Glastonbury - KB.
Whilst in Newton Abbot, get yourself in to the Locomotive in East Steet for Sunday lunch. The pub's hardly salubrious but you won't get a better roast dinner in N A and at £5.50 it's a steal - the afters is a bit dear though - £2.....for fresh fruit and ice cream!!! See you in there.
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