Driving to Bournemouth

[AGENT_CLARET]

I've never drove to Bournemouth and was looking at Google maps because a few of us are making a weekend of it, From Burnley what is the best route M6, M5 and so on or M6, M40, does anyone have experience of driving down if so what's the best route.

[HitchinClaret]

M6, M42/M40 then A34 is the only way to go I'd say. The M27 is still surprisingly busy, but easiest on a Friday if thats when you are travelling

[ClaretTony]

I’ve never thought of alternatives and would definitely agree with HitchinClaret’s recommendation of M6/M40/A34.

[SalisburyClaret]

I’ve never thought of alternatives and would definitely agree with HitchinClaret’s recommendation of M6/M40/A34.

Yep - that’s definitely the way to go - avoid Friday afternoons if poss

[Bosscat]

It gets very busy on the A34 on a Friday afternoon and M27

[AGENT_CLARET]

Thanks for the advise guy's, we're thinking of setting off around 6am Friday so hopefully it'll be a clear run down, I think the M6, M42/M40 then A34 is the route to take.

[Woonderbah]

Can I recommend parking through justpark.. a driveway on Leeson Rd about 5 mins from the ground.. lovely people called Carole and Phil.. it's about a tenner and they donate all the money to a cancer charity

[Claretitus]

I go to Bournemouth/Poole regularly for work, and the route Hitchin proposes is really the only one I would choose. Southbound A34 isn’t too bad on a Friday, Northbound is busier, but it can be a pain getting off M40 onto A34. You can come off a junction earlier at Cherwell Valley services, right on roundabout and across country to join A34 further South. Bit sticky at times getting off A34 onto M27, then the first few miles is limited to 50 mph through the roadworks. Still the best way overall though.

[Tricky Trevor]

I wouldn’t disagree with the above but a very useful alternative is to take the M5 from Brum to Gloucester, come off at 11a onto the A417(A419) to Swindon. Cross the M4 and take the A346(A338) through Salisbury to B’mouth.
If you hear of any problems t’other way and are N. of Brum this the one you need.
It’s actually 21miles less but 17mins longer according to maps.

Ian McL would know any problems after his hundreds of trips up from Salisbury.

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[IanMcL]

I wouldn’t disagree with the above but a very useful alternative is to take the M5 from Brum to Gloucester, come off at 11a onto the A417(A419) to Swindon. Cross the M4 and take the A346(A338) through Salisbury to B’mouth.
If you hear of any problems t’other way and are N. of Brum this the one you need.
It’s actually 21miles less but 17mins longer according to maps.

Ian McL would know any problems after his hundreds of trips up from Salisbury.


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Yes that's my route, which I have just completed from Stirling! Arrived in time for Scotland kick off.
Salisbury to Bournemouth is easy. All roads busy on a Friday.

[Claretitus]

That’s not a bad route Trev to be honest, sometimes a bit sticky at the Birdlip roundabout but generally a decent alternative when I’ve gone that way. Also can be a bit busy just past the Honda factory, as you continue South to the M4 junction. It can actually sometimes be quicker that route, unless you by-pass the M6 roadworks round J10, then further on as you join the M42, by using the Toll rd. of course you can use the Toll, and M42 to get to M5, just a bit further in distance, but sometimes quicker time wise. I use TomTom go app on my phone, very rarely lets me down. I do 80,000 miles a year, it’s invaluable.

[IanMcL]

Yes that's my route, which I have just completed from Stirling! Arrived in time for Scotland kick off.
Salisbury to Bournemouth is easy. All roads busy on a Friday.

Gloucester to Swinfon is dual carriageway and fast. Swindon to Salisbury is sh it. Moves but single carriageway.

[Tricky Trevor]

Gloucester to Swinfon is dual carriageway and fast. Swindon to Salisbury is sh it. Moves but single carriageway.

Is everything S. from the M4 sh1te?
I’ve done j17 to Blandford Forum a couple of times and that is a nightmare.

[IanMcL]

Yes. Twisty roads so slow.scenic but slow!

[SalisburyClaret]

Once you get past Swindon - there be tractors

[groove]

Ahhh a good old driving/route/directions discussion! Sadly, an increasingly rare thing since smartphones have taken over the world. Don't get me wrong, they're excellent and very convenient, I use mine for directions/sat nav daily. There something oddly satisfying in giving someone directions. I used to love it when a stranger would pull up and ask "do you know where such a place is". That vast geographical knowledge we have is about to get used, as you run through the route in your head whilst giving left and rights, through the lights, past the Tesco. Making a few little adjustments, then saying it all again, an edited, perfect version. I think it's a primitive instict for a man. Being very knowledgeable around the geography of your environment. I'm sure it was a massive part of the survival component in our evolution. Great stuff.

[Woodleyclaret]

Don't go anywhere near the A34 it's a nightmare road anytime
Use M6 A46 Junct 2 on M6 down A46 to M40 then M40 to M25 round to M3 direction Southampton follow M3 to M27 then signs to Bournemouth
Quick alternative train from Preston to Bournemouth

[CharlieinNewMexico]

Ahhh a good old driving/route/directions discussion! Sadly, an increasingly rare thing since smartphones have taken over the world. Don't get me wrong, they're excellent and very convenient, I use mine for directions/sat nav daily. There something oddly satisfying in giving someone directions. I used to love it when a stranger would pull up and ask "do you know where such a place is". That vast geographical knowledge we have is about to get used, as you run through the route in your head whilst giving left and rights, through the lights, past the Tesco. Making a few little adjustments, then saying it all again, an edited, perfect version. I think it's a primitive instict for a man. Being very knowledgeable around the geography of your environment. I'm sure it was a massive part of the survival component in our evolution. Great stuff.

I was just thinking this as I read the Thread. OP states he consulted Google Maps (billions of $$$ spent on that resource) but still jumps on here asking if the route is correct and can anyone give any advice

[dougcollins]

Gloucester to Swinfon is dual carriageway and fast. Swindon to Salisbury is sh it. Moves but single carriageway.

Just like the end if the M27 through the New Forest then.

[IanMcL]

Getting along the A34 at Oxford is not always easy, either, if you go that way!

[dougcollins]

Ah, the Oxford ringroad/carpark.

(delete as appropriate on any given day).

[Croydon Claret]

I've never drove to Bournemouth and was looking at Google maps because a few of us are making a weekend of it, From Burnley what is the best route M6, M5 and so on or M6, M40, does anyone have experience of driving down if so what's the best route.

Just driven past the A34 turn exit on the M40. Warnings of major roadworks, and delays, on the A34

Seems like it's causing chaos
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/23790 ... tailbacks/

You might want to double check the situation before you set off, roadworks expected to be in place until the end of October

[TheOriginalLongsider]

Just thought I’d mention Waze as an alternative to Google Maps. It gets updated by users and is therefore very useful. Yesterday it warned me of a pothole on a country road and thanks to Waze I was looking out for it and avoided it. You also get reports of police, accidents, traffic ahead.

https://www.waze.com

[sjb]

Drove to Poole today M65/M6/M6 Toll/M42/M40/A34/M3/M27/A Road. 6 and a half hours .

[Leisure]

Drove to Poole today M65/M6/M6 Toll/M42/M40/A34/M3/M27/A Road. 6 and a half hours .

Similar and took 6 hours. Mainly due to an outside lane crash on the M3 just past Winchester. Painful!

[pompeyclaret]

Was in Poole last week, 2 hours from just north of Portsmouth, so 6 from Lancashire shouldn't be grumbled at!

[Somethingfishy]

Made my way down today. Set off at 6am and with a 30 minute stop at Strensham on the M5 got here about midday. 5 and half hours with a ckearish run. Just a bit of gridlock at Salisbury and a car dragging a horsebox between Marlborough and Salisbury that was a pain to be behind on the winding road that way. Goes through some lovely villages that way though.
Decided to avoid the A34...and judging by the tweet from Burnley Police today i made the right decision. Slow on there today apparently.
I think its down to pot luck the route you choose.