The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

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M19
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by M19 »

We normally travel to Plymouth to catch the ferry to Roscoff. The first time we tried on a Friday in September. Too busy for my liking and we’re lucky to make it in time for the evening crossing.

We started going in July instead for better weather, and chose to set off at midnight to get the 8am ferry on Friday morning. Amazing difference. The problem is that for next year Brittany Ferries look like they are no longer running their morning crossing, so tempted to take the Portsmouth St Malo route.
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multiraider2
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by multiraider2 »

My May holiday to the Lake District was called off for Covid and we got the replacement in just in time last week. Took the Blackwall Tunnel/A12/M11/A14/A1 route to look at the near completed new A14 section and my first ever trip turning off at Scotch Corner. The Satnav gave up on me on the new A14 and thought I was driving at speed on the dirt and only talked to me again when I got a little way on the A1.

Coming back and the driving gods once again deemed that I should not have a straightforward trip home. My wife's phone said delays ahead on the A1, why not try the M11. So I did but once on the A14, the new VMS signs were advising of 45 minute delays on the M11 J7 to J6. That changed to 1 hour just before Cambridge and then on M11 just beyond the J12 slip the traffic was stationary. I took the A603 to the A1198 and there to the A10, still not trusting the A1 from the earlier message. Once to the M25 I re-joined the M11. I would have probably have got home quicker taking the M25 to the A21 but the nightmares from last year are still too fresh. I replayed the route taken a week ago. The Saturday afternoon traffic trying to exit to the Redbridge Roundabout and the South Circular are not fun. I really don''t know the back roads in East London very well now and many old rat runs have, I am sure, been closed off. I might have done better staying on the A406 to the A13 and then taken the Limehouse Tunnel. But now that TFL have butchered London Bridge, I don't know what that does to Tower Bridge traffic.
SteveA30
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by SteveA30 »

There was some post lockdown, pre-Bank Holiday overspill last weekend but, this came up on the M3 and was too rare to miss so, I headed east instead. A nice little aperitif before the main course this coming bank holiday.

The A33 queueing for the A34 merge. The official div is via A303 and A34 but, Satnav and knowledge sends many along the parallel A33. This queue was much shorter than the A34 one though.
A30 west of Basingstoke towards the Popham Fork.

Development of Basingstoke has now extended out to J7 and Amazon have had planning permission for a huge warehouse next to this stretch, messing up this road.
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A33 queue for A34 at Winchester. Much like it used to be.
A33 queue for A34 at Winchester. Much like it used to be.
A30/A33 near Popham
A30/A33 near Popham
A30 Sun Inn. Amazon will be just across the road.
A30 Sun Inn. Amazon will be just across the road.
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multiraider2
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by multiraider2 »

Devon and Cornwall police social media team showed this video taken at midnight on the M5. I'm guessing it was a busy one.

https://twitter.com/DC_RPT/status/1398408998236438535
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trickstat
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by trickstat »

The road heading out of Letchworth towards the A1(M) was queueing at about 12:45 as I walked alongside it earlier. I don't think I've ever seen that outside of weekday morning and evening peak times before unless there has some sort of disruption like roadworks or an accident.
doebag
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by doebag »

trickstat wrote: Sat May 29, 2021 14:01 The road heading out of Letchworth towards the A1(M) was queueing at about 12:45 as I walked alongside it earlier. I don't think I've ever seen that outside of weekday morning and evening peak times before unless there has some sort of disruption like roadworks or an accident.
Possibly related to the A1 closure at Stotfold after yesterday’s fatal.
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Big Nick
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by Big Nick »

Went into Harlow on a shopping run today. The M11 was stopped northbound and many local roads were very slow. Good weather, Bank Holiday Monday and a week off school are all adding up.
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roadtester
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by roadtester »

I've just got back from a trip to Carmarthen to visit a friend. The roads were packed. The whole A40/A48 set-up around Carmarthen itself was a mess - completely overloaded. I know it often gets busy there, but this was the worst I've ever seen it.
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Bendo
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by Bendo »

I'm glad our school have used their inset days to make this half term 2 weeks. Hoping when we head down that way on Friday it will be much quieter.
brummie_rob
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by brummie_rob »

Some of the M5 queues from Bristol reached 30 miles on Friday evening along with M6 J18 up to Preston.

M6 through Stafford had queues of around 40 minutes as you came in and out the roadworks.

A combination of factors means the traffic seems to have been the worst I've seen it
Bendo
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by Bendo »

brummie_rob wrote: Sat May 29, 2021 20:21 Some of the M5 queues from Bristol reached 30 miles on Friday evening along with M6 J18 up to Preston.

M6 through Stafford had queues of around 40 minutes as you came in and out the roadworks.

A combination of factors means the traffic seems to have been the worst I've seen it
No surprise there. Given holidays abroad are off the table pretty much, even with restrictions staycations will probably be at their busiest this year.
iantherev
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by iantherev »

rhyds wrote: Fri Apr 29, 2016 10:01 Living in North Wales all our roads are busy over bank holidays, and are especially popular with two kinds of driver who don't get along

The first are the slowcoaches, who either spend too long admiring the view and not concentrating on driving, or are so scared of roads that aren't flat and wide they can't do over 40.

The second are the sports bikes with Manchester and Birmingham plates who seem to find no trouble doing three figure speeds down rural S2s.

The problem comes when the first and the second meet...
Add Mid Wales and the Brecon Beacons to that.
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IAN
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by IAN »

iantherev wrote: Sat May 29, 2021 21:17 Add Mid Wales and the Brecon Beacons to that.
At least mid-Wales roads are quieter as are some of the resorts - e.g. Borth, Ynyslas Fairbourne and usually Tywyn and Aberdyfi. The trouble is that driving the A44 on a summer weekend is like being in the middle of a motor bike race for older bikers, especially between Llangurig and Aberystwyth.
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trickstat
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by trickstat »

doebag wrote: Sat May 29, 2021 17:35
trickstat wrote: Sat May 29, 2021 14:01 The road heading out of Letchworth towards the A1(M) was queueing at about 12:45 as I walked alongside it earlier. I don't think I've ever seen that outside of weekday morning and evening peak times before unless there has some sort of disruption like roadworks or an accident.
Possibly related to the A1 closure at Stotfold after yesterday’s fatal.
Very possibly. I didn't hear about that until later.
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Was92now625
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by Was92now625 »

multiraider2 wrote: Thu Nov 05, 2020 00:23 The Satnav gave up on me on the new A14 and thought I was driving at speed on the dirt and only talked to me again when I got a little way on the A1.
Even better when you drive across a new bridge that the satnav does not know about .....
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by ravenbluemoon »

Thought it might be nice to get out and have a potter around the Peak District this afternoon. Took a look at the traffic on Google Maps, and I think I might not bother! All the usual honey trap spots are dark red/red, and a lot of the main roads look very busy. I do know a few quieter areas that might be worth it later on. I'm guessing that everyone's got the same idea and making the most of a sunny Sunday.
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SteveA30
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by SteveA30 »

Staying on the main roads. Summer's here and the time is right for overspilling in the street. Friday started deceptively slowly, 10.00hrs and not much happening. The last school day so, late departures were the order of the day. Homeward bound traffic was in full swing though. A303 slow both ways. By the afternoon, the M5 was slow from Stroud to Taunton and again at Exeter. At dusk, well after 9, it was still slow through Somerset. many late arrivals at B&B and campsites presumably. I stayed south of Bristol, as it would a waste of valuable time trying to find a way around from Thornbury. If it wasn't for that stupid holiday traffic I'd be fine.....oh right yes, of course.
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11.36 This road will be stopped up just behind the motorhome, as the D2 comes in online.
11.36 This road will be stopped up just behind the motorhome, as the D2 comes in online.
17.06 Looking from the Somerset Levels to the Mendips.
17.06 Looking from the Somerset Levels to the Mendips.
17.23 Friday evening at the layby.
17.23 Friday evening at the layby.
Last edited by SteveA30 on Sun May 30, 2021 21:17, edited 2 times in total.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
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SteveA30
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by SteveA30 »

Day 2. No school so an early start and M5 Almondsbury was already back to north of Falfield by 8am, soon all the way through Somerset again. A38 from the Churchill lights was queueing from 09.30 back towards Bristol.
Ollie's Cafe is a useful off motorway stop for those of you that dislike MSA's. All day breakfast available. Only problem is closing early at 3pm, as so many private cafes tend to do. So, no good for the return journey but good for the outward rest stop. Only 1 mile from Edithmead.
https://olliescafe.co.uk/ *

Heavy overspill into Sparkford, as the queue for the rbt was over a mile long. That problem will disappear in about 3 years time, when the dualling is done.

* according to the website, they seem to specialise in upside down dining. Click on the photo in the website.
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10.47 Saturday morning at the layby
10.47 Saturday morning at the layby
14.03 Ollie's, formerly the Old Fox Cafe
14.03 Ollie's, formerly the Old Fox Cafe
15.48 Cricket and holiday traffic
15.48 Cricket and holiday traffic
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
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SteveA30
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by SteveA30 »

Misc items from Spring BH 2021. Our next feature....going home day.
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Friday 18.10.  Langford services
Friday 18.10. Langford services
Saturday 14.23. Afternoon tea at Ollies, after the lunchtime rush had subsided.
Saturday 14.23. Afternoon tea at Ollies, after the lunchtime rush had subsided.
Saturday 12.45. View from off the A371 across the A38 to Brent Knoll.
Saturday 12.45. View from off the A371 across the A38 to Brent Knoll.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
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multiraider2
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Re: The bank holiday weekend. Staying off the main roads

Post by multiraider2 »

Went to Ashdown Forest today and that is almost all B and C roads from South London here. No issues. In fact my daughter said "I don't want to jinx it, but where is everyone today?" Wasn't going to try to do something silly such as going to the coast.
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