Old Holiday Routes.
Moderator: Site Management Team
Old Holiday Routes.
Who remembers Holiday Routes? I can remember when I was a child seeing HR signs on certain routes, particularly in the west country. Just can't remember where they went. Are there any maps anywhere showing where they went? Tried googling it and couldn't find anything relevant.
Also does anyone know what happened to them and when,? At some point the signs just disappeared.
Thanks
Also does anyone know what happened to them and when,? At some point the signs just disappeared.
Thanks
My latest Road Photos https://flic.kr/s/aHsktQHcMB
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
We've discussed these before. Look up my user name in conjunction.
Did know someone from when they were in place (1970s ?) who thought the signs were for Horse Races. As he was actually going to the racecourse at Wincanton on the A303, they served his purpose.
Did know someone from when they were in place (1970s ?) who thought the signs were for Horse Races. As he was actually going to the racecourse at Wincanton on the A303, they served his purpose.
- multiraider2
- Member
- Posts: 3714
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2004 17:42
- Location: London, SE
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
Topic raised: 2003 viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4541&hilit=holiday+routes&start=20
and this went from 2006 to 2019: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10965&hilit=holiday+routes
I don't think we ever did definitively establish where every HR was, although a map showing them may have been available at some point from somewhere! I'm not sure we ever managed to get as far as trying to look for one.
and this went from 2006 to 2019: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=10965&hilit=holiday+routes
I don't think we ever did definitively establish where every HR was, although a map showing them may have been available at some point from somewhere! I'm not sure we ever managed to get as far as trying to look for one.
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
The A48 from Gloucester to Chepstow was definitely signed "HR" when I was a kid.Richardf wrote: ↑Wed Nov 24, 2021 17:25 Who remembers Holiday Routes? I can remember when I was a child seeing HR signs on certain routes, particularly in the west country. Just can't remember where they went. Are there any maps anywhere showing where they went? Tried googling it and couldn't find anything relevant.
Also does anyone know what happened to them and when,? At some point the signs just disappeared.
Thanks
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
0
Last edited by SteveA30 on Wed Dec 29, 2021 07:04, edited 3 times in total.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
There used to be a number of these in the West country but they became a little superfluous with the extension of the M5 to Exeter and the dualling of the A30 and A38. In some ways I miss it, finding ones own way from Leicester to Taunton was part of the fun. I must take a leisurely trip down the the Fosse Way again just for old times sake
- Steven
- SABRE Maps Coordinator
- Posts: 19251
- Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2002 20:39
- Location: Wolverhampton, Staffordshire
- Contact:
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
If anyone is going anywhere near the National Archives, then file MT112/301 might well be worth an investigate on this subject.
Steven
Motorway Historian
Founder Member, SABRE ex-Presidents' Corner
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
Motorway Historian
Founder Member, SABRE ex-Presidents' Corner
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
The one I remember the most is heading towards Exeter on the A35. Just before Axminster ( Raymond's Hill) there was a turning left down to the A3052 that was signed as a Holiday Route towards Exeter and beyond. Clearly this not only bypassed Lyme Regis but avoided pre bypass Axminster and the A30 bottlenecks past Honiton.
Used it ourselves on occasions I think to get down to Exeter and the M5.
Used it ourselves on occasions I think to get down to Exeter and the M5.
My latest Road Photos https://flic.kr/s/aHsktQHcMB
- Dan Lockton
- Member
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2005 22:33
- Location: Utrecht, NL
- Contact:
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
When I find it again, I'll scan this properly — note, post-M5 http://danlockton.co.uk/images/holiday_routes.jpg
There were others though — pretty sure I remember HR signs around Teignmouth/Shaldon
There were others though — pretty sure I remember HR signs around Teignmouth/Shaldon
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
1985 is the latest date I've seen for HR. It looks like the opening of the Okehampton bypass and NDLR circa 1988 may have brought the scheme to an end.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
- Chris Bertram
- Member
- Posts: 15777
- Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2001 12:30
- Location: Birmingham, England
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
Those would have been to relieve A380 prior to the completion of its upgrade - remember that its route used to go up Whaddon Brakes and over Ideford Arch, and was narrow and twisty.Dan Lockton wrote: ↑Thu Nov 25, 2021 06:43 When I find it again, I'll scan this properly — note, post-M5 http://danlockton.co.uk/images/holiday_routes.jpg
There were others though — pretty sure I remember HR signs around Teignmouth/Shaldon
“The quality of any advice anybody has to offer has to be judged against the quality of life they actually lead.” - Douglas Adams.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
You'd think with a country as congested as this one, and with foreign holidays potentially taking a Covid/climate slump, that a return of HRs may be in the making.
France still maintains the Bison Futé system after all.
France still maintains the Bison Futé system after all.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
Drivers are doing it for themselves, by heading for the A38 and old A30. The very roads that ironically, the HR's were designed to avoid.
Roads and holidays in the west, before motorways.
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
http://trektothewest.shutterfly.com
http://holidayroads.webs.com/
- multiraider2
- Member
- Posts: 3714
- Joined: Tue Apr 27, 2004 17:42
- Location: London, SE
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
I'm definitely doing it for myself. From the west country on ever smaller roads, which at least in the countryside haven't been closed off under low traffic neighbourhood schemes.
- Beardy5632
- Member
- Posts: 1436
- Joined: Tue Oct 13, 2009 16:45
- Location: Forest of Dean
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
As Owain has said above there are still HR signs on the A48 approaching Chepstow.
British & Irish cities driven in - 48/75
England - 36/52, Scotland - 7/7, Wales - 5/6, NI - 0/5, RoI - 0/5
England - 36/52, Scotland - 7/7, Wales - 5/6, NI - 0/5, RoI - 0/5
Re: Old Holiday Routes.
Circa 1975 the A361 was signed as a Holiday Route all the way to Ilfracombe, where there was a large sign "Holiday Route Ends".
I well remember this because when I saw the sign I burst into tears, since I thought it meant the holiday we were driving to was over already.
I well remember this because when I saw the sign I burst into tears, since I thought it meant the holiday we were driving to was over already.
"I went to a planet without bilateral symmetry and all I got was this lousy F-shirt."