Old Holiday Routes.

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Richardf
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Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Richardf »

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
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WHBM
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by WHBM »

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.
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multiraider2
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by multiraider2 »

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.
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Owain
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Owain »

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
The A48 from Gloucester to Chepstow was definitely signed "HR" when I was a kid.
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SteveA30
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

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0
Last edited by SteveA30 on Wed Dec 29, 2021 07:04, edited 3 times in total.
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KeithW
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by KeithW »

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 :)
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Steven »

If anyone is going anywhere near the National Archives, then file MT112/301 might well be worth an investigate on this subject.
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Richardf
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Richardf »

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.
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Dan Lockton
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Dan Lockton »

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
SteveA30
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by SteveA30 »

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.
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Chris Bertram
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Chris Bertram »

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
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.
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Bryn666
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Bryn666 »

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.
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SteveA30
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by SteveA30 »

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.
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http://holidayroads.webs.com/
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multiraider2
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by multiraider2 »

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.
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Beardy5632 »

As Owain has said above there are still HR signs on the A48 approaching Chepstow.
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Re: Old Holiday Routes.

Post by Klepsydra »

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.
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