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      03-07-2018, 11:54 AM   #1
The0pportunist
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London To Cornwall

Driving to Cornwall to pick up a car for my bro. Last time it was Scotland i don't know why he picks them so far away!!

It's going to be a new route for me so any advise on road quality, cameras will be much appreciated

Looks like the route will be M3 > A303 > A30
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      03-07-2018, 02:59 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by The0pportunist View Post
Driving to Cornwall to pick up a car for my bro. Last time it was Scotland i don't know why he picks them so far away!!

It's going to be a new route for me so any advise on road quality, cameras will be much appreciated

Looks like the route will be M3 > A303 > A30
i hate the A303, what day and time are you traveling on? the trouble with the A303 is.... its rubbish and not that many places to overtake when your stuck behind slow stuff.

i used to commute to portsmouth and did that route every weekend...

if your coming from London i would much rather do the motorway and ovoid the A303....

If you get to the M5 then follow that down till it becomes the A30 at Exeter then start to pick up the pace a bit the A30 is good, very few camera in my experience, i can think of two on the way back up, but on the way down..... nothing comes to my mind but keep an eye out as i may be rusty!

Which part of Cornwall are you going to?
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      03-07-2018, 03:00 PM   #3
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Double check the location of those new smart motorway camera around the london area also....
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      03-08-2018, 02:02 AM   #4
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The A303 is definitely a much more interesting drive than going the M4. Some beautiful scenery such as Stonehenge. A lot of it is dual carriageway but there is also long stretches of single carriageway roads. There are a couple of cameras along the way. The one that might catch you out is the one by Soltice Park as it's at the bottom of a long steep hill on a dual carriageway, so easy to go too fast past it.
If you're going to be travelling anywhere near peak times or on a Friday, you are likely to hit traffic just past Solstice Park as it's near Salisbury and also as you approach Taunton. I think I might be inclined to pick up the M5 at Taunton instead of staying on the A303 as the 303 isn't great once you get past Ilminster.
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      03-09-2018, 04:19 AM   #5
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Thank you for the reply guys.

Will be leaving 4am tomorrow (saturday). Hoping to be home by mid afternoon to salvage the weekend!

The area is EX20 near Okehampton

Many thanks for the heads up, looks like there will be a few cameras to look out for, here is the suggested route - do you think it's worth crossing over to the M5 at some point?
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      03-09-2018, 04:22 AM   #6
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The A303 is alright really, you get a good run from the M3 to Stonehenge, there's a bit of single carriageway, then pockets of dual carriageway after that. Speed cameras aplenty and the odd speed van aswell, particularly on the dual carriageway sections where people give it the beans after the frustration of being stuck behind a HGV or caravan for a few miles. I used to do this run twice/week in my 40,000 miles/year days. I don't miss them.
At 4am you might just hit the tail end of the complete ballache of overnight road works, where motorways are reduced to one lane for miles on end for little apparant reason. Safety of the workforce, if there is indeed a workforce.
I've done what you're doing, and I think you'll be home by lunchtime!
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      03-09-2018, 06:13 AM   #7
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A303 every time unless there is a serious traffic issue. The M4 is a really boring road.
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      03-09-2018, 06:13 AM   #8
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If you're leaving at 4am on a Saturday definitely go A303, it should be fine. Probably be ok to not bother with the M5 either.
Let us know how you get on.
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      03-09-2018, 09:04 AM   #9
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the other side of the coin... i'd take the boring motorway, set the cruise control and if you care, would work out cheaper on fuel too id say if your doing the speed limit....

just what ever you prefer or do both!
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      03-10-2018, 03:16 PM   #10
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So how was the trip and which way did you go?
And what car did your brother get?
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      03-12-2018, 06:56 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nick46 View Post
So how was the trip and which way did you go?
And what car did your brother get?
Hello, yes mostly went well, i'm glad i checked in with you guys as some tips were useful!

So 4.30am i was heading west on the M3 but there was some junctions closed ahead so had to cross over to the M4 & then M5 all the way there. No issues, but yes a very boring motorway, did catch a couple horrible pot holes, probably damaged from previous week snow! Also as we neared to the farm where the car was there was quite a few roads that were flooded but again expected with the heavy rain that day!

On way back we took the A30 - A303 - unfortunately there was a coach fire on the opposite side, we were stuck in standstill for about half hour, thought it would be worse to be honest, luckily it was the opposite side so our delay was minimal! Eventually made it home at 4pm!

Bro got a 2015 Land rover discovery hse lux, black edition (he has 2 kids).

All in the all, the trip was well worth it, he saved a good 2-3k from a similar spec car in London

Thanks again for your tips guys, the camera at the bottom of the hill on the A303 was a good one, i instantly recognized it from your description
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