A303 HighWay To The Sun

[Globalti]

The programme actually ended where the two roads converge and become just the A30 again.

 

[Ian H]

The programme actually ended where the two roads converge and become just the A30 again.

Yup, the A30 is still a complete link between London and Cornwall and is my usual route to London on a bike. The A303 bypasses a section of it from near Basingstoke to just east of here — this end known locally as Devonshire Inn, from the farm on the junction.

 

[Oldbloke]

I remember in the early 60's travelling in my Dad's car from Essex to Cornwall, even at the dead of night that road was busy.

Used to stop and have cooked breakfast with a tiny Primus stove by the roadside at sunrise.

The thought of that journey still makes me feel nauseous​

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

I remember in the early 60's travelling in my Dad's car from Essex to Cornwall, even at the dead of night that road was busy.

Used to stop and have cooked breakfast with a tiny Primus stove by the roadside at sunrise.

The thought of that journey still makes me feel nauseous​

I too remember the days of driving overnight, in my dads Austin Cambridge, & subsequent, Viva estate (at leaving circa 02:00) to drive down to Devon
This would have been in the early 1970's
Stopping in motorway services, or laybys, to cook bacon & beans on a little stove, complete with biscuit tin windbreak

Arriving far too early, & parking on the sea-front at Torquay, as the Sun was rising (in July/August!)

The Viva, if I recall, had the luxury of reclining front seats, so dad could have a nap, when we stopped (mum didn't pass her test till 1981 - 2 years before me)

 

[the_mikey]

The A303 is a weirdo, especially when it goes west of Taunton

I'll be driving along some of it tomorrow when I go to Yeovil.

 

[Bollo]

Are you a druid?

I'm a level nineteen Druid with +2 fortitude in Dungeons and Dragons. I'm also a virgin.

 

[nickyboy]

Salisbury? My family are from there and some still live there. Be sure to visit the cathedral as it's an amazing building; do the roof and spire tour if you've got time.

Watch out for traffic Police on the A30 - I got a ticket there.

If you're oop north your best route is actually M6, M5 then the very good A417 - A419 to Swindon - cross the M4 then head down through Marlborough and Tidworth. The last 40 miles to Salisbury is a ballache, whichever road you choose.

Cheers. Were in a minibus so I'll leave the route to the driver. We are going to Bishop Wordsworth's School for a rugby match. It's right next to the cathedral I think so hopefully enough time to go and take a look

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Ah, the old GNR. It's at least a hundred yards from me.

if you scroll down, there's the area listing, you'll find Hertfordshire

http://www.biffvernon.freeserve.co.uk/contents.htm


I've got a half-marathon, in a few weeks, & it actually goes along a section of the old 'Great North Road', through Wentbridge
The village was only bypassed, in the mid-60's, as it was a reviled section, that tested the machinery of the day (let alone in the Coaching days)

I've got some photos, of the route, on my FaceBook page (& the earlier pre-1830s route)

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Found these 2 books

I seem to think, that I've had the 'A1' book from Leeds Libraries, not long after it was published, it rings a bell (or honks a horn...........)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A1-Portrait-Road-Jon-Nicholson/dp/0002201992/ref=pd_cp_b_1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=524491667&pf_rd_i=266239


I know I've had this one, it may still be on the shelves of my nearest Leeds Libraries branch

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-North...d=1424382674&sr=1-7&keywords=great+north+road

 

[stephec]

Saw the programme and quite enjoyed it. There's an infinite amount of material there as you could make programmes about every one of Britain's major trunk roads.

There's definately some mileage in that idea.

 

[Bollo]

A303, A30 - it'd be rude to leave out the A272, made "famous" by this book....

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2000/mar/08/uk.news

The bit from Winchester to its end at Hill farm is an alternative way to f....... work. I've ridden many parts of it over the years, but generally it's a bit too much of a racetrack for a pleasant ride. The stretch between Winchester and Peterfield is a very popular bikers' run.

 

[subaqua]

I've travelled the A303 more times than I care to remember with half the family in Cornwall and me living in London most of my life

I still clearly remember still being awake at about midnight aged probably 3 or 4, as my parents drove across Bodmin Moor (all just dual lane then) and were overtaken by a local in what must have been an 1930's 'jalopy', and it was also my first long distance drive when I passed my test, London and back in a Ford Escort,
My brother still holds the family record at shortest time for 276 miles in 3hrs 45mins, and I think I hold the three longest times, all well over 10 hours for the same distance.
.

not being pedantic but the A303 finishes at just past Yeovil ( a place called Upottery) where it merges with the A30 . I am the one who has set these memories for my kids. going past Stonehenge at 04.00 and the kids calling out " standing stones , standing stones" , missing all the traffic over Bodmin and Temple.

A303 is the road of choice for me for the early early morning dash to cornwall in the summer.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

British A roads just don't have the same appeal as American rock and roll roads like Route 66.

Could you imagine 'well if you ever plan to motor west...get your kicks on the A303...well it winds from Basingstoke to Honiton...'

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

British A roads just don't have the same appeal as American rock and roll roads like Route 66.

Could you imagine 'well if you ever plan to motor west...get your kicks on the A303...well it winds from Basingstoke to Honiton...'

See a few posts above, for Billy Braggs 'answer'/British equivilant


On a similar vein, could we equal, Steve Earle & The Dukes evocative track; 'Nowhere Road'
- though I guess, some of our Roman roads are, as Earle wrote; 'straighter than a Preacher, & longer than a memory'

I think it was written before his first UK tour though, unless he was told about them?? (perhaps by the Grandaddy he sings about in 'Johnny Come Lately')

 

[BrumJim]

I remember buying, whichever LP (EP?) that had that on

I've got that song programmed into my Satnav.