Exeter to London - route recommendations please

[doog]

The A30 isnt exactly a walk in the park...at least on the A303 you have a shoulder.

I did the A30 from Chard to Sherborne = not a nice ride.I turned off at Sherborne because I know the road from Sherborne to Shaftesbury is extremely fast and dangerous, few local cyclists would entertain it. The problem you have is that there are no minor roads on that route that dont involve mega hills.

 

[srw]

The fast route goes straight over Dartmoor? Good heavens.

 

[Ian H]

I live near Honiton and occasionally ride to London. It takes me 12 to 13 hours with luggage. I'd use the A30 out of Honiton - busy but only for six miles, then turn right to stay on the A30 when the main route becomes the A303. From then on the A30 is a splendid cycling route as far as Salisbury. After that it's busy and narrow for about six miles to Lopcombe Corner, where again you turn right to stay on the A30. Continue to Sutton Scotney, turn right to go through the village and contnue east to a left turn on to the A33 towards Basingstoke. you can choose your route from there. I turn south to follow the road through Dummer, then rejoin the A30 east of the town. You may prefer a quieter route (traffic is heavy at certain times of day, though it's not generally very fast and the road is mostly wide), though there's no easy, quiet direct way.

 

[Ian H]

Hmm...seems there are differences of opinion regarding the A30. I find it far preferable to the A303.

 

[rb58]

The fast route goes straight over Dartmoor? Good heavens.

I wondered about that too. But actually I quite fancy it. I went into Dartmoor on a ride out from Torquay last year and it looked great.

 

[rb58]

I live near Honiton and occasionally ride to London. It takes me 12 to 13 hours with luggage. I'd use the A30 out of Honiton - busy but only for six miles, then turn right to stay on the A30 when the main route becomes the A303. From then on the A30 is a splendid cycling route as far as Salisbury. After that it's busy and narrow for about six miles to Lopcombe Corner, where again you turn right to stay on the A30. Continue to Sutton Scotney, turn right to go through the village and contnue east to a left turn on to the A33 towards Basingstoke. you can choose your route from there. I turn south to follow the road through Dummer, then rejoin the A30 east of the town. You may prefer a quieter route (traffic is heavy at certain times of day, though it's not generally very fast and the road is mostly wide), though there's no easy, quiet direct way.

Thanks. I'll check that out against the route I've started working on.

 

[Ian H]

I wondered about that too. But actually I quite fancy it. I went into Dartmoor on a ride out from Torquay last year and it looked great.

I suspect the old A30 from Launceston to Exeter would be quicker.

 

[frank9755]

Sorry Ross,
I saw this on another thread and had meant to link you to my route from last year but I forgot!
This is the write-up
http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/london-to-lands-end.75028/
and the routes are here
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/370252
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/370262
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/370267
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/370283

Frank

 

[rb58]

Magic. Thanks Frank. You know how I ride - is 4 days reasonable for me to get back to London from Lands End?

 

[frank9755]

4 days should be fine. I did it in 3 and a half (with camping gear) and you will probably have a tailwind.
You might decide to do it in 3.

 

[rb58]

Cool. Did think about 3 days, but quite fancied going over Dartmoor.... And you route through the New Forest looks good. Going to spend some time over the weekend having a serious look at all the route suggestions.

Thanks Frank.

 

[dellzeqq]

A30 all the way. Anything else is for girls. (Although I'd branch off southeast at Hounslow and come through Richmond)

 

[Ian H]

A30 all the way. Anything else is for girls. (Although I'd branch off southeast at Hounslow and come through Richmond)

Whereas I branch north at Staines, betwixt airport and reservoirs, then Colnbrook, Harmondsworth (or perhaps Sipson), Hayes, Southall (fringes of), Norwood, Ealing.

 

[dellzeqq]

Whereas I branch north at Staines, betwixt airport and reservoirs, then Colnbrook, Harmondsworth (or perhaps Sipson), Hayes, Southall (fringes of), Norwood, Ealing.

that's probably better still - I'm just not sufficiently familiar with the A4020 thing

 

[frank9755]

Cool. Did think about 3 days, but quite fancied going over Dartmoor.... And you route through the New Forest looks good. Going to spend some time over the weekend having a serious look at all the route suggestions.

Thanks Frank.

Agree, it would be a shame to go down there in the summer and not go over Dartmoor.

I found the lanes through Dorset quite a bit harder than Devon. There was hardly a bit that was flat, so the main road option might be worth considering there, but that means you'd miss the New Forest...

Definitely do some secondary A-roads through Surrey: the lanes are far hillier and less direct, and you can do them any time!