Stoke-on-Trent to Exeter - route suggestions?

[rupert]

Planning to do Stoke to Bristol, stop overnight in Bristol then on to Exeter following day. Want to try and avoid dual carriageways as much as possible. Any suggestions for a good route? I'm familiar with the roads as far down as Wolverhampton.
Thanks

Rupert

 

[dellzeqq]

the A38 south of Bristol, which becomes the B3181 is a decent road - the big traffic travels on the M5 which runs pretty much parallel.

 

[rupert]

Thanks. Was going to go along the A37 to Wells but your suggestion seems much more sensible as the A37 is pretty hilly and fairly dangerous.

 

[djb1971]

I'd scoot down the west side of Birmingham around the edge of Wolverhamton - kidderminster - Tewkesbury and shadow the m5. The east side of brum is a nightmare through solihull and coventry. The a449 isn't a bad road from Penkridge. The a38 isn't bad past worcester.

 

[rupert]

yeah. planning to stick to the wolverhampton side. i.e stoke, eccleshall, newport wolverhampton, kidderminster. Probably make a stop around gloucester.