Planning on taking M1, then A43 to the M40, then A34 to Winchester to pick up the M3. Then onto the M27, then A31, then do we stay on the A31 and then drop down to Wareham or go off onto the A347 which seems to go through the edge of Poole/Bournemouth
Any suggestions from anyone who knows this route at all would be welcomed
I regularly drive from Southampton to Leeds and vice versa, I take exactly the route you have stated, you can come off the m1 a little earlier if you wish just after Leicester forest services on the m69 but the route you have said is my preferred route. And the m27 which then becomes the a31 is the best and realistically the only route to take. Can be a bit busy but is a nice drive through the new forest.
------------- Keep calm and carry on camping!!!
Apr - Stone Family Farm
May - Stone Family Farm x2
June - ?
Jul - Woodside Farm
Aug - Great Dorset Steam Fair
We live locally and have tried all ways possible. Unless you get held up all routes take pretty much the same time.
The A347/348 through Ferndown (ie what you described as the edge of Bournemouth/Poole) is actually a fairly good route and not to hard to follow, though there are a few roundabouts and it helps to know which lane to be in. It can be quite busy though at any time of the day and the first half until you get to the A341 junction ("Bear Cross") is not dual carriageway. Once you get to Dorset Way it's good fast dual carriageway to the Wareham turnoff.
Another option is to stay on A31, though this can also get very busy with holdups at holiday times. If you do do that I wouldn't bother to come down the A341/A349 (Gravel Hill) as this is single carriageway all the way and once again can get quite busy. I would stay on the A31 until the A350 and use that to come down to the A35 as this route is more out in the country and a reasonable road. To be honest we quite often stay on the A31 even longer and turn off by the Worlds End pub (just after the estate with the long wall and the Lion and Stag Gates) and come down the B3075 - takes a bit longer and is a bit twisty in places but it does avoid the A351 through Sandford (ie the road north of Wareham) which can get fairly bunged up depending on the time of day. By the way if you do come along the A351 watch out for the 30mph speed camera through Sandford - if the traffic is flowing its very easy to do more than this and get caught out.
Whatever you do don't take the A338 which brings you from the A31 down into Bournemouth - it's a b***** to get from there through to the other side of Poole even when you know where you're going and if you're unfamiliar with the area it's easy to get lost.
Hope this helps.
Thanks to all. We will stay on the A31 and then probably the A350. Not sure what time we will get down there planning on leaving at about 10am and it depends on how many stops we have (9 year old on board). I saw the A338 but thought better of it good to know my instincts were right.