Message Forums

Hi all, Sorry, didn't quite know where to ask this. It relates to getting to campsite near durdle door. I have put the location in to multimap and from where I live (West Midlands basically on A5 near Lichfield), it tells me to go down the A34 for much of the trip south, around Oxford and Newbury. I had never thought about this as the old M5 looms large when I think of going south.

Has anyone 'done' this route? And if so, how does it go in terms of services - especially loo breaks :-)

Thanks

It's probably the best route and is for the most part dual carriageway. M5 takes you a bit to far to the west. Services at the A34/M4 junction would probably be about right for a stop....Mick

I live north of Winchester practically on the A34 and travel south on that route regularly. The A34 only goes as far as Winchester and then you have to get onto the M3 at J9 and then the M27 towards Bournemouth. The M27 peters out just west of Southampton and automatically turns into the A31 towards Ringwood.

There is a Little Chef and services just south of Oxford I believe and there are services on the A34 just before Winchester (Sutton Scotney Services)...toilet, cafe, petrol etc.

From Winchester through to just west of Southampton is always busy although outside of the rush hours the traffic makes good headway. There can be a few hold-ups during busy periods (rush hours, Bank Holidays etc.)

There are often tailbacks getting past Ringwood but again it depends on the time of day as to how bad these are. There are odd cafes and petrol stations all along the way.

West of Ringwood (at Ferndown) there are two ways you can go. You can take the lower road (A348 and A3049) by-passing Bournemouth and Poole and then on to the A351 towards Wareham before turning right onto the A352, or the higher road (turn right at a roundabout and continue on the A31) and then at Bere Regis take a B road (I think it is the B3071) south towards Durdle Door.

The lower road is a jungle of roundabouts through busy little towns on the outskirts of Poole and Bournemouth which I used to avoid until I got a satnav and then it became a piece of cake. If you don't have a satnav I would suggest the higher route via A31. Not a lot of difference in time/mileage.

Generally it's all a pretty comfortable route providing you choose the times right. 

Hope the above helps...lovely part of the country...I hope you enjoy it.

Thankyou all so much! It's great to get some local knowledge. I am really looking forward to it!

Fi x

Hi. A more direct route (less milage and more scenic) Take the M42 then M40. Pick up the Fossway (A429) from the M40 (junc 15) Head for Wellesbourne, Morton in Marsh, Stow on the Wold, Cirencester. (services at A419 junc. Little Chef)

At Cirencester take A419 south to M4. Then A346 to Marlbourgh. A346/A338 to Salisbury via Tidworth. Then A354 to Blanford Forum. and on to your destination.

The above route will miss most of jams. And give various options at the small towns for breaks on the way.

Steve

we go to Dorset a lot.... (from West mids)4

If i,m going Weymouth side we go M5 way....Poole A34 ...I think if Durdle door you will be better A34 but beware round Ringwood and Wimbourne  gets busy