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Could anyone tell me what is the best route to get to Longleat, the Sat-Nav and all the route finders are sending me through Bath, but this route gives the impression on the maps that it is slow and busy.

I'm coming from the North heading down the M5.

Thank you

Depending on what Sat Nav you have can you not set it to avoid Bath? Alternatively get the road atlas out. If you use Google Earth you can create an intinery which you can add in to a Tom Tom using a program could Tyre which is a free download.

David

If it was me I would go M5 J15 pick up M4 J19 pick up M32 to bristol,pick up A37 to Shepton mallet, then A 361.

David,

I know  i can go any direction I wish, I still like to use a map and rely on Sat-Nav,  I was just wondering peoples view on the best & easiest route when pulling a caravan.

Thank you

avoid bath can get very busy , the A37 shepton route has some bigish hills when towing, but most routes heading from north has hills,

i wouldnt take m5 jn11(swindon), as air balloon hill is a killer,

m5 to bristol m32 then a37 can get busy as you head just around the outskirts of inner bristol, as can m5, m32jn1, ringroad round to bath,

me i would come m4 jn 18, towards bath then, head towards bradford on avon, Bradford can get busy and becareful of the hill as this sections alittle narrow, when in bradford follow signs for frome,when you get to the dual carageway youll then pick up sogns for longleat, 5 miles from there.

theres so many route i could tell you but they get confusing

What sort of time will you be hitting bath or bristol etc ?

mike

I would not worry too much about being routed via Bath, you do not actually go into the centre of Bath just close to it and the road is good. I would go from the North, M6 M5, M4 j18 onto the A46 down towards Bath then onto the A36 going South towards Warminster and follow the instructions in The CC website (below )       

If I were you, I'd come off the M5 at J11A, go left onto A417 signed Cirecncester. Go to top of Air Ballon hill & turn right, 2nd exit on small donut at the top, next roundabout take 1st exit onto dual carriageway, stay on the A417 until you come to the A429 junction (Cirencester services, small but good for things services sell) Get off there & take 4th exit (1st is services entrance) exit off roundabout & 1st exit off next roundabout. Next roundabout take 1st exit. Next roundabout take 3rd exit (2nd one is into McDonalds) Next roundabout take 2nd exit. Next roundabout take 2nd exit (1st one is into hospital) Next roundabout 2nd exit (1st is into a business park) Continue along this road & take 1st left signed for Chippenham.

You'll go through several villages on this road & up to a roundabout at Malmesbury. Take 2nd exit, go to next roundabout & take 2nd exit again. Continue through several villages to J17/M4 roundabout & take 3rd exit onto dual carriageway A350.

To get you through Chippenham. Go along dual carriageway to roundabout & take 2nd exit. Next 2 roundabouts, take  2nd exit. Next roundabout on A420 take 3rd exit (2nd goes into Bumpers farms ind estate) You're on A350 trunk road now, follow it through Melksham & on until you pick up signs for Longleat linking up with the very useful map in the above reply.

Seems a lot of roundabouts but, if you copy it & print it off you'llbe able to follow route on a map with ease. It's all good road or dual carriageway except the one good climb up over Air balloon hill, I do it regularly in my lorry & I  just let the lorry take its time.

The alternative is to go around the M4/M5 interchange & off at J18 down through the first part of Bath which can sometimes be very busy.

Sat Nav may try to take you through Cirencester town but, due to weight limit there, I go around ring road which is all dual carriageway & I'd advise anyone towing to do likewise. You'll go across a good section of the cotswolds following this route, I love it.

BB