Cornwall travel with a tourer
Hi, wonder if anyone has got any advice for a ‘new to touring’ Caravaner!
the family and I are going to Cornwall in a couple of weeks and we are setting off back, due to check out on a Saturday. I’ve had conflicting advice on what time to set off, some say wait all day and set off at tea time, others say get up and set off early.
does anyone have an experience of leaving Cornwall in August that can provide any views?
thanks!
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My advice is wait until Sunday!
Seriously, never plan to travel to or from Cornwall on a Saturday in August. It will likely be bad at any time but you might be lucky travelling overnight.
That's the reason Cornish folk tend not to venture out at busy times in peak season.
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To miss some of the traffic on the M5 do as some do leave very early, better still , from where you are traveling from do an overnight at a site or cl beyond Bristol then leave early from there, but keep in mind with the covid situation ,an early arrival at your destination ,may not be available
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Notwithstanding all the potential problems on the M5, my normal route of choice into Cornwall would be the A30. However, that’s what everybody else will be doing this time of the year and sometimes using the A38 can work out to your advantage, particularly if visiting the south coast. It’s surprising how light A38 traffic can be these days. Equally, it can be horrendous! Using A38 to connect to A30 can also work. Impossible to predict, but if you’ve got access to live traffic information keep an eye on both options ahead of the big decision at junction 31. Don’t in despair be tempted to go ‘cross country’ with a caravan. It’ll end in tears!
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The OP is talking about getting out of Cornwall, not in.
Whether he uses the A30 or A38 depends largely on his starting point. Who without good reason would choose the A38 Glynn Valley in preference to the, now, dual c/way A30 across the Moor? 🤷♂️
Anyway, you have to pay to get out using the A38/Tamar Bridge🥴which itself is subject to works and delays at present.
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We have done Yorkshire to Cornwall, and reverse for thirty plus years. If you can avoid Saturdays, then do so, because it’s the day that everyone else will be travelling as well. If you are thinking of doing it in one go, then be prepared to be on the road for many hours. Both the A30 and the A38 can be horrendous, and that’s before you hit the M5. You certainly don’t want to be anywhere near Bristol mid afternoon. Like others have said, if your days away allow, head off out of Cornwall a day early, get North of Bristol and stay overnight somewhere. The further South in Cornwall you are staying, the busier the roads will get as you head North, as all the routes eventually end up on those two main roads. The oncoming traffic from the Newquay area used to clog up the A30 awfully.
Going cross country in Cornwall can be done, but only in the most extreme circumstances (eg, when traffic hasn’t moved for a couple of hours!) But it requires a very good tow car, a small outfit and an intimate knowledge of local roads. And will indeed be stressful.
Listen to the traffic updates. Be aware of any road works. Have a secondary route home in your mind for further along. If the M5 is busy/a problem North of Bristol, consider M4, A46, M69, M1 as an alternative. It’s through the Cotswolds, but it’s generally a good alternative, with plenty of rest areas.
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A very early start will get you out of Cornwall, and even across Devon too. It's the M5 which can be stop/start on Saturdays, even without accidents along the way which bring everything to lockdown.
If parking with a caravan proves to be impossible at any of the service stations on the M5 then an alternative is to venture into Cribbs Causeway mall at junction 17. We have taken caravans several times into the furthest, highest parking area near the upper level of M&S - and even done a bit of food shopping there.
Take care.
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Well that’s me told, must pay attention next time!
The answer to your question though is somebody wanting to avoid a queue on the A30 (should that be the case). If you haven’t experienced that you need to get out more! Road/lane closures for various reasons are not uncommon on the A30 so for £2 Tamar Bridge is a cheap escape route.
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Need to get out more?😱
Thanks for the info about my local roads. Perhaps you've not experienced delays on the A38 since moving down from Bristol🤷🏻♂️.
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I’ve been living in Devon & Cornwall on & off since 1979 including Ivybridge, Plymouth and Torpoint so yes, I have experienced a few delays on your A38.
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Ah, you'll soon be classed as a local😀
By your own admission, delays can occur on both roads so there’s no foolproof answer. Thanks for the confirmation👍🏻
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We normally travel Friday evening and stay at the Exeter racecourse Club site in their overnight area and then leave for Cornwall the next morning. It's always been much better.
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