Rest break near Exeter good for caravan and dogs
Hi All. We are due to embark on our longest trip yet…Southampton to Truro (we’re new to this!) And looking for recommendations for somewhere with good access for a rest break within half an hour of Exeter, either side. Need it to be ok for towing a caravan and giving the dogs a quick walk, preferably more than just a sniff around on a verge. Any ideas? Thanks 🤞🏻🤞🏻
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I’m not sure because it’s a bit close to home for us to ever need a break in that area but, whatever you do, avoid Exeter Services at all costs. If you're on the M5 and want a m/way service area, Taunton Dean is good for caravan parking and has a fair bit of grass around the edge.
If you’re planning to use the A30, I'd check out possibilities west of Exeter via Google Earth but there is very little other than lay-bys as far as I’m aware. Do the same for the A30/A303 east of Exeter.
I don’t know when you’re planning to travel but it’s very busy everywhere this year.
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You could use the CMC site at Exeter Racecourse. Easy access, signposted off the A38 in the direction of Plymouth. There is loads of space there and you could park up in the site overflow car park on the left just before the reception entrance. Apart from race days there is acres of space and nobody would bat an eyelid as caravans and motorhomes are often parked there for various reasons. I’m sure if you wanted to ok it with the wardens they wouldn’t have a problem with you being there for an hour or so. You can also walk (underpass) to the services on the other side of the A38 where there’s shops and fast food.
Its also a great site for an overnight stay or longer. Generally has pitches available and cheap compared to most CMC sites.
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If you're traveling via the A35, via Dorchester & Bridport, there's a rest area just west of Bridport suitable for caravans. Bit of grass for the dogs to have a comfort break though I don't think it's big enough to run them off the leads.
It's located just over the brow of the hill just west of Bridport.
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Anne, try and travel mid week, or very early in the day, or late into the evening, but avoid coming into Cornwall on a Saturday morning at all costs. Have a safe journey.
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Anne - please be aware that if you're heading for Truro down the A30, there are very long (and I mean very, very long) queues at Carland Cross where prep work has already started for dualling the next section down to Chyverton Cross. Friends of ours said the queues were stretching up to 7 miles back last weekend, and it's not restricted to peak times.
I'm not sure what the alternative towing route might be - which site are you heading for?
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Yes that's a good one but the roads down there are very busy so start your journey as early as possible. After that I'd avoid services and use lay bys if possible, Exeter services will be packed (50 mile queues predicted on M5 etc.) Use the A30 and just after Honiton the lay bys are set well back from the road, our dog copes with them. The next off the road ones are on the A30 approaching Sowton and there is also Sowton Services. Good luck, start early and you can always wait in a lay by nearer to your destination or at Cornwall Services not far from Truro. Good luck!
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We regularly travel on the M5 and the M4 M5 we never make these journeys on a Friday or Saturday in the summer, it's just too busy. I do know that not everyone has the option of avoiding the weekends but it's best to try. With the volume of people coming here at the moment the journey isn't good even during the week, let alone a weekend.As Brue says, best to start early, and I know that's what Moulesy always does.
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"….you can always wait in a lay by nearer to your destination or at Cornwall Services not far from Truro."
I fear waiting as far back as Cornwall Services will greatly enhance your chance of being delayed by the roadworks referred to by Moulesy. Best to get through the Chiverton to Carland section before you find a time killing spot if possible.
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In view of the roadworks on the Tamar Bridge, the A38's not a great choice at present, especially at peak times.
Rock and a hard place, eh?
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Rather than regurgitate hearsay, all I can say is that I’ve driven the A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross route several times in recent weeks and it’s been no better or worse that at most at times, and June here is exceptionally busy. In Civil Engineering speak the new route is being created ‘off line’ so limited impact on the existing A30 single carriageway which will be retained as a local route once works are complete. That 8 mile section has long been a congestion hot spot in its own right and will continue to be so until the new road is opened. So, yes there will be more congestion this year, but most of it is down to the staycation boom and that will impact on folks whichever route they chose.
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Bill, it's not the single carriageway stretch between Carland and Chyverton which is the main problem - it's the final bit of dual carriageway from around Summercourt up to Carland Cross where the build up is - you wouldn't have wanted to be there last Wednesday, around 6 ish!
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Yes, but my point is there can be a 100 reasons for a traffic jam. On more than one occasion I’ve followed a convoy of cauliflower tractors on that stretch of road which temporarily creates mayhem for several miles in their wake, but it’s not a reason to avoid it next time around. Can you be sure it’s a problem that was created by and will persist because of the new road construction? My experience over many months is that the new road scheme is not a source of much congestion compared to previous A30 widening schemes e.g, Temple.
Cornwall is heaving, every car park, pub, restaurant, campsite, hotel and holiday let is full.
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Fair enough, it could be for any number of vegetable transportation related reasons, but the construction work is, I think, an additional factor which folk need to be aware of, particularly over the next couple of months when the traffic volumes will be considerably heavier than so far.
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Which is why they have notices up warning of road works and delays.👍🏻
I agree with SB to an extent as it was OK at times back in June but here we are in mid-July just starting the peak of the season and the mighty unlocking. I don’t think personal experience can be classed as hearsay and my experience is of the need to divert on occasion or to choose the southern route to Truro.
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"Cornwall is heaving, every car park, pub, restaurant, campsite, hotel and holiday let is full."
A slight exaggeration, SB. It is very busy but there are Pub Stops and pop up campsites with scarcely a unit on them. Commercial sites - yes, probably full but not "every" site or car park. 😀
PS. Even club sites in Cornwall have availability through to August.
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In that case turn off the A30 dual carriageway at the previous exit (fraddon) and approach Truro from there on the B3275 going down through Ladock.
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Yes, that's the sort of useful information that would help the OP. Is that route ok for towing?
To be clear, we don't tow and we're heading for Perranporth rather than Truro so just lately we turn off onto the A390/A39 through Quintrell Downs and the outskirts (thank goodness) of Newquay.
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I would second the suggestion of using the B3275. We used it on Friday morning a week ago albeit travelling from Truro to the A30.
It's a good road entirely suitable for towing and was quiet when we used it.
Although we live near Exeter I can't add much to what has already been said about rest stops in the area. Using the Exeter racecourse club site, as has been suggested, would be good if it is allowed but only if you are using the A38 via Plymouth, you would have to back track for a few miles to pick up the A30.
There is a small rest area just off the A30 at Honiton, take the more westerly of the 2 Honiton exits and turn right at the bottom of the slip road. Don't know how busy it gets or what space there is for caravans.
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If it is at all possible for Annesats, date wise and timewise, why doesn't she just book an extra night at Exeter Racecourse site en route to Cornwall?
There is plenty of dog walking around the site, it's not far back to to pick up the A30 and it's not hard to find. Looking at the latest availability it only shows 2 night at the end of July that are full soother is space there as well. She would also get an early start the following day.
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