Hi all

Need to drive from Surrey down to Torquay on Saturday, I am looking to get to Torquay for about 3pm, will probably need to stop off midway and feed and change the bubba.

Google gives me the options of:

179 mi, 3 hours 28 mins A303
207 mi, 3 hours 35 mins M4 and M5
189 mi, 3 hours 42 mins M3 and A35

What would you guys recommend, I like the A303 its scenic, but with the little one, looking for the easiest / least likely to get held up!

Also, looking for a stop midway too for the pitstop.

Thanks y'all

There's a loo and a giftshop at Stonehenge...

Personally, I think the M4 M5 junction is the worst signed in the country, and *always* miss it... so I'd go M3. But I haven't been down there for years, so what do I know?

I have done this journey a few times on my motorbike . The M3 and the A303 for me . The M4 /M5 always seem to take forever i know its longer but boring .

yes, as a rule, the M4/M5 is boring, but nothing like as boring as taking 6 hours to do it when the 303 gets snarled, which it does at the drop of a hat.
If the A380 is busy from Newton Abbot towards Torquay (which is likely at weekends ), take the first exit at Penn Inn roundabout, and take the first right and keep going, you hit Torquay from behind and any run into the locals, rather than the caravans and coaches.

I'm from Torquay and live in London and I only ever go via the A303, but I popped home 3 weeks ago and there were some crazy diversions on the A303 due to road works so check that out before you go! I also like to go very late or very early to avoid traffic, the coupe always enjoys the open roads!

There are plenty of places to stop, there's even a newly refurbished road chef with a new paint job (black not red) on the roundabout before the turn off for Ilminster.

The A303 is a fantastic road for scenery i could never get bored of it . It does slow up when you get near stonehenge .

If you take the A303 Shaftesbury is a good place for a pit stop (it's where the "Hovis" hill is (Gold Hill).

I always use the A303, as above, nice journey..stonehenge always turns heads, but a couple of bottle necks on the way. but Shouldn't be to bad

Thanks all - I reckon the 303 is the winner

A303 every time for a more interesting drive, goes past the Haynes motor museum (worth a look in the red room) and a lot more dual carriageway than there used to be, and a bizarre 3 lane section with alternating overtaking lanes and speed cameras, enjoy!

of course we do have to ask why you need to be in Torquay for 3pm on a Saturday when the Mighty TUFC are playing away?!

As Madonna once sang, i'm like a virgin...ooopps not that one, more like Holiday

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?

If you carry on like that, I will do as my Dad did and from his driving position try to reach round and smack our legs, with his hand flailing around wildly and only really giving the seat a beating

Now continue with your list of things to spot as we drive along:

Yellow VW Beetle
Bus
Horse
Farm house
etc
etc
etc

and the one none of us ever spotted...

A one legged nun riding her bike!!

I need a pee..........

Tooo late!

i thought you always smelled like that!

Yes, but now you know the reason why.....it's JimO's driving!

Time passes much quicker with a good few frames of car snooker.

Cars passing in the opposite direction.

Start with a red (1 point)
Then a colour, same scoring as snooker.
Then a red, colour, red, colour etc..

Repeat until a white car passes, then it's a foul and end of break.

ONLY include cars, not vans, trucks etc.

I got a 50 break the other weekend

Was that last week?

I vividly remember the (regular) pull into a layby, followed by a swift dose of summary justice. Not fair really, as "it was him dad". Little brothers

Can you see the sea? No? Then we're not there yet. Now shut up or I'm turning this car right around.

See the sea? I think I'm sitting in it! I ~*told* you I needed a pee..... <kicks back of seat>