Alan Payling considers the alternative route to the West Country via the M3/A303/A30 and suggests that contrary to the view of many, there are places that welcome coaches on that road
When I speak to tour drivers who travel to the many resorts on the South West peninsula from the South East and Eastern England, many say they would like to travel via the A303 corridor. However, the reason why they don’t is because of the apparent lack of facilities for coach parties. ‘There’s nowhere to stop,’ they say.
While the driver might agree that it is a good and scenic road, the perceived lack of places to feed, water and relieve their passengers deters them heading west via Stonehenge. However, while there are services on the A303 route, there are other places that will welcome coach parties and given that they are not service stations that might be an incentive to give them a try. They might also appeal because of the attractions they’re attached to. [wlm_nonmember][…]
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Mileage
Let’s look at the mileage first. The AA’s Route Planner tells me the distance from Heston Services on the M4 to Torquay on the M4/M5 route is 203 miles. On the A303 corridor, the distance is listed as 187 miles. However, with regard to time, the M4/M5 route is slightly quicker at three hours, 20 minutes. That is an average of about 61mph, so it would take longer in a coach. By how much, on the M4/M5? How long is your piece of string? The AA Route Planner says that the A303 route would take three hours, 30 minutes at an average speed of 54mph. Not an awful lot in it then.
The tricky bit on the A303/A30 is the stretch over the Blackdown Hills on the Somerset Devon border from Ilminster to Honiton. This is a single carriageway and can be slow, but it is the most scenic part of the journey west apart from the open vistas across Salisbury Plain. For those who are pressing on to Cornwall, they can drop off the A303 and head to the M5 on the A358 at Ilminster and join the motorway at J25. This is a short stretch which links the A303 and the M5 where the traffic, while busy, usually keeps moving.
Overall then, in comparing the two routes, it’s as long as it is short with some good, scenic roads on the A303 and no bottleneck like Bristol in the way. So, what’s on offer?
Places to eat
Subject to where you have come from and where you’re going, you could have a stop at Fleet Services on the M3. This leaves 159 miles to Torquay, say, or a run of about three hours. That might be a bit far for some bladders, so a quick stop at Exeter Services on the M5 might be a welcome relief for some. There are in fact services on the A303 at Popham Services near Micheldever just after you join the A303 and at Countess Services near Amesbury, but they are really petrol stations with diners, so for coach parties, aren’t really suitable. Other places on the A303/A30 are suitable though and welcome coach parties.
Cafe 750, Haynes International Motor Museum, Sparkford, A303
73.5 miles – One hour, 31 minutes to Torquay
This cafe is attached to an attraction that welcomes coach parties to stop there to enjoy the on-site catering facilities without having to pay an entrance fee. The Cafe 750 at Haynes International Motor Museum is near to Hazelgrove roundabout on the A303. From there, follow signs to Services/Sparkford. Drivers will then pick up signs for ‘Motor museum.’ Drivers should take the second entrance to the site and follow signs for ‘Cafe 750’ where they will find the drop-off point right outside the main entrance. The cafe is inside the main building.
Bookings are required particularly if the driver wants to enjoy a complimentary meal. However, I am told that they won’t turn anyone away. On offer is a modern cafe offering a range of fairly light meals and snacks that will keep the passengers going. Seating is also available outside in the Somerset sunshine. The site is open from 2 March to 28 October, Monday to Sunday from 0930 to 1730hrs and from 29 October to 1 March, Monday to Sunday from 0930 to 1630hrs.
Contact: 01963 440804 ext. 237
Swordfish Cafe, Fleet Air Arm Museum, Podimore, Yeovilton, A303
69 miles – One hour, 27 minutes to Torquay
While many will have visited the Fleet Air Arm Museum to see the grand collection of aeroplanes and helicopters inside, they do welcome coach parties to stop and just use the on-site cafe. Rather than being in the main building, the Swordfish Cafe is outside the main complex, so access is very convenient from the coach drop-off point.
The Fleet Air Museum is well signposted from the A303 on the B3151 Ilchester/Yeovilton road being a mile or so from the main highway west. Given the size of the cafe, booking is required with a recommendation to make it 24 hours in advance. The Swordfish Cafe is open from 0930 until 1700hrs during the summer season (April to October, daily) and 0930hrs until 1600hrs during the winter season (November to March, Wed to Sun only).
The menu is changed daily and in addition to cooked meals there is a range of lighter snacks on offer. For those who have visited the cafe before and are thinking it might be bit small if it’s busy, extra seating is available both inside and on a sunny day, outside in the picnic area.
Contact: 01935 842615
If you used one of the above cafes on the way down, then you will have the opportunity to offer a visit to the other on the return journey, offering your passengers a bit of variety. Of course, there may be some on board who, seeing where they are, may want to have a closer look at the cars or the aeroplanes on the way home. Depends how much time you’ve got, but if it keeps them happy…
Other places to stop and shop
When you’re travelling up and down the A303/A30, there are other places that might just appeal which offer your passengers a lot more than just a speedy – sometimes – journey home on the motorway with a quick stop at a service station. There are two places on the lower stretches of the A303/A30 route that will provide that magic elixir that keeps many people happy: shopping.
Honiton A30
37 miles – 49 minutes to Torquay
For example, you might want to give your passengers the opportunity to soak up the atmosphere of a lively street market at the heart of one of the West Country’s most enduring market towns at Honiton. Street markets have contributed to the vibrancy and appeal of the place since 1257.
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, stalls offer a wide variety of products which include fresh produce, flowers and plants, clothing, jewellery, bric-a-brac and antiques. If your passengers are tired of the same old cloned high street, then the place to take them is Honiton.
One of the best features of the town is the abundance of independent shops which includes quality butchers, bakers, delicatessen and fishmongers which are still very much a part of Honiton selling locally-produced food.
Among the wide range of shops which offer a selection of goods are the town’s famous antique shops. Honiton is an attractive place with the fine High Street and its Georgian buildings, many being former coaching houses, being noted assets of the town.
Contact Honiton Town Council: 01404 42957
Drop-off: War Memorial/St Paul’s Church on the High Street
Free coach parking: Beehive, Dowell St., Honiton, EX14 1LZ
Otter Nurseries, Ottery St Mary, A30
34 miles – 45 minutes from Torquay
For people who like shopping and who might experience withdrawal symptoms if they don’t visit a garden centre on a regular basis, a visit to Otter Nurseries might just relieve their craving. It’s not far from the A30 with plenty of parking and a convenient drop-off point close to the entrance. As you can imagine, as this is a garden centre, there are all the delights at Otter Nurseries that this sort of emporium is famous for.
This includes a very large cafeteria with a good selection of meals on offer throughout the day. I stopped here when I was taking a group from the Isle of Wight to Newquay as it was such a convenient location. When we set off back to the island from Cornwall, I asked the group if they wanted to stop at Otter Nurseries again or at Exeter Services. I was delighted at their unanimous choice as the free meal they gave me at Otter Nurseries was very tasty and kept me going all day. Bookings are required.
To get to Otter Nurseries from the west, turn off the A30 and follow the signs for Ottery St Mary. You will then pick up signs for Ottery St Mary B3177 and signs for Otter Nurseries itself. Its 2.4 miles from the A30 so the AA says you will be there in four minutes. From the east, follow signs for Fenny Bridges A3177. You will then pick up signs for Otter Nurseries. Don’t go through the birthplace of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Ottery St Mary itself, unless you’ve got plenty of time. It’s a charming place but you might find that because it is narrow in places that there is traffic, traffic everywhere!
Contact: 01404 815815
Otter Nurseries, Gosford Road, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1LZ
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