I'd quite forgotten the stretch you mean. Heading south, it's on the descent from Bodmin Moor, about three miles west of Bolventor.
As you say, the dual carriageway across the moor becomes single for about three miles after the turning to Temple until the second turning for Blisland.
The reason I'd forgotten is that I've never experienced any serious hold-up there, just a slowing-down. But I rarely drive down the A30 in the summer holidays and when I do it is late at night.
I don't understand why they left that short section single when the the road over the moor was dualled and the Bodmin bypass was built.
You can't easily avoid that section of the A30 if you are heading from 'up country' to Newquay. The only feasible alternative route would be to leave the A30 at Kenards House (just west of Launceston), follow A395 to the A39, then A39 all the way to St Columb Road. But that would involve thirty-odd miles of single carriageway road including the bottleneck at Camelford and many very slow sections. Better to sit it out on the A30.
To bring this thread back to the UKCS Forums topic of 'Camping Under Canvas' (rather than 'Guide To Bottlenecks In Cornwall'), the OP mentions 'a week of blissful camping' so which campsites in and around Newquay do people recommend?
Personally, I really love north Cornwall and I go there a lot. But I avoid Newquay like the plague - it's far too crowded and too noisy for my taste.
Quote: Originally posted by happycampers98 on 15/8/2012
We got stuck there on the saturday the kids broke up. Travelled from dudley, near birm, we started out at half 10 and got to the site at half 5!!
Standstill traffic on m5 and the stretch where it turns into single lane on a30.
Thought no way were we gonna do that again so instead of coming back on the saturday morning we started out from the site at 7 on the friday night. Got back in our house at half 10, fabulous!
Next time we will travel early on a sunday morning and do it that way to avoid all the idiots and traffic!!
That's the same Sat my SIL got stuck in it!! As I say, they left Birmingham at 7am and arrived on site in Newquay at 3.30pm. They said it was just hellish. They had a very grumpy toddler by the time they got to us. We had our entire set up done and were having a beer
No need to boast brickiemum lol lol. Think a couple of caravans had overturned on the motorway and seeing the state of some of them i wasnt surprised.
We wont be doing that journey on that day again!!
Quote: Originally posted by Sceptical Camper on 15/8/2012
To bring this thread back to the UKCS Forums topic of 'Camping Under Canvas' (rather than 'Guide To Bottlenecks In Cornwall'), the OP mentions 'a week of blissful camping' so which campsites in and around Newquay do people recommend?
Personally, I really love north Cornwall and I go there a lot. But I avoid Newquay like the plague - it's far too crowded and too noisy for my taste.
There's a campsite I'm going to in a little over a week called Trevornick, its about five miles (or so) outside of Newquay. Its a really nice site with first class facilities like heated outdoor swimingpool, bar, cafe, restraunt, fishing ponds, golf course etc. Its also about half an hours walk from the beach, its a nice walk down through the campsite and through the sand dunes, done it many a time.
The good thin about it is that its close enough to Newquay so that if you want to go for a night out you can, but its not too close if you know what I mean.
we're just back from Trevornick, was really nice site for families. Lots of facilities but not rowdy. St Ives is lovely for camping too, lots of tourists but a lot calmer than Newquay.
This will be the third time I've camped at Trevornick, fingers crossed we get good weather. We're heading down August 24th (driving through the night to hopefully avoid the trafic) and leaving September 8th.
We drove from Manchester to Padstow the other week and the 5 and a half hour journey took 8 hours. The M6 wasn't the problem, it was the latter half of the M5 and the A30 into Cornwall that added the extra hours.
We are currently at Hendra,lovely site with lots to do for the kids,just aswell cos the weather is beastly at the moment.
Newquay itself is not our cup of tea,quite depressing,no wonder the youngsters like it,full of bars and clubs!! Although the beaches are amazing!!
We are using it as a base really to visit places like Fowey,Padstow,Mevegissy,Polperro etc.
Cornwall still is and probably will be my most favourite places to visit,but to be honest I think next year we will go in search of the ever elusive sunshine
------------- One day your life will flash before your eyes,make sure it's worth watching
Whack down the m1 to junct 15,thenhead west on the a43..p ast silverstone,join the m40 for a junction then take the a34 downto the m4.....get past bristol an you willbe away,as everyone says try to travel overnight,cos august the whole country wants to be here..
I thought the A34 was my little secret! It is a surprisingly useful road, even for someone who lives in Sussex. I've used it to avoid Salisbury when getting to the A303 and to avoid road works on the M1/M25 when coming back from Milton Keynes or Birmingham.
aah see we keep it quiet,we used to (an still do) use it all the time when we lived in northampton,it cut across middle earth (england), quite nicely for us,a busy dual,but blooming good ......now we only got the a30 to play with.....
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Journey to Newquay (M5)
