Meeting place between Salisbury and Worthy Farm

[BlueDaze]

I am towing my caravan and friends are in their old campevan... (and possibly other friends in spanking new campervan)..

I am heading down the M3/A303 and friends are coming from the south coast, probably heading up the A36 via Salisbury.. looking for a place to meet on Tuesday am, in order that we enter CV East together to set up camp.. 

I was thinking about one of the big lay-by's on the A303 at Mere..? Is this a sound idea or a stupid one..? any other suggestions.?

(Please dont recommend anywhere that is going to require any funky caravan manouvering..i will be stressed enough towing it down the motorway, with trying to make it go backwards..) 

[Smeble]

Podimore services on the a303 at the a37 roundabout, plenty of space, 24hr fuel if you need it, toilets, Burger King, then straight up the a37 to the blue route into cv east.

[balti-pie]

24 minutes ago, Smeble said:

Podimore services on the a303 at the a37 roundabout, plenty of space, 24hr fuel if you need it, toilets, Burger King, then straight up the a37 to the blue route into cv east.

I had an absolutely immense crap there after Glastonbury 2014. Huge. Like King Kong's finger. This is a kind of endorsement for this as a meeting place btw! 

[BlueDaze]

1 minute ago, balti-pie said:

I had an absolutely immense crap there after Glastonbury 2014. Huge. Like King Kong's finger. This is a kind of endorsement for this as a meeting place btw! 

I will take an axe in case it is still there...

[BlueDaze]

28 minutes ago, Smeble said:

Podimore services on the a303 at the a37 roundabout, plenty of space, 24hr fuel if you need it, toilets, Burger King, then straight up the a37 to the blue route into cv east.

There will be no requirement for jiggery-pokery with the caravan..? i cant afford to crash with sight of the place... it would be soul destroying..

[Smeble]

34 minutes ago, BlueDaze said:

There will be no requirement for jiggery-pokery with the caravan..? i cant afford to crash with sight of the place... it would be soul destroying..

Nope, drive in drive out truck spaces, what time are you looking at getting there? If during the night it will be full of trucks but anytime after 7 am should be pretty empty. 

There is also sparkford services a couple of miles before podimore on the a303 DO NOT be tempted to stop  there, it has a McDonald's and  it will be rammed and will be a nightmare if you aren't confident with the caravan.

 

[Smeble]

Podimore services, plenty of room 

[BlueDaze]

6 minutes ago, Smeble said:

Nope, drive in drive out truck spaces, what time are you looking at getting there? If during the night it will be full of trucks but anytime after 7 am should be pretty empty. 

There is also sparkford services a couple of miles before podimore on the a303 DO NOT be tempted to stop  there, it has a McDonald's and  it will be rammed and will be a nightmare if you aren't confident with the caravan.

 

i should be there mid/late morning on Tuesday... It is on the roudabout for the A37 right.??

[Smeble]

Yep, should be pretty empty at that time, apart from other cv bound festival goers of course

[BlueDaze]

12 minutes ago, Smeble said:

Yep, should be pretty empty at that time, apart from other cv bound festival goers of course

Excellent...! Thanks for the advice and i assume local knowledge...

Only 23 days.!

 

[phillyfaddle]

Being local, I'd recommend meeting at the Wincanton exit on A303, as assume you'll be heading up to Pilton on A371 (it's the quietest of the approach roads). There's a Travelodge/services area you can park up - turn left at the first mini roundabout.

[BlueDaze]

5 hours ago, phillyfaddle said:

Being local, I'd recommend meeting at the Wincanton exit on A303, as assume you'll be heading up to Pilton on A371 (it's the quietest of the approach roads). There's a Travelodge/services area you can park up - turn left at the first mini roundabout.

hmmmm... usually just follow the A37.. Queues have never been that bad on a tuesday. I once took the A371 accidently (listening to damn SatNav..) and it was a bit small to tow the caravan down (at least the last bit - cutting over to the A37 for Blue Route - was..)

[Smeble]

There's not as much at the wincanton services, kfc and a travel lodge, never been in there so no idea what the parking is like, podimore is much better for someone not overly confident manovering a caravan, much more space as its used by trucks ( I fuel mine up in there most days) 

[geoffboycott]

Another local here, I'd prob err on Podimore over Wincanton, especially if taking the A37 route.  However the idea of stopping at a layby is not a bad one if its just a case of waiting for a short while to get the convoy together.  I would do it before Wincanton as there are couple of decent size.

On a side note, took this on Sunday AM just before sunrise on the way back home, not a soul around in Pilton, apart from rabbits, it was very peaceful and really brought home, its only a few weeks away!

[annax]

+1 for caravan at Podimore

[phillyfaddle]

20 hours ago, BlueDaze said:

hmmmm... usually just follow the A37.. Queues have never been that bad on a tuesday. I once took the A371 accidently (listening to damn SatNav..) and it was a bit small to tow the caravan down (at least the last bit - cutting over to the A37 for Blue Route - was..)

Ah, I missed you were towing a caravan - its great in a car, but def stick to your usual route.

Edited May 31, 2016 by phillyfaddle

[BlueDaze]

Thank you all.... 

If you happen to be in Podimore Services late morning on the Tuesday, watch out for a black Saab towing a Bailey caravan and steer well clear..