Driving from Milton Keynes to Newport, Wales - Any routes to take/avoid?

info_maniac

I need to drive from Milton Keynes to Newport, Wales for the coming 2 weeks to work at a client site.

I have never driven to wales before and have found that I need to pay the toll on the severn bridge crossing in cash (£6.50) , they may or may not accept the cash.

I need to be at the client site by 9:30-10:00 each day, so will not be able to drive everyday, but am looking to do atleast 2 rounds a week.

Are there any routes to avoid or are there any I should prefer. I plan to leave between 6:30 - 7:00 am from Milton Keynes, but I am not aware of the traffic situation in the morning on the A roads and the Motorway.

Also, all online route planner are showing me different routes and I am really confused now.

Even google maps is showing me 3 routes, I am confused which one I should take or avoid.

I used the TomTom route planner as well, but that shows me a completely different and 25 miles longer route A43->M40->A34->M4.

Here is the link to the route.

Any advice would be helpful.

Tofu_eater

Considering where you are leaving from if you drove a route crossing over to Wales on the M48 rather than the M4 then you would save paying the toll fee every time (I drive to Wales quite a lot and I know there is no fee to cross there) although you would need to consider that it would probably take you longer driving on all the smaller roads and whether it would be worth the saving if you are delayed significantly on busy periods. I don't know how the traffic would be etc.I hardly ever use the M48 route as it means I would be driving out of my way to get to it and it makes more sense to me to pay the toll fee but with your route you are coming from a different direction so it wouldn't seem so impractical for you to incorporate crossing there into your route.Perhaps you could look up whether there is a weekly rate available for the toll fee to save you money.I really do not have much clue about driving routes and traffic etc apart form this suggestion,I am no expert!

info_maniac

Thanks for the info. Yes, I am not too keen on saving the toll charge and would pay the £6.50 if it saves me some time. I am mainly worried about the traffic as I will be travelling during the peak hours in the morning (6-10 am) and also coming back around 6-10 pm in the evening.

All online route planners are showing me different routes and I am slightly confused now.

ariba10

You will pay tolls on the M48. (Unless you have exemption ) Blue Badge for example.

You could drive up the M5 then down the M50. But not worth the extra mileage.

info_maniac

I am also trying to find out any motorway services where I can stop for a loo break , coffee etc. Any idea how do I find these?

ariba10

On the Motorways they are roughly 25/30 miles or 30 min apart.

Tofu_eater

Ok sorry maybe I got it wrong.I have driven across to Wales from Bristol on a bridge/road without paying I assumed it was the M48 when I looked it up on the map but maybe it was a different road/bridge. Toll fee isn't an issue anyway for OP it seems.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Most direct route isn't great but none of them are, A421 via Buckingham to Bicester (choice there, pick up A43 and risk the M40 section to A34 junction can be a nightmare or follow down to Bicester round east side ring road missing M40 completely), then A34 onto A420 at Botley (Oxford) to Swindon A419 to M4.

Check highways agency site, A420 had been dug up just off the A34 south west bound, if the road is still shut you can bypass this section by dropping down into Botley and driving up the old A420 and rejoin the new road at the top of the hill, but that juntion at Botley can be really bad at peak times...hopefully the road works are finished now.

A34 roadworks have been causing serious probs at Milton interchange, how long they are on for i don't know but its an awful long way down the A34 to the M4, A420 despite the traffic it carries is much shorter and faster.

You could if you fancy try cross country one morning, Buckingham, Aynho, Deddington, Chipping Norton, Moreton in the Marsh, pick up A44, A46, M5/M50 and on to Newport, it sounds convoluted but there isn't a lot in it and might be an alternative if the M4 is blocked, as you can duck and dive a bit if you encounter any hold ups as you'll see if you check the map...going down this way saves the severn charge which is only charged when entering Wales.

Some people also go via A34 then pick up A40 at Oxford and head towards Cheltenham veering down to the A417 to drop on M5, then down to M4, but that getting from A34 onto A40 at that time in the morning will be horrible.
It looks tempting if you do use that route to continue along A40 from Gloucester ring road to Ross on Wye, but that section of A40 is a horrible and busy road.

Greggs for excellent coffee and bacon and sausage rolls at Leigh Delamare services M4 just past jct 17, also (and cheaper) at the BP services Ross on Wye if you fancy trying the M50 one morning.

veryoldbear

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Most direct route isn't great but none of them are, A421 via Buckingham to Bicester (choice there, pick up A43 and risk the M40 section to A34 junction can be a nightmare or follow down to Bicester round east side ring road missing M40 completely), then A34 onto A420 at Botley (Oxford) to Swindon A419 to M4.

Check highways agency site, A420 had been dug up just off the A34 south west bound, if the road is still shut you can bypass this section by dropping down into Botley and driving up the old A420 and rejoin the new road at the top of the hill, but that juntion at Botley can be really bad at peak times...hopefully the road works are finished now.

A34 roadworks have been causing serious probs at Milton interchange, how long they are on for i don't know but its an awful long way down the A34 to the M4, A420 despite the traffic it carries is much shorter and faster.

You could if you fancy try cross country one morning, Buckingham, Aynho, Deddington, Chipping Norton, Moreton in the Marsh, pick up A44, A46, M5/M50 and on to Newport, it sounds convoluted but there isn't a lot in it and might be an alternative if the M4 is blocked, as you can duck and dive a bit if you encounter any hold ups as you'll see if you check the map...going down this way saves the severn charge which is only charged when entering Wales.

Some people also go via A34 then pick up A40 at Oxford and head towards Cheltenham veering down to the A417 to drop on M5, then down to M4, but that getting from A34 onto A40 at that time in the morning will be horrible.
It looks tempting if you do use that route to continue along A40 from Gloucester ring road to Ross on Wye, but that section of A40 is a horrible and busy road.

Greggs for excellent coffee and bacon and sausage rolls at Leigh Delamare services M4 just past jct 17, also (and cheaper) at the BP services Ross on Wye if you fancy trying the M50 one morning.

I live just off the A34 and this analysis is spot-on.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Thanks veryoldbear, glad a local agrees, i could have mentioned using the old A43 down through Middleton Stoney to Weston on the Green if M40 is dodgy but i expect our poor OP's head is spinning already, i don't envy him or her doing this journey.

Could i pick your brain for a mo please , is the A420 re-opened climbing the hill to Cumnor yet please?

maninthestreet

I used to live in MK many years ago, and drove to Cardiff 3 or 4 times a year. I used to live on the south western edge of Bletchley, and used the following route:

Bletchley -> Newton Longueville -> Stewkley -> Wing -> Aylesbury -> Oxford -> M4 J13, then continue on the M4 for the rest of the journey.

Alternative route would be to use A420 to get from Oxford to Swindon, then take M4 from Swindon.