Paging anyone between London and Hereford

What are the roads like out that way?

Not great, I suspect...

 

Probably not as bad as they are your way, my father in law, who is
supposed to be coming to us for Christmas, was on the 'phone this
morning saying there was 6" of snow in Leominster. I looked on the
Highways Agency site and couldn't see anything that was likely to be
an problem between there and here.

 

I've not driven or ridden anywhere since Thursday, and I've not been
outside zone three in a fortnight. But round here the snow's pretty much
melted away, though still icy.

Hereford, otoh, I've just heard described as "very festive" and "like
Alaska".

 

I'm just slightly off your route but have been out and about today.

Varies from fairly good to OMG

Getting over the Malverns is pretty bad and anything off major roads
is challenging. Hereford itself has been grid locked every morning and
night this week.

Leominster and surrounding area was grim today.

I would probably do M40 -M42- M5 South - M50 - A49

Bit convaluted but you can check all but the A49 on web cams from BBC
local radio websites before you leave.


Boxerboy

 

We had heavy snow here & in Hereford on Monday. Main roads are clear now
but prone to icing up overnight. Tesco in Belmont cancelled my sister's
grocery delivery on Monday.

There was heavy snow in Worcester & Bromsgrove today. Lots of icy roads
inc. the A44 through Worcester. My local petrol station is low on fuel as
the tanker didn't leave the depot in Worcs this morning. So, avoid the Fish
Hill route.

If you come along the A40 to Gloucester and then go via Newent or Ledbury
you should be okay as long as it does not snow again. It was pretty nasty
in Oxford on Monday & Tuesday but the main roads should be clear.

Side roads aren't being cleared so going past junctions where the snow has
been dragged out into the main road can be fun. I'd avoid any detours on
minor roads if the traffic is heavy.

 

As someone who used to commute into Blackfriars St, it does not take snow
to do that. It used to take me longer to get from Tesco at Belmont into the
office than it took to get from Abergavenny to Belmont when the schools
were in.

 

Mind-boggling, really.

 

Not just in your neck of the woods. It's a problem in my part of SW
London, too.

 

Got to go from Kidderminster to Evesham and then to Bretforton
tomorrow morning. Not looking forward to it A44 was closed in 4 places
today and there was a foot of snow around there this morning.

Know what you mean on the commute- used to take me almost as long from
the city limits in to Bath Road as it did from Stourport through
Bromyard to Hereford City Limits

Boxerboy

 

I managed to convince V that driving would be a bloody stupid idea, so
160 quid later we have train tickets and (for the most part) seat
reservations.

First for me, standard for her, natch.

 

That's some kind of Essex slang for Stella, right?

 

I'm already looking forward to the write up

 

"How I spent my christmas stranded in Newport on christmas eve, by ogden
the fucking grinch"

 

Newport change? It's such a nice place to hang around waiting for a
connection. Arriva trains to Hereford are not very reliable even when
there's good weather. A colleague is often hanging around Cardiff Central
waiting for them to find a working train, driver or guard. I don't suppose
you'll care having prepared yourself for the journey with appropriate
beverages.

 

heh, I see you are aware of the risks. If you are going to be preparing for
the experience with Stella then wear a stab vest.

You won't get stranded. SteveH is only 15 miles away. I'm sure he would
help. Platy & I are not much further away but I doubt either of us would be
sober enough to intervene.

 

The very same. On the way there, anyway.

The route back has changes at Worcester and Oxford, and takes five
hours. Holiday of a lifetime, this.

I'm assuming they have a luxury first class section with table service
and canapés, right?

 

Of course. Those people heading to Holyhead or Manchester wouldn't settle
for anything less. You should get 4 courses in by Hereford. Ask the waiter
if he has a semillon

 

Now that's vintage.

 

Leeds had fresh snow last night on a base of rutted ice. Full marks to the
bloke getting on a rather new Gixxer 750 in our car park at 21:00

 

V seemed to have trouble grasping that just because the snow has almost
gone in Wimbledon, things might be different 120 miles WNW.