Couple of little local pointers for those of you travelling to The Gathering, from a local yokel (well kinda...I live in Bromsgrove but work in Worcester).
1. The M5, for those of you travelling down from the frozen tundra of The North, is currently blessed (for want of a better word) with not one but TWO sets of horrific roadwaorks between J3/4 and just south of J5 at Wychbold. One set has a 40mph restriction, the other 50mph, both are liberally festooned with SPECS average speed cameras and the amount of accidents since they began in February has been nothing short of staggering. Don't be a statistic, either for being in an RTA or by getting caught speeding.
2. The A4440 Worcester Southern Bypass is currently being upgraded to dual carriageway along part of its length. This has necessitated the remodelling of The Ketch island where the A38 crosses the link road just east of the Carrington Bridge over the River Severn. Again this is an horrendous traffic blackspot at the minute, being one of the only crossings of the River Severn that doesn't mean having to negotiate Worcester City Centre. Allow time in your journey plans.
Once you're safely esconced on the campsite, you'll probably have a need to go shopping at some point. I'd recommend getting your shopping done en route, as there are no out-of-town supermarkets on that side of Worcester. Your best bet is to use the Tesco in St.Johns on the west side of the River Severn, or else have a jaunt over to Bromyard where there's a large Co-Op superstore on the B4214 Tenbury Road to the north west of the town. The villages of Martley and Clifton-on-Teme are nearby but I wouldn't recommend either for anything shopping-wise unless you're A.desperate and B.just after essentials.
Whatever your weekend brings, I hope you enjoy it. Doubtless I'll bump into some of you on Sunday (look out for the big red Gung-Ho Rally Team service barge).
Brian
1. The M5, for those of you travelling down from the frozen tundra of The North, is currently blessed (for want of a better word) with not one but TWO sets of horrific roadwaorks between J3/4 and just south of J5 at Wychbold. One set has a 40mph restriction, the other 50mph, both are liberally festooned with SPECS average speed cameras and the amount of accidents since they began in February has been nothing short of staggering. Don't be a statistic, either for being in an RTA or by getting caught speeding.
2. The A4440 Worcester Southern Bypass is currently being upgraded to dual carriageway along part of its length. This has necessitated the remodelling of The Ketch island where the A38 crosses the link road just east of the Carrington Bridge over the River Severn. Again this is an horrendous traffic blackspot at the minute, being one of the only crossings of the River Severn that doesn't mean having to negotiate Worcester City Centre. Allow time in your journey plans.
Once you're safely esconced on the campsite, you'll probably have a need to go shopping at some point. I'd recommend getting your shopping done en route, as there are no out-of-town supermarkets on that side of Worcester. Your best bet is to use the Tesco in St.Johns on the west side of the River Severn, or else have a jaunt over to Bromyard where there's a large Co-Op superstore on the B4214 Tenbury Road to the north west of the town. The villages of Martley and Clifton-on-Teme are nearby but I wouldn't recommend either for anything shopping-wise unless you're A.desperate and B.just after essentials.
Whatever your weekend brings, I hope you enjoy it. Doubtless I'll bump into some of you on Sunday (look out for the big red Gung-Ho Rally Team service barge).
Brian
