Back road alternatives to A34

[Penguin82]

Is anyone bored enough to help me plan a route? Worth a try! Im not a confident driver, and new to UK. Am on a trip from Southampton up to Derby, and set the satnav to avoid motorways on way up. But still found the A34 far too hectic! Managed OK, but hated every second. The A5 was fine.
So im heading south tomorrow and would like to avoid the A34 as much as possible. Not in a rush so would prefer to add an hour or two onto the journey, take back roads and stop off for regular tea breaks and to stretch legs. Does anyone else drive this route? Any tips? Ta.

How about taking the A338 from Oxford and going through Wantage, Hungerford and Tidworth and then picking up the A303? And then joining the A34 again for a bit?!

@SpringSparrow

How about taking the A338 from Oxford and going through Wantage, Hungerford and Tidworth and then picking up the A303? And then joining the A34 again for a bit?!

Yeah thatd cut a lot of it out thanks! Id like to get off the busy roads north of Oxford really, just trying to figure out how to log in sat nav. Any tips on nice places to stop for tea?

What sort of time will you be stopping? There’s some nice cafes in the area but they probably shut around four? There’s Saddleback farm shop / cafe off the B4494 near Brightwalton or Priscillas Cafe in East Garston, cobbs Farm shop on the A4 near Hungerford, quite a few eating places in Hungerford.

@SpringSparrow

What sort of time will you be stopping? There’s some nice cafes in the area but they probably shut around four? There’s Saddleback farm shop / cafe off the B4494 near Brightwalton or Priscillas Cafe in East Garston, cobbs Farm shop on the A4 near Hungerford, quite a few eating places in Hungerford.

Well im setting off late morning so will have a lunchbreak around 1, then a teabreak around 2.30 or 3. Ill look those up thank you!

Personally, I'd take any motorway over the A34 between the M3 and the M40 - a really, really dangerous stretch of road.

@DerAlteMann

Personally, I'd take any motorway over the A34 between the M3 and the M40 - a really, really dangerous stretch of road.

Im glad to hear its not just me! I am new to uk roads, and probably drive a bit slowly (but always keep left so i can be overtaken) but i found the A34 so busy, absolutely loads of lorries and everyone going well over limit and beeping at each other for the slightest thing, very aggressive!

I’m needing an alternative route north from Hungerford on Saturday as the A 34 ( chievley) and beyond is closed
all weekend. Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks

First time on here and I’m not sure if a previous message I wrote got sent. If it did apologises for repeating myself.
I’m looking for an alternative route to the a34 going north on Saturday from Hungerford. The A34 is closed all weekend around the Chievley area and beyond for many miles. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. Mau