M4/M5 or A303?

[ameliagrey]

Bling suggests that the best way to mid Devon is via the m25 then M3 and A303.

would anyone agree as I last went via M4 and M5.

Last year - week before school hols, on a Friday - used A303 - horrendous jams for no apparent reason ie no road works/ accidents etc. This year, effectively same week and day, used M4/M5, blissfully lacking in jams.

you can avoid the a303 if you duck north of salisbury a bit

I'm going the other way in a couple of weeks - what's the A35 like? (going to Southampton)