The A377 main road takes traffic from Exeter through Crediton and then after a few miles follows the Taw valley through to Barnstaple. This week has seen a massive diversion put into effect taking vehicles arriving in Crediton off to Bickleigh, Tiverton and then turning west on the North Devon link road adding, it is said, some 50 miles to the journey. The reason for this is the reconstruction of a culvert passing under the main road near Chulmleigh.
Surprise, surprise there was plenty of grumbling about the size of the diversion but I think that the highway people were right to put in place such a lengthy one mainly for the benefit of lorries. With the use of the relevant ordnance survey map and a bit of navigational skill it's possible to do a very minimal diversion but it's better to keep the big trucks away from the country lanes. Having said that although I have most of Devon and Cornwall covered with the relevant 1:50000 landranger maps Chulmleigh is near the edge of one sheet so, if forewarned about the diversion I would need at least two maps with me.
For general driving purposes I suppose it makes sense to have the next smaller scale map with you on your journey or a good motoring atlas. What it boils down to perhaps is for locals and anyone else in the know to create their own mini diversions whilst all others to grit their teeth and follow the signposted route.
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