For my input on the renumbering discussion whilst it would make sense in one hand I think most people would object, it's a road that goes from A to B and its name or number is academic. Some of his insights are diverting - for example, in the early 20th century, the site was a popular destination for trippers who left rubbish from their picnics, inscribed their names on the stones, chipped off pieces for souvenirs and - in some cases - complained that "hammers and chisels were not provided" [p146]. I think if the A303 were renumbered A30 (and doing so would better reflect its status) then the current A30 should be downgraded to B road in places rather than just being given an A3xx or A3xxx number. And The A303 also wanders off into the worlds of the pig, of the Little Chef chain, of Camelot, of Jeremy Clarkson, naturally, and of 1970s transport ministers, and tells the fascinating tale of the murderer, imposter and "monacled mutineer" Percy Toplis, who killed the taxi driver Sidney Spicer on the A303 in 1920.

It would of course cause all manner of confusion as people do refer to road numbers, moreso cross country routes than urban ones (as has been dicussed elsewhere), they just don't get precious over what it is and why it is.He lives in South Oxfordshire with his wife and two of his children and has been travelling up and down the A303 for over five decades. He took early retirement in 2000, just before the publication of his social history of lawns and lawn-mowing, The Grass is Greener.

Digging in dark corners, explorating long-forgotten byways and pouring over ancient maps Tom Fort has created a travel book, a book of social and cultural history, and a book about the England of 3000 BC and the England of 2010 AD.For me, and I am sure many others, it has always been, and is now, if not a highway to the sun, at least a highway to a windy beach, with a good few sights along the way. This is nothing more than a vanity project, which would be a complete waste of time and money, and would create far more problems and confusion than it would solve. Don't go looking for a travel book, this is more of a history, and, at times, even a political rant.

Presenter Tom Fort travels the road in a clapped out Morris Minor and in essence bores the viewer to death. Tom Fort wanders across the summits of the downs, takes in the views and investigates the evidence of ancient habitation and worship. In this fully revised and updated edition, Tom Fort gives voice to the stories this road has to tell, from the bluestones of Stonehenge, Roman roads and drovers paths to turnpike tollhouses, mad vicars, wicked Earls and solstice seekers, the history, geography and culture of this road tells a story of an English way of life.As a native of Wessex in my younger days I enjoyed reading about some old haunts and while the topic of Stonehenge is probably a little overemphasised it is so totemic of the A303 the author had little choice. Wincanton is one of the few towns to be twinned with a fictional place, Ankh-Morpork from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. Another aspect to this renumbering question is the fact that, long term, the main route will probably be along the A358 corridor. Tom Fort takes us from childhood summer holidays in Devon back to paleolithic times, then forward again to the days of the stagecoach, with some fascinating people - and sheep - along the way. forgotten by the road numberers, but by all accounts still functioned as a secret trunk road even when it was mostly B roads (the sign in the old photo in the TV programme - left turn for Exeter - at stonehenge - gives evidence of this.