3 of the Best Driving Roads in Devon
Devon has some of the most beautiful areas in the UK. Whether it’s coastline, moorland, valleys or picturesque villages, there’s a diversity in Devon that’s actually recognised with landscape designation. We have two National Parks and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so what better way to see it than by road?
Here you’ll find three different roads to travel along to experience just a small part of Devon’s beauty.
A39 – Atlantic Highway. Minehead to Barnstaple
Head east out of Minehead on the A39. It starts off looking like a standard road, but as you approach Porlock Hill, you’ll realise that Exmoor has some surprises in store for you. Porlock Hill is steep, but once you reach the top you’ll see green fields and a road stretching out in front of you.
As you cross the border into Devon and out of Exmoor National Park, you’ll encounter Countisbury Hill, which offers a lovely view of Lynmouth Beach.
After that, you’ve got chicanes, hair pins and more steep hills to take you to Barnstaple.
The River Torridge. Photo by J.e. McGowan. Via Flickr.
A386 – Coast to Coast. Appledore to Plymouth
Like many of the roads in Devon, the road is bendy and offers great fun if you’re not stuck behind a tractor or a truck. It starts at Appledore, next to the River Torridge, and heads south, through the town of Great Torrington. Then, you head down in to the valley, surrounded by lush, dense forest.
As you head past Okehampton and Sourton Down, you’ll see the hills of Dartmoor. After being low down in the Lyd Valley, you’ll climb and break the cover of trees on to exposed Dartmoor National Park. You will also be able to see the remains of an old tin mine.
After that, the A386 will take you through Tavistock. A picturesque market town, Tavistock’s park has the River Tavy running through it.
As you head towards Plymouth, the road becomes a dual carriageway, and starts to gather traffic.
Dartmoor. Photo by Herry Lawford. Via Flickr.
B3212 – Across the Moor. Yelverton to Dunsford
At Yelverton on the B386, you’ll be able to get across Dartmoor on the B3212. With excellent views of the moors throughout, it’s a road that zigzags across in some areas. If you’re in a car that handles well it’ll be a lovely drive.
Lettaford is a village that you’ll pass that has been there in some form or another since 1300. Nearby is Bovey Castle, offering spectacular views of the surrounding countryside.
Which are your favourite roads in Devon?