Best bits of roads around Exmoor
Discussion
Spending a few days away, firstly down in Exmouth then camping up on Exmoor middle of next week.
Planning on driving up through Exeter and up the A396/Exeter Rd to Exmoor - driven before and know it's a fairly nice route.
Anyway what are the unmissable bits to drive on Exmoor? I know a few South Westers meet up down there occassionally so you ought to know
Planning on driving up through Exeter and up the A396/Exeter Rd to Exmoor - driven before and know it's a fairly nice route.
Anyway what are the unmissable bits to drive on Exmoor? I know a few South Westers meet up down there occassionally so you ought to know
The only problem with Exmoor is it can get pretty busy over the summer. If you want uninterrupted drives, your best bet is to set off early morning or mid evening. There are a whole lot of places to overtake on some of the roads and it can get frustrating.
If you're coming up from From the main Tiverton roundabout, take the A396 to the Black cat (there are signs with a black cat) and take a left onto the B3227 to the link road. It's a great road. Then from the link road, you can either go back to the Black cat and follow the valley road,
or cruise about five or so miles towards Barnstaple on the link road then take the third junction on the roundabout (A399) up to Blackmoor Gate, then take a right and hook up with the A39 to Lynton (Valley of the rocks), then drop into Lynmouth and over the top, down over Porlock Hill, Porlock then Minehead. Lynmouth to Minehead's approx 17 miles.
You could also take a right at Lynmouth and wind up the valley (Watersmeet road - Watersmeet house is about a mile up this road on the left; Park on the right and take a steep path opposite to the old hunting lodge, it's a good snack break), take a left on tight righthand hairpin, (B3223) Brendon Common to to Simonsbath, then Exford, then Wheddon Cross.
Incidentally, if you hadn't taken a right at the Black cat and gone straight across at the junction, this is where you would have eventually ended up.
Hope that's not too confusing.
If you're coming up from From the main Tiverton roundabout, take the A396 to the Black cat (there are signs with a black cat) and take a left onto the B3227 to the link road. It's a great road. Then from the link road, you can either go back to the Black cat and follow the valley road,
or cruise about five or so miles towards Barnstaple on the link road then take the third junction on the roundabout (A399) up to Blackmoor Gate, then take a right and hook up with the A39 to Lynton (Valley of the rocks), then drop into Lynmouth and over the top, down over Porlock Hill, Porlock then Minehead. Lynmouth to Minehead's approx 17 miles.
You could also take a right at Lynmouth and wind up the valley (Watersmeet road - Watersmeet house is about a mile up this road on the left; Park on the right and take a steep path opposite to the old hunting lodge, it's a good snack break), take a left on tight righthand hairpin, (B3223) Brendon Common to to Simonsbath, then Exford, then Wheddon Cross.
Incidentally, if you hadn't taken a right at the Black cat and gone straight across at the junction, this is where you would have eventually ended up.
Hope that's not too confusing.
The thread's alive - I was going to go and have a mooch round Exmoor shortly, was thinking Taunton then along B3224 along the Brendon Hills (which I've done before) then maybe along the A39 to the far end returning over the middle on the west-east B road through Simonsbath before returning via Dulverton and Tiverton.
Is it worth diverting to Porlock just to go up the hill?
Is it worth diverting to Porlock just to go up the hill?
Allyc85 said:
TDIfurby said:
B3223 from Hillsford (outside Lynton) to Simonsbath. Awesome bit of winding moorland road. 
Would really recommend this piece of road Johnnytheboy said:
Is it good enough to justify doing this instead of continuing west along the A39 and coming back to Simonsbath via the B3358? That was my plan a.
Both good really. The B3358 is longer and has some nice fast bendy sections, getting bumpy once on the Simonsbath road. Traffic will be heavier on the first section. The alternative mentioned; over Brendon common from Lynmouth is more exciting, but over much quicker. Great fun when it's quite though, as there are a number of open 2nd/3rd gear corners over the moors.
There are loads of great roads over Exmoor and surrounding area. The only disadvantage is the traffic volume over the summer from Porlock to Lynmouth.
Cheers.
Well I'm still alive having been tootling round the area from 0530 to 0730.
The Simonsbath road to Lynton is so good I did it twice. But I think my favourite bit was a mini Eau Rouge on the way back just before I started the descent to Dulverton.
A tank of fuel well spent.
The Simonsbath road to Lynton is so good I did it twice. But I think my favourite bit was a mini Eau Rouge on the way back just before I started the descent to Dulverton.
A tank of fuel well spent.
Edited by Johnnytheboy on Monday 15th July 09:20
Coincidental thread! The girlfriend and I went down to Exmoor for the weekend a couple of weeks ago and stayed in Simonsbath (couldn't resist given my first name!). We drove up to Lynmouth and back more than once; cracking bit of road. The MX5 was in its element. You do have to watch for sheep / cows / horses though!
I detest that road dressing stuff. Buy cheaply... buy twice.
I detest that road dressing stuff. Buy cheaply... buy twice.
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