Driving around Devon
Discussion
Hello All.
So i'm after some advice from you lovely people in the south. My fiancée and i are off for some fun camping next week in and around Devon. Will be travelling down from Glossop on Sunday and coming back on the Thursday. So i'm trying to plan a bit of last minute car funsies
What fun roads can you all suggest to drive down the South West?
Any good tracks i could possibly go to on a last minute booking?
What other fun activities can you recommend?
Thank you all.
So i'm after some advice from you lovely people in the south. My fiancée and i are off for some fun camping next week in and around Devon. Will be travelling down from Glossop on Sunday and coming back on the Thursday. So i'm trying to plan a bit of last minute car funsies
What fun roads can you all suggest to drive down the South West?
Any good tracks i could possibly go to on a last minute booking?
What other fun activities can you recommend?
Thank you all.
Edited by BrokenSpring on Monday 6th July 12:03
Many of the roads are fantastic, but spirited driving will be short-lived down there from my experience as you'll either -
Rapidly catch someone doing 35mph
Rapidly catch someone too scared to overtake a slow moving farm vehicle (depsite the relative safety)
Discover that the local authority hates cars and has placed impractical limits and / or speed cameras.
For somewhere that could be driving nirvana for 30-second intervals it is surprisingly frustrating...
Rapidly catch someone doing 35mph
Rapidly catch someone too scared to overtake a slow moving farm vehicle (depsite the relative safety)
Discover that the local authority hates cars and has placed impractical limits and / or speed cameras.
For somewhere that could be driving nirvana for 30-second intervals it is surprisingly frustrating...
king narrow.I'm often down in Devon to see family and can agree with the above - it's beautiful, and some of the roads are lovely, but it's only a matter of time before you end up stuck behind someone driving really slowly.
As for things to do, it depends what you're interested in. In terms of outdoor activities Devon caters very well for most.
As for things to do, it depends what you're interested in. In terms of outdoor activities Devon caters very well for most.
Not looking to be an idiot or anything on the roads, just want to explore some fun driving.
I like my twisty windy roads and dont mind being up at the crack of dawn either to run about for an hr or 2. Living at the start of snake pass i regularly run off into the hills for fun.
Hopefully on the way down i will detour through wales and have an hr or 2 around evo triangle, always fun there
Yea definately the wrond time of year but its the only time this year me and my other half can get away together so have to take it. so looks like 5 am starts for me next week.
I like my twisty windy roads and dont mind being up at the crack of dawn either to run about for an hr or 2. Living at the start of snake pass i regularly run off into the hills for fun.
Hopefully on the way down i will detour through wales and have an hr or 2 around evo triangle, always fun there
Yea definately the wrond time of year but its the only time this year me and my other half can get away together so have to take it. so looks like 5 am starts for me next week.
A39 from Porlock heading west is great, but probably quite busy this time of year (I was there in March and very quiet on a weekday afternoon)
Dartmoor's great, but I think all the roads are 40 limit now - so depends how lucky you're feeling!
ETA: some more info:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-mydreamdriv...
Dartmoor's great, but I think all the roads are 40 limit now - so depends how lucky you're feeling!
ETA: some more info:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/features/ph-mydreamdriv...
Yep, as said some of the roads down here can be a little narrow and hemmed in by hedgerows which is why I chose an mx5 as my weekend car.
I have a few nice local drives but the B3212 across Dartmoor is your best bet if just visiting the area. You can pick it up from Exeter and head out onto the open moor after Mortenhampstead. Be careful of the suicidal sheep though, I had a couple walk out on me yesterday evening.
Also heard that 21 mile drive up in north devon is good. Takes in Exmoor, the valley of the rocks and porlock hill. Must get up there myself this year.
I have a few nice local drives but the B3212 across Dartmoor is your best bet if just visiting the area. You can pick it up from Exeter and head out onto the open moor after Mortenhampstead. Be careful of the suicidal sheep though, I had a couple walk out on me yesterday evening.
Also heard that 21 mile drive up in north devon is good. Takes in Exmoor, the valley of the rocks and porlock hill. Must get up there myself this year.
Hoping to drive around dartmoor in a week when we go to Cornwall, taking the SLK as opposed to the Civic so will be more about appreciating the views, fresh air and wind in our hair, than chasing the redline! 
I will keep a bookmark on this thread to check back in a week when we arrive down there, hoping to get in some decent coastal roads in Cornwall as well (slightly OT!)
I will keep a bookmark on this thread to check back in a week when we arrive down there, hoping to get in some decent coastal roads in Cornwall as well (slightly OT!)
Any particular part of Devon?
The South Hams has some cracking roads. Dartmoor is great but usually very busy and it's quite narrow.
Head further down and the blast to St Mawes is superb as is the coast road from St Ives to Sennen - a serious test of any car and driver.
Plenty around here, it's the damn tourists that spoil it between July and September! Go early or late.
The South Hams has some cracking roads. Dartmoor is great but usually very busy and it's quite narrow.
Head further down and the blast to St Mawes is superb as is the coast road from St Ives to Sennen - a serious test of any car and driver.
Plenty around here, it's the damn tourists that spoil it between July and September! Go early or late.
I live down here, but recently found some driving nirvana, OK it crosses somerset a bit !
Started on Exmoor at Porlock
Porlock to Exford
Exford to Winsford
Winsford to Bridgetown
A396 south to Tiverton
on to Bickleigh and then Exeter
Takes about an hour and 20 mins and it winds and straights and winds its way, lots of overtaking places too
Started on Exmoor at Porlock
Porlock to Exford
Exford to Winsford
Winsford to Bridgetown
A396 south to Tiverton
on to Bickleigh and then Exeter
Takes about an hour and 20 mins and it winds and straights and winds its way, lots of overtaking places too
Midlifecrisis71 said:
I live down here, but recently found some driving nirvana, OK it crosses somerset a bit !
Started on Exmoor at Porlock
Porlock to Exford
Exford to Winsford
Winsford to Bridgetown
A396 south to Tiverton
on to Bickleigh and then Exeter
Takes about an hour and 20 mins and it winds and straights and winds its way, lots of overtaking places too
I remember a run up to Exmoor on most of that route a few years back. Being chased by High Flier in his Merc on the way up & following Paul's Nob on the return run to Exeter. Then carried on to Tavi across Dartmoor. In was soaking wet and I took great pleasure in dropping the two super bikes in the interesting conditions, before aquaplaning at Er hum!! mph on one of the single track roads on Exmoor. Great route as you say.Started on Exmoor at Porlock
Porlock to Exford
Exford to Winsford
Winsford to Bridgetown
A396 south to Tiverton
on to Bickleigh and then Exeter
Takes about an hour and 20 mins and it winds and straights and winds its way, lots of overtaking places too
OP. For a more genteel run, be sure to visit the Valley of the Stones. Never ceases to amaze me.
Go to Wales. better roads. Sorry to say it but that's where I would and do go.
If your at the top of Devon the Mendips are very nice BUT you have done them in less than 2 hours. Depending on how you drive. Going further south and yet get many narrow roads. IE Cornwall.
Exmoor is very nice but narrow
Most Coastal roads are nice but nit drivers roads
I've done A cornwall driving weekend, Live in the south west but have spent many many fun weekends over in Wales. For local that's my choice
If your at the top of Devon the Mendips are very nice BUT you have done them in less than 2 hours. Depending on how you drive. Going further south and yet get many narrow roads. IE Cornwall.
Exmoor is very nice but narrow
Most Coastal roads are nice but nit drivers roads
I've done A cornwall driving weekend, Live in the south west but have spent many many fun weekends over in Wales. For local that's my choice
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