Great driving routes in the West Country

The West Country is made for driving, but not for rushing. Between the hedged lanes of north Cornwall, the granite passes of Dartmoor and the wooded combes of west Somerset, you will find some of the most rewarding roads in Britain — and some of the narrowest. The trick is to plan for the pace the roads actually allow, rather than the pace the map suggests. Allow extra time, expect to reverse now and then, and you will enjoy every mile far more.

Coastal lanes in Cornwall and north Devon

The B3306 between St Ives and St Just is one of the finest coastal drives in the country, threading between granite walls, moorland and the Atlantic. It is also narrow, with blind crests and few places to pass, so treat 20mph as a realistic average rather than a crawl.

Further north, the A39 Atlantic Highway runs from Barnstaple towards Bude and beyond. It is a proper road with genuine pace in places, but summer traffic, caravans and slow tractors mean overtaking opportunities vanish quickly. In south Devon, the A379 past Slapton Sands and through Torcross is beautiful and tight, with the sea on one side and holidaymakers crossing to the beach on the other.

• Set off before 9am in July and August; coastal car parks often fill by mid-morning.
• Use park-and-ride schemes in St Ives and similar towns rather than circling for a space.
• Expect cyclists, horse riders and walkers around every bend on popular coastal lanes.

Moorland passes across Dartmoor and Exmoor

The B3212 from Moretonhampstead to Princetown crosses the heart of Dartmoor and is a superb introduction to moorland driving. Watch for cattle grids, sheep, ponies and walkers, and be ready for mist to drop in minutes. Phone signal is patchy to non-existent, so download your route before you leave.

On Exmoor, Porlock Hill is the classic test: a genuine 1-in-4 gradient with tight hairpins. Select a low gear before you start the climb and let engine braking do the work on the way down rather than riding the brakes. The toll road alternative offers a gentler gradient and a calmer experience. The road over Dunkery Beacon and the run from Simonsbath towards Lynton are quieter, but just as demanding.

Quiet villages, gorges and wooded combes

Cheddar Gorge is spectacular and slow, with coaches, pedestrians in the road and very little room to manoeuvre. The Quantock Hills and the Somerset Levels offer flatter, quieter alternatives, though the Levels are criss-crossed by narrow single-track lanes with deep rhynes alongside.

In Dorset, the Cerne Valley and the lanes around Beaminster reward patience. Here, the etiquette matters:

• Whoever is nearest a passing place should reverse — and a cheery wave costs nothing.
• Reverse uphill rather than downhill where you have the choice; it is easier on the clutch and the nerves.
• Fold your mirrors in on tight hedge banks and take the bend wide only when you can see through it.

Getting your car ready for steep hills and narrow lanes

Before a West Country trip, check your tyres for tread depth and correct pressures, top up screen wash, and make sure your wipers and lights are in good order. Brakes and clutch take a hammering on hill work, so if either feels vague, get it looked at first.

On the road, keep the revs up on climbs and use a lower gear than feels natural on descents. Air conditioning saps power on steep hills, so switch it off for a long climb and back on once you are up. Carry a proper spare or a sealant kit, a torch, and a paper map or downloaded offline map as backup.

Electric vehicles on West Country roads

Rural charging has improved enormously, but gaps remain. Plan your charging around larger towns and service areas rather than assuming a remote village will have a working rapid unit. Arrive at a charger with at least 20 per cent remaining, especially in winter when cold reduces range noticeably.

• Hills hurt range on the way up but regenerative braking gives some of it back on the descent.
• Pre-condition the battery before rapid charging where your car supports it.
• Check charger availability before committing to a long detour; a farm shop or pub charger can be a pleasant stop.

Timing your trip and picking your stops

Late May, June and September offer the best balance of weather and quiet roads. Avoid travelling west on the M5 and A30 on the first Saturday of a school holiday if you can, and start early to beat the queues around Exeter and Bodmin.

Build in a stop every two hours — a pub garden, a beach car park, a moorland lay-by. The West Country rewards those who get out of the car as much as those who drive it. Aim for fewer miles, more stops, and a pace that lets you actually look out of the window.