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Cornwall and Devon road trip: the driving itinerary, stop by stop

A ten-day loop from Exeter that crosses the Dartmoor moorland, follows the south coast to the Lizard and Land's End, then heads back up the north coast via St Ives, Padstow and Tintagel. You drive on the left along sunken lanes squeezed between two stone hedges, where you pull into a passing place, or reverse, to let the oncoming car through.

492 kmin total about 9 hoursof driving 8 stops9 nights 7 to 10 daysrecommended
PierrickBy PierrickGoogle Local Guide ★8Updated 1 October 2026
LicenceEU licence
Side of the roadLeft
Speed limits60 mph (96 km/h) on roads
Alcohol0.8 g/l
Fuel (September 2026)≈ €2.00 a litre of unleaded

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The map and the route plan

DaysStopDrive
Day 1ExeterStart
Day 2Moretonhampstead62 km · 1h
Day 3Plymouth48 km · 1h
Day 4Fowey59 km · 1h30
Day 5Helston70 km · 1h30
Days 6 to 7St Ives32 km · 40 min
Day 8Padstow77 km · 1h15
Day 9Tintagel43 km · 45 min
Day 10Back to Exeter101 km · 1h20

Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.

The itinerary, stop by stop

May, June and September: long days and emptier car parks than in July-August, when access to Kynance Cove closes as soon as its car park is full. Winter is mild but windy and wet, the St Michael's Mount boats stop after 30 October and the Fowey ferry closes earlier in the evening.

  1. 1
  2. 2
    Moretonhampstead
    Mark AC Photos / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 2 · 1 night

    Moretonhampstead

    🚗 62 km · 1h of driving from Exeter

    A38 then B3387 via Bovey Tracey, climbing onto Dartmoor to Haytor and Widecombe. Narrow roads, free-roaming animals.

    What to see

    • Haytor Rocks Granite tor with two outcrops, a landmark visible from all over South Devon.
    • Widecombe-in-the-Moor Moorland village clustered around its church, with ponies roaming freely around it.
    • Hound Tor Ruins of a medieval village at the foot of a jumble of granite boulders, free access.
    • Castle Drogo The last castle built in England (1911-1930), run by the National Trust.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Moretonhampstead

    The White Hart HotelBovey Castle All places to stay →
  3. 3
    Plymouth
    Andrew Bone from Weymouth, England / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 3 · 1 night

    Plymouth

    🚗 48 km · 1h of driving from Moretonhampstead

    B3212 across the moor via Postbridge, Two Bridges and Princetown, then Yelverton. Ponies and sheep on the road.

    What to see

    • Postbridge clapper bridge 13th-century bridge made of granite slabs, built for packhorses.
    • Wistman's Wood Stunted oak wood between 380 and 410 m above sea level, on foot from Two Bridges.
    • Plymouth Hoe and Smeaton's Tower Promenade above the Sound, topped by the upper part of a former Eddystone lighthouse.
    • Barbican and Mayflower Steps Old harbour from which the Mayflower set sail in September 1620.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Plymouth

    Boringdon Hall Hotel and SpaSt Elizabeth's House All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Entry to the National Marine Aquarium, the largest in the UK →
  4. 4
    Fowey
    Peter Jeffery / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 4 · 1 night

    Fowey

    🚗 59 km · 1h30 of driving from Plymouth

    A38 over the Tamar Bridge (free in this direction), A387 via Looe and Polperro, then the Bodinnick ferry (£7).

    What to see

    • Looe Fishing port straddling the Looe estuary.
    • Polperro Fishing village with narrow lanes, best explored on foot.
    • Bodinnick ferry 15-car ferry that crosses to Fowey every 10 to 15 minutes.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Fowey

    Fowey Hall HotelThe Galleon Inn All places to stay →
  5. 5
    Helston
    Tom Page / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 5 · 1 night

    Helston

    🚗 70 km · 1h30 of driving from Fowey

    A390 via the Eden Project, St Austell and Truro, then A39 and A394. Explore the Lizard peninsula from Helston.

    What to see

    • Eden Project Giant biomes set in a former china clay pit, near St Austell.
    • Kynance Cove Cove of sand and serpentine islets; the National Trust car park fills up fast.
    • Lizard Point The most southerly point of mainland Britain, below its lighthouse.
    • Mullion Cove Small harbour on the west coast of the Lizard, 1.6 km from Mullion village.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Helston

    Trengilly Wartha Inn All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Entry to the Eden Project and its rainforest and Mediterranean biomes →
  6. 6
    St Ives
    ArildV / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Days 6 to 7 · 2 nights

    St Ives

    🚗 32 km · 40 min of driving from Helston

    A394 via Marazion, facing St Michael's Mount, then A30. The next day, the Land's End loop on the coastal B3306.

    What to see

    • St Michael's Mount Island castle linked to Marazion by a causeway at low tide, otherwise reached by boat.
    • Minack Theatre Open-air theatre carved into the cliff above the sea, at Porthcurno.
    • Land's End The most westerly point of mainland England, with its signpost.
    • Tate St Ives Modern art by the St Ives painters, and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in St Ives

    The White House at The Tinners ArmsPedn-Olva All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Visit to the castle on St Michael's Mount →
  7. 7
    Padstow
    Stuart Logan / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 8 · 1 night

    Padstow

    🚗 77 km · 1h15 of driving from St Ives

    A30 to Newquay, then the coastal B3276 above the Bedruthan cliffs. Cliff-top car parks are pay and display.

    What to see

    • Godrevy Lighthouse 1859 lighthouse on an islet in St Ives Bay, seen from the headland.
    • Carnewas and Bedruthan Steps National Trust viewpoint over rock stacks rising from the beach.
    • Camel Trail A 29.5 km greenway on a former railway line, starting from Padstow.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Padstow

    The Pickwick Inn & Oliver's RestaurantHarbour Hotel Padstow All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Boat trip from Padstow harbour →
  8. 8
    Tintagel
    Balon Greyjoy / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
    Day 9 · 1 night

    Tintagel

    🚗 43 km · 45 min of driving from Padstow

    A39 via Wadebridge, then B3314 via Port Isaac. Walk down into Port Isaac, whose streets are very narrow.

    What to see

    • Port Isaac Fishing village, the setting for the series Doc Martin from 2004 to 2022.
    • Tintagel Castle Medieval ruins on a headland, linked to the legend of King Arthur.
    • Boscastle Natural harbour enclosed by two stone breakwaters, largely owned by the National Trust.

    🛏️ Where to sleep in Tintagel

    Port William InnKing Arthurs Arms All places to stay →

    🎟️ Worth booking

    Tintagel Castle entry ticket, book the day before to pay less →
  9. ↩

    Back to Exeter

    🚗 101 km · 1h20 of driving from Tintagel

Less time? The 7-day version

Stay in Exeter, Plymouth (crossing Dartmoor on the B3212), Fowey, St Ives for two nights and Padstow. The Lizard becomes a detour from St Ives, and Tintagel a stop on the way back to Exeter on the A30.

Hiring the car

Price per day

Small car, annual average≈ €36 a day (£31, Kayak, Sept. 2026)
January, cheapest month≈ €22 a day (£19)
July-AugustMore expensive, especially for automatics: book early

Good to know

VehicleSmall car or small hatchback: in the sunken lanes, a wide car quickly becomes a handicap.
GearboxUsually manual: book an automatic early if you would rather not change gear with your left hand.
Where to pick it upExeter Airport or Exeter St Davids station. It is a loop, so no one-way fees.
With your own carRoscoff-Plymouth ferry (Brittany Ferries), on the route. Green card or proof of insurance in the car.
InsuranceBasic cover leaves a large excess: pay to reduce it or take out excess insurance before you leave.
Age and cardMinimum age 25 at Enterprise. Physical card in the driver's name.

⚠️ In the sunken lanes, mirrors and sides scrape against the hedges: check that the excess cover includes bodywork, wheels and tyres.

Compare car hire companies →

Driving rules and tips

LicenceEU licence

Valid for 12 months after entering Great Britain, without an International Driving Permit (GOV.UK). Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.

Side of the roadLeft

Steering wheel on the right, overtake on the right. Roundabouts go clockwise, give way to traffic from the right.

Speed limits60 mph (96 km/h) on roads

30 mph (48 km/h) in built-up areas, 70 mph (112 km/h) on dual carriageways and motorways. Signs in miles.

Alcohol0.8 g/l

80 mg per 100 ml of blood, 35 µg per 100 ml of breath: higher than in most of mainland Europe.

Entering the UKPassport and ETA (£20)

Without an ETA, boarding has been refused since 25 February 2026. National ID cards refused since October 2021.

Sunken lanesOne lane between two hedges

Pull into a passing place on your left or wait opposite one on your right; sometimes you have to reverse.

DartmoorFree-roaming animals

Ponies, sheep and cattle graze unfenced on the moor. Feeding the ponies is banned.

Car parksPay and display almost everywhere

Ticket machine, contactless card or the JustPark app. Several Cornish car parks have refused cash since 1 August 2026.

EU-registered carProof of insurance

Green card or other valid proof of insurance in the car, required of EU drivers (GOV.UK).

Fuel, tolls and parking

Fuel

≈ €2.00 a litre of unleaded (172p), €2.27 for diesel (195.5p)

Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.

⛽ 492 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €70 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.

UK average for the week of 21 September 2026 (GOV.UK), at £1 = €1.16.

Tolls and parking

Motorways and roadsNo tolls on the loop, the M5 and A30 are free
Tamar Bridge or Torpoint Ferry£3 towards Plymouth only, free towards Cornwall
Bodinnick ferry (Fowey)£7 one way, £12 same-day return
Council car parks (St Ives, Fowey)£7.50 for 2 to 4 hours, £11.50 for 24 hours (April-October)
Kynance Cove car park (National Trust)£2 for 1 hour, £5 for 4 hours, £10 for longer

Seasonal road closures

Bodinnick ferry (cars)Not running on 25-26 December, 1 January and in rough weather
Bodinnick ferry, winter timetableFrom 2 November to 28 March, last crossing around 19:00
St Michael's Mount boatsFrom 15 March to 30 October; otherwise the causeway at low tide
Access to Kynance Cove (A3083)Closed when the car park is full, from July to September

Plan the rest of the trip

🗺️ Things to do, stop by stop →📖 The printable travel guide →🛏️ More hotels, by budget →📅 Best time to visit, month by month →🌍 The destination guide →

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for a Cornwall and Devon road trip?

Allow 10 days for the full loop from Exeter, with two nights in St Ives for the Land's End peninsula. In 7 days, cross Dartmoor without staying there, keep Fowey, St Ives and Padstow, and see Tintagel on the way back. The stages are short: the narrow roads take time.

How much does a 10-day Cornwall road trip cost?

Car: about €36 a day for a small car (Kayak), more in summer, so €350 to €500 over 10 days. Petrol at €2 a litre: about 600 km with the detours, so nearly €80 at September 2026 prices. Add £10 to £15 of parking a day, the ferry (£7) and the ETA (£20 per person).

Do you need an International Driving Permit to drive in England?

No: a valid EU licence lets you drive in Great Britain for 12 months after entering the country. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required. You do, however, need a passport, as national ID cards have not been accepted since October 2021, and a £20 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), without which boarding has been refused since 25 February 2026.

Is it difficult to drive on Cornwall's small roads?

The sunken lanes often have just one lane between two hedges of stone and earth, with no visibility on the bends. Drive slowly, look out for passing places and be ready to reverse. Stick to the numbered A and B roads as much as possible, and take a small car. On Dartmoor, ponies and sheep cross without warning.

Can you do this road trip in your own car?

Yes. The easiest option is the Brittany Ferries crossing from Roscoff to Plymouth, which lands right on the route: just start the loop in Plymouth. Keep the green card or proof of insurance in the car, and get used to overtaking with the steering wheel on the wrong side, leaving more distance.

Where can you park in St Ives and Fowey?

Aim for the long-stay council car parks, such as Trenwith in St Ives (759 spaces in summer) or Main in Fowey. From April to October, £2.50 for the first hour, £7.50 for up to 4 hours, £11.50 for 24 hours, by card, contactless or the JustPark app. Several car parks have stopped accepting cash since 1 August 2026.

Sources

Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.

Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/cornwall · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026