Top 5 South West England Car Tours: Your Ultimate Guide

Thinking about seeing the South West of England by car? That can be such a blast! Picture yourself winding through gorgeous coastlines, going past ancient spots, and peeking into super cute villages. The South West is great because you get all kinds of cool things packed into one place. It’s not that difficult to plan a super fun road trip that hits all the high points. I thought about helping anyone get started. Here, I have a breakdown of five really awesome driving tours you should really consider. These trips are perfect whether you’re wanting some fast exploring or a deep relaxing dive into local scenes. These itineraries make sure you see the very best the South West can give you. It’s a total treat for those who like both driving adventures and seeing amazing country scenery.

1. The Cornish Coastal Path: A Scenic Drive

When someone mentions Cornwall, the immediate images are sandy beaches and maybe quaint harbor towns, isn’t it? This tour covers, almost, the entire coast of Cornwall, a stretch just loaded with awesome views and little hideaways. I feel the beginning’s near Saltash, near Plymouth, and basically travels to some of Cornwall’s coolest spots like St Ives, a must-see for art fans, so it appears! Then there is Land’s End, really, Britain’s most southwest spot! We also swing by the Lizard Peninsula, which isn’t only gorgeous but totally important because of its special rocks and wildlife.

Driving Highlights: Expect winding roads, that go close, just right against rugged cliffs with overlooks offering very epic views of the Atlantic. You know what would be a treat? Check out the Minack Theatre, which has, honestly, been carved straight into the cliffs—it’s definitely special.

Don’t Miss: Padstow for all kinds of yummy seafood and Port Isaac. Did anyone watch “Doc Martin?” That’s filmed right there! Consider parking the car a bit to stroll along sections of the South West Coast Path. This way, you’re getting fully immersed into the wild, like the coastline!

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2. Devon’s Two Moors: Dartmoor and Exmoor

Want to discover some deep English moorland and old-growth forests? Think about taking this loop around Devon. Dartmoor, in some respects, has big open areas of moorland, super-cool granite hills, and are home to some very awesome wild ponies. You get a touch, it appears, of the truly ancient vibe of England with all the stone circles and old bridges just sitting right in the wild. Then Exmoor, well, you get rolling hills that are a bit lower, but that run smack into, arguably, an impressive coastline up north! It is the most, sort of, incredible place where moor meets the sea.

Driving Highlights: I should make sure you’re very ready for some, what they call, “B” roads. It’s not as simple. I am talking, actually, about little tiny lanes cutting across the moors. They might look tight, but these offer unbelievable access to, actually, spots regular tourists don’t see. It’s possible someone stops often to let livestock cross the roads, just to watch wild birds, right? Make certain you enjoy being slow.

Don’t Miss: Visit the old town of Tavistock near Dartmoor—you can do some proper antiquing. For Exmoor, Lynton and Lynmouth are these side-by-side coastal villages linked, actually, by a water-powered lift, you know. Very cool, it seems to me!

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3. Somerset’s Levels and Hills: A Blend of Coast and Country

Want, really, to experience a slice of old England that features some landscapes not usually talked about? It begins with the Somerset Levels, really flat lands only just kept from being swampy by really ancient waterways designed way back when. After that, it pushes on, like, right into the Quantock Hills, which give walkers and drivers awesome views, seemingly. Getting to Cheddar Gorge? That, actually, cuts deeply through the Mendip Hills. The gorge looks totally spectacular and makes for such great photos.

Driving Highlights: That run from Glastonbury to Wells isn’t only scenic but it passes by the cathedral, like, basically, the Bishop’s Palace. It feels as though one has gone to the center of Somerset’s heart, arguably! A bit like that!

Don’t Miss: Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company—did someone consider cheese sampling? In Glastonbury, very close by, it looks just like that tower—I mean, Glastonbury Tor. It sticks straight up above all that flat land like something totally, actually, magical.

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4. Dorset’s Jurassic Coast: Travel Through Time

Dorset’s Jurassic Coast is basically a World Heritage site, totally famous for those very cool rock formations and some seriously awesome fossil finds, maybe? That’s quite right! Check it. From east to west it starts with spots, usually, like Swanage, passes through the natural arch at Durdle Door, just to see those white cliffs rising steeply, seemingly, over the sea at Lulworth Cove. Each turn brings something just awesome—often a totally new geologic trick or feature.

Driving Highlights: Yeah, OK. It hugs, just very tightly, the coast highway! It is not, that obvious, a long distance. This means someone should really prepare for some very short, very beautiful trips. The thing that stands out: you’ll want stopping all the time for snaps—so the trip often takes quite long. Is it fine?

Don’t Miss: Have any dinosaur fans near? Swing by the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre to maybe learn, even, about local finds and all fossil hunts going near. Another must-see is the hike that follows to the top, potentially, of Golden Cap. It’s Dorset’s hugest, just absolutely tallest point along the coast. It, you know, brings fantastic panoramic vistas.

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5. The Cotswolds Charm: Through Villages and Valleys

Let’s swing, a little, north now! The Cotswolds? This sits mainly a bit above Gloucestershire, a little in Oxfordshire, but very easily is reachable starting in South West England. It is known around, I think, the globe! A place of, arguably, such honey-colored villages made by the stone unique right in the territory—villages of true, old world enchantment! So, let’s check Bourton-on-the-Water (dubbed “Venice of the Cotswolds”), next is Bibury (picture perfect, often talked about). Each has all those classic Cotswolds feelings going.

Driving Highlights: That, uh, tour here has the goal to guide someone on all very smallest roads you have, going between those villages—the objective? Totally absorb the scenic perfection there with fields walled beautifully, basically, by stone, green all along that path!

Don’t Miss: A visit to Sudeley Castle, near Winchcombe, will teach someone, usually, a good dose from England’s story. Also visit the gardens that surround. For everyone fond of cars and bikes, that, truly, interesting Cotswold Motoring Museum makes stops fun, maybe?!

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You see? Taking a car through the South West really lets you do way more exploring than going somewhere, frankly, by bus. Anyone picks an adventure by the sea? Someone seeks high moors? How about, you know, going between small country settlements? England has something, usually, just amazing along those routes! Before anything at all: ensure you plan a strategy, but it should still offer flexibility just in case, so someone gets the best right out from those awesome routes! The memories will make someone happy, quite!

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