Devon & Cornwall Coastal Loop
Departing from Exeter, loop through Dartmoor, the South and North Cornwall coasts, and Land's End.
This clockwise loop around the peninsula takes you through Dartmoor's wild moorlands, along south coast fishing villages and gardens, to Land's End and St Ives on the western tip, returning via the north coast's surfing beaches and Tintagel. Driving distances are short but country lanes are narrow, making it ideal for couples and repeat visitors to the UK. This route skips Exmoor and the Lizard Peninsula.
During summer holidays, roads are busy and parking in St Ives is difficult; May–June and September are more comfortable.
Day by day
Day 1 · Exeter to East Dartmoor
Torquay（Exeter Cathedral） → Dartmoor（Haytor Rocks、Hound Tor）
Pick up your car in Exeter, drive to Haytor Rocks (approx. 40 minutes), then continue to Moretonhampstead (approx. 25 minutes).
Stay: Moretonhampstead
Day 2 · Across the Moors to Plymouth
Dartmoor（Postbridge Clapper Bridge、Wistman's Wood） → Plymouth（The Barbican & Mayflower Steps）
Drive across Dartmoor along the B3212 to Plymouth (approx. 1 hour net driving time, excluding walks).
Ponies and sheep roam freely on the moorland roads; please slow down.
Stay: Barbican
Day 3 · Eden Project to Fowey
Plymouth（Plymouth Hoe & Smeaton's Tower） → Newquay（Eden Project、Fowey）
Cross the Tamar Bridge into Cornwall, drive to the Eden Project (approx. 1 hour), then continue to Fowey (approx. 25 minutes).
The streets in Fowey's old town are extremely narrow; park in the car parks outside the town.
Stay: Fowey
Day 4 · South Coast Gardens to St Michael's Mount
Newquay（The Lost Gardens of Heligan、Mevagissey） → St Ives, Cornwall（St Michael's Mount）
Drive from Fowey to Heligan (approx. 30 minutes), then continue towards Penzance (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes).
You can walk to St Michael's Mount via the causeway at low tide, but must take a boat at high tide; check the tide times first.
Stay: Penzance
Day 5 · Land's End Peninsula Loop
St Ives, Cornwall（Minack Theatre、Porthcurno Beach、Land's End、Botallack Mine）
Drive from Penzance along the B3315 to Minack, then via Land's End and Botallack to St Ives (approx. 2 hours).
Visits to the Minack Theatre are restricted during daytime performances; check the official website first.
Stay: Old Town Harbour & Porthmeor
Day 6 · St Ives Art & Beaches
St Ives, Cornwall（Tate St Ives、Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden、St Ives Harbour & Smeaton's Pier、Porthmeor Beach）
Explore the old town on foot. The galleries, harbor, and beaches are all within a 15-minute walk of each other.
Stay: Old Town Harbour & Porthmeor
Day 7 · North Coast Cliffs to Padstow
Newquay（Wheal Coates & St Agnes Coast、Fistral Beach、Bedruthan Steps、Padstow）
Drive along the north coast road to Padstow (approx. 1 hour 15 minutes total), stopping at clifftops and beaches along the way.
The steps down to Bedruthan Steps beach are closed; stick to the clifftop paths.
Stay: Padstow
Day 8 · Tintagel & Return to Exeter
Newquay（Port Isaac、Tintagel Castle） → Exeter
Drive from Padstow via Port Isaac to Tintagel (approx. 1 hour), then take the A30 back to Exeter (approx. 1 hour 20 minutes).
Tintagel Castle requires timed-entry bookings and may close during high winds.