Route Overview
South Coast + Cornwall + Devon + back via Bath = England's most varied coastal road trip. 600 miles, 7 days, mix of seaside resorts, dramatic Cornish cliffs, surf beaches and Georgian cities.
- Distance: ~600 miles
- Time: 7 days
- Start/end: London
- Highlight: Cornwall coast
Day-by-Day
- Day 1 London → Brighton (1.5 hr) — Brighton Pier, Royal Pavilion, beach
- Day 2 Brighton → Bournemouth → Lyme Regis — Jurassic Coast UNESCO
- Day 3 Lyme Regis → Padstow (Cornwall) — Rick Stein country, harbour fishing town
- Day 4 Padstow → Tintagel → St Ives — King Arthur's castle ruins, surf beaches
- Day 5 St Ives → Land's End → St Michael's Mount — westernmost point of UK, tidal causeway castle
- Day 6 Cornwall → Plymouth → Bath — Plymouth Hoe, drive via A38 to Bath
- Day 7 Bath → London — Roman Baths morning + drive
Where to Stay
- Brighton: The Grand (£200), Drakes (£150)
- Lyme Regis: The Royal Lion Hotel
- Padstow: The Old Custom House
- St Ives: The Rosemount, Pedn-Olva
- Bath: The Royal Crescent Hotel (luxury), Hilton Bath City (mid)
What to Eat
- Cornish pasty — Padstow, St Ives, anywhere in Cornwall
- Fish and chips — at Rick Stein's in Padstow (£18)
- Cream tea — scones, clotted cream, jam (Cornwall does jam first; Devon does cream first)
- Seafood at Porthmeor Beach Cafe (St Ives)
- Sticky toffee pudding — invented in the Lake District but everywhere
Costs
| Item | 7 days for 2 |
|---|---|
| Hire car | £280-450 |
| Fuel (1,000 km) | £100-150 |
| Hotels (6 nights) | £700-1,400 |
| Food + drinks | £300-500 |
| Attractions | £100-200 |
| Total | £1,480-2,700 |
🌊 Surfing: Cornwall has UK's best surf — Fistral Beach (Newquay), Polzeath, Watergate Bay. Lessons £30-50, board hire £15/day.