Atlantic surf beaches, fairytale harbour villages and wild cliff-top coast roads, all reached with a hire car from Bristol.
- Route difficulty ratings
- Safety tips
- Best-for recommendations
- Bristol Airport access guide
Table of Contents
The North Devon scenic drives serve up some of the most dramatic coastline in England. This is the Atlantic-facing corner of the South West, where golden surf beaches at Woolacombe and Croyde give way to the fairytale fishing village of Clovelly and the wild cliffs of the Hartland Peninsula, all linked by quiet lanes and the famous A39 Atlantic Highway.
A hire car is the only realistic way to take it all in, since North Devon is spread out and many of the best spots are tricky to reach by public transport. Bristol is the natural gateway, around two hours away up the M5. This guide covers the five best North Devon scenic drives and everything you need to plan the trip.
The North Devon Scenic Drives at a Glance
If you only have time for one drive, make it the surf coast from Saunton Sands to Woolacombe. But the best North Devon scenic drives reward two or three days of touring, beach and cliff and harbour by turns. Here are the five drives at a glance, with distance and difficulty so you can match a route to your time.
| Drive | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| The surf coast: Saunton, Croyde and Woolacombe | Approx 12 miles | Easy to moderate |
| Ilfracombe and the Mortehoe headland | Approx 10 miles | Moderate, narrow lanes |
| The Taw and Torridge estuary villages | Approx 15 miles | Easy |
| The Atlantic Highway to Clovelly (A39) | Approx 20 miles | Easy |
| The Hartland Peninsula | Approx 14 miles | Moderate, remote lanes |
What You Need to Know Before Driving North Devon
IMPORTANT: North Devon is spread out and many of its lanes are single-track with passing places and high hedges, so allow more time than the mileage suggests and drive slowly. Clovelly is a privately owned, car-free village: you park at the visitor centre at the top and walk down the cobbled street, with a fare-paying Land Rover service back up for much of the year. The surf beaches get very busy in summer, so arrive early for parking at Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton.
The UK drives on the left. The main artery into the region is the M5 to Junction 27, then the A361 North Devon Link Road to Barnstaple, the hub from which all these drives radiate. The A39, known as the Atlantic Highway, carries you South West along the coast towards Clovelly and Hartland. Roads on the Hartland Peninsula in particular are narrow and remote, so keep your fuel topped up in Barnstaple, Bideford or Ilfracombe before heading out, as filling stations thin out fast.
For visitor information and live conditions, see the official North Devon tourism site (opens in new tab) and the UK government driving pages (opens in new tab).
Drive 1: The Surf Coast, Saunton, Croyde and Woolacombe
This is the headline act, a string of the finest beaches in the country. From Barnstaple the A361 runs out through Braunton to Saunton Sands, a vast flat beach backed by Braunton Burrows, one of the largest dune systems in the British Isles and part of a UNESCO Biosphere reserve. The road then winds on to the laid-back surf village of Croyde, all thatched cottages and board shops, and the dramatic headland of Baggy Point, where a short walk gives huge Atlantic views. Finish at Woolacombe, three miles of golden sand regularly voted one of the best beaches in Britain.
It is a short drive of around 12 miles, but with stops for the beaches it easily fills a day. The surf here is the best in the region, so this stretch is a favourite with surfers, and the views from the coast road across the Atlantic are superb. Arrive early in summer, as the beach car parks fill quickly on a sunny day.
Drive 2: Ilfracombe and the Mortehoe Headland
North from Woolacombe, narrow lanes climb over the headland to Mortehoe and Morte Point, a jagged finger of rock reaching into the Atlantic with wide views back over Woolacombe Sands. The road then drops to Ilfracombe, a colourful Victorian resort town built around a pretty working harbour, watched over by Damien Hirst’s striking Verity statue.
This is a short but rewarding drive of around 10 miles, with some of the most spectacular cliff scenery on this part of the coast. Stop at Lee Bay, a tiny cove famous for the fuchsias that line its lanes, and take in the views from the coast road before returning to Ilfracombe for fish and chips on the harbour.
Drive 3: The Taw and Torridge Estuary Villages
For a gentler drive, head around the joint estuary of the Rivers Taw and Torridge, where old railway lines now form the Tarka Trail and quiet roads link a string of characterful villages. From Barnstaple the route runs through Instow, with its sandy beach and view across to Appledore, a quaint fishing village of narrow lanes and pastel cottages on the far bank.
Cross the river at Bideford, an historic port town on the Torridge with a handsome old bridge and a working quay, and continue to Westward Ho!, the only town in Britain with an exclamation mark in its name, named after the Charles Kingsley novel. The wide pebble ridge and sandy beach here are popular with surfers and walkers alike. This is easy, relaxed touring of around 15 miles through maritime history, much of it flat and traffic-free if you follow the Tarka Trail by bike, and a complete contrast to the high cliffs further West.
Drive 4: The Atlantic Highway to Clovelly (A39)
The A39 Atlantic Highway is one of the great touring roads of the South West, sweeping along the coast from Bideford towards Cornwall with the sea glinting away to the West. The star attraction along this stretch is Clovelly, a 16th-century fishing village clinging to a 400-foot cliff, its steep cobbled street tumbling down past flower-strewn cottages to a 14th-century harbour.
Clovelly is privately owned and famously car-free, so you park at the visitor centre at the top and walk down, with a fare-paying Land Rover service to bring you back up. There is a modest admission charge that includes parking and helps preserve the village. At around 20 miles from Barnstaple, it is an easy run on a fast A-road and one of the most memorable stops on any of the North Devon scenic drives.
Drive 5: The Hartland Peninsula
For the wildest, most remote driving in the region, turn off the A39 onto the lanes of the Hartland Peninsula, the far western tip of North Devon where the coast turns the corner towards Cornwall. This is dramatic, exposed country of folded rock cliffs and crashing surf, far quieter than the popular beaches to the North.
Make for Hartland Quay, where the cliffs are spectacularly contorted and there is a pub and a small museum right above the waves, a wonderful spot to watch an Atlantic sunset. Nearby, the short walk to Speke’s Mill Mouth waterfall is well worth it, where a stream tumbles over the cliff edge straight towards the sea, and Hartland Point lighthouse marks the dramatic corner where the coast turns South towards Cornwall.
Inland, the medieval Hartland Abbey sits in a wooded valley and is open to visitors in season. The lanes here are narrow and remote at around 14 miles round, so take your time and enjoy the solitude of one of the least-visited corners of the South West.
Hiring a Car for Your North Devon Scenic Drives
North Devon is spread out and genuinely rewards having your own car, since many of the best beaches and villages are awkward to reach by public transport. The nearest major airport with the full range of suppliers is Bristol, around two hours away via the M5 and the A361. For everything you need on collecting a car, the suppliers and the best rates, see our guide to car hire in Bristol and at Bristol Airport.
A smaller, nimbler car is a real advantage on the narrow lanes around Hartland and Mortehoe. Wherever you are heading in Britain, our UK car hire guide compares all the major suppliers in one search, with insurance and taxes included. Compare deals below and start planning your North Devon scenic drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a car in North Devon?
Effectively yes. North Devon is spread out and many of the best places, including Clovelly, Hartland and the surf beaches at Saunton and Woolacombe, are difficult to reach without one. A hire car gives you the flexibility to link the beaches, the estuary villages and the wild Hartland coast on your own schedule, which is exactly what the best North Devon scenic drives are all about.
Can you drive into Clovelly?
No. Clovelly is a privately owned, car-free village, so you park at the visitor centre at the top and walk down the steep cobbled street to the harbour. There is a modest admission charge that includes parking and helps maintain the village, and a fare-paying Land Rover service runs for much of the year to bring you back up the hill if you would rather not walk.
How long do you need to drive North Devon?
You can sample the surf coast in a day, but to enjoy the North Devon scenic drives properly, including Ilfracombe, the estuary villages, Clovelly and the Hartland Peninsula, allow two or three days. The region is more spread out than it looks on a map and the lanes are slow, so it pays to give yourself time to stop at the beaches and villages along the way.
What is the best drive in North Devon?
The most popular single drive is the surf coast from Saunton Sands through Croyde to Woolacombe, taking in three of the finest beaches in Britain. For drama, the Hartland Peninsula is the wildest and most memorable, while the A39 Atlantic Highway to Clovelly is the most iconic. The best plan is to combine several of these routes over a couple of days.
Which airport is best for North Devon?
Bristol Airport is the best major gateway for North Devon, around two hours away via the M5 and the A361 North Devon Link Road, and with all the main car hire suppliers on site. It makes the North Devon scenic drives easy to reach for a long weekend or a touring holiday. See our car hire Bristol guide for details.
Plan Your North Devon Road Trip
From the surf and golden sand of Woolacombe to the fairytale cobbles of Clovelly and the wild cliffs of Hartland Quay, North Devon offers some of the most varied and dramatic coastal driving in England. It is a region made for exploring at your own pace, and one of the most rewarding corners of the South West to discover by car.
Pick up a hire car at Bristol, head South West on the M5, and the North Devon coast is yours. Compare car hire deals below and start planning your North Devon scenic drives.
Exploring more of the South West? Take a look at our Exmoor scenic drives guide.