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Cornwall is one of the great driving destinations in Britain. A long, narrow county with no motorways, it rewards those who take to its lanes with wild Atlantic cliffs, turquoise coves, granite moorland and harbour villages tucked into every fold of the coast. These are the best Cornwall scenic drives, eight routes from the famous Atlantic Highway to the wild lanes of Land’s End, each chosen for the scenery it delivers. A hire car is essential here, public transport is limited, and Bristol Airport is the nearest major gateway, around two hours up the M5.
The Best Cornwall Scenic Drives at a Glance
If you only have time for one of the best scenic drives in Cornwall, make it the Atlantic Highway along the north coast, or the wild run from St Ives to Land’s End. Here are all eight of the best Cornwall scenic drives at a glance, with distance and difficulty so you can match a route to your time.
| Scenic drive | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| The Atlantic Highway (A39) | Approx 70 miles | Easy to moderate |
| St Ives to Land’s End (B3306) | Approx 19 miles | Hard, single-track |
| Land’s End, Porthcurno & the Minack | Approx 15 miles | Moderate, narrow |
| The Lizard Peninsula | Approx 20 miles | Moderate, narrow lanes |
| The Roseland & St Mawes | Approx 25 miles | Easy to moderate |
| Bodmin Moor | Approx 20 miles | Moderate, exposed |
| St Michael’s Mount & Mount’s Bay | Approx 12 miles | Easy |
| The Camel Estuary & Padstow | Approx 15 miles | Easy |
What You Need to Know Before Driving in Cornwall
IMPORTANT: Cornwall has no motorways and many of the best scenic drives in Cornwall use narrow, high-banked single-track lanes. Pull into the nearest passing place to let oncoming traffic by, never assume you can see around the next bend, and watch for walkers, cyclists and, on Bodmin Moor, wild ponies and sheep on the road. A smaller car is far easier on these lanes than a large one.
The UK drives on the left. Cornwall’s weather is famously changeable, with microclimates that can bring all four seasons in a day, so check the forecast and be ready for sea fog, rain and bright sun in the same drive. It can take around two hours to drive from one end of the county to the other, so plan your days around a region rather than trying to see everything at once.
Fuel stations are sparse in the far west, on the Lizard and around Bodmin Moor, so fill up in the larger towns. Parking in honeypots such as St Ives, Padstow and Land’s End is limited and busy in summer, so arrive early and use official car parks. For official guidance, see Visit Cornwall and the UK government driving pages.
Drive 1: The Atlantic Highway
The most famous of all the Cornwall scenic drives, the Atlantic Highway follows the A39 along the wild north coast, and has been named one of the most beautiful drives in the world by National Geographic. Running roughly from Bude down to Newquay and on towards St Ives, it threads through a landscape of big skies, surf beaches and dramatic headlands, with legendary detours to Boscastle, the clifftop castle of Tintagel, said to be the birthplace of King Arthur, and the foodie harbour of Padstow.
The road itself does not always hug the coast, so the joy is in the detours down narrow lanes to the sea. Allow three to five days to drive it slowly with stops, or tackle the highlights in a long day. It is the perfect backbone for a north Cornwall road trip and an unforgettable introduction to the Cornwall scenic drives.
Drive 2: St Ives to Land’s End via Zennor
One of the wildest and most rewarding scenic drives in Cornwall, the B3306 from St Ives to Land’s End runs along the granite spine of the Penwith Peninsula. This is single-track country, with moorland on one side and the Atlantic on the other, passing the tiny village of Zennor, whose medieval church has a famous mermaid carving, and the dramatic mining ruins of Botallack clinging to the cliffs.
The drive takes around 35 minutes without stops, but you will want far longer. Take the lanes slowly, use the passing places, and stop often for the views. It is a thrilling, elemental drive that feels a world away from the gentler south coast, and one of the finest Cornwall drives you can do.
Drive 3: Land’s End, Porthcurno and the Minack
Around the very tip of Cornwall, a loop on the B3315 links some of the county’s most spectacular sights. From Land’s End, mainland Britain’s most westerly point, the road runs to Sennen Cove, a proper Atlantic surf beach, then on to Porthcurno with its white sand and the extraordinary Minack Theatre, carved into the granite cliff 200 feet above the sea.
Continue through the wooded valley of Lamorna to the tiny harbour of Mousehole, pronounced Mowzle, one of the prettiest villages in Cornwall. This is a short drive packed with highlights, best done slowly with plenty of stops, and one of the most memorable Cornwall scenic drives of all.
Drive 4: The Lizard Peninsula
The Lizard is the most southerly point of mainland Britain, and its peninsula holds some of the loveliest of all the Cornwall scenic drives. The lanes lead down to Lizard Point itself, to the turquoise waters and serpentine cliffs of Kynance Cove, one of the most photographed beaches in the country, and to fishing villages such as Cadgwith and Coverack.
The roads here are narrow and can be busy in summer, so take them gently and arrive early at Kynance to secure a parking space. It is a gentle but spectacular drive through a unique landscape, and the southern light is some of the clearest in the country.
Drive 5: The Roseland and St Mawes
For a gentler, greener contrast among the Cornwall scenic drives, the Roseland Peninsula on the sheltered south coast is hard to beat. The lanes wind through subtropical gardens and wooded creeks to the smart sailing village of St Mawes and the famous church of St Just in Roseland, set in a waterside garden often called the most beautiful churchyard in England.
A highlight of the drive is the King Harry Ferry, a chain ferry that carries cars across the deep, wooded Fal estuary, saving a long detour and adding a touch of adventure. This is one of the most relaxing scenic drives in Cornwall, all soft light and sheltered water.
Drive 6: Bodmin Moor
For a complete change of scene among the Cornwall scenic drives, head inland to the wild granite uplands of Bodmin Moor. The roads across the moor pass the famous Jamaica Inn, immortalised by Daphne du Maurier, and offer views to Brown Willy, the highest point in Cornwall, and Rough Tor. The moor is scattered with ancient stone circles, standing stones and Bronze Age remains.
Drive carefully here: the moor is open grazing, so wild ponies, sheep and cattle wander freely and often stand in the road, sometimes just around a bend. It is a bleak, beautiful and atmospheric drive, a reminder that there is far more to Cornwall than its beaches.
Drive 7: St Michael’s Mount and Mount’s Bay
The sweep of Mount’s Bay, around Penzance and Marazion, is dominated by the fairytale silhouette of St Michael’s Mount, a tidal island crowned by a medieval castle and reached by a causeway at low tide or by boat at high water. The coast road around the bay is one of the easiest Cornwall scenic drives, with the Mount in view much of the way.
From Marazion, continue around to Penzance and the harbour village of Newlyn, Cornwall’s largest fishing port. Check the tide times if you want to walk across to the Mount. It is an easy, beautiful drive and a wonderful introduction to the far west.
Drive 8: The Camel Estuary and Padstow
On the north coast, one of the most popular Cornwall scenic drives rings the beautiful Camel Estuary. The lanes link the harbour town of Padstow, famous for its seafood and its Rick Stein restaurants, with the smart resort of Rock across the water and the pretty town of Wadebridge upstream, all set around the wide tidal estuary of the River Camel.
Park and walk or cycle a stretch of the Camel Trail along the old railway line for the best views, then drive on to the spectacular beaches around Constantine Bay and Trevone. Easy and rewarding, it makes a perfect final leg to your Cornwall scenic drives.
Hiring a Car for Your Cornwall Scenic Drives
With no motorways and limited public transport, a hire car is essential to enjoy the Cornwall scenic drives properly. The nearest major airport is Bristol, where car hire starts from around £10 a day, about two hours away up the M5, with Exeter a little closer to the eastern edge of the county. A smaller car is far easier on Cornwall’s narrow lanes and tight village streets than a large vehicle.
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 Cornwall scenic drives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best scenic drive in Cornwall?
The Atlantic Highway (the A39) along Cornwall’s north coast is the most famous scenic drive in Cornwall, named one of the most beautiful drives in the world by National Geographic. For wilder, single-track driving, the B3306 from St Ives to Land’s End across the Penwith Peninsula is unbeatable, while the Lizard offers the most southerly roads in mainland Britain.
How long does it take to drive around Cornwall?
It takes around two hours to drive from one end of Cornwall to the other, as there are no motorways and many roads are narrow. To enjoy a good selection of the Cornwall scenic drives without rushing, allow five to seven days, basing yourself in two or three areas such as the north coast, the far west and the south coast in turn.
Are Cornwall’s roads difficult to drive?
Cornwall has no motorways and many narrow, high-banked single-track lanes, especially in the far west, on the Lizard and around Bodmin Moor. They are perfectly manageable if you take your time, use the passing places and drive a smaller car, but they can be challenging for nervous drivers or large vehicles. Watch for wild ponies on Bodmin Moor.
When is the best time to drive in Cornwall?
Late spring and early autumn are ideal, with good weather and fewer crowds than peak summer, when the honeypot towns and their car parks are very busy. Cornwall’s weather is changeable year-round, so be ready for sea fog, rain and sun in a single day, and start early to beat the traffic and secure parking.
Which airport is best for a Cornwall road trip?
Bristol Airport is the nearest major gateway, around two hours from Cornwall up the M5, with all the main car hire suppliers on site. Exeter Airport is a little closer to the eastern edge of the county. A hire car is essential, as public transport in Cornwall is limited.
Plan Your Cornwall Road Trip
From the world-famous Atlantic Highway to the wild lanes of Land’s End, the southerly cliffs of the Lizard and the bleak beauty of Bodmin Moor, these eight routes capture everything that makes Cornwall such a magical place to drive. Atlantic surf, hidden coves, granite moorland and harbour villages, all packed into one small, spectacular county.
Pick up a hire car, point it West, and Cornwall is yours to explore. Compare car hire deals below and start planning your Cornwall scenic drives.
Exploring more of the South West? Take a look at our North Devon scenic drives guide.