Like driving? Visit Exmoor :)
Discussion
I was in Exmoor over the weekend staying in a B&B with a couple of friends after we attended a cycling event on Dartmoor on Saturday. Then plan was head to the B&B, stay overnight then head back to Kent on the Sunday. However, having never been to Exmoor and hearing it had some great roads as well as scenery, I got up at 5AM on the Sunday and thought I'd head out and do a bit of exploring. I took my camera - I'm by no means a good photographer, but I thought it might be worth attempting to get some nice shots of the car in nice scenery.
We were staying in Dulverton, a sleepy little town at the south edge of the moor. My plan was simple....head back to the A396 and follow it north to Minehead. Pick up the A39 and head along the coast, then find a route that would loop me back to Dulverton in time for breakfast.
Just a mile outside of town and I already had a smile on my face. It's great driving country. The roads are well maintained and pretty wide in most places. A quick stop as I crossed the Exe...
....then up onto the A396. And what a road that is. It follows the Exe valley north and is utterly fantastic. It snakes through some gorgeous scenery. Lots of variety, too...flowing curves giving way to tighter technical sections, opening up to fast straights.
As the road climbs, it opens to reveal a hint of some of the stunning views Exmoor has to offer.
At Minehead, the road joins the A39. Hanging a left, I took a cruise through a sleeping Minehead, then the road begins to climb back onto the moors. The road is still nice and wide, but a bit more hemmed in with hedgerows. A few miles west of Minehead I passed through Porlock and climbed Porlock hill...apparently the steepest A-road in the UK. I had to drop back into first gear on some of the hairpins (omg no torques, etc).
After the climb out of Porlock, you find yourself up on top of the moors and the only word to describe it is breathtaking. Suddenly you can see for miles across moorland valleys. Ahead, the A39 is perhaps the most inviting ribbon of tarmac I've ever seen; smooth, flowing corners, wide and no hedgerows to disrupt visibility. A real place to stretch your legs
I stopped at a couple of viewing points along the way to take some shots as the sun began to rise.
Not my tyre marks...
Visibility is excellent up here.
At Countisbury, the roads drops steeply - suddenly the roads drops down to the sea again, another 25% incline in some places.
I followed the A39 a little further to Lynmouth. Here I took turned off and joined the B3223. For a couple of miles it twisted it's way along a gorge, with steep cliffs rising on the right hand side, and dry stone walls on the left. No room for error on these tight sections, so it was a sedate bumble just taking in the scenery. Then, at Hillsford, the road turns and heads back in a south easterly direction and heads straight across the moor.
This turned out to be perhaps the best road I've ever driven. A couple of close hairpins then the road is wide, straight and has unparalleled visibility as you head over the moors. For the next twenty miles I was grinning like a loon. The road was fantastic. Again, wide and smooth. Fast sections interspersed with beautiful corners. These are exactly the sorts of roads that I watch Chris Harris filming on in Wales, grinding my teeth in jealousy. Having so much fun that I didn't bother to stop and take photographs. I should add, that at this point, I'd seen only 2 other cars on the road (in Minehead) - the sun was coming up, the scenery was beautiful, and it felt like I had the whole of Exmoor to myself. Absolutely stunning.
Pretty soon I was back on a twisty section as the road dropped back down into the valleys toward Dulverton.
Then suddenly, I was back in Dulverton itself. Just before I returned to the B&B there was time to head up to a wood yard we'd passed on the day before for a couple of attempts at more arty shots of the car
Then finally, back into the B&B for a full English breakfast
Summary? I've not been driving long admittedly, but it was by far the best drive I've ever had. The roads are great. No potholes, wide and you can usually see a long way ahead. They flow through some beautiful landscape so can be enjoyed even on a sedate cruise. Best of all, at that time on a Sunday morning, was the lack of traffic. I was out for 2 hours and saw about 4 cars in total; and they were all heading the other way so I wasn't held up. I currently live in Kent, a county whose roads are dominated by hedgerows and traffic - Exmoor was driving heaven in comparison.
The car was brilliant - the GT86 really excels on these sorts of flowing A- and B- roads. But I reckon you could enjoy the Exmoor roads in any car; indeed, my friend was in a borrowed company diesel Mondeo estate for the weekend (he was down for work) and even he seemed to have fun when we headed home later. Not driving fast, just enjoying the flow of the roads.
So, if you enjoy driving and live within reasonable distance of Exmoor, I'd thoroughly recommend heading down there for a jaunt in the early hours. I only wish I didn't live at the other side of the country, so I could enjoy it more often.
Route:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/51.0394317,-3.55...
We were staying in Dulverton, a sleepy little town at the south edge of the moor. My plan was simple....head back to the A396 and follow it north to Minehead. Pick up the A39 and head along the coast, then find a route that would loop me back to Dulverton in time for breakfast.
Just a mile outside of town and I already had a smile on my face. It's great driving country. The roads are well maintained and pretty wide in most places. A quick stop as I crossed the Exe...
....then up onto the A396. And what a road that is. It follows the Exe valley north and is utterly fantastic. It snakes through some gorgeous scenery. Lots of variety, too...flowing curves giving way to tighter technical sections, opening up to fast straights.
As the road climbs, it opens to reveal a hint of some of the stunning views Exmoor has to offer.
At Minehead, the road joins the A39. Hanging a left, I took a cruise through a sleeping Minehead, then the road begins to climb back onto the moors. The road is still nice and wide, but a bit more hemmed in with hedgerows. A few miles west of Minehead I passed through Porlock and climbed Porlock hill...apparently the steepest A-road in the UK. I had to drop back into first gear on some of the hairpins (omg no torques, etc).
After the climb out of Porlock, you find yourself up on top of the moors and the only word to describe it is breathtaking. Suddenly you can see for miles across moorland valleys. Ahead, the A39 is perhaps the most inviting ribbon of tarmac I've ever seen; smooth, flowing corners, wide and no hedgerows to disrupt visibility. A real place to stretch your legs
I stopped at a couple of viewing points along the way to take some shots as the sun began to rise.Not my tyre marks...
Visibility is excellent up here.
At Countisbury, the roads drops steeply - suddenly the roads drops down to the sea again, another 25% incline in some places.
I followed the A39 a little further to Lynmouth. Here I took turned off and joined the B3223. For a couple of miles it twisted it's way along a gorge, with steep cliffs rising on the right hand side, and dry stone walls on the left. No room for error on these tight sections, so it was a sedate bumble just taking in the scenery. Then, at Hillsford, the road turns and heads back in a south easterly direction and heads straight across the moor.
This turned out to be perhaps the best road I've ever driven. A couple of close hairpins then the road is wide, straight and has unparalleled visibility as you head over the moors. For the next twenty miles I was grinning like a loon. The road was fantastic. Again, wide and smooth. Fast sections interspersed with beautiful corners. These are exactly the sorts of roads that I watch Chris Harris filming on in Wales, grinding my teeth in jealousy. Having so much fun that I didn't bother to stop and take photographs. I should add, that at this point, I'd seen only 2 other cars on the road (in Minehead) - the sun was coming up, the scenery was beautiful, and it felt like I had the whole of Exmoor to myself. Absolutely stunning.
Pretty soon I was back on a twisty section as the road dropped back down into the valleys toward Dulverton.
Then suddenly, I was back in Dulverton itself. Just before I returned to the B&B there was time to head up to a wood yard we'd passed on the day before for a couple of attempts at more arty shots of the car
Then finally, back into the B&B for a full English breakfast
Summary? I've not been driving long admittedly, but it was by far the best drive I've ever had. The roads are great. No potholes, wide and you can usually see a long way ahead. They flow through some beautiful landscape so can be enjoyed even on a sedate cruise. Best of all, at that time on a Sunday morning, was the lack of traffic. I was out for 2 hours and saw about 4 cars in total; and they were all heading the other way so I wasn't held up. I currently live in Kent, a county whose roads are dominated by hedgerows and traffic - Exmoor was driving heaven in comparison.
The car was brilliant - the GT86 really excels on these sorts of flowing A- and B- roads. But I reckon you could enjoy the Exmoor roads in any car; indeed, my friend was in a borrowed company diesel Mondeo estate for the weekend (he was down for work) and even he seemed to have fun when we headed home later. Not driving fast, just enjoying the flow of the roads.
So, if you enjoy driving and live within reasonable distance of Exmoor, I'd thoroughly recommend heading down there for a jaunt in the early hours. I only wish I didn't live at the other side of the country, so I could enjoy it more often.
Route:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/51.0394317,-3.55...
Edited by Conscript on Wednesday 7th May 21:10
That's around my stomping ground.
At dulverton if you went on the b3227 bampton-shillingford-waterow-wiveliscombe. this would then take you back to wellington/taunton to pick up the motorway.
There are some really good roads around here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combe_Sydenham that connect you up onto exmoor, it's bit like driving thru the black forest in Germany.
At dulverton if you went on the b3227 bampton-shillingford-waterow-wiveliscombe. this would then take you back to wellington/taunton to pick up the motorway.
There are some really good roads around here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combe_Sydenham that connect you up onto exmoor, it's bit like driving thru the black forest in Germany.
tuffer said:
Awesome write-up and pics.
+1egor110 said:
At dulverton if you went on the b3227 bampton-shillingford-waterow-wiveliscombe. this would then take you back to wellington/taunton to pick up the motorway.
It's been a long time since I was up on Exmoor. Another way to get to Bampton is to go straight on here where the B3223 morphs into the B3224. Follow it all the way via Exford and Wheddon Cross until the junction with the B3190. Turn right for Bampton. For Taunton turn left. At the Raleigh's Cross Inn stay on the main road which becomes the B3224 again at this point. Follow it to its end then turn right onto the A358.Thanks all...and sorry Johnny!
egor110 said:
At dulverton if you went on the b3227 bampton-shillingford-waterow-wiveliscombe. this would then take you back to wellington/taunton to pick up the motorway.
On the way home we just went the fast route, back down toward Tiverton then onto the M5. Just looked at that route on Google though, would of been a good shout - especially as at Taunton we left the M5 to cut across to the A303 anyway. Your route would of been more direct and fun MadRob6 said:
I live on the edge of Exmoor but every time the sun is out and I go for a drive I just end up in a sea of caravans and monospeeders.
Can be lovely and quiet on a nice clear night although then you have to try and dodge the sheep.
Indeed, I did figure that I must have got lucky; even though I set out at 5AM and it was a Sunday, it was also a bank holiday weekend, so I wouldn't of been surprised to get held up by at least one caravannist.Can be lovely and quiet on a nice clear night although then you have to try and dodge the sheep.
The A39 from the top of Porlock to Countisbury in either direction is a jewel of a journey. An early May morning some years ago I was lucky enough to drive it East to West and back again without seeing another car at all. An utterly unforgettable trip, even if I was driving a 1600 Sierra Sapphire.
There's an alternative to the A road at Porlock hill. Turn off in Porlock itself towards West Porlock and then take New Road to rejoin the A39. This is a toll road (couple of pounds) but much more enjoyable than the A road; hair pins, narrow, views, atmospheric.
If you like narrow roads then head west along the coast from Lynton to the Valley of the Rocks and then onward to Woody Bay. Part of that road runs right on the cliff edge with only a wooden fence and some large trees between you and a long drop.
In places you are shaving the trees; certainly no room for a car and pedestrian to pass each other.
If you like narrow roads then head west along the coast from Lynton to the Valley of the Rocks and then onward to Woody Bay. Part of that road runs right on the cliff edge with only a wooden fence and some large trees between you and a long drop.
In places you are shaving the trees; certainly no room for a car and pedestrian to pass each other.
Exmoor really does have some fantastic roads, and by Southwest standards they can be very quiet, though when you do catch people they are usually bloody slow!
I have driven the Scottish Highlands and the Alps, but the A396 and the B3223 are still 2 of my favourite roads that I have driven, especially the later! Just watch for any kamikaze sheep and pheasants!
Fun by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr
Sunday Drive on Exmoor by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr
The 2 unclassified roads between the A396 and Exford, then on to Porlock hill are also very good!
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=dulverton&ie=...
At Wheddon Cross there is a good village store which does a decent take away coffee and snacks, while the Rest and be Thankful pub does very good food!
I have driven the Scottish Highlands and the Alps, but the A396 and the B3223 are still 2 of my favourite roads that I have driven, especially the later! Just watch for any kamikaze sheep and pheasants!
Fun by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr
Sunday Drive on Exmoor by Alastair Cummins, on Flickr
The 2 unclassified roads between the A396 and Exford, then on to Porlock hill are also very good!
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=dulverton&ie=...
At Wheddon Cross there is a good village store which does a decent take away coffee and snacks, while the Rest and be Thankful pub does very good food!
Red Devil said:
Countisbury Hill in not a good place to suffer brake failure. Ask me how I know... 
So what happened exactly!? Allyc85 said:
Red Devil said:
Countisbury Hill in not a good place to suffer brake failure. Ask me how I know...
So what happened exactly!? Luckily I never fully subscribed to the 'gears to go, brakes to slow' mantra, so I was already in 3rd and taking advantage of engine braking. I did the only thing left open to me - jammed it ito second and pulled the handbrake full on!
Managed to scrub off some speed by riding the verge (there's a deep ditch behind it and I didn't fancy that) and bouncing off the bank in the layby. It was a pretty wild ride and I ended up here with the front of the car buried in the greenery and wisps of smoke issuing from the rear brakes! When I finally regained some composure I walked down into Lynmouth to arrange to get the car recovered to somewhere safer. Fortunately there was only some minor cosmetic damage to the bodywork, so I was pretty relieved.
I definitely wouldn't want to go through that again.
Janosh said:
Excellent read - I'm heading there tomorrow for the long weekend... Taking the S2000 with road bikes on the boot rack; looking forward to an early morning hoon and some great cycling by the looks of things 
ditch the road bikes and bring the mountain bikes, you've got quantocks and exmoor to get muddy on.
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