Cornwall/Liskeard for townies
Discussion
Planning a trip in the MX-5 for April - 2-3 days. Aside from visiting a friend of friend, who I gather enjoys getting drunk/stuffed, are there any highlights in the vicinity - I'm thinking of driving somewhere along the coast? Are the roads good for open-top motoring (really not keen on single lane roads) or am I better off hiring a Vauxhall that I don't care about? Should I just stay in London? :-)
I'd recommend getting the Torpoint ferry across from Plymouth, then following the A374 to Trerulefoot (very near Liskeard).
An absolutely lovely road that I used to go out of my way to drive several times per week when I was at uni in Plymouth, going home to my parents in Cornwall.
An MX-5 would be the perfect vehicle.
You could also turn off early and follow the A387 to Looe. It's a bit tighter, but still two lanes and plenty of (careful) fun.
I'd then continue through Looe and turn onto the B3359. Follow this until just after Lanreath, where you'll see signs for Fowey. I can't find a number for this road, but it's an absolutely fantastic drive on a nice day, and leads nicely down to Bodinnick where you get another car ferry across to Fowey.
I'd then come out of Fowey on the B3269 which is another great road, and leads back to the A390.
At this point I'd suggest turning right and heading into Lostwithiel, where you can get a lovely pasty from my sister's bakery, Fran's Pantry
An absolutely lovely road that I used to go out of my way to drive several times per week when I was at uni in Plymouth, going home to my parents in Cornwall.
An MX-5 would be the perfect vehicle.
You could also turn off early and follow the A387 to Looe. It's a bit tighter, but still two lanes and plenty of (careful) fun.
I'd then continue through Looe and turn onto the B3359. Follow this until just after Lanreath, where you'll see signs for Fowey. I can't find a number for this road, but it's an absolutely fantastic drive on a nice day, and leads nicely down to Bodinnick where you get another car ferry across to Fowey.
I'd then come out of Fowey on the B3269 which is another great road, and leads back to the A390.
At this point I'd suggest turning right and heading into Lostwithiel, where you can get a lovely pasty from my sister's bakery, Fran's Pantry
Another route to add to the list is to take the B3266 from near Bodmin to it's end at the A39. Then follow the A39 to Bideford.
A really great drive, and Bideford is a nice place for a look around.
You could then come back across the moor, similarly to what Mikal said, or you could follow the A386 south towards Plymouth then back across to Liskeard.
A really great drive, and Bideford is a nice place for a look around.
You could then come back across the moor, similarly to what Mikal said, or you could follow the A386 south towards Plymouth then back across to Liskeard.
e30m3Mark said:
Look for the Atlantic Highway online. The coast road from Hayle towards St Just is one of the UK's very best.
no its not!ignore what the greatest driving roads website says.
It a hateful journey down to the airport from st ives if you have to do it regularly.
its full of tourists pootling along, coaches that are too wide for it and people who seemingly have never driven a car in their lives before, or the occasional tractor or cow. its not even decent views. The Newquay-Porthcothan coast road despite going through a few hamlets is a better drive and nice views.
not to mention its nowhere near Liskeard!
Gurnards Head is nice though.
It's a very nice road, but note that the wife and I go to Cornwall twice a year in March and November, ie out of season, so we can for example park at Sennen Cove no problems. Summertime must be dreadful though!
We stay in Falmouth...that's where the family are...and we always have days out anywhere usually West Cornwall.
R.
We stay in Falmouth...that's where the family are...and we always have days out anywhere usually West Cornwall.
R.
theplayingmantis said:
e30m3Mark said:
Look for the Atlantic Highway online. The coast road from Hayle towards St Just is one of the UK's very best.
no its not!ignore what the greatest driving roads website says.
It a hateful journey down to the airport from st ives if you have to do it regularly.
its full of tourists pootling along, coaches that are too wide for it and people who seemingly have never driven a car in their lives before, or the occasional tractor or cow. its not even decent views. The Newquay-Porthcothan coast road despite going through a few hamlets is a better drive and nice views.
not to mention its nowhere near Liskeard!
Gurnards Head is nice though.
The airport to St Ives is mainly dual carriageway A30 nowadays.
Liskeard is only an hour or so away and if you're travelling all the way down to Cornwall, you may as well make the effort to enjoy it. It's only 90 minutes to Lands End so a days driving, with a lunch stop somewhere, will mean you can easily cover quite some distance.
e30m3Mark said:
theplayingmantis said:
e30m3Mark said:
Look for the Atlantic Highway online. The coast road from Hayle towards St Just is one of the UK's very best.
no its not!ignore what the greatest driving roads website says.
It a hateful journey down to the airport from st ives if you have to do it regularly.
its full of tourists pootling along, coaches that are too wide for it and people who seemingly have never driven a car in their lives before, or the occasional tractor or cow. its not even decent views. The Newquay-Porthcothan coast road despite going through a few hamlets is a better drive and nice views.
not to mention its nowhere near Liskeard!
Gurnards Head is nice though.
The airport to St Ives is mainly dual carriageway A30 nowadays.
Liskeard is only an hour or so away and if you're travelling all the way down to Cornwall, you may as well make the effort to enjoy it. It's only 90 minutes to Lands End so a days driving, with a lunch stop somewhere, will mean you can easily cover quite some distance.
its not worth driving over another hour down the coast for a 30 minute drive that will likely be ruined by tourists. if op wants coast road views and decent drive within ok distance from liskeard do the newquay-porthcothan run, especially if he wants to open it up a bit!
fido said:
mikal83 said:
I think the OP wants to stay near Liskeard??
Yes, at a hotel near the town centre. A trip to Plymouth via the ferry does sound appealing and maybe a small loop to the west, via the bakery, if we have a spare day.Brynjaminjones said:
I'd recommend getting the Torpoint ferry across from Plymouth, then following the A374 to Trerulefoot (very near Liskeard).
An absolutely lovely road that I used to go out of my way to drive several times per week when I was at uni in Plymouth, going home to my parents in Cornwall.
An MX-5 would be the perfect vehicle.
You could also turn off early and follow the A387 to Looe. It's a bit tighter, but still two lanes and plenty of (careful) fun.
I'd then continue through Looe and turn onto the B3359. Follow this until just after Lanreath, where you'll see signs for Fowey. I can't find a number for this road, but it's an absolutely fantastic drive on a nice day, and leads nicely down to Bodinnick where you get another car ferry across to Fowey.
I'd then come out of Fowey on the B3269 which is another great road, and leads back to the A390.
At this point I'd suggest turning right and heading into Lostwithiel, where you can get a lovely pasty from my sister's bakery, Fran's Pantry
This...until Looe and then I run out of knowledge of that area..An absolutely lovely road that I used to go out of my way to drive several times per week when I was at uni in Plymouth, going home to my parents in Cornwall.
An MX-5 would be the perfect vehicle.
You could also turn off early and follow the A387 to Looe. It's a bit tighter, but still two lanes and plenty of (careful) fun.
I'd then continue through Looe and turn onto the B3359. Follow this until just after Lanreath, where you'll see signs for Fowey. I can't find a number for this road, but it's an absolutely fantastic drive on a nice day, and leads nicely down to Bodinnick where you get another car ferry across to Fowey.
I'd then come out of Fowey on the B3269 which is another great road, and leads back to the A390.
At this point I'd suggest turning right and heading into Lostwithiel, where you can get a lovely pasty from my sister's bakery, Fran's Pantry
I grew up in Torpoint and the best road for driving fast is the A374 as quoted. I would though spend some time driving along whitsand bay from Antony to Rame Head; totally unspoilt by tourists and though quite narrow take you to kingsand and Cawsand which are lovely little villages right on the beach.
Some nice pubs for lunch out that way also, it is a beautiful part of the world and I an mx5 you will have a blast!
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