Roads around Porlock

[magpies]

thinking of a slight re-route on our SW trip. Local knowledge of Porlock required. At the mo we are just coming down the A39, is it worth a run up the toll road and then back down the A39 or similar?

Edited by magpies on Saturday 30th January 14:21

[magpies]

[alfaspecial]

The A39 Minehead to Barnstaple is pretty good. It's not a fast road but where it follows the coast around Lynmouth it's pretty spectacular. The toll road around Porlock saves wear and tear on the car but it would be a pity to miss out on Porlock Hill
https://www.dangerousroads.org/europe/england/3473...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV5K5Q2HuH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zMcHqZTitE



Do park up and have a look around Minehead, Lynmouth & Lynton. Make sure you visit Valley of the Rocks - you can park in Lynton or the Rocks and do a circular walk (along the coast then inland) - probably less than 1 hr

Exmoor has some good (but not quick!!! roads - livestock)

https://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/picturesque-car-rou...
https://visitlyntonandlynmouth.com/scenic-drives/

I'm not a fan of youtube travelogues ....... but you could always skim through the waffle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1UC0rFTPcM




Question. When are you planning your trip?
There are quite a few 'events' on. Covid permitting!

[magpies]

Hi
we are planning around the weekend after Easter - if allowed

[egor110]

Where are you coming from ?

[magpies]

Teesside - but others may wish to join

[egor110]

magpies said:

Teesside - but others may wish to join

And are you doing porlock on the way down to Devon or on the way home?

I'll come up with some good roads for you in a min .

[magpies]

messaged you

[brisel]

Wow, how many miles do you drive each year, Magpies? Your quest to find and map every great road in Britain is commendable

[boyse7en]

The toll road is easier, and is used as a hill climb competition route. But I'd go back down and then go up Porlock Hill, one of the first ever car competition routes.
Most roads in North and mid Devon are technical and not fast - high hedges and roadside banks limit visibility, roads are narrow and many sharp corners have no warning. Great fun though.

Depending where you are going, the A39 continues past Barnstaple down through Bude and that is faster and more sweeping

[Austin_Metro]

I’d second Boyse. Do both.

I quite like the toll road, it’s quaint. Any modern car is fine on the main hill, so just for fun.

Culbone Stables pub was a very friendly and decent lunch stop ... top of the hill heading sw. others may have more recent knowledge. Plenty of parking.

I’m also a fan of exford. You could cut across country and eat/stay there, 2 decent pubs with rooms, before heading to coast.

Have fun. Austin.

[magpies]

brisel said:

Wow, how many miles do you drive each year, Magpies? Your quest to find and map every great road in Britain is commendable

I've managed 1500 in my TVR this year. I am a key worker and live 50 miles from work, most of this done over the North Yorks Moors.

There may be about 10 cars on this 3 day trip, the last day from Okehampton north to Lynton then east to Cheddar Gorge. Then Home.

[markcoopers]

Did I not answer this on a previous thread? can't find the post now.

The toll road is a waste in my view, stick with the free hill. going on to Blackmore gate and Barnstable is OK, but I would be looking to come in from Lynmouth to Simonsbath and perhaps the more inland roads.

Lots of good pubs in the area, Lower ship at the weir for example, blue ball on the top of Canterbury hill. Exford has the White horse and the crown, prefer the white horse....but that is just me.Royal oak at whithypool is good, but the roads are not so good here, you are mid Devon landing now (narrow). However my favourite in this area is the Hunters Inn at Hendon Valley. It is a pig to find and get too, roads are very narrow, but the pub and walk down to Hendon mouth are brilliant.

Edited by markcoopers on Friday 5th February 14:22

[Cyder]

The toll road isn’t a waste, you’re just doing it in the wrong car!

How about a Ford a focus WRC? https://youtu.be/2mgGpC_XpEw

[magpies]

Cyder said:

The toll road isn’t a waste, you’re just doing it in the wrong car!

How about a Ford a focus WRC? https://youtu.be/2mgGpC_XpEw

I've given up Rallying apart from being Spectator Safety Officer for a couple of events on Otterburn - my favourite location and where I attained my best result 3rd o/a on a National Rally. My TVR has 265bhp and weighs less than a tonne