[Disclosure: I was hosted for two sections of the SW660 in order to review it]
Gazing out of the window looking at the sea below, the coast road sprawled out in front of us with the nearest car a dot in the distance, I could almost be cruising the Pacific Highway, maybe even Australia’s Great Ocean Road. The vista is broad, the views spectacular. It’s everything you need from a road trip. But it’s not in some far-flung country with a flight between you and it. It’s the South West 660 – which is in the UK.
Say the words ‘UK road trip’ to anyone, and their minds will probably head north to the famous NC500. But this is at the other end of the country – a quieter, calmer road trip route that you don’t hear people talk about much, but which is arguably as beautiful, yet so often eschewed in favour of the faster, more direct routes to the south west.
Admittedly, travelling to the South West from many parts of the UK is a long old way, whether it’s Somerset or Dorset, Devon or Cornwall. So it’s understandable that people are keen to get there as quickly as possible. But having sampled it for myself after years of being ignorant to its existence, I’m here to tell you that even if it’s just once, you should ditch the direct routes and explore the South West 660 – a 660-mile loop around the South West of England, taking in some of the most beautiful parts that are so often missed.
Yes, it’s a planned route, but it also screams freedom. It’s all about taking your time, slowing down, and enjoying the moment. Escaping the crowds and traffic jams for quieter roads, but taking it easy. Maybe you’ll spend a night or two in a luxury hotel. Maybe you’ll pause for fish and chips on a beach you never knew existed. You might explore fishing towns and villages along the coast – some more famous than others. Or tuck up in a pub with rooms for a pint.
The beauty is, it’s a plan without needing to really have a plan. You choose where you stop, how much you do, which bits you skip and which ones you make non-negotiables. You do it at your own pace which means you’re not likely to be caught up in congestion or travelling with a tonne of other people on the same itinerary and timescale creating traffic jams on narrow roads.
You’ll simply be enjoying the magic they have to offer, with a few tips and guides on the way from people who have literally done the legwork for you.
To get a flavour for what the SW660 is like to enjoy, I was taken on a few of the sections across a couple of days, soaking up sea views, breaking it up over a few days and (unsurprisingly) planning most of our stops around where to eat. In this guide, I’m sharing everything you need to know about the South West 660 – from what the route actually is, to the best stops, travel tips, and what it’s really like to drive it.
Whether you’re planning the full loop or just looking for inspiration for a South West road trip, this should give you a good place to start.
What is the South West 660?
The South West 660 – or SW660 – is a scenic road trip route that loops around the South West of England, covering approximately 660 miles.
It runs from Poole in Dorset right around to Watchet in Somerset, following the coastline all the way down to the very bottom of Cornwall then back up, so when you do it you’ll travel through four counties: Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.
It’s split into 12 sections that are each around 50 miles long, and focuses on some of the quieter roads that you might not have tried before, taking you along rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, historic towns, countryside landscapes and plenty of food spots worth pulling over for.
Unlike some more structured driving routes, the SW660 isn’t a single fixed road. Instead, it’s a suggested loop that connects some of the best driving roads and destinations across the region and allows you to tailor your trip depending on what you want to get from it.
It also means it’s far less likely to cause any kind of huge traffic issues like some other road trip routes that concentrate traffic onto very specific routes. On top of this, it’s not campervan or motorhome-focused (which can come with controversy). Instead this is about discovering places in any way you fancy – luxury hotels, pubs with rooms, everything in between.
In fact, if you desperately don’t want to drive, there are even suggestions for how to do it via rail and bus.
But how much will joining up to get the SW660 route cost, you ask?
Well, kind of nothing. They do two memberships – a Premium Membership at the princely sum of £20 for 12 months, offering you a whole range of benefits, including a car sticker and a surprise give, plus discounts on trusted partners (one of which is St Austell Brewery) like 10% discount on accommodation, and other Member Perks. Or, a free Membership Lite offers pretty much lots of the same benefits, just without some of the gifts.
In short, you’re paying very little – or nothing – for a great idea, with a tonne of routes, tips and recommendations on how to execute it in a way that suits you perfectly.
South West 660 Route Overview
The South West 660 is typically driven as a loop, meaning you can start and finish pretty much anywhere along the route. Most people begin in either Somerset or Devon, depending on where they’re travelling from. Interestingly, the organisers tell me that the reason it goes the way it does is that whenever you pull over for the glorious views, you’ll always be on the right side of the road to see them. ie, they’ll be on your left – not your right.
Basically, the route loosely follows the coastline, taking you through Devon’s coastline and into Cornwall, along its southern and then rugged northern coasts, then back up along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset and across Somerset to complete the loop.
This means you’ll get plenty of variety, from cities and bustling towns, to picturesque villages and quiet hamlets. One minute you’re driving along dramatic clifftop roads with sprawling sea views, and the next you’re in some of the better-known places you might have heard of from Exmouth to Plymouth, Torquay and Paignton, Newquay and more.
Even from just doing a few sections, I found myself off the ‘beaten track’ that I thought I knew so well after years visiting Devon and Cornwall, tackling stretches of road I’d never seen, visiting new-to-me-destinations, and even discovering some of the little chain ferries that are littered along this coastline.
The fact the route is in sections also means there’s no pressure to complete it all in one go. This is about taking your time, luxuriating in the journey rather than the destination, and knowing you can go back to do bits later, or repeat the ones you love.
Our South West 660 Itinerary
Despite being fairly well acquainted with the South West of England, some of the places on the South West 660 are new to me. Even in the few sections I tackled while I was trying it out, I discovered new places – some of which we stopped at and others which went straight on the list to go back to.
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Day 1: Plymouth city tour
We started in Plymouth – somewhere I haven’t spent anywhere enough time in. From its amazing history, which is showcased throughout the city including The Box, a free museum that is home to Plymouth’s history, art, collections and archives. It actually happened to have the largest-ever exhibition of artist Beryl Cook’s work on display at the time we visited, itself a reason to go.
But Plymouth is worth a visit at any time. From Plymouth Hoe with its glorious scenic views to the Barbican – Plymouth’s vibrant, original harbour area with its cobbled streets, listed buildings, and Tudor architecture – there’s plenty to keep you busy.
Obviously, we can’t forget the food and drink. We lunched at Rockfish and then wandered through the Barbican to Plymouth Gin for a tour and tasting. The perfect way to sample part of Plymouth’s history. Later that day we headed to Boringdon Hall, a beautiful spa hotel that is getting its very own blog post because its so beautiful, which is also home to Michelin-starred Acleaf – itself worth a visit if you’re a foodie.
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Day 2: Plymouth to St Mawes
After a good night’s sleep and breakfast, we headed off, travelling west from Devon into Cornwall, via the first of several cute little chain ferries across the Tamar to Saltash. From there we explored the Rame Peninsula – somewhere I’ve never been despite having gone to Cornwall countless times. Pretty much the whole point of the SW660 right there, to see parts you’d usually speed straight past on more major routes down the middle of the south west.
Here we soaked up places like Cawsand and Kingsand, diving into local shops, grabbing coffees, wandering on beaches, and then marvelling at the ocean road that reminded me of the South West’s very own Pacific Highway route, with vistas as far as the eye could see.
It’s safe to say we could have stopped at countless places, from beaches to pubs and quirky roadside cafes – all reasons to go back and repeat the route again. But instead we pushed on, hitting Looe with its many restaurants and general holiday feel, and toying with the idea of adding a stop at picturesque Polperro, but saved both for another time. But if you do choose to stay in that neck of the woods, check out Talland Bay, which has a special place in my heart after a lovely stay with the pooches.
Instead, on we tootled – the journey just as much part of the trip as the many destinations, hopping on to another chain ferry across the Fowey estuary into another of Cornwall’s gem.
Here we lunched at the Fowey Hall Hotel – a lovely hotel that sits at the top of Fowey, complete with outdoor pool, spa, and plenty of lounge, restaurant and bar space to enjoy a few days if you wanted to stay. Or equally, do as we did and have some lunch then wander down into Fowey, which itself has all sort of boutiques, bars, restaurants and more.
It’s fair to say that Fowey is another place you could easily spend a few days at, and explore the nearby area which isn’t far from places like the Eden Project and Charlestown, themselves both worth a visit.
Instead, we pushed on again, heading along the coast to the fishing town of Mevagissey, another stereotypically Cornish fishing port complete with boats in the habour, narrow streets, bars and restaurants. It’s also not far from The Lost Gardens of Heligan, but if you want to steer clear of obvious tourist spots you could literally just meander down the coast road stopping at some of the villages and beaches.
At this point you’re getting towards the Roseland Peninsula – one of my favourite places ever and home to so many great places to eat, drink, explore and stay. Check out this guide for more info.
Here we headed to St Mawes, home to some rather luxurious hotels complete with nice restaurants, like the Hotel Tresanton that I’ve had some lovely lunches at but also plenty of other more affordable options, like the Rising Sun which I’ve only ever been to for drinks on their suntrap terrace before, but has some brilliant rooms with just as much attention to detail as a great hotel. The perfect place to snuggle up after a busy day exploring.
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Day 3: Explore Falmouth
The next day after a mooch round St Mawes, including its castle and quirky independent shops, we hopped on the ferry across to Falmouth – which ironically is now basically my home town – but also the perfect place for a day trip, whether you go by ferry or drive round via the King Harry Ferry, another car-friendly chain ferry across the Helford River.
From its many shops and independent restaurants to Pendennis Castle, the Maritime Museum, and all sorts of boat trips, there’s plenty to do and see.
Falmouth marked the end of our few days exploring the SW660 but as you’ll see from the map above, there’s a hell of a lot more, and having had a taster of this slower way to travel, I’m on a mission to tick the other sections off and to get back to some of the ones I’ve done and get to the places I missed. That’s the beauty of it, I guess. You can do as much or as little as you like.
How Long Does the South West 660 Take?
Technically, you could drive the South West 660 in around two weeks if you were constantly on the move and determined to complete the whole thing in a one-er. But that’s kind of not the point.
This isn’t really a route designed for ticking things off at speed. It’s one for meandering. For deciding on a whim to stop at a beach because the water suddenly looks impossibly blue, or pulling into a pub because the car park’s full of locals and that usually feels like a good sign.
With that in mind, you could commit your time to spending a while tackling the SW660 or you could just choose one section or stretch and do that. The beauty is you can keep coming back and you’ll probably find something new – a new route, accommodation, restaurant, viewpoint, experience – each time.
You could easily tackle it in sections over multiple trips — a long weekend in Dorset, a few days around Cornwall, maybe another stretch through Devon later in the year. Because it’s split into manageable stages, it feels far more flexible than some of the more intimidating road trip routes out there.
And frankly, that makes it feel much more realistic too.
Best Stops on the South West 660
One of the things I liked most about the South West 660 is that it balances the obvious headline destinations with places you’d probably never think to visit otherwise.
Yes, you’ll hit some of the South West’s best-known spots. But it’s often the quieter stretches in between that end up becoming the bits you remember most.
Best Coastal Views
You won’t be short of coastal views on this route. The stretch from the Rame Peninsula heading west blew me away, as does the coastline on the Roseland Peninsula.
But there are other spots the route will take you to that are undoubtedly stunning, from Kynance Cove to parts of the wild north Cornwall coast, then spots like Bigbury and Burgh Island in Devon, and the rolling Jurassic Coast vistas of Dorset.
In some ways, you don’t really need set viewpoints. You’ll find your own favourites, from random lay-bys, tiny pull-ins and unexpected corners where the whole coastline opens up in front of you.
Prettiest Villages
You could probably write an entire separate guide just on the villages along the SW660.
There are the obvious postcard-worthy spots like Clovelly and Port Isaac, but again you’ll find places you may never have heard of – as I did – that are off the beaten track, and feel slower, calmer and undiscovered.
Food & Drink Stops
Unsurprisingly, this was probably my favourite part and it’s safe to say you won’t be short of these on this route given how great the South West is for food and drink.
From Michelin-starred restaurants to great gastropubs, that’s just the beginning. The South West has some of the best produce around, whether it’s fish and seafood, great meat, brilliant locally-baked bread to vineyards. breweries, distilleries and more.
You’ll find fab farm shops, excellent coffee stops, cosy pubs and serious street food, not to mention farmers’ markets, food-filled events and festivals.
Rockfish in Plymouth was a great starting point, particularly if you want something relaxed but reliably good. Fresh fish, sea views and exactly the kind of lunch that makes you instantly feel like you’re on holiday.
Elsewhere along the route, you’ll find everything from beachside fish and chips to smart tasting menus tucked away in tiny coastal towns.
Honestly, one of my biggest recommendations would simply be not to over-plan every meal. Some of our best stops happened completely accidentally.
Michelin Star Acleaf was stunning, and you’ll find plenty more top tier restaurants that feature in the guide along the SW660 route. But of course, it’s not just about stars and accolades. Plenty of pubs, seaside cafes, independent restaurants and cafes along this route are serving up great food.
Where to Stay on the South West 660
Again, when it comes to accommodation, the beauty of the SW660 is that you can make it whatever kind of trip you want it to be.
Yes, you can stay at spa hotels, with seaview rooms and all the luxury. But you’ll also find plenty of other options to suit all budgets, from pubs-with-rooms, B&Bs and cottages to glamping.
There’s also plenty of infrastructure if you’re travelling by campervan — although one thing I do appreciate about the SW660 is that it doesn’t feel exclusively geared towards van life in the way some road trip routes now do.
Tips for Driving the South West 660
Don’t underestimate journey times
This is probably the biggest thing. Fifty miles in the South West can take far longer than you think once you factor in narrow roads, tractors, photo stops and the temptation to constantly pull over.
Avoid trying to do too much
It’s really tempting to cram loads in, and I’m really bad for this, especially when you’ve already travelled from elsewhere in the UK to get to the South West, but the route works best when you leave space for spontaneity.
Be prepared for narrow lanes
Particularly in Cornwall and Devon, there are sections where roads become very narrow very quickly. If you’re not used to driving rural lanes, it’s worth taking your time and staying patient.
Travel outside peak school holidays if you can
While some places market themselves for high season, the founders of the SW660 are keen to point out that a good time to do this route is when it’s less busy – making late spring and early autumn ideal.
You’ll still potentially get lovely weather, but with fewer crowds and a calmer atmosphere, which ties in perfectly with the ethos of this way of travelling.
Is the South West 660 Worth It?
In case you hadn’t realised, I absolutely think so. Mainly because you can actually do it however you want. You can stay where you like, eat what you like, do what you want, and the sheer array of options mean your trip could involve a million possibilities.
For me, one of the best parts was discovering bits of Cornwall I’d never seen before, despite having visited multiple times. Places I’d probably never have found otherwise. Like a lot of people, I’ve spent years trying to get to Cornwall or Devon as quickly as possible and this was the exact opposite.
Of course, not everyone will like a trip that involves driving – tackling narrow roads, potentially getting lost, having little mobile signal in parts. But for me, that’s the joy of a road trip. Taking the slow road, not treating the journey as something to endure but making it part of the holiday itself.
And compared to some other road trips that might have been more heavily marketed, this feels more casual, more relaxed and a bit more natural.
Final Thoughts on the South West 660
Whether you tackle the whole loop or just dip into sections of it like I did, the South West 660 feels like a brilliant way to explore this part of the country differently.
It’s scenic without trying too hard. Points you in the right direction without being too organised or restrictive. And suitable for everyone, regardless of your budget and what you love to do.
I already know there are sections I want to return to properly and others I need to get to.
Bring on the road trips.
