Cornwall's definitely not short of outstanding natural beauty, stunning seascapes and beautiful beaches. So much so, that the best way to see Cornwall is probably with a road trip!
So, here's a list of our top five favourite journeys, the best routes to take and the most scenic roads that are all a must do when planning your perfect Cornwall road trip!
B3306, St Just to St Ives
My first and favourite drive follows the winding roads of West Cornwall. This road leads along the coastline and cliff tops, where you'll find unbelievable views out to sea, mountains more in-land and farmland gridded out by small stone walls and stippled with sheep... Whenever there isn't a hedgerow beside the road blocking the view that is, but that just makes it even more awe-inspiring when the view can be seen! You'll also pass incredible churches, the occasional tin mine and Cornwall's towns that time forgot, like Zennor and Morvah. For those reasons, the mood is a lot spookier than anything when it's dark out as I recently experienced whilst researching this post!
B3301, Portreath to Gwithian Towans
This drive starts in the lovely little village of Portreath. If you're staying for the day, then parking can be expensive, so scout out Lighthouse Hill on the right side of the beach! On the way to St Ives, the road is fairly narrow at first, but you're afforded a bit more space after the turn off for the Tehidy Woods carpark. What sold me on this journey was the view of “Hell's Mouth”, where the cliffs are tall, but the cafe never seems to be open! More fantastic views wait for you as you come to the top of Hell's Mouth, as you catch your first sight of St Ive's Bay and Gwithian's sand dunes. Then all that's then left to do is enjoy the image of Godrevy Lighthouse out in the bay!
The A30 into Penzance
The A30 may be a busy dual carriageway, but the views are actually quite surprising at times, especially around Fraddon, Truro and Redruth. My favourite stretch of road however is the journey into Penzance, where your can catch a glimpse of St Michael's Mount!
A39, Camelford to Bude
The A39 is mostly a wide, long road that allows you to put your foot down a bit, which isn't often the case in Cornwall. Of course, there’s stellar scenery either side of the road (especially up near Bude) which is really why it's a favourite of mine! The drive is also quite nice from the Winnards Perch roundabout to Wadebridge, but not so much from Wadebridge to Camelford.
Crackington Haven to Widemouth Bay
The last drive of my list is one only for the more adventurous of people! Follow the A39 as described above, but turn off at Crackington Haven and take the coastal road to Widemouth Bay, or even all the way to Bude. With sections of road so steep that your car might not actually make it on, and roads so narrow that you might not even make it through, this is definitely a drive for the more daring, but it's definitely worth it!
What's your favourite place in Cornwall? Leave a comment below to let us know!