South West Explorer
England
In short: South West Explorer is a 760 km scenic road trip in England, typically driven over 8 days, best in May–Sep. Highlights: London day zero, Stonehenge and Salisbury, Bath.
An eight-day itinerary with London as a car-free pre-route day, then Stonehenge, Bath, Glastonbury, Exmoor, Dartmoor, St Ives and a tide-planned Mount’s Bay finale.
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Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Pre-route London
Tower of London · St. JOHN Smithfield
Day 2Stonehenge and Salisbury
Prebooked Stonehenge · Salisbury Cathedral · Stonehenge Visitor Centre Café
Day 3Bath
Roman Baths · Bath Abbey · Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House
Day 4Glastonbury
Glastonbury Tor · Glastonbury Abbey · Hundred Monkeys
Day 5Exmoor: Dunster to Valley of Rocks
Dunster Castle · Valley of Rocks · The Rising Sun
Day 6Dartmoor: Haytor and Princetown
Haytor Rocks · Princetown and Dartmoor Prison Museum · The Rugglestone Inn
Day 7St Ives
Tate St Ives and town · Porthminster Kitchen
Day 8St Michael’s Mount, Sennen and Land’s End
Prebooked St Michael’s Mount · Sennen Cove or Land’s End · The Godolphin
Stops along the route
Things to Do
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Where to Eat
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Nearby and similar drives
Frequently asked questions
How long is the South West Explorer drive?
The South West Explorer covers 760 km from start to finish.
How long does the South West Explorer take to drive?
Most travellers spend 8 days on the South West Explorer, depending on stops and pace.
When is the best time to drive the South West Explorer?
The recommended season for the South West Explorer is May–Sep.
Where does the South West Explorer start and end?
The South West Explorer runs from London day zero to Mount’s Bay and Land’s End.
What are the main stops on the South West Explorer?
The South West Explorer passes through London day zero, Stonehenge and Salisbury, Bath.
How difficult is the South West Explorer to drive?
The South West Explorer is rated easy and is best handled with any vehicle.
Can I drive the South West Explorer in a regular car?
Yes — the South West Explorer is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.
How many fuel stops are needed on the South West Explorer?
Plan around 1 refuels (or about 2 EV charges) along the South West Explorer, based on its 760 km length.
Is the South West Explorer EV friendly?
Yes — the South West Explorer has charger coverage along the route and works as an EV road trip.
Is the South West Explorer safe to drive?
Day one is pre-drive London; collect the car for day two. Prebook Stonehenge, the Roman Baths, Dunster and St Michael’s Mount. Use the Mount’s official causeway/boat timetable and same-day weather status. In Bath and St Ives use edge parking or park-and-ride. Moor roads are narrow and shared with livestock: slow to a stopping speed, never follow sat-nav onto unsuitable lanes, and check moor/coast weather each morning. Gidleigh Park is an optional separately booked overnight splurge, never a required hiking-day stop.
What scenic tier is the South West Explorer?
The South West Explorer is a iconic drive — Iconic road trips that anchor a region's reputation — postcard scenery, headline highways, and the routes most travellers want to drive.