I love a road trip. Always have. Pretty much as soon as I learned to drive I started taking road trips to different parts of the UK. And then when I travelled I would often hire a car to drive to a new destination. I just love the freedom and the opportunities it provides. See a cool looking shop or park or cafe? Just stop and check it out! The possibilities are endless.
So when we decided that 2021 would be the year of UK stays for us, and booked a family getaway to Devon, I was actually quite excited. It meant I could finally tick off some of those places that have been on my UK bucketlist for ages!
The only thing is I have a kid now. So I feel like I need to plan my route a bit more, rather than being totally spontaneous. Also, the thing with driving in the UK is that a lot of it is motorways, so you don’t always know if there are cool places at the next turn off. Hence I began the research into cool stops enroute to Devon.
I tried most of these stops on the way to and from Devon (we live in Milton Keynes) and thought I would share them with you. Of course “road trip stops on the way to Devon” depends what direction you’re coming from, but considering Devon is in the Southwest of the country, I’m guessing this could be relevant to lots of you.
I’ve organised these road trip stops by county so hopefully it should be easy to find the ones relevant to the direction you’re coming from!
Road Trip Stops in Oxfordshire
Oxford, Oxfordshire
First things first, if you want somewhere to stop for a good meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner depending on what leg of your journey you’re on, Oxford is a good shout. Sure it’s a city, but it’s not a difficult city to get into and it makes your road trip a bit more exciting than stopping at services. Of course there’s lots to see and do in Oxford (check out this post), but for me it’s all about the restaurants. The Handle Bar (pictured below) is a lovely brunch spot, or Atomic Burger is alternative and tasty for lunch/dinner. Worcester Street car park postcode for sat nav: OX1 2BQ.
Road Trip Stops in Gloucestershire
Stroud, Gloucestershire
If you’re coming down to Devon/Cornwall from the Midlands, chances are you’re driving through Gloucestershire. If you wanted to make a day of it, you could definitely visit a couple of Cotswolds villages. But if you don’t want to do too much of a detour, it’s worth popping in to Stroud. This village is right on the edge of the Cotswolds, and I recommend going to check out the Stroud Brewery (postcode for sat nav: GL5 2BY).
Now I’m definitely not saying you should just get drunk in the middle of a road trip! But we visited a couple of years ago, when my daughter was a baby, and it’s a very chilled space, serving brunch and nice pizzas on sociable trestle tables. Worth a look in I think.
Road Trip Stops in Somerset
Bath, Somerset
Another city on the list is Bath. Of course you could always visit Bristol instead on your way down to the Southwest, but I feel like Bath works better for road trip stops, as it’s easier to get in and out of the city and I’ve personally found parking to be easier. If you’ve never been to Bath you should have a wander and try to go to the Roman Baths if you can. Also check out Fudge Kitchen for the most amazing fudge.
We’ve been a few times so when we stopped in on the way to Devon we just went to a cafe for some brunch (check out Fox & Kit if you have babies or toddlers!). Charlotte Street car park post code: BA1 2NE.
Glastonbury, Somerset
I’ve only been to Glastonbury for the festival and I wanted to check it out when the festival wasn’t on, but we didnt get to it on this trip. I think it would be cool to check out Glastonbury Tor, a landmark on top of a large hill. It’s a bit of a hike to get up there but offers 360 degree views of the surrounding Somerset countryside. Glastonbury is generally quite a hippy place so you sometimes get people drumming and chanting up there, but that’s part of the appeal for me!
Glastonbury town itself is pretty quirky too – think shops full of crystals and spiritual books. But mate I’m all over that shit. Will have to go on my next trip! Post code for sat nav is BA6 9HY for the car park, and you can get there via the A303 and A37.
Road Trip Stops in Wiltshire
Stone Henge, Wiltshire
You have to visit Stone Henge once in your life. Honestly I don’t think it’s that impressive of an attraction but it’s just one of those things y’know? Like the Grand Canyon or the Eiffel Tower, you just have to see these things if you get an opportunity. And Stone Henge is conveniently enroute to the Southwest, just off the A303/A344 (postcode for sat nav: SP4 7DE). It’s actually perfectly located if you’re coming from London as it’s naturally just on the way.
Road Trip Stops in Dorset
Durdle Door, Dorset
On our trip to Devon we decided to go via Somerset and come back via Dorset so we could make different stops. And it meant that I could FINALLY check out Durdle Door! I had a lot to say about this natural landmark so I’ve written a whole blog post as a guide to visiting (check it out over here). But it’s definitely worth a visit. Just beware that it’s not very accessible for prams or wheelchairs. (Postcode for sat nav: BH20 5PU).
Lulworth Cove, Dorset
Aaaaand next to Durdle Door is the ever-so-beaut Lulworth Cove. This is where you stop for ice cream or fish and chips whilst taking in the stunning Jurassic Coast. Turquoise waters and picturesque cliff formations? Yes please. This spot is off of the A31, not far from Bournemouth (postcode for sat nav: BH20 5RQ). Just beware that it’s just a single carriage road for most of this part of the journey, so if there’s traffic, it can add time on to your trip. It does feel like these Dorset stops are a little out the way but worth going if you had these places on your bucketlist already.
Road Trip Stops in Devon
Dart’s Farm, Devon
It’s like they designed Dart’s Farm for road trip stops. It has a garden centre vibe but also great food and lots of outdoor space to stretch your legs. It’s not far from the M5, just outside Exeter (Postcode for sat nav: EX3 0QH), so makes an ideal stop enroute to Devon or Cornwall.
There’s a food hall with lots of lovely deli items (I dare you to go in and not come out with some form of fancy cheese or artisan bread), as well as a few different restaurants. We actually tried out The Fish Shed as we were on our way to the seaside and were very much craving some chips (they’re very good!). There’s a play area for kids, a scenic farm walk and even some animals you can go and say hello to. Great place to stop I think!
Ashburton, Devon
If you’re passing Dartmoor as you get into Devon, and fancy a stop, drop into Ashburton. It’s a rural town named the “Gateway to Dartmoor” (postcode for the sat nav: TQ13 7QQ). Think of a standard village high street but with nice bookshops to rummage through as well as some little vintage/antique gems. There are also some cafes and bakeries that would make a good snacking option when you’re enroute to your staycation.
(Couldn’t find a photo of Ashburton so here’s Dartmoor instead…)
Orange Elephant Ice Cream Parlour, Devon
If you want to stop for a sweet treat but don’t fancy service station cuisine, make a beeline for Orange Elephant Ice Cream, part of Taverner’s Farm in Devon. The homemade ice cream is created onsite (from calf to cone!) and comes in a variety of flavours and with lots of topping options. There’s even a play area so if you have kids they can stretch their legs before heading back into the car.
They’re open every day from 10am to 5pm and are located just off the A38 near Kennford. (Postcode for the sat nav: EX6 7TW)
Wildwood Escot, Devon
Wildwood is a woodland adventure for all the family and a wonderful road trip stop if you’re travelling with kiddos. It’s just 15 minutes east of Exeter on the A30 so not a huge detour from your journey. (Postcode for the sat nav: EX11 1LU).
It’s hard to describe Wildwood as they have so much to do and see. They feature lots of animals native to the UK (they are actually considered a centre of excellence for British wildlife), but also have lots of fun things to do. There’s a huge hedge maze to get lost in (we didn’t actually make it to the middle, just found our way back to the exit after 10 minutes!) and a zipline for kids. There’s a big adventure playground in the woods, a drop slide that looks terrifying and a trampoline. There are pretty gardens and an Anglo Soxon village. Plus, a little cafe so you can stop for lunch before you hit the road again. Definitely recommend this one, it’s a great way to spend a couple hours and break up the drive properly.
Let me know if you try out any of these places and happy road tripping, gang!
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