Our Dorset Life

If you’re looking for a scenic UK road trip, the South West 660 is one of the most beautiful ways to explore Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

This 660-mile driving route is designed around slow travel, taking you through coastal towns, hidden villages and some of the best food and stays in the South West. Instead of rushing from place to place, it encourages you to take your time and properly experience everything along the way.

We recently explored part of the route over three days, driving through some of Devon and Cornwall and it was such a great experience as usually, with three children, we rush to get to our destination, so to do this on my own was really special.

What is the South West 660?

The South West 660 is a 660-mile circular driving route broken down into 12 individual sections across Dorset, Devon and Cornwall.

It’s designed to:

• Encourage off-peak travel
• Help you discover lesser-known places
• Create a more relaxed, enjoyable road trip experience

Rather than trying to “see everything”, the idea is to take it one route at a time, making it something you can come back to again and again.

Our 3-Day South West 660 Itinerary (Devon & Cornwall)

For this trip, we explored a section of the route starting in Plymouth and winding through Cornwall, taking in coastal drives, incredible food and some really special places to stay.

Day 1: Plymouth Things to Do & Boringdon Hall Hotel Stay

We started in Plymouth, a city full of history, but with a really creative, modern edge.

Our first stop was The Box, where we explored the Beryl Cook exhibition. It’s such a great cultural space and a perfect introduction to the city.

The exhibition is there until May 2026 and it was very popular for good reason. With lots of her work and personal items on loan from the Cook family and others it was an amazing look into her life and what inspired her.

From there, we headed to the waterfront for lunch at Rockfish, where fresh seafood is on the menu. It is based on the harbour with gorgeous views.

I enjoyed sea bream with a greek salad, the perfect light lunch before we went to explore more of the history of Plymouth.

In the afternoon, we visited the Plymouth Gin Distillery, one of the oldest working gin distilleries in England, it has been making gin since 1793. The tour added a really nice historical layer to the day and gave a glimpse into Plymouth’s heritage.

There are a number of tours you can do at the distillery; from the classic Plymouth Gin Distillery Tour, an enhanced Gin Connoisseur’s Tour with dedicated tasting and a Master Distillers Tour, where guests get the opportunity to select their very own botanicals and distil a bottle to take away with them. There is also a gorgeous bar where you can enjoy a gin & tonic before heading out to discover more.

For more information on what to do in Plymouth, Visit Plymouth has a wealth of information.

We then drove just outside the city to Boringdon Hall Hotel & Spa, a beautiful manor house hotel set in peaceful surroundings.

Before dinner, we spent some time in the Gaia Spa, which sits on the edge of Dartmoor and feels like a complete escape from everything. It’s a modern, light-filled space with indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pools, saunas and steam rooms all designed for slowing down and switching off.

The outdoor hot tub, which flows directly from the hydrotherapy pool, was such a highlight sitting there with views across the grounds, it was one of those moments where you genuinely don’t want to leave. There’s a real sense of calm throughout the whole space, and it was the perfect reset before the evening ahead.

We stayed in one of the Wellness Rooms, which are located just moments from the spa and you really feel that connection throughout your stay.

The rooms are calm, natural and thoughtfully designed, with soft textures and a really peaceful feel. You walk through a corridor with living moss walls to get there, which sounds like a small detail but adds to that sense of switching off from the moment you arrive.

Having direct access to the Gaia Spa as part of your stay makes such a difference being able to move between your room and the spa so easily, in your robe, just adds to that slower, more relaxed pace. It’s one of those places where you quickly lose track of time, and honestly, we could have stayed much longer.

The evening was spent at Àclèaf, the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant and it was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the trip.

I began with the crab, followed by turbot, then venison, finishing with a beautifully balanced chocolate dessert. Each course was refined and full of flavour, with a real sense of precision and seasonality running throughout the menu.

What elevated the experience even further was the level of detail and theatre woven into the evening. We were welcomed with a glass of English sparkling wine before being presented with a selection of breads and butters, including one delicately paired with honey from the estate, a subtle but memorable touch.

A series of thoughtfully curated snacks led into the meal, and a playful moment early on where we selected from a series of shapes and textures revealed itself later as a personalised pre-dessert, adding an unexpected and interactive element to the dining experience.

It was more than just dinner; it felt immersive, interactive and very special.

Day 2: Cornwall Coastal Drive – Fowey to St Mawes (Route 6 & 7)

Day two was where the South West 660 changed from city to coastal views and I was so excited to explore!

After breakfast, we set off along Route 6 into Cornwall. The drive itself is a huge part of the experience with winding coastal roads, quiet villages and views that make you want to stop every few minutes (and we did)!

We arrived in Fowey for lunch at Fowey Hall Hotel, which sits above the estuary with incredible views across the water. It’s relaxed, family-friendly and perfectly positioned for lunch or a stay.

Part of the Luxury Family Hotels group of hotels which has a number of beautiful properties that each focus on a luxury and memorable stay for the whole family. With beautiful swimming pools, spa treatments, delicious restaurants and Ofsted-registered kids clubs offering complimentary childcare, they are the perfect choice for families with young children.

From there, we continued along Routes 6 and 7 toward St Mawes, and this stretch was easily one of the highlights of the trip. The road hugs the coastline, opening up to classic Cornish views, boats, rolling hills and wide open water.

By late afternoon, we arrived at The Rising Sun in St Mawes, a harbourfront pub with rooms in one of the most picturesque spots in Cornwall.

Dinner here was cosy and relaxed, a completely different pace to the night before, and a great reminder of how varied the South West 660 experience can be. They had a new menu on offer the night we stayed and the food was delicious, highlights being the sea bream and the crab cocktail!

The next morning we decided to go for a sea swim, it was cold but what a way to wake up! The Rising Sun has dry robes in every room, meaning we had no excuse not to go and make use of them!

The breakfast was also delicious, the perfect set up for a day exploring and then the drive back to Dorset. I had the full English, and really enjoyed the morning with new friends!

Day 3: Falmouth Coastal Drive & Exploring Cornwall

On our final morning, after our delicious breakfast we took the ferry from St Mawes over to Falmouth.

We spent some time exploring Falmouth, a vibrant maritime town with a mix of independent shops, cafés and coastal walks. It felt like the perfect place to end the trip a bit more lively, but still full of character.

From there, I made my way back home to Dorset.

Why the South West 660 is the Perfect UK Road Trip

What makes the South West 660 different from other road trips is how intentional it feels.

It’s not about rushing or ticking off landmarks, it’s about:

• Slowing down and enjoying the journey
• Discovering places you wouldn’t normally visit
• Travelling outside of peak times
• Experiencing the South West in a more meaningful way

Driving it from Dorset made it feel even more relevant. We live in Dorset, on part of the South West 660 which we are very lucky to, but this trip showed me a completely different side to it and I’ll definitely be checking out the maps before we explore Dorset this summer.

South West 660 Itinerary (3 Days Summary)

Day 1: Plymouth → The Box → Rockfish → Plymouth Gin Distillery → Boringdon Hall Hotel → Àclèaf
Day 2: Route 6 → Fowey → Fowey Hall Hotel → Route 7 → St Mawes → Rising Sun
Day 3: Route 7 → Falmouth → Return to Dorset

Planning Your South West 660 Road Trip

If you’re planning a UK coastal road trip, the South West 660 is such a great place to start.

You can:

• Pick one route at a time
• Plan a long weekend like we did
• Or build up to completing all 12 routes over time

It’s flexible, scenic and genuinely one of the best ways to explore Devon and Cornwall (or Dorset) at a slower pace.

Sarah x