When you think of taking a holiday, staying in the UK may not be high on your travel to-do list. However, we have a great deal of beautiful attractions right on our doorstep which, in the right weather, could easily be mistaken for shores in faraway countries. Don’t pass on the incredible south west coast which is home to many stunning sights, especially along the Jurassic Coast, seeping with history. Hiring a car in the UK is simple through Zest and will easily allow you to tackle this not-to-missed road trip. We cover the route from Weymouth to Land’s End below.
Portland Bill Lighthouse on the Isle of Portland, near Weymouth. Photo by: Patryk Kosmider/Stock
Weymouth to Sidmouth
Centre to the iconic family beach-style holiday, Weymouth is no stranger to those who seek a relaxing, quiet coastal getaway. Catch a traditional Punch and Judy performance or hire a deck chair to kick back and feel the sand between your toes.
You may be used to hearing about boat tours out at sea, but Weymouth has a unique offering. Go aboard the tall ship Pelican, one of only 5 of her kind left in the UK, for a day trip along the Jurassic Coast.
No trip to Weymouth is complete without a visit to Nothe Fort, a sea fort that stands at the mouth to Weymouth Harbour. Learn more about this Victorian structure and its many underground passageways in the on-site displays and exhibits.
Drive your UK car hire down the A354 along Chesil Beach to the Isle of Portland, where stone is still quarried and has been used for building structures such as the United Nations Headquarters and St Paul’s Cathedral. Visit Taut Quarry, now disused, which has become a sculpture park and features many fantastic artworks sculpted from the stone.
Branscombe Beach. Photo by: acceleratorham/Stock
For those without a fear of heights, ride the gondola up to the top of the 53m high Jurassic Skyline. It’s similar to the London Eye, but goes straight up and down with one circular cabin.
Spend an evening watching the fishing boats bobbing in Weymouth harbour while eating traditional fish and chips.
Leave Weymouth along the B3157 which will snake your hire car along the West Dorset Heritage Coast until it joins the A35. Just after Chideock, turn off the explore Golden Cap. This National Trust-run and World Heritage Site is the highest point on the south coast so is well-worth the hike for the views at the end. Unhindered 360-degree views of the beautiful landscape around you await.
Just through Axmouth is a village called Beer, where you can visit Saxon-Roman quarry caves. The hour-long guided tour explains the history of the site, detailing which historical buildings the stone was used in, such as Windsor Castle. Marvel at the high-vaulted ceiling and large caverns.
Consider parking your rental car in Beer and tackling the hike along the South West Coast Path to reach Branscombe (less than an hour away). Explore the pebble beach here, avoiding the car park near the sea front which may send you unnecessary fines. Head inland for the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Sidmouth
Walk along the Esplanade along the sea front to Jacob’s Ladder, a beach named for the mile of wooden steps nearby, connecting it to Connaught Gardens. This stretch of coast has lots of little rock pools which are great for children to explore, and feature in H G Wells’ short story ‘The Sea Raiders’. The gardens are also incredibly pretty when in full bloom and often win awards. Those with their eyes on the night skies might like to visit the Norman Lockyer Observatory, which offers various 2-hour long programmes throughout the year on various themes.
Exmouth. Photo by: shpak/Stock
Exmouth
This port town on the east side of the River Exe is home to Devon’s longest seafront promenade so stretch your legs and take in the views.
Swap your hire car for a water taxi and dine upon the River Exe Café. It’s anchored in place bang in the middle of the River Exe. Sample some of the finest cuisine and fresh food that the local area has to offer as the sun goes down. Your meal is bound to be a memorable experience for all the right reasons.
Families should be sure to visit the award-winning World of Country Life, where children will have the opportunity to meet a variety of different animals, from llamas to birds of prey. For those who want a floral side to their visit, take the flower trail around the town. The Exmouth in Bloom team have worked hard to achieve the town status as a “Town of Flowers”.
Those seeking a thrill can participate in a variety of water sports, including wakeboarding and water-skiing. Or you can take a more relaxed approach by riding a banana boat. Book your activity with Exewake.
Take a relaxing stroll along the beach to view the dramatic cliff faces; can you name the types of rock found here?
Head up in your UK hire car on the A376 to join on the A379 and manoeuvre across the River Exe before coming back down along the coast. The towns of Dawlish and Teignmouth are worth pausing in for refreshment or photo opportunities of the coast.
Torquay at dusk. Photo by: Ian Woolcock/Stock
Torquay
Known as Devon’s English Riviera, it’s worth spending a day or two basing yourself in this pretty town and exploring the local area. Popular crime writer Agatha Christie was born here; for those interested in her work or in literature, there’s an “Agatha Christie Mile” which tours through places of significance, with an actual length of roughly 3.4miles. The Gleneagle Hotel here was the inspiration behind Fawlty Towers. Sadly, it’s now a block of retirement flats.
Visit the important Stone Age site, Kents Cavern, which has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1952. Hampsley Cavern, in Agatha Christie’s ‘The Man in the Brown Suit’ is based on this site. Take the tour to find out more about the discoveries in the caves and how they were formed.
Torquay Museum is a must, with vast exhibitions of a variety of topics, not along the history of Devon, but also covers other fascinating exhibits.
When the weather is in your favour, take some of the coastal routes around the clifftops for breath taking views that might convince you that you’re in Mediterranean locations.
Smeaton’s Tower, Plymouth. Photo by: faber121/Stock
Plymouth and Land’s End
This is the second-largest city in the south west, after Bristol, and has a strong naval history, acting as the home to the largest operational naval base in Western Europe.
Climb the 93 steps and ladders to the top of Smeaton’s Tower, a former lighthouse, for unhindered views of the Plymouth Sound and Plymouth city.
Take a stroll around the area west and north of Sutton Harbour, called the Barbican, for the largest concentration of cobbled streets in Britain. Here you can find the National Marine Aquarium which has Britain’s deepest aquarium tank and is home to over 400 species.
Head to Devonport, one of Plymouth’s historic quarters, to partake in the Devonport Heritage Trail. It’s a 4-mile walk encompassing some of the cultural and historic points of interest.
Visit the Mayflower Museum and the Mayflower Steps to learn more about the pilgrims that set sail from this spot on a mission to settle in North America in 1620.
From Plymouth, take the Devon Expressway across the Tamar Bridge into Saltash. Continue south, exploring beautiful spots of coastline and taking in the Lizard Heritage Coast. Home to little fishing villages, the area has picturesque coves and diverse flora. Visit Lizard Lighthouse for stunning views from one of the southernmost points of mainland Britain. If you’re lucky, you might spot dolphins out at sea.
Continue further to rest in Penzance, West Cornwall. Highlights include the open-air seawater Jubilee Bathing Pool which is one of the oldest Art Deco-style pools left in the country. There’s Morrab Gardens which include some fascinating flora of Mediterranean and sub-tropical origin. Venture out to Land’s End for photo opportunities with the iconic sign.
Land’s End. Photo by: petert2/Stock
Your road trip of the UK’s south coast
Have you taken this route before or perhaps stayed at one of the many stops along the way? What attractions would you recommend that others visit? If you’re planning to travel the route soon, what are you including on your itinerary that we’ve missed above? Let us know in the comments below.
If hiring a car in the UK to tackle the route, Zest works with a number of car rental providers in the city of London, and also further south. Check out our guide to hiring a car in the UK, and also see whereabouts you can collect your hire car from.
Written by Jessica Juby.
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