England · Near Exeter/8 min read

The 10 best driving roads around Exeter.

Devon’s topography dictates its road network: deep valleys feeding out from the high granite blocks of Dartmoor and Exmoor, and crinkled margins wrapping the South Hams. The best driving here marries broad-shouldered A-roads sweeping across the moorland with tight, technical B-roads plunging into the combes.

By Drivelines·Published 06 May 2026
REGION OVERVIEW

Navigating the Granite and the Green

It is a county that repays a fluent driving style, where sightlines are earned rather than given, and the prevailing damp demands respect. The geography enforces its own rhythm: wide moorland blasts inevitably give way to single-track descents, ensuring that raw speed is far less important than precision and patience. These ten roads represent the finest tarmac within an hour of Exeter, balancing technical engagement with sweeping topography.

Routes mapped
10
Total distance
200km
Avg curve idx
6.5/10
Map of all 10 routes in near-exeter
StartEnd
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10
A382 · Moretonhampstead · Spirited
Mixed widthSmooth surface

Kelly Cross (A382)

Nearing Moretonhampstead, this dual-track road throws a surprising number of complex curves into a short distance. It requires active management of the throttle to settle the car through the transitions, rewarding those who plan two corners ahead. The smooth surface flatters a tidy line but the frequency of the bends leaves no room for hesitation.

The transition from shadow to bright sunlight beneath the tree canopy can briefly mask the entry to the tighter corners.

Distance
11km
Drive time
0h 14m
Curve idx
7.6/10
Climb
293m
StartEnd
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09
A379 · Shaldon · Expert
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Teignmouth Road (A379)

This coastal stretch above Shaldon offers another hyper-technical challenge, stringing together blind corners and steep pinches in rapid succession. The road width narrows unpredictably, forcing you to adjust your line mid-corner and respect the unforgiving hedges. It is a physically busy drive that relies entirely on precise positioning.

Salt spray leaves a greasy residue on the tarmac over the winter months, halving the mechanical grip you think you have.

Distance
9.3km
Drive time
0h 16m
Curve idx
8.6/10
Climb
236m
StartEnd
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08
A379 · South Hams · Expert
Dual-trackSmooth surface

The Ridges (A379)

Clinging to the South Hams coastline, this road is an abrasive, intense experience that crams an immense density of corners into just six miles. It ducks and weaves relentlessly, requiring sharp, decisive inputs and constant attention to the vanishing point. The tight margins and rapid direction changes demand full concentration.

The camber falls away abruptly on the landward side of the tighter bends, pushing you wide if you turn in too early.

Distance
10.2km
Drive time
0h 17m
Curve idx
9.1/10
Climb
244m
StartEnd
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07
A377 · Taw Valley · Easy
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Bishop's Tawton Road (A377)

Tracing the path of the River Taw northwards, this is a masterclass in relaxed, linear driving. The curvature is minimal, allowing you to settle into an effortless cruise along the valley floor while enjoying consistent, predictable tarmac. It is a road that provides mental space, demanding little more than a light touch on the wheel.

Farm vehicles pull out from the blind junctions south of Bishop's Tawton without warning, so keep your sightlines long.

Distance
37.8km
Drive time
0h 39m
Curve idx
2.6/10
Climb
503m
StartEnd
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06
A386 · Dartmoor West · Easy
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Station Road (A386)

Running up the western flank of Dartmoor, this trunk road is characterised by long, sweeping sections that ask very little of the steering wheel but plenty of the driver’s observational skills. It flows logically through the landscape, avoiding tight technical work in favour of high-visibility progress. The challenge lies in maintaining absolute smoothness rather than wrestling with hairpins.

The sweeping left-hander near the Sourton Cross services has a tightening radius that catches out the unwary.

Distance
33.8km
Drive time
0h 42m
Curve idx
4.8/10
Climb
562m
StartEnd
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05
B3193 · Teign Valley · Spirited
Dual-trackVaried surface

Clay Pits Way (B3193)

Skirting the Teign Valley, this route blends the precision of a technical B-road with the dimensions of a primary route. It winds moderately through the valley floor, leaning on rhythmic curves that invite a brisk but restrained pace. You spend most of the drive managing weight transfer over gentle crests.

Heavy quarry traffic uses the lower sections near Newton Abbot, leaving a slick film of dust that turns to ice in the damp.

Distance
17.3km
Drive time
0h 23m
Curve idx
5.8/10
Climb
372m
StartEnd
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04
A396 · Exmoor · Spirited
Dual-trackVaried surface

Cutcombe Hill (A396)

A substantial run across the grain of Exmoor, the A396 delivers a masterclass in gradient management. It climbs and falls decisively, stringing together long straights with sudden, tight compressions that demand an attentive approach to braking. The varied surface quality keeps you alert, reading the available grip across patches of older tarmac.

The descent towards Wheddon Cross tests brake temperatures if you ride the pedal — let the engine braking do the work.

Distance
35.9km
Drive time
0h 43m
Curve idx
6.3/10
Climb
835m
StartEnd
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03
A3072 · Mid Devon · Spirited
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Dart Bridge (A3072)

Traversing Mid Devon’s rolling agricultural interior, this dual-track A-road relies on a sequence of well-sighted sweepers rather than outright twistiness. It has the width to feel forgiving, letting you maintain a steady, unhurried rhythm without fighting the verge. The corners stitch together intuitively, making it an exercise in carrying momentum.

The dips preceding the bridges can catch standing water after heavy rain, reducing front-end bite unexpectedly.

Distance
12.4km
Drive time
0h 16m
Curve idx
7.4/10
Climb
321m
StartEnd
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02
B3212 · Longdown · Spirited
Mixed widthSmooth surface

Longdown Road (B3212)

The B3212 is a classic arterial route into Dartmoor, undulating through wooded corridors before breaking out into more open terrain. It is decidedly technical, constantly altering its pitch and asking the driver to balance the car through medium-speed transitions. The cadence here rewards smooth steering inputs and measured throttle application.

Traffic builds quickly on weekend mornings as walkers head for the moors; the early dawn light offers the clearest run.

Distance
21.3km
Drive time
0h 37m
Curve idx
7.6/10
Climb
447m
StartEnd
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01
B3387 · Dartmoor · Easy
Dual-trackSmooth surface

Northway Bridge (B3387)

Climbing onto the high moor towards Haytor, this broad, open road trades hedgerows for heather and bracken. The surface is smooth and the radius of the corners generous, offering a rare opportunity in Devon to read the camber and plot a flowing line with excellent visibility. It is a gentle but highly satisfying introduction to moorland driving.

Cattle and ponies wander freely across the tarmac near the tor car parks — treat them as mobile, unpredictable obstacles and drop your pace accordingly.

Distance
10.8km
Drive time
0h 16m
Curve idx
5.1/10
Climb
411m
// KEEP READING
Sibling guide · Scenic
Top 10 scenic drives in Exeter
Parent region · England
Top 10 driving roads in England
Nearby · The east of England
Top 10 driving roads in the east of England
Nearby · London and the Home Counties
Top 10 driving roads in London and the Home Counties
Nearby · The Midlands
Top 10 driving roads in the Midlands
Index · Every region
All Top 10 Field Guides

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