freebird-campers

South Devon, Salcombe to Dartmouth

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:31:17 GMT

Begin beside the Kingsbridge Estuary

This South Devon journey is one of our favourites, particularly for travellers who enjoy boats, coastal walks and very good food. Begin in Salcombe, where the town gathers around its harbour and the Kingsbridge Estuary opens towards the sea.

Do not be in too much of a hurry to drive. Salcombe is best enjoyed from the water or on foot, with time for the ferry, waterside streets and views across towards East Portlemouth. Higher Rew Camping Park places you close to the estuary and gives you a relaxed base away from the busiest part of town.

For a quieter coastal moment, walk to Soar Mill Cove or seek out Sunny Cove on the opposite side of the estuary. They require a little effort, which is precisely why they still feel like discoveries.

Around Start Point

When you are ready to move on, let the road take you around Start Bay. A detour to East Prawle brings you to Devon's most southerly village and the wonderfully characterful Pig's Nose Inn. Its food, local atmosphere and live-music heritage make it more than a convenient pub stop, so check what is on and give it the evening if you can.

Nearby Hallsands tells a more sobering coastal story. Much of the original village was lost to the sea after a devastating storm, and the remaining view from the platform is a powerful reminder that this beautiful coastline is always changing.

Slapton Blackpool Sands and Dartmouth

Continue beside Slapton Ley, where freshwater lagoon, shingle beach and wartime history sit side by side. This is a lovely place to pause for a walk before following the coast towards Blackpool Sands. Despite the name, the beach is a sheltered sweep of fine shingle backed by trees, and its clear water can look almost Mediterranean on a calm day.

The final destination is Dartmouth. Arrive with enough time to explore properly: watch the river traffic, walk the historic streets or take to the water again. Dartmouth Camping and Caravanning Club Site provides a practical base outside town, leaving you free to finish the journey without watching the clock.

The roads around South Devon can be narrow and busy, especially in summer. Modest daily mileage and early campsite arrivals make the experience much more relaxed in a classic camper.

Plan your Freebird journey

Salcombe to Dartmouth is not a great distance on the map, but it can easily fill several memorable days. Follow the water, stop often and let the coves, villages and coastal views decide the pace. That is when the journey begins to feel properly Freebird.

Choose your campervan and start planning your own South West adventure.

Sailing towns, hidden coves and memorable food stops shape this beautiful journey along the South Devon coast.

South Cornwall Coastal Villages and Harbours

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:29:51 GMT

Crossing to the Roseland

South Cornwall has a softer rhythm than the Atlantic coast. The water is often calmer, wooded estuaries reach inland and fishing villages appear around bends in the road. Begin in Falmouth, where boats fill the harbour and the town has more than enough cafés, galleries and waterfront walks for a leisurely first day.

When it is time to move on, make the crossing part of the journey. The King Harry Ferry carries vehicles across the River Fal between Feock and the Roseland Peninsula, replacing a long drive around the estuary with a few peaceful minutes on the water. From there, follow the peninsula towards St Mawes, where the harbour and castle look back across Carrick Roads.

Trewince Farm near Portscatho makes a relaxed base, with coast paths, beaches and Roseland villages close by. Walk from Portscatho to Porthcurnick Beach and reward yourself at the Hidden Hut, a wonderfully simple spot for freshly cooked food above the sand.

Portloe and Mevagissey

Continue east towards Portloe, one of those villages that seems to tumble down the hillside into its harbour. This is a place for wandering rather than ticking off sights. Find the water, watch the boats and enjoy the fact that the camper is carrying everything you need for the next chapter.

Farther along the coast, Mevagissey brings a busier working harbour, narrow streets and plenty of opportunities for fish and chips beside the water. Heligan Caravan and Camping Park makes a handy base for this stretch, surrounded by countryside and close to both the village and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Fowey Polruan and Looe

The Fowey estuary deserves time. One lovely approach is to park on the Polruan side and take the passenger ferry across to Fowey, leaving the camper behind for a few hours of independent shops, waterside views and good food. The service runs daily, although times and landing points can change with the season, so check before travelling.

Literary travellers may also be drawn towards Menabilly and the coast around Polridmouth, a landscape closely associated with Daphne du Maurier. Access is on foot and should be planned with the tide, weather and local guidance in mind.

Before the final run to Looe, Polkerris makes a delicious detour. Sam's on the Beach occupies the old lifeboat house, with the sea only a few steps away. Bay View Farm above Looe then provides a fitting final base, looking across the bay towards St George's Island and placing the coast path within easy reach.

Plan your Freebird journey

This is a journey of ferries, harbours and small discoveries. Allow extra time for narrow lanes, check ferry and campsite information before travelling, and avoid planning so much that there is no room left for a swim, a coastal walk or an unexpectedly long lunch.

Choose your campervan and start planning your own South West adventure.

A harbour-hopping journey from Falmouth to Looe, taking in the Roseland Peninsula, Mevagissey and the beautiful Fowey estuary.

Cornwall's North Atlantic Coast

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:28:14 GMT

Bude to Boscastle

North Cornwall was made for a campervan journey. The Atlantic is never far away, the cliffs are full of drama and every harbour village seems to invite one more stop. Begin in Bude, where beaches, sea pool and canal give you plenty of reasons not to leave too early.

When the road finally calls, head south towards Boscastle. Wideacres Camping provides a peaceful base outside the village, while the harbour itself is best explored on foot. Walk beside the water, climb high enough for the view and then return to the camper for the next stretch of coast.

Legends harbours and hidden beaches

Tintagel brings legends, cliff-top scenery and a bridge that appears to float above the sea. Trewethett Farm, positioned between Tintagel and Boscastle, is a useful base for coast-path adventures and big sunsets. From here, continue towards Port Isaac, where whitewashed cottages crowd around the harbour and steep lanes lead down to the water.

There are quieter treasures between the famous names. Tregardock Beach is reached on foot and rewards those prepared for the walk, while Ladies Window near Trevalga provides a natural frame for the evening light. These are places to approach carefully and respectfully: wear suitable footwear, watch the tides and leave the coast exactly as you found it.

Polzeath Rock and Padstow

Polzeath is our favourite place to stop and simply stay. Tristram Touring Park sits above the beach and welcomes campervans, placing the sea, village and coast path within easy reach. Spend the morning on the sand, wander towards Daymer Bay or follow the coast around towards Rock.

From Rock, leave the camper parked and take the passenger ferry across the Camel Estuary to Padstow. Arriving by water feels like part of the adventure, and it saves the day from becoming another drive. Padstow is ideal for a long lunch, harbour wandering and gathering something delicious for the evening.

If you would rather stay on the Padstow side, Dennis Cove is the closest campsite to town and keeps the harbour within walking distance. Either way, finish with time rather than mileage to spare.

Plan your Freebird journey

This coast can be busy in summer, so book ahead and travel gently. Ferry times, campsite seasons and tide conditions vary through the year. Check the practical details, then allow the North Atlantic coast to take care of the rest.

Choose your campervan and start planning your own South West adventure.

Travel south from Bude through Boscastle, Tintagel and Port Isaac before slowing right down beside the beaches around Polzeath and Padstow.

Stunning Exmoor

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:26:38 GMT

From the coast into the wild

Exmoor is not a route to rush. Roads rise and fall through deep valleys, views appear without warning and every few miles bring another reason to stop. Begin in Lynton and Lynmouth, with the harbour below and the wooded cliffs gathering around you, before making your way to the Valley of Rocks.

The Valley of Rocks feels wonderfully theatrical: towering formations, open sea and a road that seems to have been placed there purely for the view. Take your time and then continue east towards Porlock. Some Exmoor roads are steep, narrow and demanding, particularly in a classic vehicle, so plan the day's route carefully and choose the roads that suit both you and your camper.

Porlock to Dulverton

Porlock is a natural pause, but do not overlook Porlock Weir, where cottages gather around the little harbour. Nearby Bossington leads towards a broad pebble beach and beautiful walking country. Burrowhayes Farm near West Luccombe is well placed for exploring this side of the moor, while the National Trust's Cloud Farm at Malmsmead gives you a deeply rural base beside Badgworthy Water.

Turn south through Exmoor and the road carries you towards Dulverton. This small town beside the River Barle is made for an unhurried afternoon. Browse, walk beside the water and choose between a relaxed drink at the Bridge Inn or something special at Woods. Both are the kind of places that make staying for another evening feel entirely sensible.

Rivers bridges and open moor

From Dulverton, follow the River Barle back into the national park. Tarr Steps, an ancient clapper bridge beneath the trees, makes a memorable detour. Farther north, Landacre Bridge offers one of our favourite picnic settings: open grass, clear water and the feeling that the rest of the world is a very long way away.

Continue through Withypool, Exford and Simonsbath, letting the villages mark the journey rather than dominate it. Westermill Farm near Exford offers camping in a secluded valley beside the River Exe and makes a lovely place to settle in for the night. The final road towards Challacombe brings you back towards North Devon, but by then Exmoor may have persuaded you not to leave just yet.

Plan your Freebird journey

Exmoor changes with the light and the seasons, and the journey is often more memorable than any single attraction. Keep the mileage modest, check road and weather conditions, and make space for riverside picnics, unexpected viewpoints and evenings beneath some of the darkest skies in the South West.

Choose your campervan and start planning your own South West adventure.

A slow journey through wooded valleys, open moorland and riverside villages, beginning on the coast at Lynton and Lynmouth.

Coastal North Devon

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 16:24:00 GMT

Begin slowly in Braunton

North Devon does coastal journeys particularly well. The road never feels far from the sea, yet every stop has its own personality. This route begins in Braunton, continues through the great surfing beaches of Saunton, Croyde and Woolacombe, and then follows the coast east towards Combe Martin, Lynton and Lynmouth.

Braunton is a useful place to gather supplies, browse the independent shops and ease into the journey. Nearby Braunton Burrows is a vast landscape of dunes, grassland and shifting sand. It is worth exploring on foot before the camper points towards Saunton Sands, where the beach seems to run on forever.

Seasonal sites around Braunton make a practical first base, while Lobb Fields is another established option close to the village. Wherever you stay, check opening dates and campervan suitability when booking.

Croyde Woolacombe and the joy of staying put

Croyde is the place to park the keys for a while. Walk to the beach, watch the surfers and follow the smell of supper towards one of the village's pubs, restaurants or pop-ups. Ocean Pitch places you close to the sand and is ideal if waking up near the sea is part of the dream.

It is tempting to hurry on, but this route works best when you resist. Take the coast at holiday pace and continue towards Woolacombe. The beach is the headline, although some of our favourite moments happen just beyond it: an evening walk around Mortehoe, the sun dropping into the Atlantic and the little cove at Barricane. In season, Barricane Beach Cafe is known for its Sri Lankan curries - a brilliantly unexpected supper beside the sea.

Warcombe Farm near Mortehoe makes an excellent base for this part of the coast, with Lee Bay and its quiet, tucked-away character close by. It is exactly the sort of place that rewards curiosity: turn off the main road, follow the lane and see what waits at the end.

Follow the cliffs east

From Woolacombe, travel through Ilfracombe and on towards Combe Martin. The scenery changes again as broad beaches give way to wooded combes and steep-sided coastline. Combe Martin is a lovely place for a waterside pause before the route climbs towards Exmoor.

Finish in Lynton and Lynmouth, twin towns joined by one of the most dramatic landscapes in North Devon. Lynmouth sits at the water's edge, while Lynton looks down from above. Stay for a night, walk without watching the clock and let the final morning arrive slowly.

Plan your Freebird journey

You could drive this stretch quickly, but that rather misses the point. Give it several days, travel outside the busiest times where possible and allow the weather to shape the plan. A misty headland, a sunny beach and supper beside the sea can all belong to the same North Devon day.

Choose your campervan and start planning your own South West adventure.

Surfing villages, immense beaches and cliff-top sunsets come together on a relaxed journey from Braunton to Lynton and Lynmouth.

Breathtaking Torridge, Hartland & Bude

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 10:53:43 GMT

Where the estuary meets the sea

Follow the estuary west from Instow and Appledore, then let the road lead you through Clovelly and Hartland to the wild beaches around Bude.

Some journeys are all about reaching the destination. This one is about watching the landscape change around you: sheltered estuary villages give way to huge beaches, wooded valleys and the wonderfully untamed edge of the Atlantic.

We begin beside the River Torridge, with time to wander through Instow and Appledore. Instow feels easy-going and open, with its sandy waterfront looking across the water towards Appledore. On the opposite bank, Appledore brings narrow lanes, colourful houses and a working maritime character. This is the perfect place to slow down, find something good for breakfast and settle into the rhythm of travelling in a classic VW.

Before heading west, make room for Westward Ho! Its great sweep of sand and pebble ridge is ideal for clearing the cobwebs. There is no need to plan every minute: park up, walk as far as you fancy and return to the camper with salty hair and an appetite. If you would rather begin inland, the Puffing Billy at Great Torrington makes a characterful breakfast stop beside the Tarka Trail before you turn back towards the coast.

Clovelly and the Hartland coast

From Bideford, the route follows the coast towards Clovelly. The privately owned harbour village is famous for its steep, cobbled street and timeless fishing-village atmosphere. Leave plenty of time here; Clovelly is not somewhere to squeeze between two other stops.

Beyond Clovelly, the landscape becomes wilder as you approach Hartland. Head for Hartland Quay and you will understand why this stretch of coastline stays in the memory: dark rock formations, rolling Atlantic water and cliffs that seem to carry on forever. If your walking boots are in the van, the coast path towards Speke's Mill Mouth rewards you with a long curving beach and a waterfall dropping through the valley. The paths around Blackpool Mill also offer a quieter glimpse of the Hartland landscape.

Stoke Barton Farm makes a relaxed base close to this dramatic coast, while Westacott Farm near Bideford works beautifully for the earlier part of the journey. For an evening meal, the Farmers Arms in Woolfardisworthy - Woolsery to the locals - is worth planning ahead for rather than hoping to wander in at the last minute.

Across the border to Bude

The final stretch carries you towards Welcombe and across the Devon-Cornwall border. This is a corner made for small detours. Duckpool sits in a wooded valley where the stream meets the sea, while Sandymouth offers a huge beach beneath folded cliffs. Both are reminders that the best campervan moments often begin with the words, 'Shall we just stop here?'.

From Sandymouth, continue into Bude for sea air, canalside wandering and one last Cornish sunset. You can complete the route in a long weekend, but it is even better when you give yourself permission to stay an extra night wherever the view wins you over.

Plan your Freebird journey

This journey suits travellers who love coast paths, big skies and places with a story. Campsite opening dates and local businesses can be seasonal, so check and book before setting off - then leave enough space in the plan for the road to surprise you.

Choose your campervan and start planning your own South West adventure.