Cornwall and Devon Travel Guide: Coast, Itinerary and Where to Stay

Cornwall and Devon are where England stops feeling tidy. This Cornwall and Devon travel guide helps you decide between the two, choose bases, and build a coast-and-moor route that actually works.

That is the first thing I want you to understand before you start saving beaches, castles, coves, gardens, fishing towns, moorland walks, seafood restaurants, and cliff paths into one heroic southwest itinerary. On a map, the two counties look like a neat tail of land pointing into the Atlantic. In practice, they are slower, wider, more seasonal, and more emotional than that. A drive that looks short can become a narrow-lane negotiation behind a tractor. A beach that looks nearby can depend on tides, parking, and weather. A town that sounds famous may not be the right base for the kind of trip you actually want.

That is not a warning against going. It is the opposite. Cornwall and Devon can be one of the best parts of an England trip if you give them the right shape.

Cornwall is the more dramatic edge: surf beaches, granite cliffs, fishing harbors, art towns, subtropical gardens, mining landscapes, moorland, and the feeling of reaching the end of the country. Devon is more varied in a shorter distance: two coastlines, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Exeter, river towns, sailing estuaries, family seaside resorts, surf beaches, and the East Devon end of the Jurassic Coast. Together, they can make a beautiful southwest route. Separately, either one can be a complete holiday.

The mistake is treating them as a quick add-on.

Use this Cornwall and Devon travel guide with the England itinerary planner if you are deciding whether the southwest fits a 7, 10, 14, or 21 day trip. Keep the England travel guide open if you are balancing trains, car rental, buses, and rural roads. If you are still choosing between regions, compare this guide with England’s standout destinations, the complete Cotswolds guide, and the Lake District travel guide. Cornwall and Devon are wonderful, but they ask for time in a way London day trips do not.

Quick Answer: How To Use This Cornwall and Devon Travel Guide

For a first trip to Cornwall and Devon, plan at least five nights if you want a taste of one county, seven to ten nights if you want both, and two weeks if you want the southwest to feel relaxed rather than rushed. Cornwall is best for dramatic beaches, fishing villages, art towns, surf, gardens, and a far-west feeling. Devon is best for variety, shorter travel distances, Dartmoor, river towns, family seaside bases, North Devon surf beaches, and easier links with Bath, Bristol, Dorset, or London.

Most visitors should use a car for at least part of a broad Cornwall and Devon trip, but you do not need a car for every version of the southwest. Rail-based trips can work around Exeter, Plymouth, Totnes, Torquay, Dawlish, St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, and St Austell. The tradeoff is that public transport works best when you choose connected bases and stop chasing remote coves every day.

Here is the blunt version.

Planning Question	Best First Answer
How long do you need?	5 nights for a focused Cornwall or Devon trip; 7-10 nights for both; 2 weeks for a deeper southwest route.
Cornwall or Devon?	Cornwall for iconic coast and far-west drama; Devon for variety, moors, family beaches, estuaries, and easier routing.
Do you need a car?	Helpful for most wide routes; optional if you choose rail-friendly bases and accept fewer remote stops.
Best first Cornwall bases	St Ives, Penzance/Marazion, Falmouth, Padstow, Newquay, Fowey, Looe, or Bude depending on trip style.
Best first Devon bases	Exeter, Dartmouth, Salcombe/Kingsbridge, Torquay/Brixham, Totnes, Plymouth, North Devon, Dartmoor, or Exmoor.
Best months	May, June, September, and early October for easier balance; July and August for beach energy and crowds.
Biggest mistake	Trying to see Cornwall and Devon as one compact checklist from London.
Best route habit	Choose two or three bases, build days around nearby coast/fields/towns, and protect flexible time for weather and tides.

If you have one week, choose carefully. A full week in Cornwall is easy to justify. A full week in Devon is easy to justify. A week split between both can work, but only if you keep the route tight. I would not spend one night in Exeter, one in Dartmouth, one in St Ives, one in Padstow, one in Newquay, one in Tintagel, and call it a holiday. That is a luggage tour with scenery attached.

Cornwall Vs Devon: Which Should You Choose?

The Cornwall vs Devon question is not about which county is “better.” It is about what kind of trip you are trying to protect.

Choose Cornwall if the dream is Atlantic cliffs, surf beaches, harbors, art, seafood, subtropical gardens, historic mining landscapes, and a feeling of being somewhere distinct from the rest of England. Cornwall has a stronger emotional brand because its best-known places are so visual: St Ives, St Michael’s Mount, Mousehole, Porthcurno, the Minack Theatre, Kynance Cove, Land’s End, Padstow, Port Isaac, Tintagel, and the Eden Project. It is also farther away and more prone to summer pressure in the famous places.

Choose Devon if you want variety with less end-of-the-road commitment. Devon gives you Exeter, Dartmoor, the English Riviera, Dartmouth, Salcombe, Totnes, Plymouth, North Devon surf beaches, Exmoor, and East Devon’s Jurassic Coast. It is often easier to combine with Bath, Bristol, Dorset, the Cotswolds, or a London route. It can feel softer than Cornwall, but that softness is useful. Devon is not only a warm-up act for Cornwall. For many families, slower travelers, and first-time road trippers, it is the more forgiving county.

Choose both if you have enough time to avoid making either one thin.

If You Want…	Choose Cornwall	Choose Devon
Most iconic southwest scenery	Yes	Yes, but less branded
Surf beaches	Newquay, St Agnes, Bude, north coast	Croyde, Woolacombe, Saunton, Westward Ho!
Art and harbor towns	St Ives, Falmouth, Penzance, Mousehole, Fowey	Dartmouth, Salcombe, Appledore, Brixham
Moorland	Bodmin Moor	Dartmoor and Exmoor
Easier London/Bath combination	Less easy	Easier
Family seaside resorts	Newquay, Falmouth, Looe, Bude	Torquay, Paignton, Dawlish, Exmouth, Woolacombe
Car-free potential	Good if based well, especially west Cornwall and main rail towns	Good around Exeter, Torbay, Totnes, Plymouth, and selected rail corridors
Road trip drama	Excellent	Excellent, with more variety in shorter distances
Fewer peak-summer bottlenecks	Harder in famous towns	Easier if you avoid the busiest resorts
First southwest trip with limited time	Best if Cornwall is the priority	Often the more practical choice

If you have ten to fourteen days in England total, Cornwall competes with the Lake District as a major landscape commitment. Devon competes with Dorset, Bath, and the Cotswolds as part of a southwest route. If you have three weeks, you can include Cornwall, Devon, and a northern region without turning every transfer day into a punishment.

If this is the only decision blocking the route, the Devon vs Cornwall guide can narrow the choice by beaches, bases, families, transport, and trip length.

Where Are Cornwall And Devon?

Devon and Cornwall sit in southwest England, west of Somerset and Dorset, below Wales and the Bristol Channel, and above the English Channel. Devon comes first as you travel west from London, Bath, Bristol, or Dorset. Cornwall begins after the River Tamar and stretches to Land’s End.

This geography matters because many visitors underestimate the final miles. London to Exeter is one thing. Exeter to St Ives, Penzance, or the far west of Cornwall is another. The train keeps going, the A30 keeps going, the views get better, and your itinerary quietly gets slower.

Think in zones rather than counties.

Zone	Main Places	Best For
East Devon and Jurassic Coast	Exeter, Exmouth, Sidmouth, Beer, Seaton, Lyme Regis nearby	Easier coast, fossils, walking, London/Bath/Dorset links
South Devon and South Hams	Dartmouth, Salcombe, Kingsbridge, Totnes, Start Point	Estuaries, sailing, coves, food, pretty towns
English Riviera	Torquay, Paignton, Brixham	Family seaside, rail access, mild coastal resort feel
Dartmoor	Widecombe, Haytor, Postbridge, Princetown, Tavistock, Moretonhampstead	Moorland, tors, walking, pubs, atmosphere
North Devon and Exmoor	Woolacombe, Croyde, Saunton, Ilfracombe, Lynton, Lynmouth	Surf, long beaches, cliffs, Exmoor, slower coast
East Cornwall	Looe, Polperro, Fowey, Charlestown, Lostwithiel	Harbors, gentler arrival into Cornwall, gardens
North Cornwall	Bude, Tintagel, Boscastle, Port Isaac, Padstow, Newquay, St Agnes	Surf, cliffs, mythology, seafood, road trips
West Cornwall	St Ives, Penzance, Marazion, Mousehole, Porthcurno, Sennen, Land’s End	Iconic Cornwall, art, granite coast, far-west drama
South Cornwall	Falmouth, Helford, Truro, Roseland, Mevagissey, Lizard	Gardens, estuaries, sailing, coves, subtropical coast
Inland Cornwall	Bodmin Moor, Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan	Rainy-day anchors, moorland, mining and garden history

The route usually gets better when you stop trying to connect all of these zones in one neat loop. Choose the two or three zones that match your trip.

How Many Days Do You Need?

You can visit a piece of Devon or Cornwall in two or three days, but the southwest rewards more time than that. This is not because every famous stop needs hours. It is because the best days here depend on light, tides, lanes, weather, parking, ferries, and not always knowing which cove or pub will become the memory.

Three Nights

With three nights, choose one county and one base. Do not pretend you are doing “Devon and Cornwall” unless you are passing through one on the way to the other.

Good three-night plans:

Base	Best Shape
Exeter	City, East Devon coast, maybe Dartmoor or Exmouth
Dartmouth or Totnes	South Devon towns, river, coast, Dartmoor edge
Torquay or Brixham	English Riviera, family attractions, rail-friendly coast
St Ives	Town, beaches, Tate/St Ives art, Zennor coast, Penzance/Marazion
Falmouth	Maritime town, Pendennis Castle, beaches, Helford/Falmouth ferries, gardens
Penzance or Marazion	St Michael’s Mount, Mousehole, Porthcurno, Minack, Land’s End area

Three nights is especially good if you are adding the southwest after Bath or before returning to London. It is not enough for a grand tour, but it is enough for a real taste.

Five Nights

Five nights is the first length where Cornwall or Devon can feel properly satisfying. In Cornwall, I would usually choose either west Cornwall or a two-base split. In Devon, I would choose one coast plus Dartmoor or Exeter.

A strong five-night Cornwall route might be St Ives plus Penzance/Marazion, or Falmouth plus west Cornwall, or Padstow/Newquay plus a south coast base. The 5 day Cornwall itinerary can go deeper on that structure, but the principle is simple: do not cross the county every day.

A strong five-night Devon route might be Exeter plus Dartmoor and South Devon, or Dartmouth/Totnes plus Salcombe and the English Riviera, or North Devon plus Exmoor. Devon is easier to shape in five nights because its zones can sit closer together, but you still need restraint.

Seven Nights

Seven nights can be a full Cornwall trip, a full Devon trip, or a carefully paced Cornwall and Devon combination. This is the length where many travelers get greedy. I understand why. You have a week. You have a car. The map is full of place names. Everything looks possible.

Possible is not the same as wise.

For a one-week combined route, I would usually choose one Devon base and one Cornwall base:

Nights	Suggested Base	What It Solves
2-3	Exeter, Totnes, Dartmouth, or Dartmoor edge	Devon coast, city, moor, easier arrival
4-5	St Ives, Falmouth, Penzance, Padstow, or Fowey	Cornwall coast and slower western time

If you want North Devon and north Cornwall together, use Croyde/Woolacombe/Bude/Padstow/Newquay logic. If you want South Devon and south Cornwall, use Dartmouth/Totnes/Fowey/Falmouth/Penzance logic. Mixing North Devon, South Devon, West Cornwall, and East Devon in one week is where the trip gets messy.

Ten To Fourteen Nights

Ten to fourteen nights is the best length for Cornwall and Devon together. You can start in Devon, spend several nights in Cornwall, and still have weather flexibility. You can include Dartmoor or Exmoor, one or two coastal bases, and a far-west Cornwall segment without constantly packing.

A good ten-night shape:

Nights	Area	Notes
2	Exeter or Dartmoor edge	Break the journey, add city/moor contrast
2	South Devon or North Devon	Dartmouth/Salcombe/Totnes or Croyde/Woolacombe/Exmoor
3	Falmouth, Fowey, or Padstow/Newquay	Choose south or north Cornwall
3	St Ives, Penzance, or Marazion	Give west Cornwall room

A two-week route can add the Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Bodmin Moor, the Lizard, or a slower South West Coast Path day. This is also where a proper Cornwall road trip itinerary makes sense.

Two Weeks Or More In Southwest England

With two weeks or more, the southwest can be the main trip. You do not need to add York, the Lake District, and Scotland to justify the flights. A two-week Devon and Cornwall trip gives you coast, moors, gardens, castles, seafood, beaches, villages, and enough different landscapes to feel rich without leaving the region.

This is especially true for repeat visitors to England. If you have already done London, Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, and York, a slow southwest trip can feel more personal than another greatest-hits route.

Best Time To Visit Cornwall And Devon

The easiest months to recommend are May, June, September, and early October. You get longer days than winter, better odds for outdoor time than deep autumn, gardens and coast path light, and fewer peak-summer crowds than late July and August. September can be especially good for the sea and coastal atmosphere, though never plan an England trip as if weather owes you anything.

July and August are best if you want school-holiday energy, beach days, festivals, surf schools, long evenings, and the full summer version of seaside towns. They are also the months when accommodation tightens, parking gets annoying, famous villages feel full, and narrow lanes become less charming. If you are traveling with children tied to school holidays, go anyway. Just book early and plan fewer daily moves.

Spring is excellent for gardens, coast walking, and gentler towns. Cornwall’s gardens can be a major reason to go in their own right: Trebah, Glendurgan, Trelissick, the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and the Eden Project all make spring feel generous. Devon has strong garden and countryside days too, and Dartmoor can be beautiful when the weather plays along.

Winter is not a beach holiday in the usual sense, but it can be atmospheric. Stormy seas, empty coast paths, warm pubs, galleries, seafood, and moorland walks can make a winter southwest trip feel properly alive. The price is shorter daylight, more weather risk, limited opening hours in some places, and less forgiving conditions on cliffs and beaches.

Season	Best For	Watch Out For
March-April	Gardens, spring walks, quieter towns	Easter crowds, variable weather
May-June	Coast path, gardens, longer days, lower crowds	Bank holidays and school breaks
July-August	Beaches, families, surf schools, festivals	High prices, full car parks, traffic
September	Sea air, softer crowds, still-useful days	Weather can turn quickly
October	Walking, food, moody coast, autumn trips	Shorter days, some seasonal closures
November-February	Pubs, storms, quiet towns, lower prices	Short daylight, wet/windy conditions

For a broader seasonal comparison, use the best time to visit England guide when it is time to decide whether the southwest beats London, the Cotswolds, or the Lake District for your travel month.

Where To Stay In Cornwall

Where you stay in Cornwall matters because the county is longer and slower than many visitors expect. A pretty cottage in the wrong place can turn every day into a drive. A famous town can be perfect for one traveler and irritating for another. Choose by trip style, not by the most dramatic Instagram photo.

Cornwall Base	Best For	Watch Out For
St Ives	Art, beaches, classic first Cornwall trip, car-free potential	Very busy, parking pressure, expensive peak stays
Penzance/Marazion	St Michael’s Mount, Mousehole, Porthcurno, Land’s End, rail access	Less polished than St Ives, which can be a plus
Falmouth	Food, ferries, maritime history, beaches, gardens, no-car trips	Not as “end of Cornwall” dramatic as west Cornwall
Padstow	Food, Camel Estuary, north coast villages, cycling	Popular, pricey, needs planning without a car
Newquay	Surf, beaches, younger energy, airport/rail links	Not the quietest or most traditional base
Fowey	Pretty harbor, south coast charm, romantic stays	Parking and access can be fiddly
Looe/Polperro	Gentler east Cornwall, fishing-town feel, easier from Devon	Less useful for far-west Cornwall
Bude	North coast, beaches, families, Cornwall/Devon border	Far from west Cornwall highlights
Truro	Central, practical, rail/bus connections	More useful than atmospheric for some visitors
St Austell/Charlestown	Eden Project, Heligan, south coast access	Choose carefully; not every stay feels coastal

For a lodging-first version of this decision, use where to stay in Cornwall before booking a cottage, inn, or hotel that locks you into daily drives.

St Ives

St Ives is the Cornwall many first-time visitors imagine: a harbor, beaches, white cottages, galleries, fishing boats, turquoise flashes of water, and narrow streets that look as if they were designed to slow you down. It is a strong base if you want art, beaches, cafes, Tate St Ives, the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, and access to west Cornwall.

I like St Ives most when you can sleep there and enjoy it early or late. Daytime crowds can make it feel like a place being loved too hard. Stay long enough to see the harbor at different tides, walk toward Zennor if conditions suit, take the train branch line via St Erth, and use buses or trains for Penzance and nearby coast. If you are driving, confirm parking before you book accommodation.

Penzance, Marazion And Mousehole

Penzance is more practical and less polished than St Ives, which is exactly why I think some travelers should consider it. It has rail access, food, pubs, the Jubilee Pool, links to Mousehole, Marazion, St Michael’s Mount, Porthcurno, the Minack Theatre, Land’s End, and the far west. Marazion is better if St Michael’s Mount is the emotional center of the trip. Mousehole is prettier and smaller, but not as practical for every plan.

This area works especially well if you want a slightly more local base and do not need every street to feel like a postcard.

Falmouth

Falmouth is one of the best Cornwall bases for travelers who want food, culture, beaches, ferries, gardens, and car-free options without being in the most crowded west Cornwall towns. It has a lively year-round feel, the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Pendennis Castle, nearby beaches, and access to the Helford River, St Mawes, Trelissick, Glendurgan, and Trebah depending on transport and season.

If someone asked me for a Cornwall base that feels useful rather than only famous, Falmouth would be high on the list. It is especially good if you are nervous about driving every day.

Padstow, Port Isaac And North Cornwall

Padstow is food-led, pretty, and popular. The Camel Estuary, Rock, the Camel Trail, nearby beaches, and restaurants give it a strong holiday feel. Port Isaac is smaller and more photogenic, but less practical as a broad base. Tintagel and Boscastle bring mythology, cliffs, and a rugged north coast mood.

North Cornwall is excellent by car. Without one, you need to pay close attention to bus routes and times. Distances can feel bigger than they look because the coast is indented, roads are slower, and many of the best stops are not on a simple rail line.

Newquay And The Surf Coast

Newquay is often simplified into “party town,” which is unfair and also not entirely invented. It has some of Cornwall’s best beach access, surf schools, Fistral Beach, family attractions, rail and airport links, and a younger energy than many historic harbor towns. It is a good base if surf, beaches, and convenience matter. It is not my first choice if you want quiet lanes, galleries, and a small-harbor mood.

Nearby St Agnes, Perranporth, Crantock, Mawgan Porth, and Watergate Bay can all work for different versions of the north coast. This is where the best beaches in Cornwall guide should do the heavy lifting.

Fowey, Looe And East Cornwall

East and south-east Cornwall are useful if you are combining Devon and Cornwall and do not want to drive all the way to the far west. Fowey is beautiful, literary, and romantic, with a steep harbor-town layout and a slower pace. Looe and Polperro give a fishing-town feel and can work well for families or visitors coming from Plymouth, Dartmoor, or South Devon.

This side of Cornwall gets overlooked by visitors who only chase St Ives and Land’s End. That is a mistake if your route is shorter or you value gentler logistics.

Where To Stay In Devon

Devon is bigger and more varied than many people expect. The right base depends on whether you want coast, moor, city, family resorts, surf, or pretty river towns.

Devon Base	Best For	Watch Out For
Exeter	City base, rail access, East Devon, Dartmoor day trips	Not a beach base
Dartmouth	Estuary beauty, food, boats, South Devon charm	Parking and access need planning
Salcombe/Kingsbridge	Sailing, beaches, upscale South Hams	Expensive and busy in summer
Totnes	Rail access, food, alternative feel, South Devon/Dartmoor links	Inland, not a beach town
Torquay/Paignton/Brixham	Family seaside, rail access, English Riviera	Resort feel may not suit everyone
Plymouth	Maritime history, ferries, Cornwall gateway	More city than countryside escape
Dartmoor edge	Walking, pubs, moorland atmosphere	Car usually useful
North Devon	Croyde, Woolacombe, Saunton, Ilfracombe, Appledore	Spread out, car helpful
Exmoor/Lynton/Lynmouth	Cliffs, walking, quiet coast, moorland	Less convenient for South Devon or Cornwall

Exeter

Exeter is the most practical Devon base for many first-time visitors. It has rail links, a cathedral, quayside, restaurants, a proper city feel, and access to East Devon, Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Totnes, and Dartmoor. If you are coming from London, Bath, or Bristol and want a southwest base without immediately renting a car, Exeter makes sense.

It is not the base for a full beach holiday. It is the base for a clever Devon trip.

Dartmouth, Totnes And South Devon

Dartmouth is one of Devon’s loveliest towns, with the River Dart, boats, castles, food, and a coastal-estuary mood that feels different from Cornwall’s Atlantic edge. Totnes is inland, rail-connected, independent, food-friendly, and useful for South Devon and Dartmoor. Salcombe and Kingsbridge suit sailing, beaches, coves, and a more polished South Hams holiday.

South Devon is good for travelers who like water but do not need huge surf beaches. It is estuaries, coves, ferries, seafood, rolling lanes, and towns that reward slow days.

Torquay, Paignton And Brixham

The English Riviera is easy to mock if your idea of England is only wild cliffs and remote inns, but it is popular for reasons that matter: family beaches, rail access, boat trips, attractions, mild climate, and practical seaside infrastructure. Torquay has the name recognition. Paignton is family-friendly. Brixham has the working-harbor character I would look at first if I wanted more atmosphere.

This is not the quietest Devon, but it can be a very useful base.

Dartmoor

Dartmoor is Devon’s great inland counterweight to the coast: granite tors, open moor, ponies, old bridges, villages, pubs, military history, boggy ground, and skies that change the mood of a walk in minutes. Haytor is one of the easiest introductions. Widecombe, Postbridge, Princetown, Chagford, Tavistock, and Okehampton all lead to different versions of the moor.

Do not treat Dartmoor as a casual park if the weather is poor or visibility drops. Short walks can still need good shoes, layers, a route, and common sense.

North Devon And Exmoor

North Devon is where I would send travelers who want surf beaches, wilder cliffs, and a less obvious alternative to Cornwall. Croyde, Woolacombe, Saunton, Westward Ho!, Ilfracombe, Appledore, and Clovelly all play different roles. Add Exmoor, Lynton, Lynmouth, the Valley of Rocks, and the high coast, and the region becomes one of England’s most underrated coastal routes.

It is not the easiest region without a car, but it can be deeply rewarding if you want a less crowded southwest story.

Best Places To Visit In Cornwall

The best places to visit in Cornwall depend on whether you want art, beaches, walking, food, history, gardens, or family attractions. A first trip should not try to include every famous stop. Choose the coast that makes sense from your base.

Place	Best For	Planning Note
St Ives	Art, beaches, classic harbor scenery	Stay overnight if possible
St Michael’s Mount	Landmark castle-island, Marazion base	Check tide and opening details
Mousehole	Pretty harbor, slower west Cornwall	Easier from Penzance than as a long detour
Porthcurno and Minack Theatre	Beach, cliff theatre, far-west drama	Book performances and parking carefully
Land’s End and Sennen	End-of-country feeling, cliffs, beach	Sennen often feels better than the visitor complex
The Lizard and Kynance Cove	Dramatic coves, coastal walking	Tide and parking matter
Falmouth	Food, maritime history, ferries, beaches	Excellent practical base
Helford and gardens	Trebah, Glendurgan, river scenery	Strong spring/summer choice
Fowey	Romantic harbor town	Better slow than rushed
Mevagissey and Charlestown	Fishing village, historic harbor	Good with Eden/Heligan area
Eden Project	Rainy-day anchor, families, gardens	Book ahead in peak periods
Lost Gardens of Heligan	Gardens, history, slower day	Pair with Mevagissey or St Austell area
Padstow	Food, estuary, Camel Trail	Popular and busy
Port Isaac	Photogenic fishing village	Small, crowded, limited parking
Tintagel and Boscastle	Cliffs, legends, north coast drama	Do not combine with far-west Cornwall casually
Newquay and Fistral	Surf, beaches, energy	Better for beach/surf trips than quiet charm
Bodmin Moor	Inland wildness, stone circles, walks	Weather and navigation matter

If I had to build a first Cornwall trip around only three zones, I would choose west Cornwall, Falmouth/Helford, and either Padstow/Newquay or Fowey/Heligan depending on travel style. That gives you coastline, food, gardens, and towns without forcing the county into a race.

If Tintagel, St Michael’s Mount, Dartmouth Castle, or the older layers of the southwest are driving your route, the castles in England and historic sites guide will help you compare those stops with Corfe, Stonehenge, Bath, and other heritage-heavy regions before you commit to a long southwest itinerary.

The best places to visit in Cornwall guide should go deeper, but the principle here is already enough: do not choose places by fame alone. Choose the ones that sit together.

Best Places To Visit In Devon

Devon has a quieter search profile than Cornwall, but it is not a lesser destination. The county’s strength is variety.

Place	Best For	Planning Note
Exeter	Cathedral city, rail base, food, quayside	Best practical gateway
Dartmoor	Tors, moorland, villages, walking	Weather and route planning matter
Dartmouth	River town, food, boats, castle	One of Devon’s strongest short stays
Salcombe and South Hams	Sailing, coves, upscale coast	Summer can be expensive
Totnes	Rail base, food, independent shops	Useful inland base
Torquay/Paignton/Brixham	English Riviera, families, rail	Brixham has the strongest harbor feel
Plymouth	Maritime history, Barbican, ferries	Good city and Cornwall gateway
Sidmouth, Beer and Seaton	East Devon coast, Jurassic Coast access	Easier with Exeter/Dorset routes
Exmouth and Dawlish	Rail-friendly seaside	Good for no-car coast days
Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton	Surf, beaches, North Devon	Car useful for broad touring
Ilfracombe and Appledore	North Devon harbor/coast	Pair with Woolacombe or Exmoor
Lynton and Lynmouth	Exmoor coast, cliffs, walking	A slower and more dramatic Devon edge
Clovelly	Historic steep village	Beautiful but visitor-managed; plan expectations

For a first Devon trip, I would usually build around Exeter plus either South Devon/Dartmoor or North Devon/Exmoor. Trying to do both South Devon and North Devon on a short route can work, but it is often less elegant than the map suggests.

If the East Devon coast is pulling you toward fossils, cliffs, and Dorset, use the Jurassic Coast travel guide as the more specific next step.

A Practical Cornwall And Devon Itinerary

There are many ways to route the southwest. The best one depends on whether you arrive by train, car, or plane, and whether you are coming from London, Bath, Bristol, Dorset, Wales, or the north of England.

Here are a few shapes that actually work.

Five Day Cornwall Itinerary

This is a focused Cornwall trip, not a full southwest route.

Day	Plan
1	Travel to St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, or Newquay. Settle, do not chase a far-off sunset.
2	West Cornwall: St Ives, Zennor coast, Penzance, Mousehole, or Marazion.
3	St Michael’s Mount, Porthcurno, Minack Theatre, Sennen, or Land’s End area.
4	Falmouth/Helford gardens or north coast surf/Padstow depending on base.
5	Short morning coast walk, train/drive out, or stop at Eden/Heligan if routing allows.

This is the trip I would choose if Cornwall is the dream and time is limited. It beats a frantic Cornwall-and-Devon sampler.

Seven Day Cornwall And Devon Itinerary

This is the shortest combined version I would recommend for most travelers.

Day	Plan
1	Travel to Exeter, Totnes, Dartmouth, or Dartmoor edge.
2	Devon day: Exeter/East Devon, Dartmoor, Dartmouth, or South Devon coast.
3	Another Devon day or slow transfer toward Cornwall via Plymouth, Fowey, or Looe.
4	Cornwall base: Falmouth, St Ives, Penzance, Padstow, or Newquay.
5	Cornwall coast day near base.
6	Second Cornwall zone, such as west Cornwall, Lizard, Eden/Heligan, or north coast.
7	Morning walk or harbor time, then train/drive out.

The key is not to make day three a huge sightseeing transfer. If you are moving from Devon to Cornwall, let the move be the point. Stop somewhere logical, not everywhere famous.

Ten Day Southwest England Itinerary

This is where the route starts to breathe.

Day	Plan
1	Arrive in Exeter or Devon base.
2	Exeter and East Devon or Dartmoor.
3	South Devon: Dartmouth, Totnes, Salcombe, or English Riviera.
4	Transfer toward Cornwall via Plymouth, Looe, Fowey, or Eden/Heligan.
5	Falmouth, Helford, gardens, or south Cornwall.
6	Lizard/Kynance or Fowey/Mevagissey depending on base.
7	Move to west Cornwall or north Cornwall.
8	St Ives/Penzance/Marazion/Mousehole or Padstow/Newquay coast day.
9	Porthcurno/Minack/Land’s End or Tintagel/Boscastle/Port Isaac.
10	Slow morning, return route, or Night Riviera sleeper if using rail.

This version can be adjusted north or south. Do not try to combine every line item. The point is structure.

Two Week Devon And Cornwall Road Trip

With two weeks, I would stop thinking in single attractions and start thinking in moods:

Nights	Base	Why
2	Exeter or East Devon	Easy start, city, coast, Jurassic Coast access
2	Dartmoor or South Devon	Moorland, Dartmouth/Totnes/Salcombe, village pubs
2	Fowey, Looe, or Falmouth	Softer Cornwall arrival, gardens, harbors
3	St Ives, Penzance, or Marazion	West Cornwall, art, St Michael’s Mount, cliffs
2	Padstow, Newquay, or north Cornwall	Surf, food, Tintagel/Boscastle/Port Isaac
2	North Devon or Exmoor	Surf beaches, cliffs, less obvious return route

This is a lot of movement, but over two weeks it can feel like a proper road trip rather than a checklist. If you prefer fewer moves, cut one base and stay longer in west Cornwall or South Devon.

Getting To Cornwall And Devon

From London, the main rail artery runs from London Paddington through Reading, Bath/Bristol routes depending on service, Exeter, Plymouth, Truro, St Erth, and Penzance. Exeter is the cleanest Devon gateway. Plymouth is useful for south Devon, Dartmoor, and east Cornwall. St Erth connects to the St Ives branch line. Penzance is the end of the line for west Cornwall.

The Night Riviera sleeper between London Paddington and Penzance can be useful if you want to save a hotel night or make the long westward journey feel like part of the adventure. Check current schedules, cabins, supplements, and booking rules before building the trip around it.

Driving from London to Devon or Cornwall is possible, but I would be cautious about picking up a car immediately after a long-haul overnight flight. Left-side driving, jet lag, motorway concentration, rural lanes, and unfamiliar signs are not a charming combination. If you can, take the train west and rent a car in Exeter, Plymouth, Newquay, Truro, or another logical point.

Airports can also matter. Exeter and Newquay have regional flight options, while Bristol is often useful for a wider southwest trip. For many international visitors, though, the question is not “can I fly closer?” It is “does the flight schedule actually save time once transfers and rental logistics are included?”

Getting Around Without A Car

You can visit Cornwall and Devon without a car if your route is designed for it. You cannot visit every cove, moorland village, garden, and beach easily without a car. Both statements are true.

Good car-free Cornwall bases include St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, and sometimes Looe depending on plans. Rail lines and branches can get you to St Ives, Falmouth, Newquay, Looe, Penzance, Truro, and St Austell. Buses fill many gaps, and seasonal/coastal services can be very useful, but you must check current timetables rather than assuming city-style frequency.

Good car-free Devon bases include Exeter, Totnes, Plymouth, Torquay, Paignton, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Exmouth, Barnstaple, and selected South Devon or East Devon towns. Devon’s rail network is genuinely useful for some coast days, especially around Exeter, Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Torbay, Totnes, and Plymouth. North Devon and the moorland areas need more care.

No-Car Goal	Better Base
West Cornwall coast	St Ives or Penzance
Cornwall gardens and Falmouth	Falmouth or Truro
Eden Project/Heligan area	St Austell with bus/taxi planning
East Devon coast	Exeter, Exmouth, Sidmouth with bus, or nearby rail towns
South Devon rail and river	Totnes, Dartmouth via links, or Torbay
English Riviera	Torquay, Paignton, or Brixham
Dartmoor sample	Exeter, Newton Abbot, Totnes, or Okehampton with buses/tours
North Devon	Barnstaple plus buses, but expectations matter

The best no-car strategy is to stay longer in fewer places. Use trains for big moves, buses for selected day trips, ferries where they make sense, and taxis when they save a day from collapsing. Do not build a no-car trip around remote lodging unless staying put is the point.

The Cornwall without a car guide should handle this in detail. For now, the safe rule is: if the attraction is a remote cove, garden, trailhead, or village, check the return journey before you go.

Driving In Cornwall And Devon

A car is useful in Cornwall and Devon because it lets you reach coves, trailheads, gardens, villages, moorland, and country pubs that public transport serves poorly. It also gives you the freedom to change plans when weather, tides, or crowds make your first idea less appealing.

But a car is not magic. It creates its own problems: narrow lanes, high hedges, limited passing places, full car parks, expensive parking, summer traffic, manual transmissions if you did not reserve an automatic, and stress in historic towns not designed for modern traffic.

My practical advice:

Driving Rule	Why It Matters
Rent after London, not in London	London driving adds no value for this trip.
Reserve automatic early if needed	Automatic cars can be limited and cost more.
Avoid big daily loops	Roads are slower than maps suggest.
Confirm parking before booking lodging	Especially in St Ives, Fowey, Dartmouth, Padstow, and small villages.
Do not drive tired after overnight flights	The first rural lane is not the place to learn left-side driving while exhausted.
Build one “near base” day after each move	It keeps the trip from becoming all transfers.
Use park-and-ride or branch trains where sensible	St Ives and some busy towns reward this.

If you are planning a broader England driving route, the England road trips guide connects the southwest to the Cotswolds, Dorset, Wales, and northern routes.

Beaches, Swimming And Coast Safety

Cornwall and Devon have some of England’s best beaches, but “beautiful” and “safe” are not the same thing. The Atlantic coast can have surf, rip currents, cold water, quick weather changes, and strong tides. Cliff paths can be muddy, exposed, or eroded. Beaches that look broad at low tide can shrink fast.

Use lifeguarded beaches when swimming or surfing, especially with children or if you are not used to UK sea conditions. The RNLI lists lifeguarded beaches and season dates, and those dates vary by beach. Follow beach flags. Do not use inflatables in offshore winds. Check tide times before beach walks, causeway visits, and coves with limited exits. Keep back from cliff edges and cliff bases.

This is not me trying to make the coast sound dangerous. It is me trying to keep the coast enjoyable. The visitors who have the best days are not the ones who fear the sea. They are the ones who respect it.

Beach Type	Good Examples	Best For
Surf beaches	Fistral, Perranporth, Gwithian, Bude, Croyde, Woolacombe, Saunton	Surf schools, bodyboarding, active beach days
Scenic coves	Kynance Cove, Porthcurno, Lantic Bay, Blackpool Sands, Beer	Photography, swimming in good conditions, slower days
Family resort beaches	Paignton, Exmouth, Dawlish Warren, Bude, Newquay, Woolacombe	Facilities, food, easier logistics
Walking coast	South West Coast Path, Lizard, Zennor, Hartland, Exmoor, East Devon	Views, cliffs, day walks
Estuary/riverside coast	Falmouth/Helford, Dartmouth, Salcombe, Exe Estuary	Boats, gentler water mood, food and towns

For a national comparison, the coast and beaches guide should help decide whether the southwest, Dorset, Sussex, Norfolk, Yorkshire, or Northumberland is the right coastal region for your trip.

Walking And The South West Coast Path

The South West Coast Path is one of the great reasons to visit Cornwall and Devon. The official route is 630 miles long, running through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall, and Dorset. You do not need to walk a heroic section to enjoy it. Many of the best visitor days are short out-and-back walks from a town, a beach, or a harbor.

Good first-time walking ideas:

Area	Walk Style
St Ives to Zennor sections	Rugged west Cornwall coast; check distance and conditions
Porthcurno and Minack area	Shorter cliff views with big drama
Lizard and Kynance Cove	Iconic Cornwall coastline; tide and parking matter
Padstow and Camel Estuary	Easier cycling/walking options
Fowey and Polruan	Harbor, river, coast path fragments
Dartmouth and Little Dartmouth	South Devon views without needing wild exposure
Salcombe and Bolt Head	Estuary and cliff scenery
Beer to Branscombe	East Devon coast and villages
Croyde, Baggy Point, Woolacombe	North Devon surf coast and headland walks
Lynton, Lynmouth and Valley of Rocks	Exmoor coast drama

Footwear matters. So does wind. So does rain. So does daylight. A coast path walk is not automatically easy because it is near the sea. Many sections climb and drop repeatedly. Plan by distance, elevation, escape points, weather, and your group, not by how pretty the photo is.

Food, Pubs And Cream Tea

Food is one of the reasons I like the southwest as more than scenery. Cornwall and Devon both do the simple things well when you choose well: fish and chips, crab sandwiches, pub lunches, pasties, cream teas, seafood, farm shops, cider, bakeries, ice cream, and restaurants that understand their coastline.

The cream tea distinction is famous: in Cornwall, jam traditionally goes on the scone before cream; in Devon, cream goes before jam. You can take that as seriously as you like. I mostly take it as a sign that you should have more than one cream tea and compare.

Cornwall is strongly associated with pasties, seafood, beach cafes, Padstow’s food scene, St Ives restaurants, Falmouth’s lively dining, and west Cornwall fish. Devon brings cream teas, cider, seafood, farm produce, Dartmouth and Salcombe restaurants, Exeter food, and country pubs near Dartmoor and Exmoor.

My practical food advice is to book a few meals you would be sad to miss, especially in peak season, but do not schedule every lunch. Some of the best southwest meals happen because you got wet, gave up on a walk, found a pub with a fire, and stopped trying to optimize the day.

Rainy Days And Family Days

Rain is not a failure in Cornwall and Devon. It is part of the contract. The trick is to have a few indoor or low-weather backups that still feel like the southwest.

Good rainy-day anchors include the Eden Project, the Lost Gardens of Heligan if rain is light, National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth, Tate St Ives, local galleries, castles, aquariums, steam railways, Exeter Cathedral, Plymouth’s Barbican and maritime history, indoor play or family attractions, distilleries, breweries, and long pub lunches.

For families, the southwest can be excellent because children do not need every attraction to be culturally important. Beaches, rock pools, ferry rides, steam trains, castles, ice cream, easy coast walks, aquariums, surf lessons, gardens, and cottage evenings can carry a trip. The danger is overdriving them. A child who would have loved two beaches and a boat trip may not appreciate your plan to collect five harbor towns in one day.

For broader family route logic, the family travel guide connects the southwest with London, Bath, York, castles, trains, and beach regions.

Costs And Booking

Cornwall and Devon can be budget-friendly or expensive depending on season, base, lodging style, and how much you move. Peak summer in famous Cornwall towns can be costly. St Ives, Padstow, Salcombe, Dartmouth, and prime beach areas can book up early. Self-catering cottages may have weekly changeover patterns in high season. Smaller inns and B&Bs have limited rooms.

Book early for:

Book Ahead	Why
Peak summer accommodation	Limited supply in small coastal towns
Automatic rental cars	Fewer vehicles and higher demand
Minack Theatre performances	Weather, seats, and popularity
Popular restaurants	St Ives, Padstow, Falmouth, Dartmouth, Salcombe
Eden Project and major attractions	Peak family periods
Sleeper train cabins	Limited supply if using Night Riviera
Guided tours or surf lessons	Seasonal demand

Save money by traveling in May, early June, September, or October; staying slightly inland; using rail-friendly bases; mixing self-catering with pubs; choosing fewer base changes; and not using taxis as a substitute for route planning.

For whole-trip budgeting, use the England cost guide alongside this page before you commit to peak-season southwest accommodation.

How Cornwall And Devon Fit Into A Wider England Trip

Cornwall and Devon make the most sense in an England itinerary when the route already leans south or southwest. They pair naturally with London, Bath, Bristol, the Cotswolds, Dorset, Salisbury, Stonehenge, and sometimes Wales. They pair less naturally with York, the Lake District, Northumberland, and Scotland unless you have a longer trip and are comfortable with a big travel day.

For a 7-day first England trip, I would usually skip Cornwall and Devon unless the southwest is the point. London plus Bath, Oxford, Cambridge, Windsor, Brighton, or the Cotswolds is easier.

For a 10-day trip, choose either Devon or Cornwall, not both, unless you are building a focused southwest route.

For a 14-day trip, Cornwall and Devon can work well with London, Bath, and the Cotswolds. This is the first classic first-trip length where the southwest can have enough room.

For a 3-week trip, the southwest can sit alongside York, the Lake District, or Northumberland if you keep the transfers honest.

England Route	Southwest Fit
London + easy day trips	Usually no; choose Brighton, Seven Sisters, or Kent instead
London + Bath + Cotswolds	Yes, especially Devon or Cornwall after Bath
London + Bath + Cornwall	Strong if you give Cornwall 4+ nights
London + Devon + Cornwall	Strong focused southwest trip
London + York + Lake District	Usually choose Lake District over Cornwall for this route
Three-week grand route	Cornwall/Devon can fit with careful pacing

If you are still deciding, compare this page with the complete England guide and England trip routes before booking non-refundable hotels.

Common Planning Mistakes

The first mistake is thinking Cornwall is a day trip from London. It is not, at least not in any version I would recommend for a first-time visitor. You can physically get there and back in a very long day if you force it. You will not get what you came for.

The second mistake is sleeping somewhere new every night. Cornwall and Devon are better with bases. Let a place become familiar enough that you know where coffee is, where the car is parked, and which walk you can do if the weather changes.

The third mistake is choosing a remote cottage because it looks romantic, then planning daily trips in opposite directions. Remote lodging is wonderful when the lodging and nearby area are the point. It is frustrating when every day begins with narrow lanes before breakfast.

The fourth mistake is ignoring tides. St Michael’s Mount, causeways, beaches, coves, rock pools, and coast walks all depend on the sea doing what it does, not what your itinerary says.

The fifth mistake is treating Devon as empty space before Cornwall. Devon can be the better choice for shorter trips, family trips, moor-and-coast trips, and routes that need easier access from London or Bath.

The sixth mistake is assuming no-car travel is either impossible or effortless. It is neither. It can be excellent with the right bases and disappointing with the wrong ones.

The seventh mistake is driving too soon after a long flight. If you are flying overnight from North America, please be honest with yourself. A train west and a car pickup later is often the better start.

Final Advice

The best Cornwall and Devon trip is usually smaller than the one you first imagine.

Choose the mood: Cornwall’s far-west coast, Devon’s moor-and-sea variety, a north coast surf route, a south coast harbor route, a rail-based St Ives and Falmouth trip, or a two-week road trip with room to breathe. Then choose bases that make that mood easy. Let the rest go.

If the southwest belongs in your England route, it will not need forcing. It will have enough nights, logical transport, and a pace that lets you watch tide, weather, and light instead of only watching the clock.

Next, place this guide beside the England itinerary planner, England by train and transport, England highlights, the Cotswolds in full, my Lake District guide, road-tripping England, choosing a base in England, and the English coastline. The right route should feel spacious before it feels impressive.

Photo Credits

• St Ives harbor in Cornwall at low tide with fishing boats and seaside houses — Photo: Martin Bodman / CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• St Michael’s Mount off the Cornwall coast under dramatic clouds — Photo: Virtual-Pano / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• Rolling green Dartmoor countryside in Devon with fields and sheep — Photo: anonymous (CC0) via Wikimedia Commons. Source
• Jurassic Coast cliffs and coastal path in southwest England — Photo: Martinvl / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. Source

? Frequently asked questions

Is Cornwall or Devon better for tourists?

Cornwall is better if you want iconic cliffs, beaches, fishing villages, art towns, surf, gardens, and the far-west atmosphere. Devon is better if you want variety, easier routing, Dartmoor, Exmoor, family seaside towns, river towns, and a softer combination of coast and countryside. With enough time, they work beautifully together.

How many days do you need in Cornwall and Devon?

You need at least five nights for a focused Cornwall or Devon trip, seven to ten nights for a sensible combined trip, and around two weeks if you want the southwest to feel relaxed. A short trip should choose one county or one base rather than trying to see everything.

Do you need a car in Cornwall and Devon?

You do not need a car for every version of Cornwall and Devon, but a car helps for broad touring, remote beaches, moorland, gardens, villages, and flexible coast days. Without a car, choose rail-friendly bases such as Exeter, Totnes, Torquay, Plymouth, St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, or St Austell and plan buses carefully.

Can you visit Cornwall without a car?

Yes, you can visit Cornwall without a car if you choose the right base and limit the route. St Ives, Penzance, Falmouth, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, and some branch-line towns can work. The challenge is reaching remote coves, gardens, and villages without losing too much time to timetables.

Where should I stay in Cornwall for the first time?

St Ives is the classic first-time base for art, beaches, and harbor scenery. Falmouth is one of the most practical bases for food, ferries, beaches, and gardens. Penzance or Marazion works well for St Michael’s Mount and west Cornwall. Padstow and Newquay suit north coast food, surf, and beaches.

Where should I stay in Devon for the first time?

Exeter is the best practical gateway. Dartmouth is one of the prettiest South Devon bases. Totnes is useful for rail, food, and South Devon access. Torquay, Paignton, or Brixham work for the English Riviera. Croyde, Woolacombe, or nearby North Devon bases work for surf and beaches. Dartmoor or Exmoor bases suit walkers and slower countryside trips.

What is the best month to visit Cornwall and Devon?

May, June, September, and early October are often the best months for Cornwall and Devon because they balance daylight, coastal walking, gardens, and lower crowds. July and August are best for beach energy and school holidays but bring higher prices, traffic, and busy towns.

Can you do Cornwall and Devon in one week?

Yes, but only with a focused route. Spend two or three nights in Devon and four or five in Cornwall, or choose one north-coast or south-coast theme. Do not try to include Exeter, Dartmoor, Dartmouth, Salcombe, St Ives, Falmouth, Padstow, Tintagel, and Land’s End in one week.

Is Cornwall worth visiting from London?

Cornwall is worth visiting from London if you can give it several nights. It is not a good casual day trip. For a shorter coastal experience from London, Brighton, the Seven Sisters, Kent, or Dorset may be more practical.

Are Cornwall and Devon good with kids?

Yes. Beaches, boats, castles, rock pools, steam railways, surf lessons, aquariums, gardens, easy walks, and seaside towns make Cornwall and Devon strong family regions. The key is to reduce driving and build days around simple anchors rather than adult-style sightseeing lists.