South West 660

11/01/2025

Time to plan a date with Route 8 - Penzance to St Ives.

🗺️ The far corner of the southwest peninsula is perfect for a meandering coastal road trip. West of Penzance and St Ives there are no towns or dual carriageways – just a fascinating selection of remote villages, rocky shores and wild moorland.

It’s a perfect demonstration of why we recommend taking smaller coastal roads. Most visitors speed across the middle of Penwith on the largely anonymous A30, lacking in interesting sights.

🛣️ Instead we recommend SW660 drivers explore the coastal roads. You’ll discover some of Britain’s most beautiful and rugged coastal views and drive entirely within an area of outstanding natural beauty. Those A30 speedsters miss some extraordinary sights, including an open-air theatre carved into a cliff and mine workings so special they have been UNESCO World Heritage status.

❓Did you know?
The most spectacular mine works are here though, clinging to rugged cliffs in the far west of Cornwall. At the National Trust shoreline of Botallack and Levant you’ll spot engine houses that served as prominent locations in TV’s Poldark series and at Geevor visitors can don hard hats to explore a tin mine where tunnels extend a mile under the sea.

Find our Partners on this route:

Stay the night or stop and dine:
🏰 Tregenna Castle
🛏️ The Gurnard's Head
💤 Pedn Olva
🏨

📍 Penwith Peninsula

More info on Route 8 and our Partners can be found here: https://southwest660.com/route/st-ives-to-padstow

09/01/2025

Back by popular demand, Partner, Coast & Country Cottages invites you to ‘Holiday Letting Secrets’.

🎤 Join their local team for an informative evening, with up to date statistics on how the holiday let market is performing in Devon, key customer booking trends and their expectations for the year ahead.

Other topics will include:
• The health of the staycation market and key marketing strategies
• Tips to optimise your property’s booking and revenue potential
• Holiday let tax advice, from specialists Zeal Tax
• Step-by-step guidance for first time holiday home owners
• Updates on holiday letting regulations

Suitable for new, experienced or aspiring holiday home owners, there will be an opportunity to network with the Salcombe and Dartmouth based Coast & Country Cottages team, plus local industry professionals.

📅 Book your FREE place now: https://Holiday-Letting-Secrets-2025.eventbrite.com

07/01/2025

If you're looking to truly relax and unwind then this Winter Wellbeing Package at Knoll House Hotel is just for you!

Wild water swimming is becoming the 'go to' for looking after your mental health and the physical benefits are also many from an increase in bone density, to boosting the immune system with an influx in production of white blood cells and antioxidants - it also helps with a restful night's sleep.

Knoll Beach is only a five minute walk away down their private pathway, offering the perfect place for a morning dip; what's more they've teamed up with their friends at Studland Sauna Hut to offer a 30 minute session in one of the beach saunas as part of this package.

The Winter Wellbeing Package includes:

- An overnight stay with a hearty breakfast the next morning
- Dinner for two in our formal restaurant
- Use of all facilities, including the outdoor pool (open seasonally), indoor plunge pool and whirlpool bath
- 30 minute session in Studland Sauna Hut

Find out more and book online here: https://www.knollhouse.co.uk/offers/winter-wellbeing-stay (Please note Knoll House are closed for a rest during January)

Knoll House Hotel can be found on Route 1 of South West 660 here: https://southwest660.com/route/sandbanks-to-weymouth

03/01/2025

THE PIG Hotel-at Harlyn Bay's Ground & Grow Retreat, created with the team at Cabilla Cornwall, now enters its second year following a wildly successful first season.

Think big comfy beds, nourishing meals, calming walks through ancient temperate rainforest, yoga, wild swimming and a private beachside sauna. No juice cleanse, no colonic! This is a new year reset that will leave guests feeling emotionally and physically revitalised.

When?
📅 February 2025 - Thursday 27th – Sunday 2nd March
📅 March 2025 - Thursday 27th – Sunday 30th March
📅 April 2025 - Thursday 24th – Sunday 27th April

A retreat – but not as you know it...

At THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay, retreaters will hunker down in cosy corners by crackling fires, sink into steaming baths and drift off in a big, comfy bed for a deep night’s sleep. They'll fill up on homegrown, wholesome Kitchen Garden goodness and wash it all down with The Pigs' signature garden-to-glass cocktails.

During the weekend, Cabilla Cornwall will lead guests through a feel-good yoga class with live classical music at the soothing studio space tucked away on the edge of their ancient woodland. Cabilla founder Merlin Hanbury-Tennison then guides a long winter walk around Cabilla’s temperate rainforest which leaves guests both inspired and deeply relaxed. Cabilla Cornwall, in the middle of Bodmin Moor, is home to a rare Temperate Rainforest and a diverse range of plant species which has been left to its own devices for at least 1,000 years.

Back at THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay the relaxation continues with a treatment in the hotel's Potting Shed treatment rooms. A morning sea swim the next day followed by a private beachside sauna session can't help but leave retreaters in a state of blissful calm and contentment.

Price includes:
🐖 3-nights accommodation at THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay, a welcome feast on arrival, all meals throughout the weekend – as well as tea/coffee/juices and specially prepared garden-to-glass cocktails.
🐖 Transfers to Cabilla Cornwall, an expert led yoga and meditation class, a private ancient rainforest tour, an optional tree planting experience, morning wild swimming and Harlyn Bay sauna-by-the-sea experience.

More info here:https://www.thepighotel.com/media/5vkheqho/the-pig-at-harlyn-bay-ground-grow-retreat.pdf

The Pig at Harlyn Bay can be found on Route 9 of South West 660: https://southwest660.com/route/st-ives-to-padstow

01/01/2025

Happy New Year to all our Explorers, Partners and Trusted Partners!

29/12/2024

A lovely piece we've come across in The Guardian about birdwatching, and the estuary train ride from Exeter along Topsham and Exmouth on Route 3.

The spectacular estuary is a haven for thousands of migrant birds each winter, and perfect to explore on foot and by boat

26/12/2024

Our latest blog post is live! Get inspired for your next adventure, thanks to accommodation Partner Three Mile Beach.

Named the best beach of 2024 by The Times, Gwithian's blend of natural beauty and adventure promises an unforgettable stay.

25/12/2024

🎅Let us introduce you to our top South West 660 Explorer, Father Christmas! He's experienced the journey, he's discovered the destination, and now all the gifts have been delivered, he's found refuge by the Exe Estuary on Route 3!

Wishing all our Explorers and Partners a very Merry Christmas! 🎄🛷

19/12/2024

Let's pootle along Route 7 - St Austell to Penzance

Almost every inch of South Cornwall’s coast from St Austell Bay to Mount’s Bay is an area of outstanding natural beauty. It’s a chance to drive through a surprisingly quieter area of Cornwall, especially out of peak season. Expect smaller, narrow roads and few resorts or towns to create traffic.

So slow down, enjoy views of estuaries, rocky headlands and secluded coves. But don’t get distracted – you’ll discover some of the UK’s best coastal panoramas along the way.

❓Did you know?

⛴️ The King Harry Ferry at Trelissick is a tiny example of why we believe the SW660 is Britain’s most sustainable road trip. The chain ferry operates in a beautiful stretch of wooded river, offers 80 crossings a day, takes five minutes – and saves drivers a 27-mile round trip to cross the River Fal on a bigger, busier road inland.

Because of that, ferry owners estimate their low-emissions ferry saves five million car miles a year. That’s 750,000 litres of fuel and half a million kilos of carbon.

Find our Partners on this route:

Stay:
💤 The Falmouth Hotel
🛎️ St Michaels Resort
🛏️The Old Coastguard
🏨 Marazion Hotel, Cornwall, UK
💤 The Alverton Hotel
🛎️ Polurrian on the Lizard
🛏️ Hotel Meudon
🏨 The Greenbank Hotel
💤 Harbour Inn

Dine:
🍽️ St Michael's Resort
🥘 Chain Locker
🍽️ Harbour Inn, Porthleven
🍝 Restaurant Meudon

📌📷 St Michael's Mount, Marazion

15/12/2024

🐖 THE PIG Hotel have a special offer for January and February, with an overnight stay including breakfast and a bottle of THE PIG Cut red wine to take home on departure from £220.

We have 3 of the litter along our routes, with The Pig on the Beach, Dorset (Route 1), The Pig at Combe, Devon (Route 3), and The Pig at Harlyn Bay, Cornwall (Route 9).

Find out more here:
https://www.thepighotel.com/offers/plots-and-plans/

14/12/2024

Winter Sunshine, Coastal Views + Fresh Local Food = South West 660 Vibes.

Cockles and Coffee at Rockfish Budleigh Salterton on Route 3.

13/12/2024

If you're after a specific type of accommodation or dining option, with or without a set destination (perhaps feeling adventurous?)... then you can filter our Partners out by different options on our interactive map: https://southwest660.com/interactive-map

11/12/2024

Great to see Partner The Gurnard's Head mentioned in a recent interview with Jack Stein in Falmouth Packet - Packet Newspapers

The Gurnard's Head, an iconically bright yellow pub with rooms, is on Route 8 of South West 660, Penzance to St Ives -https://southwest660.com/route/penzance-to-st-ives

Jack Stein's favourite spots for cheap eats in Cornwall include The Gurnard's Head, Barnecutt Pasties and Fat Pepper

08/12/2024

Congratulations to the below Partners for being finalists in the Dog Friendly Awards 2024.

🥈 Warcombe Farm Camping Park - 2nd place in the Caravan and Camping Category

🥈 Beverley Holidays - 2nd place in the Holiday Parks category

Find out more here: https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/awards/finalists

01/12/2024

December is here! Now is the time to trip the light fantastic at the festive lighting events along the South West 660.


https://southwest660.com/10-of-the-best-festive-lighting-experiences-on-south-west-660-in-202

December is a great month for touring South West 660. Immerse yourself in everything Christmas with fantastic illuminated spectacles.

30/11/2024

Grab a cuppa and settle into our latest newsletter, featuring an events round up, new Partners, member perks and Christmas illuminations! https://mailchi.mp/southwest660/november2024-newsletter

27/11/2024

Let's dive into a previous blog post, for a timely reminder of why Cornwall gardens are so enjoyable at this time of year.

Journey into the golden months, taking the road less travelled across South Cornwall, and enjoy some of the most spectacular gardens in the country as they transition into Autumn.

25/11/2024

🎄 Less than 1 month to go until Christmas Day!

🎁 Why not give the gift of a South West 660 Membership?

Our Premium Membership includes some items posted to you, including their personalised membership card, to give to your lucky recipient.

Any memberships bought as gifts ahead of Christmas will have an expiry of 31st December 2025.

📢 Last day to order to ensure you receive your Premium package in good time is Tuesday 10th December. More info here: https://southwest660.com/online-shop

The South West 660 Online Shop offers a variety of items to help you plan and enjoy your South West 660 adventure!