On the Road: a Beach-Lover's Guide to England's Atlantic Highway

A good night’s rest and afternoon tea at Luttrell Arms Hotel will start your journey off nicely. This hotel in the medieval village of Dunster allows you to lay your head amid the wilds of Exmoor National Park, with hiking trails and free-roaming Exmoor ponies waiting to greet you next morning. Their dog-friendly rooms, with private terraces, antique furniture or fireplaces, are comfortable for all creatures. Don’t miss the fresh cakes and tea served in the garden.

A half-hour’s drive west of the Luttrell Arms Hotel, on the north Devon coast, will land you in the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth. Connected by the Victorian water-powered Cliff Railway, you can split your time between the charming fishing cottages in Lynton and the tranquil Glen Lyn Gorge at the River Lyn. Both villages are ideal for a short stop if you want to stretch your legs – there are scenic walking routes into Exmoor and along the South West Coast Path from here.

Watersmeet Hotel serves up sea views so stunning that you’ll be tempted to join the surfers carving up north Devon’s wetsuit-wearing heartland. Private steps lead you from your cosy Beach Loft Suite down to the sands of Combesgate Beach, with the broad sands of Woolacombe Beach just a few paces further around the headland. More surfing can be found at Croyde Beach, but the sounds of the sea and a full-body aromatherapy massage can deliver just as much pleasure at the Watersmeet Spa.

If it was good enough for William the Conqueror to own, surely Clovelly is worth a visit on your Atlantic Highway adventure. The manicured Clovelly Court Gardens and restored Victorian greenhouses are some of the most serene spots in this perfectly preserved, age-old fishing village that’s run by an estate – note a small entrance fee applies. Here, time slips away, cars are absent, boats are favoured and carts haul goods up steep cobbled streets. Stop in at the Red Lion pub, then spend the afternoon admiring the 13th-century Clovelly Quay and Jurassic-looking coastline.

Let the Cornish clifftops embrace you with a cool sea breeze and an unbeatable view at Bedruthan Hotel and Spa. These colorful, contemporary rooms – the best with giant sea-spying windows – will act as your own coastal hideaway for however long you desire. Should you desire a deeper getaway, the Sensory Spa Garden will bathe you in a seven-stage thermal therapy that’ll make you feel at one with the sea. Spend the rest of your evening savouring small plates of slowly perfected flavours at the Herring, making plans to soak up the sun on nearby Newquay Beach the following morning.

The smell of the sea will make you crave the day’s boat-sourced bounty, so follow your nose to Padstow for celebrated chef Rick Stein’s renowned Seafood Restaurant. It’s reputation for the freshest fish and shellfish stretches back almost half a century to 1975, and has spawned several offshoots in Padstow – including a cafe, bistro and fish and chips shop. At the restaurant, wade into a celebration of seafood with Rick’s bespoke smoked salmon, grilled Padstow lobster and whole Dover sole.

With St Ives Bay waving at you from your Harbour View Roof Suite at Trevose Harbour House, you’ll be happy you packed a couple of swimsuits. Wake up to a nourishing seasonal breakfast, slide into your bathers and take your pick of the beaches along the bay. Porthminster to the south will greet you with golden sands and a renowned cafe, while a castle will welcome you to Porthgwidden Beach in the north. Before you head out, pause to admire the local artwork adorning Trevose’s guest house walls.

Should a rainy day water down your beach plans, the vibrant collection of modern and contemporary art at the Tate St Ives will brighten your day. Cornwall has been a haven for artists since the 19th century, and later gave rise to the St Ives School of artists between the 1940s and 1960s – whose painters used the area’s fishing villages to make their mark on British art. Explore their work and much more at this all-star outpost of the Tate galleries.

As your drive comes to a close, Artist Residence Penzance invites you to immerse yourself in seaside charm for one last time. This revitalised Georgian hotel is playfully peppered with limited-edition modern art, reclaimed furniture and vintage decor. Soak in the roll-top tub of your suite or take in views from the Lookout – the best room in the house – as you gaze down at the sea from Penzance’s rooftops. Slowly sip Cornish pints in the Clubhouse and toast to an adventure well spent.

Swap the beach for the Jubilee Pool and spend the day floating around this restored, Victorian-era geothermal lido. This outdoor seawater swimming spot is as relaxing as it sounds with panoramic views of the sea from the cafe’s top-tier terrace – the perfect place to towel off with a drink and toast your trip.

Guided tours detail the secret history of this open-air, cliff-raised theatre at the tail end of Britain, overlooking the golden sands of Porthcurno Beach, near the coastal full stop of Land’s End. You can also tour their cliff-top garden, catch a performance in the summer season and sometimes spot basking sharks and other marine life while the players play – the perfect way to end your coastal cruise along England’s Atlantic Highway.