Summer road trips with Europcar
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What better way to spend a summer weekend than discovering the history of England? We’ve put together a road trip around the West Country that takes in some stunning English Heritage sites. And if you need to hire a car, don’t forget you can save 15% with Europcar with your member discount. It’s applicable for international car hire too.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire
Starting off your South West road trip is the prehistoric site of Stonehenge, where you can walk in the footsteps of your Neolithic ancestors. Alongside the stones themselves, the visitor centre has a fascinating collection of archaeological objects and treasures from the area, such as pottery, jewellery and even human remains.
If you want to stretch your legs further after your drive, there are some gorgeous walks in the area around Stonehenge, including a circular one that takes you around the Cursus (the Neolithic earthwork monument around Stonehenge) and gives gorgeous views back towards the stones.
Okehampton Castle, Devon
Leaving Wiltshire, head west towards your next stop – the pretty Devon town of Okehampton, where you’ll find the remains of the county’s largest castle.
This Norman castle is set on a pretty wooded spur over the river. You can explore the ruins, learn about the castle’s history, and then enjoy a walk around the castle to take in the beautiful Devonian countryside.
Bayard’s Cove Fort and Dartmouth Castle, Devon
Your next stop is just over an hour’s drive away, and gives you a chance to visit two English Heritage sites.
Bayard’s Cove Fort is a Tudor artillery fort that’s perched on the entrance to Dartmouth harbour. Built between 1522 and 1536, it was created to defend the town and had a companion fort, Kingswear Castle, on the other side of the estuary.
A 20-minute walk away is Dartmouth Castle, which was another defensive castle built to protect the town. This older castle – work started on it in 1388 – has seen lots of action throughout the years, including fighting during the English Civil War.
You can explore the gun tower, try helmets on for size and climb out onto the roof platform to enjoy far-reaching views across the sea.
Pendennis Castle and St Mawes Castle, Cornwall
Crossing over the border into Cornwall, your next stop is a second pair of coastal defence castles. Pendennis Castle and St Mawes Castle were both part of Henry VIII’s seaside fortresses, protecting the country from the threat of Catholic attack from overseas.
St Mawes is one of the best-preserved fortresses and features elaborate decorations, including sculptures either side of the main door and the carved arms of Henry VIII over the top. It also has beautifully landscaped gardens and grounds. Pendennis offers panoramic views of the coast from its keep, and has acres of green space that are perfect for a picnic.
We recommend parking in Falmouth, heading to Pendennis Castle, then catching the ferry over to St Mawes. You’ll get some stunning views of both castles during this short ride.
Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
The final stop on your West Country road trip is Tintagel Castle, over on the north side of Cornwall. The dramatic coastline and rugged landscape is a magnificent finish to your weekend away.
The castle itself is on an island, which you can reach via the new footbridge. This has been cleverly constructed as two cantilevers with a 40mm gap in the middle, representing the transition from mainland to island. Once you’ve explored the 13th-century castle remains, head to the beach below to explore the rock pools, admire the tumbling waterfall from the cliffs above and build a sandcastle or two.
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