Part of my trip to Britain will include several days exploring Cornwall and Dartmoor. How long will it take me to drive from London airport to Dartmoor? I am thinking about staying at the youth hostel at Bellevere in Dartmoor? Has anyone stayed here? Would this be a good "central" location from which to explore the north coast of Cornwall and Dartmoor?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Driving time Heathrow to Bellever (not Bellevere, spelling can be important in using GPS and online maps!) is about 3-3/4 hrs plus any stops you make, if you have a GPS--could take much longer if you don't.Bellever is in the heart of the Dartmoor Nat'l park and thus well located for exploring the Park. However, it's not well located for exploring the north coast of Cornwall: it's a 2-1/2 hr drive from Bellever (which is in Devon, not Cornwall) to Lands End, this is one way; about 2 hrs to St Ives, and about a 1-1/4 hr drive from Bellever to Tintagel on the eastern edge of the north Cornwall coast. For this reason, you may want to consider basing in Bellever for Dartmoor, but basing further west in Cornwall to explore the north Cornwall coast without having to make long drives every day.
Posted by
Arlington, WA
993 posts
Hi Diane, I had to go to my BIG map to find Bellever. Kent is right. Bellever is fine for exploring Dartmoor but you need someplace nearer for Cornwall. I know nothing of hostels but I'm sure you can find something. Visit Princetown if you can. It's the home of Dartmoor Prison and they have an interesting museum.