A39 road in England: The Ultimate Guide
A39 is an extremely beautiful and rewarding journey to make in south west England. The drive is definitely worth it. Don’t forget your camera!
The road is totally paved. It’s 307 km (191 mi) long, running south-west from Bath to Falmouth via Somerset and the Atlantic coast. Passing through striking landscapes, it’s said to be one of the most dangerous roads in the UK according to the Department for Transport (DfT). It has an accident rate of 1.57, which means that there are 1.57 accidents for every 1 million cars driven on the road. The road offers a smattering of hairpins, chicanes and fast straights. You will get views of the moorland as well as the coast.
The road features some sections are pretty narrow and steep. It’s one of the south-west's most important roads. In Cornwall and North Devon, the road is known as the Atlantic Highway. Ever changing scenery, a road layout that'll keep you guessing and hills so steep it'll make your bum clench. Even the odd farm vehicle and heavier traffic in the summer doesn't de-tract from its charm. With bends to negotiate, hills to climb and Exmoor to soar over, time will bomb past and you won't have a care in the world, whenever you decide to drive it. The wind is usually quite strong. High winds blow here all year long. It’s one of the most beautiful drives in England.
One of the most challenging parts of the route is called Porlock Hill. At 25%, it’s reputably the steepest A road in England. The alternative to this leg breaker is to take a toll road. According to the signs, it is a mile further, but the gradient is a much more leisurely 1 in 14. Caravans advised to use toll road and small vehicles and cyclists can take as an alternative route.