The Beautiful Roads of Devon

"Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)" (thejonnyedge) 04/10/2014 at 09:30 • Filed to: THE JOY OF DRIVING, DRIVING SPIRIT, JONNY EDGE, INFINITI, INFINITI QX70, DEVON

7

16

Pictured here is a humble road in Devon, England. It's just one of many in a beautiful region crammed full of natural beauty. This is the place I call home, the place where I do almost all of my driving.

To be able to live and drive in a region such as Devon is nothing but an absolute privilege, mile after mile of beautiful winding lies before you. We have corners that look like they've been plucked from some of the finest race tracks in the world, small tight farm tracks that spike your curiosity, glorious seafront passes, the variations go on and on. Just as important is the fact that having these roads close to me means that I'm never more than ten minutes away from glorious rural scenery, and the ancient feeling of tranquility that seems to come with them.

I have lived in Devon for the vast majority of my life and despite that, I am still discovering new roads and locations that I never even knew existed. It is said that Devon has more miles of road than the entire nation of Belgium, and whether that is true or not, it's at least nice to believe as you take the keys and venture out to explore once again. You see, there's always something new to see on the roads of Devon, and it is this variation and rejuvenation that makes this region so special for the soul of the driver.

A large proportion of the roads in Devon are in need of repairs. Recently, weather of a ferocity far greater than normal have taken their toll on the aging rural network, and as a result, the roads are deteriorating left right and centre. This poses a problem for many drivers, but it can also be rather good fun learning to tackle your favourite routes whilst developing new lines through the corners in order to avoid those back-jarring bumps. However, that's not to say that you won't need to make a whole new line when that road deteriorates yet further. Of course, it's all part of the fun of driving in Devon.

Being the rather fortunate bloke I am, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in which to enjoy Devon. I am firmly of the belief that the combination of twisty corners, tough surfaces, and stunning landscapes makes Devon one of the finest places in the world in which to analyze a car. You will of course be able to read my thoughts and opinions shortly on !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , but in the meantime you can follow me on twitter (@Jonny___X) if you wish to see updates from me during my week with the car.

Enjoying the roads of Devon has been a pleasure of mine ever since I first obtained my license. Whether I'm attacking the racetrack-like corners, cruising by the beautiful seafront, or avoiding horses trying to lick my car (yes, that's actually happened) I've always enjoyed every single moment behind the wheel of whatever I happen to be driving. It is my hope that both my !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! and pictures are bringing those of you who are far away a little bit closer to my home, on the beautiful roads of Devon.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/09/2014 at 10:55

0

Just saw some gorgeous stuff from this area on speedhunters. It's on the travel list for sure

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/09/2014 at 12:53

2

I do love the driving landscape in the UK. Down in the South East where I am you've got mostly twisty rural roads running through tunnels of trees and hedges.

It was honestly a shock when I drove up through Birmingham and the landscape was just flat either side of me for miles :)

I'd love to do a driving road trip down to the West-country actually. I went to university in Bath and the landscape looked very promising :)

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/10/2014 at 10:53

3

Nice post, beautiful scenery!

I love the southwest of England for reasons I can't really explain. In my weaker moments I pretend to have won the lottery and look for houses there on Zoopla.

Your pictures and words assured me yet again why I do this.

Greetings from Germany!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer 04/10/2014 at 11:35

1

Thank you Mark! Much appreciated!

I'm hoping soon to have more lovely shots of my native driving landscape, as I'm quite sure that people would enjoy seeing them!

I would love to come to Germany sometime, it's on my list of places to visit! The only question is where!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 04/10/2014 at 11:36

2

Ah Bath! Possibly the most beautiful city in all of England. Great place to go to Uni too, I have a friend studying there at the moment, she loves it!

Flat landscape always surprises me too! I'm so used to the hills and crests here that anywhere flat seems exotic to me now.

If you ever make it down here to do a driving trip, hit me up and I'll take you on some of my favourite routes. We could do a double-article on that!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/10/2014 at 12:16

2

I will look out for more pics!

I'm not a travel guide, but in order to give you at least a hint for what to do here, I have to know what you want and/or like.

When it comes to visiting cities I'd go to the East of Germany although Munich stands out as a complete package I think. Berlin - of course you need to visit Berlin -, Dresden , Erfurt and Weimar for example are very beautiful with a lot of historic buildings and in an interesting contrast radiate a youthful dynamic compared to a lot of the cities in the West.

The problem with the East of Germany is the relatively uninteresting landscape and scenery. Here the West has more to offer although one shouldn't underestimate the Ore Mountains and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains near Dresden.

The Eifel , Black Forest and pretty much anything in or around the Alps is self-explanatory.

If I were you, I'd go for the East.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer 04/10/2014 at 13:24

0

I have some friends who live just south of the German border in the Czech Republic very close to Dresden. I nearly went to Dresden last time I visited them. I went to the mountain and looked over into Germany, and I heard about the lithium mining plan in the area. I assume that was the Ore Mountains, just the Czech side!

I'd love to see the Black Forest, I've always felt so at home in a forest.

I also have a lot of love for the German Bundesliga! Might have to catch a game when I visit!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/10/2014 at 13:35

0

It's a great place :) definitely need to go back at some point.

I'd love to do that :) I'm planning on a bit of road-tripping when the Spitfire's finished. If it makes it as far as Devon I'll hit you up :)

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/10/2014 at 14:02

0

Your Czech friends are a good starting point or finish for a trip.

Do you have a specific club or stadium in mind? "Die Gelbe Wand" (The Yellow Wall) in Dortmund has to stand out in Germany where standing places were significantly reduced in the past two decades. And the Schalke-fans in Gelesenkirchen just 30 km away are very special but the team is not that enjoyable to watch. Munichs stadium on the other hand has a rather bad reputation - although the team plays undoubtedly the best/most entertaining football. Don't vistit Wolfsburg or Hoffenheim since there is nothing going on. Any other stadium experience is pretty much interchangeable.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 04/10/2014 at 15:43

1

I'd be delighted to show you around! The Spitfire deserves some great roads after all that work!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer 04/10/2014 at 15:50

1

Yes, they really are in a great location! I think they'd be happy to take me over the border too. I want to go back to Hrensko (I may have spelt it wrong!) in the Czech Republic again as it was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

I watch the Bundesliga show on British TV every week, and although I like Dortmund they sing "You'll Never Walk Alone", a song of the team of my most hated enemy in England! (I support Everton FC)

I quite like the smaller teams like Freiburg and Mainz, but Schalke are very appealing because as a club, they seem to be quite in touch with their fans. I'm only acting on what I know from the highlight show and the Bundesliga YouTube channel though!

I just found another good image of a road in Devon for you, I think I've posted it before. Across the sea here is Wales, but you can't always see it. I wish I could take everybody on a massive tour of Devon roads, it would be fantastic!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/10/2014 at 18:14

2

You spelt it right, I found it.

You are spot on with your impressions of the Bundesliga. I'd suggest you simply leave to buy a beer while the Dortmund fans sing the forbidden tune and enjoy the atmosphere afterwards.

I like the photo and picturesque location a lot. And I bet your vRS is a hoot to drive on those roads. I'm sure you'd like to own an (old) English roadster, but I think the Fabia is a very good compromise.

Since my camera gear is only one step up from carving something in stone and I my "car" only has two human-powered wheels, I just can offer you two pictures made by other people.

Number 1 and Number 2 .

Both were taken within an unhurried rambling distance from Göttingen where I live. If you know where to look you can faintly see the A7 - or the trucks driving on it to be precise - running through the Leine Valley in the second picture.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer 04/10/2014 at 19:44

0

Beautiful images Mark, I might need to come and visit you too!

This is my old vRS, I now have the new Octavia vRS (I'm going to find a picture and put it at the bottom of this message) which I also recently reviewed for www.drivingspirit.com (more pics, stats and my opinions on the car there). I did enjoy the Fabia, it was so much fun! I thought it was very underrated as a car. The new Octavia is even better though!

Maybe a beer and earplugs would be best before visiting Dortmund... then again, I do quite like Schalke. Ugh! I can't be a lover of both of those teams! It's impossible! Maybe I'll root for Dynamo Dresden and be all old-school and local to my friends!

Mark - Sixpots None The Richer > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/12/2014 at 16:52

0

Do stop by! My shared flat is humble, the grill is tiny and the meat is gristly, but the beer my friend…oh the beer.

Well, it's not that special really. It's cheap though and there will be plenty of it! ;-)

So, why would you need anything else?

Skodas are everywhere in Germany and you covered in your article the reasons for that. They are well made and priced cars period. The problem is, of course, the badge. The moment you have to explain to your friends, neighbours and colleagues that your Skoda is basically a VW and therefore essentially an Audi too, you lost the badge-bragging game a lot of people like so much.

No, you -even as an outsider - definetely can't support Dortmund and Schalke. That'll be like cheering for the Reds and Everton. There is a great atmosphere in Dresden, but there were quite severe problems with violent fans in the recent past too. Two examples: Here and another one .

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Mark - Sixpots None The Richer 04/12/2014 at 17:20

0

I quite agree. If I could go back and re-write my Skoda piece I would actually say a lot more. I do very much love Skoda though, and I really feel they have a bright future ahead of themselves.

I would be delighted to stop by Mark! I'm all for cultural experiences, and surely beer in Germany is exactly that! ;)

It's a shame there has been trouble in Dresden, it looks like such a beautiful place. I think they might be the team for me as Matthias Sammer played for them back in the good days, and I always loved him as a player when I was growing up. He had red hair and played in the same position just like me!

Ash78, voting early and often > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) 04/13/2014 at 22:09

3

I fell in love with Devon while studying business in Plymouth for a summer back in the late 90s. Americans rarely hear of the place — no major tourist attractions and, frankly, international tourism to Britain is unfairly dominated by London (as are England's long-distance rail and road networks). It probably doesn't help that the West as a whole is often forgotten or intentionally overlooked as a tradional domestic destination of caravan parks, tourist-infested beaches, and Fawlty Towers (or Doc Martin for those more up to speed on British TV!). I live in Alabama and could try to convince foreign tourists to come here all day long, but sadly they'll still go to Orlando or Las Vegas or (slightly better) New York and LA.

But on the other hand, anonymity does have its advantages when it comes to reduced crowds! I really miss the amazingly surreal contryside there, especially on Dartmoor, where millions-years-old rocky tors dot the hilly horizon and Bronze-Age settlements and stone circles still exist (mostly intact) for the more willing traveler. Tiny towns and roads everywhere, hilly cliffs and beaches around every turn, and a quirky, almost tropical climate depending on where the Gulf Stream is that week. Yea, even the occasional palm tree.

So on behalf of those who live a little more off the beaten path, tourists could do far worse than spending some time in that part of England — it's stunning.