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| A379 road | |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| Route | 379 |
| Length mi | 28 |
| Termini | Exeter – Dartmouth, Devon |
| Counties | Devon |
| Destinations | Exeter Cathedral, Exeter St Thomas railway station, Topsham, Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Otterton, Budleigh Salterton, Dartmouth |
A379 road The A379 is a principal A-class road in Devon linking Exeter with Dartmouth via a coastal and estuarine alignment. It serves a mix of urban and rural communities including Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, and Sidmouth, and provides connections to strategic corridors such as the M5 motorway and the A38. The route is notable for crossing the River Exe and the River Dart estuaries and for its role in local tourism, freight, and commuter flows.
The route begins near Exeter city centre close to Exeter St Thomas railway station and skirts the southern bank of the River Exe passing through Topsham and the Exe Estuary landscape adjacent to Exmouth. From Exmouth the road continues along the Jurassic Coast UNESCO area through Budleigh Salterton and Otterton before reaching Sidmouth, which lies on the English Channel. South of Sidmouth the A379 proceeds through the rural parishes near Branscombe and links to the A3052 near Colaton Raleigh, then follows the estuary corridor to the ferry links serving Dartmouth on the River Dart. Along its length the road intersects with principal routes including the A30 road, the A35 corridor, and provides access to rail stations on the Exeter to Waterloo line and heritage services such as the Dartmouth Steam Railway.
The alignment traces historic turnpike and coaching routes established during the 18th and 19th centuries serving Exeter’s market and maritime trade with links to Plymouth and Torquay. The classification as an A road dates from the 1920s Ministry of Transport numbering scheme, contemporaneous with developments like the Roads Act 1920. Post-World War II changes in vehicle ownership and tourism, influenced by national initiatives such as the Rationing and Economic Recovery period, increased traffic leading to mid-20th century improvements. Coastal realignments, bypasses around settlements such as sections near Topsham and modifications following flood events in the Exeter Floods era have shaped the modern corridor. Ferry operations across the River Dart have existed since medieval times and were integrated into 20th-century transport planning alongside proposals debated in local authorities including Devon County Council.
Key termini and junctions include the western terminus in Exeter connecting with the A30 road and access to the M5 motorway junctions, the junction at Topsham linking to local roads serving Exeter Airport, the coastal interchange at Exmouth providing access to the A376 road and seafront, the inland junction with the A3052 near Colaton Raleigh which connects toward Seaton and Axminster, and the southern approaches to Dartmouth with ferry and harbour interchanges adjacent to Kingswear railway connections. The road also meets distributor roads serving conservation and heritage assets such as Cockington Country Park and the Donkey Sanctuary.
Traffic patterns reflect a mix of commuter flows between Exeter and satellite communities, seasonal tourist peaks associated with attractions like the Jurassic Coast, Dartmouth Royal Regatta, and seaside resorts including Exmouth and Sidmouth. Freight movements include local agricultural and fisheries distribution linked to markets in Exeter and onward freight to the Port of Plymouth hinterland. Peak summer weekends often experience congestion at pinch points near estuary crossings and seaside car parks during events such as the Exmouth Air Festival and regional festivals coordinated by district councils. Journey time variability is influenced by tidal ferry schedules and roadworks overseen by Devon County Council.
Safety records have prompted targeted interventions including speed management schemes, village gateway treatments in parishes like Lympstone and Budleigh Salterton, and carriageway resurfacing funded through national allocations such as Department for Transport maintenance grants. Collision hotspots have been monitored using data from Police.uk and road safety partnerships involving Devon and Cornwall Police and Road Safety GB affiliates. Recent improvement projects have included drainage upgrades following storm damage related to Atlantic weather systems and the installation of variable message signing linked to coastal event management coordinated with local resilience forums.
The A379 corridor supports bus services operated by companies including Stagecoach South West connecting Exeter with Exmouth and Seaton, integrating with rail services at Exeter St David's railway station and heritage operations like the Dartmouth Steam Railway. Community transport schemes and park-and-ride initiatives at urban nodes facilitate modal interchange. Cycling provisions comprise signed local cycle routes promoted by Sustrans including links to the National Cycle Network and protected cycle lanes in urban sections of Exeter and Exmouth. Active travel funding has supported footway improvements and cycle parking near tourist hubs and stations.
The route underpins tourism for sites such as the Jurassic Coast, Powderham Castle, and maritime festivals in Dartmouth, supporting hospitality sectors, galleries, and craft industries in coastal towns. It enables access to educational institutions like University of Exeter campuses and healthcare facilities including Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. The road also features in regional cultural references, appearing in local literature and promotional material from organizations such as Visit Devon and contributing to conservation efforts coordinated with bodies like English Heritage and the National Trust.
Category:Roads in Devon