Why the Lanes Are So Narrow
Many roads in Cornwall follow routes that are far older than the car. Farm tracks, church paths and routes between hamlets, shaped by centuries of Cornish farming, were worn down by feet, carts and animals, and then lined with banks and walls on either side. The result is a lane that may be barely wider than a single vehicle, often sunk below the level of the fields, with tall banks rising on both sides.
Those banks are a big part of the look of the county. Many are the traditional stone-and-earth boundaries known as Cornish hedges, which can be centuries old, are home to wildflowers and small animals, and are not designed to be scraped by passing mirrors. Damaging one is more than a cosmetic problem, because rebuilding a stone-faced bank is skilled and slow work.
What Narrow Lanes Are Like
Expect a few features on many minor roads:
- Blind bends. The banks block your view, so you often cannot see oncoming traffic until it is close.
- Limited width. Two small cars can sometimes pass slowly, but a van, a larger vehicle or a tractor usually means one side has to give way.
- Passing places. These are wider spots, gateways or short bays where one vehicle can pull in. On some roads they are signed, and on others they are simply an informal widening.
- Uneven surfaces. Grass down the middle, loose stones and mud are all common, particularly after rain.
- Steep gradients. Roads dropping to coves and fishing villages can be steep and twisty.
Satellite navigation systems often choose the shortest route, which may be a tiny lane when a larger road would be easier, notably in far west Cornwall where the network of small roads is dense. If a route looks implausibly narrow on the map, it probably is.
Basic Habits
Slow down well before blind bends and keep to a speed at which you can stop within the distance you can see. This is the single most useful habit, and it applies whether you are in a rental car or your own. Local drivers who know the roads may move faster than you are comfortable with. You do not need to match them. If someone is close behind, pull in when it is safe and let them go past.
Keep your vehicle as far to the side as is safe without touching the bank. Watch the road ahead for movement, glints of windshields or the sound of an engine, since these are early signs of another vehicle.
Passing Places and Who Backs Up
When two vehicles meet, the general convention is that whoever is closer to a passing place, or has the easier reverse, pulls in or backs up. It is not always the uphill or downhill driver, although many drivers prefer to let a vehicle going uphill continue because restarting on a slope is harder. Local practice varies, and the sensible approach is to be quick, calm and cooperative rather than insisting on right of way.
Some practical points:
- Pull into a passing place on your left side where possible. If the space is on the right, stop opposite it and let the other vehicle use it, rather than turning across.
- Do not park in passing places. They keep the whole road working.
- A friendly wave when someone gives way is the usual thanks, and it makes a difference.
- If you are reversing, take your time and check behind carefully. Ask a passenger to help if you have one.
Sharing with Farmers and Residents
Lanes are working roads. Tractors, livestock trailers, milk or feed deliveries and slurry tankers all use them, and they are often wide, slow and unable to reverse easily. Farm machinery usually pulls over as soon as there is room, so being patient pays off. If you are driving behind a tractor, keep your distance and wait for a safe place to overtake, or just follow along; it usually will not be long before it turns off.
Livestock may be moved along lanes at certain times of year. If you meet cattle or sheep, stop, switch off the engine if asked, and move slowly if the farmer signals that you may continue. Do not sound the horn, which can spook animals.
Residents also live on these lanes, and some have no off-road parking. Avoid stopping to take photographs where you will block a driveway, a gate or a bend. Gateways are used by farm vehicles at any time and need to stay clear.
Bigger Vehicles and Special Cases
Large motorhomes, vans with trailers and wide vehicles have a harder time on small lanes. If you are traveling in one, it is worth checking your route carefully and choosing roads suited to your width and height. Low branches, tight corners and weight limits on older bridges can all cause trouble. Some villages have signs advising against large vehicles, and following them is better than ending up stuck.
Cyclists and walkers use the same lanes too. Give them plenty of room and pass slowly.
Parking and Arrival
The busiest coves and villages often have limited car parks that fill up early in the day in summer. Arriving earlier or choosing a quieter spot reduces the pressure on small roads. Do not park on verges or anywhere that might block emergency vehicles.
A Calm Approach
If you are not used to this kind of driving, it can feel intimidating at first, but most drivers settle in within a day or two. Allow extra time for every journey, as journeys that look short on a map can take far longer. Rushing is what leads to scrapes and arguments. Take a breath, find the nearest passing place, and remember that everyone on the lane is trying to get somewhere, including the people who live there.