Folkestone–Plymouth drive via the M20, M26, M25, M3, A31, A35, A30 and A38 — Kent to Devon; depart around 11:00, allowing roughly 5½–6½ hours of driving plus stops. Leave with food and water, and use signed car parks at each stop; traffic around the M25 and Exeter can add time.
Winchester Watercress Festival area and River Itchen — Winchester; late morning, ~45 minutes. Stretch your legs beside the scenic river and historic water meadows, with cafés in central Winchester for takeaway lunch.
New Forest National Park, Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary — Hampshire; early afternoon, ~1 hour. Take the short woodland trails and look for fallow deer in one of the New Forest’s most accessible nature areas.
Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove — Dorset; mid-afternoon, ~2 hours. Walk the dramatic Jurassic Coast cliffs and viewpoints; allow extra time for the steep path and use the official car parks.
Abbotsbury Swannery — Dorset; late afternoon, ~1 hour. Visit the historic colony on the Fleet lagoon for a quieter wildlife stop before continuing west.
Plymouth Hoe and The Waterfront — Plymouth; evening, ~1 hour. Finish with a sea-view walk after arrival, parking at a central car park and dining nearby; expect approximately £20–35 per person for a casual dinner.
Leave Folkestone around 11:00, following the M20, M26, M25, M3 and then local roads towards Winchester. The direct drive is usually around 2½ hours, but today’s full journey to Plymouth will take roughly 5½–6½ hours of wheel time, so traffic around the M25 and later near Exeter matters. In Winchester, spend about 45 minutes around the River Itchen and water meadows, using a central car park such as Chesil Street Car Park or Worthy Lane Car Park. The Winchester Watercress Festival area is a pleasant place to stretch your legs, and you can pick up a takeaway lunch from the cafés around the historic centre before returning to the car.
Continue via the A31 into the New Forest National Park, allowing about an hour for the short woodland trails at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary. The paths are easy to follow, and the viewing platform is a good place to look for fallow deer; keep dogs close and do not approach or feed the animals. Parking is in the signed forest car park, generally free, though New Forest roads are narrow and ponies may wander across them. From here, drive south-west towards Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove—the approach takes around 1½–2 hours depending on traffic. Use the official Durdle Door or Lulworth Cove car parks rather than roadside spaces, and allow roughly two hours for the coastal viewpoints and cliff walk. Parking is typically around £5–£10 depending on the season, and the path to Durdle Door is steep, so sturdy shoes and water are essential.
Continue west along the Dorset coast to Abbotsbury Swannery on the Fleet lagoon, allowing about an hour for the visit. It is a calmer wildlife stop after the busy Jurassic Coast; check the seasonal closing time before setting off, as late-summer hours can vary, with admission commonly around £12–£15 for adults. Then follow the A35, A30 and A38 to Plymouth, allowing approximately 2½–3 hours and keeping extra time for delays near Exeter. On arrival, park centrally at The Theatre Royal Car Park or Drake Circus, then finish with an hour-long sea-view walk along Plymouth Hoe and the waterfront. For dinner, stay near The Barbican or the Hoe; a casual meal with a drink should cost around £20–£35 per person. With so many stops, keep the evening simple and check each attraction’s closing time before leaving Folkestone.