Devon and Cornwall travel disruption as heavy snow shuts roads and schools

Traffic comes to a standstill at Sourton Cross near Okehampton in Devon

Drivers are being warned to expect disruption into Friday 22 November following heavy snow in Devon, Cornwall, and further afield on Thursday 21 November.

Scores of roads across the region became impassable, with motorists abandoning their vehicles and continuing on foot.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for ice from 5pm on Thursday 21 November until 10am on Friday 22 November, and there remains a possibility of further wintry showers, before heavy rain from Storm Bert is due to arrive over the weekend.

Lorries on the A30 between Bodmin and Temple Credit: Dani Atter

Disruption to travel by rail and road

Great Western Railway has suspended some of its services in the West Country.

Due to heavy snow between Crediton and Okehampton the line is blocked. Disruption is expected until 6pm on Thursday 21 November.

This means train services between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton via Crediton will be cancelled.

Train services between Exeter St Davids and Barnstaple via Crediton may also be cancelled or delayed.

Following heavy snow between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth all lines have now reopened.

You can find full details of all the Great Western Railway delays and cancellations here.

Dozens of roads across the region are "impassable" according to travel service Inrix, with closures on the following routes:

  • A354 Puddletown

  • A352 Middlemarsh

  • A39 Camelford

  • A38 Two Waters Foot

  • A3052 Sidford

  • A3079 Okehampton

  • A375 Sidbury

  • A386 Follygate

Mixture of snow, slush and surface water poses 'challenge' for gritters

Devon County Council has warned drivers to take care as the potential for icy patches remains until Friday 22 November.

In a statement they said: "Devon’s gritters have been out on main routes throughout this morning and ploughing in areas where there has been the most snowfall. The county’s fleet of gritters is due to head out again around 3pm this afternoon as well as the early hours of tomorrow morning."

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highway management, added: “The mix of snow, sleet and rain has created a number of different challenges across the county. The snow has caused some disruption, but there have also been other issues to contend with such as fallen trees.“Our teams have been working around the clock and we thank them for their ongoing efforts.

"They have been continuing to treat our salting network this morning and some of the gritters have also been ploughing routes on higher ground to clear the snow. Our advice remains to drive according to conditions and take extra care."

List of cleared roads

  • Stoke Hill and Wrefords Lane in Exeter was impassable earlier due to stuck vehicles

  • The A375 at Putts Cross was blocked due to a traffic collision

  • The B3180 at Daisymount Cross near Ottery St Mary was congested this morning with vehicles struggling to get onto the A30

  • The A382 at Whiddon Down was impassable

  • An HGV was stuck in snow on the A377 Newton St Cyres

  • There were also issues on the A3052 Four Elms Hill, between Newton Poppleford and Sidmouth

Cornwall school closures

More than 100 schools are closed across, Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset.

In Cornwall, the following schools are shut:

  • ACE School Bodmin

  • ACE School Launceston

  • Altarnun Primary School

  • Boscastle Community Primary School

  • Bodmin College

  • Boyton Primary School

  • Braddock Church of England Primary School

  • Budehaven Community School - open until 13:35 when a partial closure will take place

  • Callington Community College

  • Callington Primary School

  • Callywith College

  • Camelford Community Primary School

  • Caradon Academy

  • Cardinham School

  • Coads Green Primary School

  • Copper Valley Infant and Nursery Academy (opening at 10.30am)

  • Copper Valley Junior Academy

  • Darite Primary Academy

  • Delabole Primary School

  • Dobwalls Primary School

  • Duchy College Stoke Climsland

  • Egloskerry Primary School

  • Fowey River Academy

  • Harrowbarrow Primary Academy

  • Indian Queens Primary School and Nursery -delayed start - gates open until 10.30am

  • Jacobstow Community Academy

  • Kilkhampton Junior and Infant School

  • Lanivet Community Primary School (opening at 10am)

  • Launceston College

  • Launceston Primary School

  • Lewannick Community Primary School

  • Liskeard Hillfort Primary School (opening later)

  • Liskeard School and Community College

  • Marhamchurch Church of England Academy

  • North Cornwall Alternative Provision Academy

  • North Petherwin Primary School

  • Otterham Community Primary School

  • Pensilva School

  • Sir James Smith's School

  • South Petherwin Community Primary School

  • St Breward Community Primary School

  • St Catherine's Church of England School

  • St Cleer Primary Academy

  • St Dominic Church of England Primary School

  • St Mark's Church of England Academy

  • St Martin's Church of England Primary School

  • St Neot Primary School

  • St Petroc's Primary School (opening at 10am)

  • St Stephens Community Academy

  • St Teath Primary School

  • St Tudy Church of England Primary School

  • St Wenn School

  • Stoke Climsland School

  • Taliesin Education Limited (TPlus Centres)

  • Tintagel Primary School

  • Tregadillett Primary School

  • Trekenner Primary School

  • Trewidland Primary School

  • Upton Cross Academy

  • Warbstow Primary Academy

  • Werrington Primary School

  • Whitemoor Academy

  • Whitstone Community Primary School

  • Windmill Hill Academy

A lorry gets stuck in the snow ion the A3052 near Sidmouth Credit: Joe Rosser

Devon school closures

  • All Saints Church of England Primary School

  • Alphington Primary School

  • Ashburton Primary School

  • Ashwater Primary School

  • Atlantic Academy

  • Axe Valley Academy

  • Barley Lane School

  • Black Torrington Church Of England Primary School

  • Beaford Community Primary and Nursery School

  • Boasley Cross Community Primary School

  • Bow Community Primary School

  • Bowhill Primary School

  • Bradford Primary School

  • Brampford Speke Church of England Primary School

  • Branscombe Church of England Primary School

  • Bridestowe Primary School

  • Bridgerule Church Of England Primary School

  • Burlescombe Church Of England Primary School

  • Chagford Church Of England Primary School

  • Cheriton Bishop Community Primary School

  • Cheriton Fitzpaine Primary School

  • Clyst Hydon Primary School

  • Clyst Vale Community College

  • Cockwood Primary School

  • Colyton Grammar School

  • Colyton Primary Academy

  • Copplestone Primary School

  • Cranbrook Education Campus

  • Cullompton Community College

  • Doddiscombsleigh Primary School

  • Dolton Church Of England Primary School

  • Ellen Tinkham School

  • Exbourne Church Of England Primary School

  • Exeter College

  • Exwick Heights Primary School

  • Farway Church of England Primary School

  • Halwill Community Primary School

  • Hatherleigh Community Primary School

  • Hawkchurch Church Of England School

  • Hayward’s Primary School

  • Hemyock Primary School

  • Hennock Community Primary School

  • Highampton Community Primary School

  • Holsworthy Church of England Primary School

  • Holsworthy Community College

  • Honiton Community College

  • Ilsington Church Of England Primary School

  • Kenn Church Of England Primary School

  • Kenton Primary School

  • Kilmington Primary School

  • Kings Nympton Community Primary School

  • Ladysmith Infant and Nursery School

  • Ladysmith Junior School

  • Landscore Primary School

  • Lew Trenchard Church of England Primary School

  • Lifton Community Academy

  • Lydford Primary School

  • Matford Brook Academy

  • Membury Primary Academy

  • Mill Water School

  • Milton Abbot Primary School

  • Morchard Bishop Church Of England Primary School

  • Moretonhampstead Primary School

  • Newton Abbot College

  • Newton Poppleford Primary School

  • Newton St Cyres Primary School

  • Newtown Primary School

  • North Tawton Community Primary School and Nursery

  • Northlew And Ashbury Parochial Church Of England Primary School

  • Offwell Church Of England Primary School

  • Okehampton College

  • Okehampton Primary School and Foundation Unit

  • Pinhoe Church Of England Primary School and Nursery

  • Princetown Community Primary School

  • Queen Elizabeth's

  • Rackenford Church Of England Primary School

  • River Dart Academy

  • Rockbeare Church of England Primary School and Pre-School

  • Sampford Peverell Church Of England Primary School

  • Sandford School

  • Shebbear Community School

  • Sidbury Church of England Primary School

  • Sidmouth College

  • Silverton Church Of England Primary School

  • South Tawton Primary School

  • Southbrook School

  • Spreyton School

  • St David’s CofE Primary School

  • St James Church of England Primary and Nursery School

  • St James School

  • St John’s Catholic Primary School (partial)

  • St Luke’s Church of England School

  • St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Axminster

  • St Nicholas Catholic Primary School

  • St Peter’s Church of England Aided School

  • St Sidwell’s Church of England Primary School and Nursery

  • Stansfield Academy

  • Starcross Primary School

  • Stoke Canon Church of England Primary School and Pre-School

  • Stoke Hill Infant and Nursery School

  • Stoke Hill Junior School

  • Teignmouth Community School, Exeter Road

  • The Clinton Church of England Primary School

  • The Duchy School Bradninch

  • The King’s School

  • The Outdoors School

  • The Promise School

  • Thorverton Church Of England Primary School

  • Tipton St John Church Of England Primary School

  • Upottery Primary School

  • Webber’s Church of England Primary School

  • West Exe School

  • Whimple Primary School

  • Widecombe-in-the-Moor Primary

  • Willand School

  • Willowbrook School

  • Winkleigh Primary School

  • Witheridge Church Of England Primary Academy

  • Woodbury Salterton Church Of England Primary School

  • Woodwater Academy

  • Yeoford Community Primary School

Somerset school closures

  • Churchstanton Primary School

  • Hinton St George CofE School