It then proceeds in a generally southerly direction, climbing over the Haldon Hills, past junctions for Mamhead and Teignmouth, before descending past the towns of Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot and continuing on a flyover over the Penn Inn roundabout heading towards Torquay.

Beyond Newton Abbot, the road bypasses the village of Kingskerswell on the South Devon Highway.

There have been plans to alleviate the traffic congestion on the stretch of the road between Newton Abbot and Torquay since 1951.

However, in November 2011 the government awarded £74.6 million towards the cost of the bypass, with construction to start the following year.

Various upgrades have been made to the junction since its construction in an effort to increase capacity; it now has four lanes on the A381 approach and northern section of the roundabout.