South West England
Cornwall, Devon and Somerset form the area of South West England known as the West Country. With miles of sandy beaches, interesting inland towns and cities and extensive areas of moorland, there is much to see and visit.
Cornwall
Bodmin, Falmouth, Helston, Liskeard, Looe, Newquay, Padstow, Penzance, St Ives and Truro are some of the areas well worth a visit and, of course, Lands End is the southern most point in the UK.
Just a few miles from Lands End, the old Town of St Ives is a maze of narrow cobbled streets huddled around the harbour, and surrounded on three sides by fine sandy beaches. Now a world famous art colony, some of the oldest artist’s studios in Britain adjoin Porthmeor Beach. The Tate Gallery, opened in 1993 by Prince Charles and known as The Tate of the West enjoys magnificent view of the beach, the island and “Downlong”.
The Bernard Leach Pottery and Barbara Hepworth studio garden are among the many places for art lovers to visit. You will find, too, that the magic of Cornwall’s Celtic past still pervades St Ives today.
Coming to the inner harbour of Padstow, there is so much to see. Fishing boats and private craft abound here as Padstow is one of the few safe havens on the North Cornwall Coast. From the harbour wall, there are stunning views across to the east bank of the estuary. Some of Padstow’s treasures are tucked away from the harbour. The former poet laureate, Sir John Betjemin is buried in the little church here and if you take the ferry over to Rock, you can walk the paths through the golf course to the church itself.
Cornwall is famous for its surfing beaches and a few miles away from Padstow, you will find the beaches of Harlyn Bay, Treyarnon Bay, Constantine Bay and Boobys Bay. Boobys Bay and Constantine Bay are situated about four miles from Padstow - a wonderful stretch of beach with walks to Trevose Head and some of the best surfing around. Just inland from Constantine is the village of St Merryn, with church, pubs and a whole range of facilities. West of Padstow, Treyarnon Bay is a beautiful, generally sheltered beach, but watch out for the warning signs and take heed.
The beach can be dangerous at certain times, due to rip currents. Harlyn Bay has good surf too and wonderful beach views. Trevone is situated about 1.5 miles from Padstow, one of the most well preserved villages on the North Cornwall Coast. With two bays together - one sandy and one rocky, there are lots of rock pools to keep the children happy.
Devon
The River Tamar divides the county of Devon from Cornwall - the two counties are linked only by bridges and ferries for more than four miles of the length of the river. In Devon, I suggest that Dartmouth, Exeter, Taunton, Torquay and Plymouth, all make good bases for exploring the many seaside resorts and inland towns.
Full of character and ancient history, Exeter is situated on the river Exe, surrounded by sweeping countryside, narrow hedged roads and lavish green fields. The quayside offers a lovely atmosphere in which to relax and stroll around. You can visit the historic Customs House and various other old buildings and warehouses dating back to Charles II. There are also pubs, cafes, antiques and craft shops to be found. One of Exeter’s most well-known sites is St Peter’s Cathedral, which dominates Cathedral Close. It was built in 1114 and finished around 1375. It contains the longest, unbroken Gothic vault ceiling in the world. Other sites to be seen around the close are Mol’s Coffee House, once frequented by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh, The Royal Clarence Hotel, which was the first inn in England to be called a ‘Hotel’ and the Bishop of Crediton’s house, are worth a look.
The area of Torbay is referred to as ‘The English Riviera’ and covers the three South Devon towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. A place to relax, soak up the atmosphere, take in the scenery, enjoy the parks and gardens and to experience an enjoyable time in a classical English seaside resort.
The English Riviera attracts visitors of all ages and interests throughout the year and boasts an enormous variety of scenery and attractions to suit everyone. There are 22 miles of coastline, cliffs, coves and beaches, with many walks and stunning views to be seen from just about everywhere - across the Bay, over the English Channel, along the 40 miles of Lyme Bay and inland to the Tors of Dartmoor. The English Riviera has a complete range of accommodation and offers a rich variety of restaurants, bars and evening entertainment.
The historic city of Plymouth - inextricably linked with the sea and the Royal Navy - sits between the mouths of two rivers, the Tamar and the Plym. This is the area from which many of Britain’s great seafaring stories have had their birth. Sir Francis Drake started and finished his historic circumnavigation of the world in Plymouth Sound. The Pilgrim Fathers eventually set out for the new world from here on The Mayflower and Captain James Cook sailed from Plymouth on each of his three voyages of discovery and, of course, the first person to circumnavigate the world solo - Sir Francis Chichester.
Somerset
Bath in north east Somerset is a famous tourist attraction, but there are many other towns and cities in the county such as Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Glastonbury, Minehead, Taunton, Wells and Yeovil. Explore the beautiful countryside, peppered with picturesque villages, secret gardens, historic houses and a wealth of traditional and innovative attractions. Or simply relax and enjoy the high quality accommodation, superb country fayre and friendly hospitality waiting for you.
Although a thriving conventional town, Glastonbury is also a world famous spiritual centre of pilgrimage. It is a unique sacred site that has been recognised for millennia. For some, Glastonbury is the mythical Isle of Avalon, an otherworldly paradise spoken of in myth and legend. For Christians, Glastonbury is the revered site of the first Christian church built in Britain by Joseph of Arimathea. For others it is the resting place of Arthur and the home of the quest for the Grail and all the legends that surround it. For many who come here having read Marion Zimmer Bradley’s book “The Mists of Avalon”, Glastonbury is the ancient home of the Priestesshood. As well as being rich in legends and historical remains, the present Glastonbury is a magnet for pilgrims of many faiths and beliefs, drawn from all over the world by what are felt to be the special spiritual energies of the place.
In the heart of Somerset, Taunton is an ideal destination for a short break or a day trip. Taunton, Somerset’s county town was founded in the 7th Century by King Ina. Taunton Castle, which now houses the Somerset County Museum collection, was the location of Judge Jeffrey’s “Bloody Assizes” held when the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685 failed. Many of the Town’s surviving medieval, Tudor and Georgian architectural features can be found by following Taunton Heritage Trail, which is marked by attractive brass plaques set in the pavements.
Particularly worth visiting is the Church of St Mary Magdalene. The magnificent crowned tower makes it the most notable building in Taunton. Its interior displays an impressive carved ceiling, 200 angles and fine monuments. A visit to the town would not be complete without a walk through Vivary Park. Admire the floral displays, the historic fountain and band stand.
Wells is reputed to be England’s smallest city and is the only city in Somerset. The wonderful setting below the Mendip hills and extraordinary heritage, make it a popular stop on the tourist trail in the south west. Its ancient cathedral should be visited during your stay here. Taking its name from the three fresh water springs in the grounds of the Bishops Palace, open channels of water still run alongside the Market place and High Street.
Moorland Areas in Cornwall, Devon and Somerset
Exmoor National Park is situated in the counties of Devon and Somerset. Exeter is to the south and Taunton to the east. The park contains a variety of magnificent landscapes. Although it is one of the smaller National Parks (267 square miles) the central plateau of open moorland is remote and spacious.
To the north, the moorland terminates in towering cliffs above the Bristol Channel. Rocky headlands, steep wooded ravines, plunging waterfalls and jumbled heaps of fallen rock, make this an area of outstanding scenic beauty; it is defined as a Heritage Coast.
Inland, the grass moorland is surrounded by heather-clad rounded hills, mostly over 900 ft. Dunkery Beacon is the highest point in Exmoor (1704 ft). This high land catches clouds from the Atlantic, with rainfall up to 80 inches a year and forms a catchment area for numerous rivers and streams which flow rapidly to the north and more gently to the south. It is not surprising that the moor is named after its main river, the River Exe.
The moorland is dissected by steep wooded valleys called comes, formed by these fast running streams. To the east lie the cultivated Brendon Hills, heavily wooded in the north but with enclosed fields surrounded by banks and fine beech hedges to the south. This typical landscape extends right across the south western lower slopes of the moor. Here, there is some dairying, but Exmoor is farmed mainly with beef cattle and sheep. This is a stunning area, with much to see and explore. A series of excellent walks and various events are planned for visitors to Exmoor National Park throughout the year. A programme of National Park Authority events, incorporating guided walks is available free from visitor centres. Visitor centres are conveniently located for visitors to the National Park at Coombe Martin, County Gate, Lynmouth, Dunster and Dulverton. Each has displays relating to the locality and a variety of information is available. An independent visitor centre located at Porlock also offers accommodation booking services.
Dartmoor National Park is a beautiful moorland landscape, with wooded valleys and wind swept Tors. 369 square miles in area, with about 31,000 people living in it, about 10 million visits are made to the area each year. The Moor was the famous setting of Lorna Doone by R D Blackmore. All the land is privately owned, but the public are able to roam freely on unenclosed, open moorland, on both foot and horseback. There are also about 600 miles of public rights of way.
Dartmoor is a rich habitat for wildlife and the commons have free ranging sheep, ponies and cattle on them. But don’t feed the animals! It is an offence to do so and feeding encourages them to the roadside, where they are all too frequently killed or injured. Remember these animals are semi-wild and may kick or bite. The area also has a wealth of archaeological remains. visitor centres in and around the park are located at Princetown, Ivybridge, Tavistock, Newton Abbot, Ashburton and Moretonhampstead.
Another area of exotic moorland is “home” to a more legendary animal the “Beast of Bodmin Moor”. Tales of mysterious large animals abound all over Britain and photographs, and even films have been taken of these beasts, but there is little physical evidence to support the sightings. That was until recently when a 14 year old boy discovered a skull with large fangs, in the River Fowey on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
The large fangs on the skull made the boy’s father wonder if it could be the remains of one of the animals reportedly seen on the Moor. The skull eventually arrived on the desk of one of the Natural History Museum mammal specialists in London’s Cromwell Road, where Daphne Hills began to hunt down the mysterious beast. An area of great natural beauty and moorland walks, without or without evidence of the Beast, Bodmin Moor is well worth visiting.
As we have seen, there is much to see and do in the West Country. From
the beaches and bays which can be enjoyed at all times of the year, to historic
towns and cities, the wonderful moorland parks for walking and exploring
and a rich and magical place where pilgrims and visitors alike are welcomed.
We advise you to telephone before travelling as opening times will vary.
Other excursions outside London
Cambridge / Oxford / Shakespeare Country