Cornwall & Devon
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England's two most southwestern counties - Devon
and Cornwall - boast greater diversity than almost
any other part of the country. Quaint villages
border bleak, atmospheric moorland, which run
down to sweeping beaches and towering cliffs.
Medieval manor-houses are just a few minutes
from the futuristic domes of the Eden Project,
while modern cities jostle with faded resorts.
Cornwall in particular has always been a distant,
semi-independent territory, and is still a county
fiercely proud of its seafaring history and Celtic
heritage. It was here that the semi-mythological
King Arthur held court, and that era of tribal chieftains
and pilgrim monks is represented by a scattering of
crude granite crosses, Celtic saints, and of course
the legend of Excalibur.
The modern world - and perhaps the future - is
represented by Cornwall's biggest attraction, the
Eden Project (pictured above). This huge collected
of 'biospheres' houses an amazing array of plants,
waterfalls, trees, and even a smattering of wildlife.
A very 21st century take on the glasshouse - and a
'must see' if you are in the West Country.
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The opposite coast boasts the beaches, cliffs, and
fishing communities that have turned their faces to
the Atlantic surf since time immemorial. Tintagel's
cliff-top ruins are haunted by kingdoms long forgotten,
while just a few miles away a more modern fascination
with surfing is pursued on the sandy shores of Newquay.
Further south is the seaside town and 'artistic haven'
of St. Ives.
The fisherman and smuggler are two West Country
icons, and at least the former can still be seen plying
his trade, albeit in ever-dwindling numbers. Sea-edge
villages such as Clovelly and Lynmouth
in Devon now survive by tourism and only a few boats
venture out into the mighty Atlantic. Smugglers too
have for centuries survived in these often hazardous
waters and used the small villages and rugged coastline
for their illicit trade.
Rural Devon and Cornwall are well-represented
by medieval manorhouses, including Cotehele
(pictured below) and Knightshayes. Rolling fields
seem a world away from the coastal vistas, as does
the otherworldly wilderness of Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor.
Dartmoor is southern England's greatest expanse
of wilderness, and is dotted with Stone Age settlements
and windswept Tors.
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The 'big towns' of this part of the country are Exeter
and Plymouth. Both are interesting in their own
way, with Plymouth in particular having a rich maritime
history. However, you don't come to Devon and Cornwall
for towns - not when the sea, the history, and
the landscape all work to beguile the visitor and
draw them into this unique part of the country.
Don't miss it!
More Information
The National
Trust website is a great introduction to many
of England's best preserved landscapes, estates, and
buildings. Numerous cottages in Devon and Cornwall
- most with a long history and plenty of character
- are available for hire from the NT..
The Visit
Britain website provides useful general information
for visits to these counties.
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