West Country - Places to Visit in the UK

Where is the West Country?

England’s West Country traditionally consists of the ancient counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. This area boasts at least 12 separate designated areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and extends from the magnificent Regency spa city of Bath and encompasses a vast and diverse region of outstanding landscapes, interesting and historic towns and cities, pretty villages and the brooding expanses of Dartmoor and Exmoor before reaching the famous Lizard Point and Landsend at the very western end of Cornwall.

South West Coastline

For the fit and adventurous, the South West Coast Path, the UK’s longest National Trail runs the entire 635 miles from Poole in Dorset along the coastlines of South Devon, right around the tip of Cornwall before following the North Devon coast and finishing at Minehead in Somerset. The trail includes the World Heritage Site of the Jurasic Coast between Studland and Exmouth and passes through numerous areas of natural beauty and protected countryside. Because of these vast tracts of protected countryside, the whole area is home to a great deal of wildlife considered to be at risk in other parts of the country. The National Parks are full of rare plant and insect species, while peregrine falcons breed and fly from the high coastal cliffs. Nightjars and nightingales are found in parts of Devon and the sandy beaches and heathlands around Studland in Dorset contain some of Britain’s few remaining smooth snakes, while the neighbouring cliffs are home to the country’s largest breeding colonies of Puffins.

Besides its countryside, this historically important area contains some of the most attractive and interesting towns and cities in Britain. Bristol with its old docklands and its maritime heritage is justly famous for its connections with Isambard Kingdom Brunel and combines this sense of history with being a vibrant and go ahead place for fun days and nights out.

Bath

Bath is a jewel of architectural splendour and interesting history. Wells and Glastonbury in the Somerset levels are soaked in romantic Arthurian legend. Plymouth and Exeter in Devon are equally full of interest. Cornwall and its pituresque coastal villages, The Eden Project and beautiful Truro. The list of places to go and things to do in this wonderful region is simply endless and when you tire of sightseeing, you can go riding on the moors, play golf at a huge choice of courses, take a balloon ride, sail around the coast, surf from North Devon’s beaches, go fishing at any number of lakes or rivers teeming with trout, or simply sit and watch the world go slowly by outside of a pretty thatched country pub with a pint of locally produced beer or cider.

Must see ideas

S.S. Great Britain - Brunel’s famous steamship moored in Bristol Docks.
Wells Cathedral.
The Eden Project - Cornwall’s world reknown environmental project with its massive glass biospheres containing living examples of plants from around the world.
Look for fossilised dinosaurs on Chesil Beach in Dorset.
Buckfastleigh Abbey in Devon.
Saint Michael’s Mount at Marazion in Cornwall.

Late May to early June – Bath and West Show. One of the largest agricultural shows in the country.
May Day – Helston Floral Dance.
Early May – Badminton Horse Trials.
August – Bristol Baloon Festival.