It is safe to the say that one of the most popular and well known areas of the UK to visit for a holiday is the south west. The counties of Cornwall and Devon have so much to offer someone looking for a holiday in England. From beautiful scenery, breathtaking coastlines, wonderful sandy beaches and picturesque landscapes to jaw dropping extreme sports, plenty of family attractions and amazing things to see and visit. It is difficult to imagine anything else that you would want and need to get out of your luxury self-catering holiday in England.
Described as the English Riviera, Devon and Cornwall boast some the most amazing coastline and weather in the UK. Positioned at the most southerly point of England, Cornwall and Devon receive the warmest and sunniest climates, providing even more of an attraction for people looking for a luxury getaway, holiday or weekend break in the UK.
Some of the most famous attractions can also be found in this part of the UK, such as The Eden Project which is a great place to visit if you are a budding nature enthusiast or gardener as it has some fantastic plants and wildlife to discover. Another very popular place to visit is the town of Newquay, famous amongst surfers as the surf capital of England. Visitors to Newquay come to enjoy the delights of Fistral beach as well as its fantastic harbour. It also has a great nightlife and is definately a lively town to visit. Lands End, Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks and towns such as Torquay, Salcombe and Dartmouth are also popular places of interest.
The places listed above have obviously got a lot of appeal and interest, they are fantastic attractions to the area and have brought many tourists to the south west for their holidays however there is a lot more to discover than just the well known sites.
I want to look into some of the hidden gems amongst the Cornwall and Devon countryside that are not as well known and famous, yet add to the charm of the south west of England.
Firstly, Lundy Island kicks us off with its amazing wildlife and fascinating dramatic scenery. Positioned off the northern coast of Devon, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Bristol channel, Lundy Island, an unspoilt unique island can be found. The perfect addition to your luxury self-catering holiday and a fantastic way to spend a day out. No cars can be found on this island however there is plenty to do and see. Activities such as walking, climbing, canoeing or scuba diving are common place on Lundy Island with the seas surrounding the island designated as England’s first marine nature reserve. There are also plenty of people who visit the island for the calm tranquility and peace that comes with being on an island so far from the mainland without the pollution of street lights and bussling community and the simple enjoyment of being able to see the stars at night and enjoy the amazing wildlife. Deer, ponies, seals, dolphins and exciting birdlife can be discovered on the island. During the winter months the island can be visited by helicopter however during the rest of the year you can visit the island via a ferry from Bideford or Ilfacombe.
Another hidden gem of the south west coast is the picturesque village of Clovelly. This beautiful fishing village is positioned on the side of a steep hillside on the north Devon coast. It is a truly stunning sight with colourful, flower decked cottages lining the cobbled streets and a breathtaking ancient harbour at the base of the hill. You will also find no cars here as they are banned so you can enjoy a quiet stroll down to the harbour without fussing about cars and traffic. Interestingly the only form of transport within the village is by sledge, which deliver weekly supplies to the community. The village has a lot to offer a visitor including the Clovelly centre which has a quaint gift shop, picnic area and restaurant. There is also a pottery and silk shop, Fisherman’s museum and Charles Kingsley exhibition.
Lynton and Lymouth are our next unknown attraction in the south west, the ‘Little Switzerland of England’ . Positioned where Exmoor meets the sea, these twin-towns boast some amazing sights of the coast with one town positioned on the seafront and the other atop a cliff. Connecting the two you will discover a magnificent working Victorian cliff railway which covers a vertical height of around 500ft! The area is also home to the Valley of Rocks where you can find amazing rock formations, with Castle rock dominating the view. The valley is also home to wild mountain goats which can only be found here south of the Scottish border. Lynton and Lymouth would make a fantastic day out if you’re looking for somewhere unusual to spend the day whilst on your luxury getaway.
Kents cavern is a great attraction for all the family that is maybe not mentioned as much when discussing interesting places to visit in Devon. The kids will love this stone age cave, recognised as the most important in Britain where for thousands of years people sheltered from extreme weather, made fires, shaped tools and hunted ice age predators. This particular cave has revealed more to us about palaeolithic Britain than anywhere else and some great tours can take you through 2 million years to discover a fantastic history discovered by Victorian archaeologists. There is plenty to discover outside of the caves as well with a woodland trail, kids-archaeological dig area and cave art areas, there are also great gardens and a restaurant.
Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat company completes our list of fantastic but forgotten attractions in the south west. Starting from Paignton traveling along the Torbay coast and through the woodland hills to the dart estuary and then to Kingswear you can take a exciting steam train ride. You can then experience some of what Dartmouth has to offer before catching a ferry trip back up the river Dart to Totnes and then enjoy the amazing scenery by taking an open top bus back to the start at Paignton. What a fantastic day out exploring the area and the breathtaking landscapes.
So hopefully this has made you aware of the fact that although you thought a visit to the south west coast and Devon and Cornwall was a great idea, it is actually even better than that. As well as the popular and well known attractions in the area which are obviously well worth a visit, the west country counties have a ton more to offer the holidaying tourist and maybe some research before you go could help you get the best out of your luxury self-catering countryside trip that could make it even more special and unique.
