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South West England
SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

South West England

The south west of England is a rural peninsula with a beautiful coastline along both the Bristol Channel and the English Channel. The eight regions - Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Cotswolds, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol and Isles of Scilly - each with their own unique character and attractions to explore.



OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO EXPLORE IN SOUTH WEST ENGLAND


Cornwall
Cornwall

On the end of the peninsula and swirling in myth and legend, the north coast has towering cliffs and surf, while the south is gentler with estuaries and traditional fishing villages. Discover the freshest of seafood, creamy ice-creams, maritime heritage, rural beauty and culinary delights.

Devon
Devon

Picturesque Devon with its two coastlines, two National Parks of vast moorlands and scenic rolling countryside in between. The city of Exeter is historically fascinating, pre-dating the arrival of the Romans in AD50, but also has mainstream shops and top class restaurants.

Somerset
Somerset

Jam-packed with castles, abbeys, palaces, museums, and a countryside of picturesque villages and characterful towns as well as vast expanses of open, unspoilt spaces. Most famous for the World Heritage city of Bath, the Glastonbury Festival, Cheddar cheese and cider.

Wiltshire
Wiltshire

This region has a strong connection to the past with the medieval city of Salisbury and the World Heritage sites of Stonehenge and Avebury. The charming rural market towns such as Bradford on Avon and Corsham have a variety of shops, award-winning restaurants and pubs.

 



SOME THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN SOUTH WEST ENGLAND



Quaint fishing villages QUAINT FISHING VILLAGES

Artists love St Ives how the bright light reflects on the golden beaches and green hills, there are numerous galleries and cafes and top notch eateries; Clovelly has a single cobbled high street that winds steeply down to the ancient harbour.
Isles of Scilly ISLES OF SCILLY
 

Uncrowded and unspoilt, the Isles lie just off the coast of Cornwall, either fly over or ferry over to experience the peace, tranquillity and scenery. There are lots of island walks, water sports, wildlife to meet, and artists and galleries.
House-and-Gardens HOUSE & GARDENS
 

Stroll through the Capability Brown landscape gardens of Longleat and Bowood House & Gardens; Stourhead has an 18th Century Palladian house with world-famous magical landscape gardens; at the Eden Project massive Biomes house the largest rainforest, stunning plants and exhibits; immerse yourself in the intriguing Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Jurassic-Coast JURASSIC COAST
 
Take a guided fossil walk on the UNESCO World Heritage coast, tick off the famous landmarks of Old Harry Rocks, Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door the iconic arch, and trace a history that goes back millions of years.
Beaches BEACHES
 

Coastal resorts of Salcombe, Brixham, Torquay on the south coast and surf beaches, Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton Sands to the north to name a few; the dramatic coastlines with rock pools, smugglers’ caves give way to sweeping white beaches.
Food FOOD

Devonshire or Cornish cream tea – the difference is the order you drop the jam and clotted cream on to your scone; with so much coast seafood is abundant and Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant also offers workshops; discover Circa 1924 a seafood and steakhouse in Exeter and try a Cornish Pasty, the meal of the coalminers.
Drink DRINK
 

Healeys Cyder is a state-of-the-art cyder facility with an aerial walkway that allows you to see the workings, tour the museum and do some tastings, while the kids can pet the farm animals in the cobblestone courtyard; from grain to glass explore over 150 years of history at St Austell Brewery before sampling a selection of beers; try a smooth gin made from the oldest working distillery in England the Plymouth Gin Distillery.
History HISTORY
 

Marvel at the standing stones at Stonehenge; view the Magna Carta in the Salisbury Cathedral; explore underground passages in Exeter; the ruins of Tintagel Castle full of mystery and said to be the birthplace to the legendary King Arthur; in Bath the natural hot spring spa water bubble up as they have done since the Romans and before.



SOUTH WEST ENGLAND ACCOMMODATION


Here's a taste of some of our favourite hotels and lodges in South West England.
Come in-store or send us an enquiry to help us find the best accommodation for you.

Westwood House Dorchester
WESTWOOD HOUSE GUEST HOUSE, DORCHESTER
★★★
Centrally situated in the historic county town of Dorchester, which is superbly located for exploring Dorset and the Jurassic Coast. Westwood House is an attractive, Georgian Town House, built in 1815, for a Solicitor and his family and converted to a town house guest house, personally run by resident owners.
the-arches-b-b
ARCHES BED & BREAKFAST, ST AUSTELL
 ★★★half star

On the edge of the bustling market town of St Austell in the heart of the beautiful county of Cornwall Arches B&B was originally part of an old Victorian boys’ school. Take a trip to the St Austell Brewery or walk 10 minutes to town where you’ll find pubs, restaurants, and even a bowling alley.
Pedn Olva
PEDN OLVA HOTEL, ST IVES
 ★★★half star

This lovely hotel, surrounded by beautiful beaches and breath-taking views of St Ives Harbour and Bay sits proudly on granite rocks on the southern shores of St Ives, with the sea only thirty feet below. The perfect choice for a romantic break with contemporary rooms, a highly rated restaurant, bar and wonderful terraces and views.
Pentire Hotel
THE PENTIRE HOTEL, NEWQUAY
 ★★★★

With stunning coastal views across the Atlantic and a stone's throw from Fistral Beach, you couldn't ask for a better hotel location than here on the Pentire Headland in Newquay. Sandwiched between Britain's most famous surf beach and the serene Gannel Estuary, it's perfect for a seaside stay and a great base from which to explore Cornwall.



INSPIRE ME
South West England holiday planning articles


Are you planning your next trip to South West England? Want to learn more about this destination? Or looking for ideas and inspiration for your next holiday? Here is where you can find our featured articles on South West England.

 


 
 


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This is just a taste of the information and advice we have available through our House of Travel consultants.
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