South West England
Why go?
Over the coasts and valleys in southwest England lie the mysterious
mists of Camelot: the craggy peaks of Cornwall, the fertile
farmlands of Somerset, the drizzly charming Dorset villages, the
grassy, gusty Devon moors. The so-called 'West Country' is the
legendary region of Arthurian knights and cuckolded kings, Moorish
pirates and Mayflower pilgrims, Stone Age sacrifices and solstice
awakenings. It also has more sunshine and tends to be warmer than
the rest of England, but that may be a myth too.
CORNWALL
Ancient Kernow – as it's sometimes called down here - has one
of the most breathtakingly beautiful coastlines in Britain, and the
longest. All the world flocks to Cornwall in summer – for,
the sand, surf and subtropical gardens, the coastal footpaths and
glittering creeks, the cornish pasties and the clotted cream teas,
the famous seafood restaurants and the old smugglers' inns. Tin and
fishing were the industries of the past but today tourism is
Cornwall's biggest trade.
DEVON
Devon is thatched cottages, cream teas, sand in your shoes and
wetsuits drying in the sun (yes, this is one of England's sunnier
spots). As for the coastline to the east, it's World Heritage-class
and famous for fossils: you can't miss them. Patchwork pastures and
cowparsley'd lanes – Devon on a summery day really is an
idyll. To the north you have the surfing beaches of Woolacombe and
Croyde, to the south, the old-fashioned English Riviera, headed by
Torquay. If you prefer to shun the crowds, there's room for all on
wild Dartmoor.
DORSET
Hardy country, of course: lush, lovely and - compared to its
sisters Cornwall and Devon - virtually off the map. Fossil heaven,
too: its beautiful Jurassic coastline, part shared with Devon, is
made up of 90 miles of crumbling cliffs and sparkling bays.
SOMERSET
Sweet Somerset - perfect weekend escape. An apple's throw from
Bristol - 3 hours from London with the wind behind you - Somerset
is ripe for a weekend break. You have Exmoor to the west, the
Mendips to the east, the rolling Quantocks in between, and history
in bucketfuls: Bath, Bristol, Glastonbury, Wells. The seaside
resorts may be nothing to write home about but Sand Point and Brean
Down, thrusting their windswept selves into the Bristol Channel
south of Weston, are spectacular. As for the big apple, it's gone
organic: Somerset cider rules.
THE SCILLY ISLES
The Scilly Isles are made up of more than 50 blobs of grass and
rock 28 miles southwest of Land’s End. The most popular route
is by helicopter or ferry from Penzance but you can also fly from
Lands End, Newquay, Exeter, Bristol or Southampton. Fog can delay
your travel plans but don't let this put you off (note, no flights
on Sundays). From the perfectly manicured private estate that is
Tresco to tiny, coastline-crumbled Bryher – and you can wade
between these two at low tide in summer – each island has a
rare charm. The air is fresh, the beaches are empty and the sea's a
caribbean blue. Ride, walk, cycle, sail, immerse yourself in a
landscape of sky and sea, leave the 21st century far behind.