The best of Britain’s South West
Sightseeing in deepest Devon Out on a leg at the end of England, Devon is the thigh (where Cornwall is the calf), jutting into the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by a craggy coastline. This is prime rural England with rolling hills, golden sandy beaches and picture postcard villages. by Oli Lynch Photos: Mark Bell, The Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, Dartmoor and Plymouth
P
robably most famous as the location for Fawlty Towers, John Cleese’s classic sitcom from the late 1970’s, tourists are finally waking up to the splendor of Devon with record numbers visiting in 2017. As my home county, heading to Devon in the summer is always a pleasure, with some of the best beaches in the British Isles. Due to limited public transport, the county is best explored by car, but explorers will be rewarded with beaches to match the south of France, rustic pubs and great atmosphere. EXETER A pocket-sized city with a large university population, the joy of Exeter is the old winding lanes dotted with boutique shops, old pubs set by the riverside, and its vibrant nightlife (thanks to those students). Throughout the summer, the city hosts an assortment of events including the popular Let’s Rock Festival as well as regular markets celebrating local food and crafts. With a good regional airport, the city is well served by trains from London and the Midlands and makes a great base to explore the rest of the county. DARTMOOR You may or may not come across the fabled Beast of Dartmoor, but the windswept and rugged vistas will more
90
WOW Power to the people
If you prefer something more sedate, Lydford Gorge is a tranquil oasis with a waterfall and kid-friendly walking routes, or you might enjoy the slow pace of market towns like Tavistock, WidecombeIn-The-Moor or Okehampton.
than compensate. In the summer, the National Park is the perfect place for hiking, mountain biking and even swimming in lakes and rivers. Never mind the Brontes, Dartmoor has its own literary pedigree as the location for Hound of the Baskervilles, one of Sherlock Holmes’ most famous adventures. And you can see why; craggy tors, lonely granite houses and wild horses add a mysterious air to this hauntingly beautiful landscape. Hiring a mountain bike and hitting some of the many bike trails is one of the best ways to experience Dartmoor’s wilderness. The Granite Way between Okehampton and Lydford, Drakes Trail from Tavistock to
Plymouth and Haldon Forest near Exeter are the most popular cycle routes. If you prefer something more sedate, Lydford Gorge is a tranquil oasis with a waterfall and kid-friendly walking routes, or you might enjoy the slow pace of market towns like Tavistock, Widecombe-In-The-Moor or Okehampton. BURGH ISLAND With around 450 miles of coastline, Devon isn’t short of a pretty beach or two. But Burgh Island near the village of BigburyOn-Sea definitely takes the gold medal for the most picturesque. Situated on a spit just offshore, the island gets cut off at high
