Cornwall & Devon
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England's two most southwestern counties - Devon and Cornwall - boast greater diversity than almost any other part of the country. Quaint villages border bleak, atmospheric moorland, which run down to sweeping beaches and towering cliffs. Medieval manor-houses are just a few minutes from the futuristic domes of the Eden Project, while modern cities jostle with faded resorts.
Cornwall in particular has always been a distant, semi-independent territory, and is still a county fiercely proud of its seafaring history and Celtic heritage. It was here that the semi-mythological King Arthur held court, and that era of tribal chieftains and pilgrim monks is represented by a scattering of crude granite crosses, Celtic saints, and of course the legend of Excalibur.
The modern world - and perhaps the future - is represented by Cornwall's biggest attraction, the Eden Project (pictured above). This huge collected of 'biospheres' houses an amazing array of plants, waterfalls, trees, and even a smattering of wildlife. A very 21st century take on the glasshouse - and a 'must see' if you are in the West Country.
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The opposite coast boasts the beaches, cliffs, and fishing communities that have turned their faces to the Atlantic surf since time immemorial. Tintagel's cliff-top ruins are haunted by kingdoms long forgotten, while just a few miles away a more modern fascination with surfing is pursued on the sandy shores of Newquay. Further south is the seaside town and 'artistic haven' of St. Ives.
The fisherman and smuggler are two West Country icons, and at least the former can still be seen plying his trade, albeit in ever-dwindling numbers. Sea-edge villages such as Clovelly and Lynmouth in Devon now survive by tourism and only a few boats venture out into the mighty Atlantic. Smugglers too have for centuries survived in these often hazardous waters and used the small villages and rugged coastline for their illicit trade.
Rural Devon and Cornwall are well-represented by medieval manorhouses, including Cotehele (pictured below) and Knightshayes. Rolling fields seem a world away from the coastal vistas, as does the otherworldly wilderness of Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor. Dartmoor is southern England's greatest expanse of wilderness, and is dotted with Stone Age settlements and windswept Tors.
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The 'big towns' of this part of the country are Exeter and Plymouth. Both are interesting in their own way, with Plymouth in particular having a rich maritime history. However, you don't come to Devon and Cornwall for towns - not when the sea, the history, and the landscape all work to beguile the visitor and draw them into this unique part of the country. Don't miss it!
More Information
The National Trust website is a great introduction to many of England's best preserved landscapes, estates, and buildings. Numerous cottages in Devon and Cornwall - most with a long history and plenty of character - are available for hire from the NT..
The Visit Britain website provides useful general information for visits to these counties.
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