Devon county
England

Another Devon photo below England Tourist Attractions Map

Haytor Rocks in Devon's Dartmoor, south west England.

Devon offers good sandy beaches - though cold water - with excellent surfing on the Atlantic coast, some pleasant towns such as Torquay [aka The English Riviera], Plymouth [the port from which USA's 'founding fathers' departed], and lots of quaint little villages. But for many English people the southwest [aka West country] outdoors means Exmoor, Bodmin Moor or Dartmoor - bleak open spaces with mists, rocks, wild ponies and the howling ground of the 'The Hound of the Baskervilles'.
These moors are superb for hiking and biking, assuming the Hound doesn't get you before teatime.

From London the fastest car or coach route to Exeter would be the M4 motorway to Bristol followed by the M5, though a winding trip through Dorset would be far more interesting and scenic. However, in the summertime herds of lumbering caravans migrate en masse to the West Country along 'A' roads so speed freaks may prefer the motorways. Or let the train take the strain. Devon Travel Guide

Cornwall photos

An alternative to Devon's open spaces on Dartmoor are the occasional wet and woody patches.

One of the UK's largest counties, Devon lies on England's south-west peninsula, bordering Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset and has two stunning and distinct coastlines.

Exeter, the county capital on the River Exe, is about 200 miles from London - a 3 or 4 hour drive, or 2.5 hours on the fastest scheduled train.
The city has a history stretching back to Roman times, was the start of the Fosse Way Roman road; parts of a fortified Roman wall can still be seen.
Other fine old buildings include remnants of the Norman era Rougemont Castle, Exeter Cathedral [finished in 1050 AD], various medieval churches, half-timbered Tudor houses and well-kept Victorian and Georgian buildings.
Exeter also contains the oldest public space in England, Northernhay Gardens.
Unfortunately the city's narrow streets - Parliament Street is reputed to be the narrowest street in the world - cause considerable traffic congestion, so car travel here is not a pleasant option.

Cornwall photos

If you're visiting from overseas, and only staying a short time, Devon is off the beaten track, at least three hours drive from London, often more in high season as roads are narrow.
As it is a rural area, public transport is very thin on the ground.
Don't expect any big-city thrills or theme parks. Devon is undeveloped - the main cities such as Exeter and Plymouth do offer entertainment venues, such as theatres, clubs and bars as well as cultural attractions, but not on the scale of major cities.

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