 Devon is a county in the south West Peninsula nestled between Cornwall to its West and Somerset and Dorset to its East. Devon is famous for its cider, clotted cream and beautiful un spoilt beaches. Devon is dominated by the Moors. Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor are exciting places each with its own blend of prehistoric past and wild present. The charm of Exmoor presents a cosier image to the casual visitor, however to the east there is a pathless wilderness called The Chains, a string of bottomless bogs as sinister as those of Dartmoor and where burial mounds of Bronze Age settlers can be found. The largest city in Devon is Plymouth with the famous Hoe where Sir Francis Drake played bowls before sailing to defeat the Spanish Armada, and the Pilgrim Fathers started their journey to the 'New World'. John Smeaton's Eddystone Lighthouse and the Dome heritage centre are also on the Hoe, The climate is generally mild but very changeable. Some east facing sheltered coastal areas support sub tropical vegetation. Tourism, light industry, forestry, farming, fishing and mining are the main industries of Devon. The South West coast path provides wonderful walking along the cliffs with breath taking views. While the shoreline is often rocky there are long stretches of flat sandy beach where surfers can ride the Atlantic rollers and children can safely play. There are two airports one at Exeter and one at Plymouth, the main roads in to the county are the A39 in the north of Devon, this is a slow scenic route. M5, A30/A303 and the A35 in the south. The A30 takes you across to Oakhampton and on down into Cornwall its a fast duel carriageway. Places of InterestBuckland Abbey The home of Sir Francis Drake (National trust) Buckfast Abbey A Living Monastery in the Beautiful Dart Valley, Buckfast Butterflies and Dartmoor Otter Santuary, Morwellham Quay West Devon, Tamar Valley Wildlife Reserve. A tranquil day in 200 acres. Crownhill Fort a Victorian fortress, Quince Honey Farm, South Molton The largest honey farm in the country. North Devon Maritime Museum. Medieval Castle of Powderham, home to the Earl of Devon, See the rooms full of tapestries, portraits and historic furnishings. View the magnificent grounds and see the deer in the Deer Park. Education, Travel and ShoppingPlymouth and Exeter have excellent shopping facilities both are compact with large chain stores and supermarkets. The whole of the Plymouth centre is ringed by car parks giving easy access to the shops as well as to the nearby theatres, cinemas and other leisure facilities. Park and ride facilities with frequent shuttle bus service into the city centre provide a convenient alternative for traffic coming into the city from the north and east. Exeter's Guildhall Shopping Centre is a very busy and vibrant undercover shopping area, you will find an array of over 40 shops intermingled with places to eat. And in the centre in a courtyard is the medieval church of St Pancras. There are 4 park and ride facilities around Exeter. Barnstaple is the main shopping centre for the whole of North Devon and its shopping areas combine national stores and local family businesses. There are 369 schools and 7 Pupil Referral Units, 9 collages and universities throughout Devon. |
