Travel to Devon in England and Feast on an abundance of Traditional Devonian Villages

Devon is a County of immense beauty and a veryIt is also in this area that the abandoned village of
popular summer destination for British tourists as wellHalls Sands is located. It was deserted in 1917 when
as foreign visitors. Its varied landscape and interestingthe Sea took over the land which was once
Cities and Towns offer a lot to the traveller and itsprotected by a huge shingle beach. Rather stupidly
location on the South West tip of the Country givesthe Government of the time, allowed a private
it a milder climate compared to the rest of England. Incompany to dredge the land for the valuable shingle
fact, the South coast is known as the English Riviera!and its result was to leave a once prosperous sea
Like all of the United Kingdom, the County offaring community a ghost town. Walking down the
Devonshire is steeped in history and there issteps to the ruined settlement is slightly risky but
evidence scattered across the landscape and insidewalking amongst the remains is a sombre and
its main Towns and Villages. Most people who visitinteresting experience.
Devon, come for the seaside resorts like Torquay,Just inland of this part of the Devonshire coastline is
Dawlish and Paignton, but there is so much more forBuckfastleigh, which sits on the road from Plymouth
the visitor to the region, though everyone enjoysto Dartmoor. It is a pretty market Town and is
the famous Devon Cream Teas!visited mainly for Buckfast Abbey which sits on a
The Gateway City of Exeter is a vibrant destinationruined abbey that was originally built in the Ninth
in itself with a buzzing University population andcentury.
plenty to see and do. The City dates back to theNorth Devon is not as popular as the South, as its
Roman era and was once a stronghold garrison forcoastline is generally wilder than its opposite number
the Romans known as Isca. There are somebut it does have its attractions. As well as sharing
remnants of this bygone era and a lot of the localExmoor with Somerset, it has Clovelly a lovely little
findings can be seen in the small but interesting Royalharbour Town which is very popular indeed (though it
Albert Museum. The City Centre has many sights in ais quiet at night), two of the best surfing spots in the
relatively compact area with the fabulous NormanCountry at Braunton and Croyde and Ilfracombe
Cathedral looking over it all. On the Cathedral yardwhich is North Devons largest seaside resort. The
you will find the Clarence Hotel which is widely knownIsland of Lundy sits in the Bristol Channel north of the
as the first ever Hotel in England.Devon coast and is a haven for day trippers looking
Nearby to the Cathedral is the favourite lunch spotto see the nesting birds which have made the Island
of Rougemont Castle and Northernhay Gardens,famous locally.
which is a lovely place to take a stroll and take in theThere is an abundance of traditional Devonian Villages
medieval ruins and the place of the last ever Witchscattered around the region and it is really pleasant
hanging in the Country. Just off the entrance toto take a drive and discover them for yourself. An
Rougemont Castle is the Medieval Undergroundespecially lovely area is around Ottery St Mary in
Passages and tours are offered throughout theEast Devon where you will find many chocolate box
week which is surprisingly enjoyable.cottages and narrow country lanes. Ottery St Mary
Exeter Quayside has had a revamp in the last fewitself is a popular place for Guy Fawkes Night the
years and is now a popular place to spend antraditional English celebration in November, when the
afternoon, with quaint but popular pubs and eateries.Tar Barrelling event occurs. Local men set alight to a
It is also home to most of Exeters Nightlife and onbarrel of tar and take it in turns to carry it on their
Friday and Saturday nights it can get quite rowdy.backs around the Town until it burns to nothing. It
Outside of the County Capital there is plenty moremay sound strange - but it is a great night out and a
to see and the vast ghostly Moorland that isreally atmospheric celebration.
Dartmoor is a popular destination for Hikers and isThere are plenty of Hotels and Bed and Breakfasts
famous worldwide for the Sherlock Holmes story,around the County and especially in the more popular
the "Hounds of the Baskervilles".southern seaside resorts, though they can get
It is easy to get to from Exeter and many peoplebooked out in summer. Exeter, the County Capital
flock to the more accessible spots of Two Bridgeshas some special and quirky little hotels and if you
and Hay Tor. The Moors are covered in Bronze Ageare willing to extend your budget, then the Clarence
mounds and history buffs will enjoy discoveringhotel on Cathedral Close is a beautiful setting.
forgotten sites as they walk across the mistyDevon is well linked with the rest of the Country,
landscape. Beware though, Dartmoor is notorious forwith a rail and motorway network up through the
its changing weather and it is easy to get lost.West Country and to the North and East. Exeter
Visitors should remember to take a map andAirport is growing larger each year and is now linked
compass and to let someone know where they areby budget airlines to many destinations in Europe and
going.the UK.
South Devon is as previously stated a tourist hotspotSome flights to the USA and Canada do exist but are
and can get very busy during peak seasons likefew and far between. It would be better for visitors
Summer and Easter. With beautiful long sandyfrom the Southern Hemisphere and North America to
beaches and the typical English seaside activities, itfly into London and then travel on to the West
has plenty to offer families. What a lot of visitorsCountry by Land or the many local flights available.
forget though, is that there is also plenty of historyFlights to London are regular from practically every
in this part of the County as well. The Castle inCountry you can think of... Flights from the USA start
Dartmouth - a major fortress in previous times andfrom US$300 from the east coast and around $400
the popular Berry Pomeroy Castle near Totnes, thisfrom the west coast.
is believed locally to be the most haunted Castle inFlights from Australia and New Zealand will be around
the United Kingdom.A$2000 and NZ$2500.
Further down the coast to Plymouth is the placeTrains from London to Exeter cost around £60
where the American forces practised for thereturn, but if booked in advance then you could find
Normandy invasion during World War Two. Here ata cheaper deal. National Express the national bus
Slapton Sands hundreds of American Servicemen lostservice has links to Exeter and if you can put up with
there lives, when a German E-boat attacked as theythe journey it will only cost around £30 return.
carried out an exercise in preparation for the D DayThe currency of Great Britain is the Pound Stirling
landings.which divides up into 100 pence.