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Devon and Cornwall conjure up images of secluded coves and wild windswept beaches, lonely moors and bustling holiday resorts, Cornish pasties and clotted cream teas. This area known as the West Country has attracted writers such as Daphne du Maurier, Agatha Christie and Rosamund Pilcher. A delightful gateway city is the elegant city of Bath. A relaxing spacious town, it is easy to reach by motorway or train from London.

Exploring England’s West Country

Angelica
2006-04-05 12:26:51

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manure-heated pineapple pits from which Her Majesty the Queen was given a pineapple on her Golden Wedding Anniversary.

The next garden was at Coleton Fishacre House near Dartmouth in Devon. Now owned by National Trust, the house was designed in the 1920’s for the D’Oyly Cartes of Gilbert and Sullivan fame. It is an airy, pleasant house with windows and doors leading out into the picturesque gardens. The house is set in a stream-fed valley, which slopes down to cliff tops. My favorite corner was the Rill Garden with its pools and canalized gushing stream. Enjoy afternoon lunch in the outdoor patio – yellow pepper soup, Brixham crab sandwiches and stem-ginger ice cream washed down with a cool ginger beer from Buckfastleigh Abbey. Never alone, you’ll have an audience of cheeky chaffinches.

For us, the town of Dartmouth was a pleasant surprise. Pick up a leaflet, which takes you on a self-guided walking tour of this fascinating town, which is truly a treasure trove of maritime history. Amble along the pillared Butterwalk where fishing vessels from Newfoundland docked in the early 1600’s. Continue to Bayards Cove which was visited by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1620 and the cobbled quay which was the setting for several films including ‘The Onedin Line’. Follow the stepped packhorse track, which is lined with exquisite cottages. If you are a photo buff, you’ll have a challenge lining up your camera for perpendicular shots of 17thc timbered houses, which sit at odd angles. To round off the day, treat yourself to a packet of fish ‘n chips on the waterfront or take a river boat to view Dame Agatha Christie’s estate and the Britannia Royal Naval College.

Whether in Devon or Cornwall, there’s always something interesting to see around every corner. Our dilemma was selecting what we could realistically fit into our one-week itinerary.

Where we stayed:
The Rising Sun Hotel Harbourside, Lynmouth, Devon.
The Siena Hotel, 24/25 Pultney Road, Bath

Contacts:
British Tourist Authority Tel: 1-888-VISIT UK or http://www.visitbritain.com
British Airways to London Heathrow http://www.britishairways.ca
The Lost Gardens of Heligan: http://www.heligan.com
Minack Theatre and its productions: http://www.minack.com

Travel tips:
Purchase a good map of Devon & Cornwall as it is easy to get lost here with the elevated roadside banks limiting visibility from the road.

St. Ives: parking can be difficult in many of the popular towns especially if you are travelling in the high season. Check with the local tourist authority for advice.

Images by Hamish M. Jackson

Email: caroline@crestlynn.com
Web: http://crestlynn.com