Dartmoor Holidays, England, United Kingdom A fascinating contrast of wild empty landscapes, manicured beauty spots and picture-postcard villages, Dartmoor is one of southern England’s last wildernesses, where ponies, sheep, and cattle graze freely. Most popular for day-trippers is the south east of the moor with wooded valleys and cascading streams. The central and northern parts feature wild open moorland with imposing rock outcrops (‘tors’). The whole area is a walker’s paradise.
English Riviera Holidays, England, United Kingdom The Riviera comprises three main towns: Torquay is the most fashionable and popular with a luxury marina, good beaches, and family attractions including a famous Model Village and the Kent’s Cavern. Paignton is a more traditional English resort, boasting a superb zoo. Brixham is not only a picturesque fishing harbour but one of Britain's busiest fishing ports. The adjacent area, the South Hams, is known as one of the prettiest in England.
Exeter Holidays, England, United Kingdom Devon’s principal town, Exeter is not only an historical city but also a lively student centre. Don’t miss the medieval cathedral, one of England’s finest, while the Royal Albert Memorial Museum houses one of England’s best provincial collections. Visitors can take a cruise from Exeter Quayside and visit the quaint port of Topsham. Bicton Gardens is a popular outing and Exeter is also handily placed for exploring Dartmoor and the English Riviera.
North Devon Coast Holidays, England, United Kingdom The east of this varied coastline features the deep ‘combes’ (wooded valleys) of Exmoor, which plunge down to the sea, most dramatically at Lynton and Lynmouth. Westward are traditional English seaside towns with long sandy beaches (Ilfracombe, Woolacombe). Beyond the characterful towns of Barnstaple and Bideford, Clovelly is a picture-book, whitewashed fishing village, while Hartland Point is known for its dramatic, storm-battered cliffs.
Plymouth Holidays, England, United Kingdom The principal town of the south west, Plymouth is famous for its maritime legacy. The Hoe, where Drake awaited the Armada, overlooks the magnificent harbour (Sound): home to naval dockyards and warships, accessible on sightseeing cruises. The bustling atmospheric Barbican district by the inner harbour, with its narrow streets of Tudor and Jacobean buildings, is where the Pilgrim Fathers sailed from. Visit the Elizabethan House and the Plymouth Gin Distillery, as well as the National Marine Aquarium - one of England’s finest.
Tiverton Holidays, England, United Kingdom This attractive town on the river Exe grew rich from wool in the 17th and 18th centuries (to learn more visit the excellent local museum), hence its many fine period buildings. Sights include the fortified manor houses of Tiverton Castle and Bickleigh Castle, and Knightshayes Court, a Victorian country house with rich interiors and a fine garden. Beautiful Exmoor National Park, with its wild scenery, walks and villages begins nine miles east.
