Cornwall-Devon-Travel-Guide

The Castles Of Devon & Cornwall

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Aside from it’s beautiful, rugged coastline and red cliffs Devon & Cornwall are home to some very impressive Castles:

Dartmouth Castle – The most striking feature of Dartmouth Castle is that it stands tall right on the banks of the Dart Estuary – a stunning waterside setting. Dartmouth Castle was initially built in the 14th Century, but underwent substantial works in the 15th Century when Henry VIII had it redesigned to be able to better fit his weaponry.

Close to Dartmouth Castle is Kingswear Castle and St Petroc’s Church. Given the beautiful setting (right at the mouth of the Dart Estuary), Dartmouth Castle is well worth a visit – not just to marvel at the history but to enjoy the awesome scenery and perhaps enjoy a picnic. It’s possible to arrive in style via Ferry – taking in the lovely views available from the River Dart along the way.

Totnes Castle – On top of the charming little Devon town of Totnes stands the Norman fortress of Totnes Castle. The views from the top of the castle are outstanding, offering panorama of the entire town and River Dart.

The castle itself was thought to have been built sometime in the 10th Century.
After visiting the castle be sure to enjoy a stroll along the steep, narrow town lanes – they offer a festival of perky shops and some pleasant eateries.

Okehampton Castle – These castle ruins, set at the foothills of Dartmoor, were the medieval home of the Earls of Devon. The Castle offers a free audio tour and after enjoying the stroll around the castle grounds (including the chapel, gatehouse and priests lodgings) you can take in a pleasant woodland walk or relax by the riverside picnic area.

The castle itself dates as far back as the 11th Century.
A highly fascinating side-note – it’s thought that the castle is haunted so be sure not to wander around by yourself once the sun sets!

Berry Pomeroy Castle – About two miles east of Totnes is this former dwelling of the Seymour and Pomeroy families. The castle and Elizabethan mansion was initially built in the 15th Century and underwent expansion towards the end of the 17th Century. This is another castle that is thought to be haunted!

Great Steam Train Rides Across Torbay’s Beautiful Coastline

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For one of the most scenic train rides to be found anywhere, try the Paignton to Kingswear (Dartmouth) rail journey. Your steam locomotive starts from Paignton Station and initially chugs past Paignton Sands and Quaywest Water Park.

The rail journey not only takes in the spectacular Torbay coastline but also runs through the wooded hills along the Dart Estuary. Initially, this most picturesque of British rail journeys goes up a steep and rocky hill offering some wonderful views of the Devon coastline. After going past Churston, the train runs inland and proceeds along the Dart Valley before reaching Kingswear.

From here, passengers have the option of visiting Dartmouth via ferry.
It’s also possible to combine your rail journey with a pleasure cruise and coach ride and enjoy a fascinating journey that stretches out over the entire day.

River Cruises Along The River Dart & Wildlife Cruises Along The Devon Coast

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One of the most charming activities while visiting Cornwall & Devon is to take in a cruise along the River Dart. Typically the cruise will start from Dartmouth and end at the lovely town of Totnes. The River Dart is one of the most beautiful estuaries in Britain – and a cruise provides the holiday maker with an opportunity to drink in the rich tapestry of history, wildlife and pure scenic beauty all in one go.

For example, a pleasure cruise from Dartmouth to Totnes would allow the holidaymaker to see the following:

Village of Dittisham.
The lovely, old cottages of Duncannon.
Sir Walter Raleigh’s boat house.
Dame Agatha Christie’s estate.
Greenway Quay.
Stoke Gabriel.
Sharpham Vineyard.

Alternatively, you could also take a wildlife cruise where your tour boat sails along the immaculate Devon coast to catch breathtaking views of basking sharks, leathery turtles, falcons, bottlenosed dolphins, shearwaters, grey seals, and much more. This is a wonderful experience, although the tours only take place between May and July.

Other Towns & Villages Of Interest In Cornwall & Devon

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Cornwall and devon is dotted with splendid, picture perfect villages.

Below we look at a few other locations that many guide books tend to overlook.

Isles Of Scilly (Cornwall)

About 30 miles west of Lands End (Cornwal) are the mysterious and little known islands called the Isles Of Scilly. As you might expect, the isles have a very mild climate and is populated with sub-tropical plants.

The Isles of Scilly are well worth a visit, though be warned that holiday makers are not permitted to bring cars. This means that there is very little traffic here, even in the highest populated region of St Mary’s.
The once populated Samson is an interesting place to call – now deserted, it has only the remains of ancient cottages.

Teignmouth (Devon)
This is a town that was battered pretty badly during World War 2. In the present day, it’s an interesting sea-facing town that has an interesting mix of 19th century buildings and a fair amount to offer the passing visitor.
Most of the facilities of interest to holiday makers are concentrated in or around the den area (the area of space along the main seafront). It’s here that you’ll find the pier, cinemas, swimming pool and theatre.

Shaldon (Devon)
Very close by to Teignmouth is the unspoilt village of Shaldon. It’s a quiet little place that is peppered with attractive cottages and the views along the estuary are really quite charming. Visitors may want to take a look inside the Shaldon Wildlife Trust.

Accommodation In Cornwall & Devon – Where To Stay To Suit Your Needs & Budget

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The good news is that no matter what your financial budget, you’ll almost certainly find a place to stay that suits it. Cornwall & Devon both have no end of lodgings for the holidaymaker – Here are some of your accommodation choices:

· Luxury & standard hotels
· Bed & breakfasts (B&B)
· Holiday cottages
· Camping sites

Much will depend on where you wish to be based, and of course what your needs are.
Cornwall & Devon have many reasonably priced Bed & Breakfast lodgings – here, you get a comfortable room (often the home of the owners which offers a very nice homely feel) usually with an en-suite shower and standard amenities such as (basic) TV. A choice of breakfast (traditional English or continental) is included in the price of the room and some B&B’s offer dinner as an optional extra. This is great because the holiday-maker has the choice of exploring the town and sampling some of the local cuisine without having to be confined to the B&B at dinner-time.

For those in pursuit of luxury, there are a good choice of quality hotels available. Many of these offer excellent facilities (such as pools & gym) and depending on location may offer breath taking sea views. Expect plush interiors and satellite TV from the better hotels. Standard hotels (2 or 3 stars) are not as fancy and are similar to B&Bs in the standard of accommodation offered.

If you’re planning to stay for a week and have a family or group then you may wish to stay in a holiday cottage instead. Cornwall & Devon have a huge range of holiday cottages that can be rented (usually) for a week or more. You can rent a cottage in a peaceful countryside setting, a quiet fishing village or overlooking the sea – the choice is yours! Holiday cottages in Devon & Cornwall typically cost between £500 to £1,000 a week (depending on location & standard).

Finally, if you’re planning to hire a caravan & go camping, there are plenty of caravan & camp sites scattered all over Cornwall & Devon.

Exeter - The Capital Of The SouthWest

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Exeter is without doubt the capital of Devon, though ironically it’s not the typical town that most visitors come to expect when they think about Devon. There’s a certain high pace and vibrancy about Devon that is out of place with the rest of the county. Not only is Exeter the most culturally and commercially important place within Devon, but it boasts a vivid historical importance with plenty of old buildings and other important landmarks of heritage. The holiday maker who visits Devon should at least pop in to Exeter for a visit.

There’s a lot about Exeter that a quick walk reveals. The city wall remains date back to 200 AD (initially built by the Romans). Impressive Exeter Cathedral was originally built in the 11th Century and other notable points of interest include the Guildhall, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, and Tuckers Hall.

Exeter has developed significantly in recent years, and offers visitors and residents a huge choice of entertainment & leisure. It boasts one of the most vibrant nightlife scenes in Devon and there are plenty of restaurant choices too, from tapas and thai to Middle Eastern and Latin American.

Close-by to Exteter is the lovely estuary port of Topsham. This bustling port is a perfect example of a prosperous and charming English town. Walk along the narrow streets, take in a coffee at a canal-side café and if possible hop onto a bus for perhaps the best way to explore the nooks and crannies that Topsham has to offer.

Very close to Exeter (2 miles) is a lovely little town called Ottery St Mary – offering some of the most winding streets to be found anywhere, and a wonderful ancient church that stretches back to the 14th century. Also close to Exeter is the town of Sidmouth which has plenty of smart villas and cottages.

Penzance

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In South West Cornwall is the town of Penzance – like St Ives, Penzance also has a reputation for having been an artists haven (in the 19th century) and still boasts an interesting art gallery.

The climate in Penzance is wonderfully mild – you’ll see palm trees and other sub-tropical plant life in the beautiful Morrab Gardens (well worth a visit). It’s also possible to catch views of St Michaels Mount from this busy harbour town.

There are some nice shops and restaurants near the harbour and some other points of interest in Penzance include the Penlee House Gallery & Museum and the Trinity House National Lighthouse Centre. Also worth a look is the interesting 19th century building that is Egyptian House.

There is no shortage of affordable lodging if you’re looking to stay for a night or two in Penzance
– there are many bed & breakfasts offering a fair stay for reasonable fees or you could stay in one or two of the higher end places such as the Abbey hotel.

Some two miles from Penzance is the pretty village of Mousehole - Many believe it to be one of the most attractive fishing villages to be found anywhere in Cornwall. One of the famous (if eccentric) dishes that mousehole is famous for is “Stargazy Pie” – a fish pie made with whole fish (and the heads sticking out of the pastry).

Also very close to Penzance is Newlyn – a little town that (aside from being a pleasant fishing port) is known best for art. Newlyn started to be a hub for artists towards the late 18th century and it was a little later that the Newlyn School Of Art was opened.

St Ives

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This magical little corner of Cornwall offers wonderful, sandy beaches, narrow cobbled streets and a delightful harbour area – an absolute joy for those wanting to discover “Classic Old England”.

St Ives also has very strong historical ties to the arts community – and testament to this can be found at the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden. Just a few of the famous 20th century artists from St Ives include Barbara Hepworth, John Wells and Ben Nicholson. Those interested in art will also want to check out the Tate St Ives museum.

Art aside there’s plenty for the general tourist too – fine, sandy beaches and a myriad of wonderful shops and restaurants makes this a first class destination for those wanting to see the very best that Cornwall has to offer.

As you would expect, the good stretches of beach here makes it another popular location for surfers, Porthmeor being the pick of the bunch. Other good beaches in St Ives include Porthgwidden, Porth Kidney Sands, Windasea and Porthminster.
St Ives is a good base for a Cornwall holiday – there are lots of accommodation options to suit the budgets of all holidaymakers.

Tintagel – Welcome To The Birthplace Of King Arthur

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It was a gentleman called Geoffrey of Monmouth who in 1150 started the legendary belief that the little town of Tintagel was the birthplace of the great King Arthur. This belief has been attached to Tintagel ever since, and indeed visitors still flock here still to catch a glimpse of the place where King Arthur may have been born.

The remains of Tintagel Castle are quite spectacular – set upon the steep cliffs overlooking the Atlantic ocean. It’s believed that King Arthur was born here while Merlin stood famously in a cave beneath the castle. This is Merlins Cave and visitors can view it when the tide is not high.

Aside from these ancient remains Tintagel has a 14th Century Post Office that represents an interesting side-visit for travellers.

After you’re done visiting the castle and post office, the town has a sleuth of tea rooms, pubs and souvenir shops to cater for the many visitors who come (mostly in summer).

Totnes

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With a population struggling to reach 7,000 the interesting little town of Totnes is steeped in history and legend (it’s here that a Trojan prince named Brutus is believed in folklore to have founded Britain in the 11th century).

Present day Totnes is a bustling market town with charming views and splendid architecture with plenty of listed buildings for such a small place.
Totnes has a wide range of delightful restaurants for visitors to pick and choose from – the choices range from traditional English tea rooms and bistros that are simply brimming with character to foreign-food restaurants.

Things To See & Do In Totnes
The first thing that strikes you about Totnes is the pure charm and elegance of the town – a walk up the steep streets is highly recommended. In many ways it’s typical of the small English town experience and the narrow streets are dwarfed by ancient, historic buildings (quite a few dating back to the 16th century).

Totnes Castle – First built in the 11th century, the remains of Totnes Castle today are thought to be from the 13th century. The castle is well worth visiting and offers some spectacular vistas of the town and River Dart below.

Other points of interest in Totnes include the Guildhall (including some interesting exhibitions including Oliver Cromwells table), the Totnes museum (located in a beautiful old Elizabethan style house) and Totnes Rare Breeds Centre (a petting zoo).

Close to Totnes is the village of Dartington, boasting some fascinating medieval buildings. Dartington also has some lovely gardens.

Marazion & St Michaels Mount

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Tucked away in the very far corners of South West Cornwall is the charming little town of Marazion – believed to be Britains oldest town. Aside from being steeped in history, and the location of St Michaels Mount, Marazion is also loved by those interested in hiking, water sports and bird watching.

Marazion is also a good base to explore Cornwall – with plenty of affordable accommodation and a fair choice of good eateries, visitors can experience the true Cornish lifestyle in a comfortable and beautiful setting.

St Michaels Mount is one of the main attractions in Cornwall itself, let alone Marazion. The highlight is the castle which is set atop the mount on a separate island – it’s possible to walk to the mount during low tide, but at high tide a ferry ride is required. The castle itself is quite enchanting and visitors can amble through the many furnished rooms and drink in the sensational panoramic views on offer.

Marazion as a town is equally charming – with narrow roads climbing over steep hills, and wonderful shops, pubs and bakeries offering the most wonderful food and drink options.
Marazion also has a lovely sand beach offering wonderful views of the mount making the town one of the undiscovered gems of Cornwall!

Newquay

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Boasting some of the best beaches and surfing in Britain, Newquay is one of Cornwalls premier holiday sites. Unsurprisingly, it has now obtained a reputation for being Englands surfing capital but there’s much more to Newquay than being just a surfers paradise.
Beach lovers will want to head to Fistral Beach – this is in fact the best known surfing beach offering fast, hollow waves for surfers. Another popular beach in Newquay is Watergate Bay although this beach is more suited to beginner surfers. Beginners may also want to try Crantock Beach as it is sheltered. There are numerous places in Newquay to hire surfing equipment and surf schools are also available for those who come only to ride the waves.

Food & Drink In Newquay
As you would expect, Newquay offers a wide variety of cuisine options for just about every pallet. Local specialities include cream teas & Cornish pasties offered by the many tea rooms & bakeries. Cornish ice-cream is also very rich and creamy to taste. Newquay is also well known for it’s seafood and has a huge range of international cuisine restaurants from Indian and Chinese to Mexican and Italian. One things for sure, when your visit to Newquay is over you’ll probably have to start a strict diet!

The Blue Reef Aquarium
If you’re interested in tropical marine life then a visit to the Newquay Blue Reef Aquarium is a must – one of the highlights is a fascinating underwater tunnel that visitors can walk through while witnessing the marine animals swim around in their natural habitats.
Other Things To Do In Newquay

Golf lovers will enjoy the scenic course overlooking Fistral Beach. Aside from the Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay also has a good zoo containing a wide varierty of animals over 10 acres of land. Other activity based entertainments include pool, snooker, bowling and a range of other sports and activities. Also popular (especially with children) is Newquay Water World – containing a tropical pool, simulation waterfall & volcanos and even state of the art gym facilities for adults. Looking for something a little different? Try the Tunnels Through Time museum (a very novel way of looking at and learning about the past).

Fishing – this is one of the most popular activities in England – at Newquay there are some excellent opportunities for a wide range of fishing from fly-fishing to deep sea fishing.
Close to Newquay is the town of Bodmin – once the capital of Cornwall, it’s now an elegant little market town well worth a visit.

Dartmoor National Park

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Just a few miles inwards from the South Devon Coast is the ancient Dartmoor National Park. It covers an area of 368 square miles and offers visitors a mix of superb scenery and legendary history. Dartmoor also has one of the most prominent moors to be found anywhere in Britain.
Many visitors view Dartmoor as a wonderful and diverse place – indeed it offers a multiple range of terrains from it’s tors and woodlands to rambling countryside, grass covered hills and river valleys.

The tors formations are actually quite splendid – the granite while being a very tough substance is vulnerable to chemical deterioration. This means that the acids in rain attacks the surface of the granite causing it to disintegrate into various shapes and colours.
Those who enjoy outdoor activities will have plenty to do in Dartmoor – just a sample of these include fishing, trekking and cycling.

Things To Do & Towns To Visit In Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor is made up of various small villages and towns – one of the very enjoyable experiences of visiting Dartmoor is the chance to drive from one to the other while taking in the great scenery en route. From Tavistock in the west to Ashburton in the east, there’s plenty to do and see in Dartmoor.
Entire books have been written on Dartmoor – so the following is just a brief description of some the places and activities that you can enjoy here:

· Check out the main visitor centre located in Okehampton. This town also houses the Museum of Dartmoor Life.

· Okehampton Castle is worth a visit – this is located in Cranmere Pool and these ruins are the remains of what was once the biggest castle in Devon.

· Walking & trekking opportunities are abundant all over Dartmoor – specific places of interest to walkers include South Okehampton, Princetown, Chagford and Postbridge. There are also specific routes popular with more experienced trekkers – for instance, Templar Way (18 miles) and West Devon Way (14 miles). Books on walking in Devon are also available in the information centres dotted around the park (Okehampton, Tavistock, Ashburton, Ivybridge and a couple of other locations).

· There are also plenty of routes for those keen on cycling, and it’s possible to hire bikes in Tavistock. The Dartmoor Way is a 90 mile cycle route that includes many of the parks towns including Okehampton, Tavistock and Buckfastleigh.

· Other outdoor activities available in Dartmoor include horse & pony rides, fishing and climbing.

· In the East lies the pleasant town of North Bovey – this is a great place to see quaint thatched cottages dating back to the 17th century. Yet another place to marvel at picture-perfect thatched cottages is in the charming little town of Buckland In The Moor. This lovely town faces onto woodlands and is also by the River Webburn (which joins up with the famous river Dart).

· Expect to see many Ponies grazing along the stretches of grassland while you drive through Dartmoor National Park.

· Buckfastleigh is home to Buckfast Abbey – one of the most visited icons in Devon. The Abbey dates back to 1018. Also in Buckfastleigh are the Dartmoor otter sanctuary and the Buckfast Butterflies Exhibition (where several exotic butterflies can be seen in an exotic environment).

· Postbridge is a small town in the centre of Dartmoor National Park – aside from being popular with walkers, the town is famous for it’s “Clapper Bridge” (granite bridges dating as far back as the 13th Century) which goes over the East Dart River.

· Another quiet town with sublime cottages and green surroundings is Widecombe In The Moor. Aside from it’s beauty, this location is famous for The Church House – dating back to 1537.

· The little town of Chagford is nestled just above the River Teign and is also worth a visit just to amble around the neat town square. Be sure to visit Market House while you’re there.

The Darkside Of Dartmoor – The Gruesome Gubbinses
In Lydford Gorge in the 15th century a “half human” tribe of creatures are said to have existed and caused much terror and fear to the locals. While this may sound like a myth or old wives tale to make children behave, the Gubbinses did in fact exist. They stole cattle, kidnapped or robbed travellers and there are reports that suggest that they were cannibals.

Torquay

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Arguably the most popular & visited of the three Torbay towns, that describe themselves as the “English Rivera”.

Torquay has some good beaches to enjoy and also offers the standard English seaside experience of tea rooms and sea-side amusement arcades.
A holiday in Torquay should include a visit to the jubilant harbour area, littered with nice restaurants, pubs and other convenience eateries. It can get quite lively at night time.

What To Do In Torquay:
Babbacombe Beach has a nice harbour and seaside area and is covered by steep hills which offer excellent views of the coast, both by night and day.

Babbacombe Model Village is a charming miniature village containing thousands of buildings. A great attraction for kids.

Kents Cavern is an ancient geological structure and there have been some highly significant prehistoric finds here (some as old as 700,000 years old).

Living Coasts – a wonderful wildlife attraction where visitors can come and see penguins, seals, puffins, ducks and countless other marine life in a natural surrounding.

Torquay Museum – first opened in 1845, Torquay Museum is worth a visit to discover a wide range of facts about the town. There are exhibitions about everything from history and archaeology to pottery.

Compton Castle – About 5 miles west of Torquay lies Compton Castle which was built in stages from the 14th to 16th centuries. The castle itself is a notable attraction but the surrounding grounds are also very popular with tourists because of the feast of lush flowers, shrubs & trees that inhabit it.

Paignton – About a 15 minute drive from Torquay is the coastal town of Paignton. If you’re in Torquay, it’s certainly worth visiting Paignton too. Though many argue that it’s a low-class version of Torquay, there are some nice attractions including a fair seaside resort, zoo, and the impressive Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway. A mere five miles from Paignton is the wonderful little town of Brixham – it’s a highly popular place with tourists and it’s not difficult to see why - narrow, steep streets brimming with character and a cosy harbour just two of the things that visitors flock to see every year.

Diving & Surfing In Cornwall

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Cornwall is fast being recognised as one of the premier diving & surfing locations within the UK. This is due to the multiple of good beach resorts such as Newquay, Bude and Perranporth to name a few. Cornwall also has a huge stretch of coastline, more so than along any other part of England. This means that Cornwall as a diving location has naturally evolved, and now offers excellent prospects for those wanting to surf as well as dive.
Diving facilities within Cornwall are first class. There are several B.S.A.C clubs littered all around Cornwall. The following locations all have major dive operators present:

St Ives
Hayle
Looe
Falmouth
Penzance
St Keverne

Dive boats are also available, notably in Newquay.
The months of July to October are by far the best months to go diving. It’s possible to see sharks, whales and dolphins during these peak times. Despite this, a lot of surfing still takes place between October to June (low season) where the temperature can vary from 6 to 17 degrees.

Newquay is also highly popular with surfers – in fact Newquay Fistral and Watergate Bay hold surfing championships each year, where surfers from all corners of the globe come to participate.

It’s possible to hire out surfing equipment as required including boards and wetsuits. Novice surfers can head to Towan or Tolcarne as the beaches here are somewhat more sheltered and allow a safer place for amateurs and beginners to practice their surfing. Local surf schools provide tuition and it’s also possible to book surf holidays if you intend to spend a lot of time on the board!

How To Get To Cornwall & Devon

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Cornwall & Devon both have excellent transport links so getting there from anywhere within the UK is quite easy. You can get there using the following means of transport:

Hire a car to get to Cornwall or Devon (or drive your own if this is an option). If you hire a car there are popular car hire companies such as Avis or Hertz.
If you’re heading to Cornwall or Devon from Europe then you can use the Eurostar.
You can fly to Cornwall (Newquay) – both Ryanair and BA offer flights daily.
You can also use Coach services such as National Express.
Cornwall & Devon enjoy good rail links – see http://www.rail.co.uk/ for more information .

Weather In Devon & Cornwall – When To Go
While Cornwall and Devon enjoys some of the mildest weather anywhere in the UK, summer-time still remains the peak time to visit.
Cornwall experiences the mildest winters in Great Britain – rarely does it snow in winter and summer days tend to be wonderfully warm and sunny.
In Cornwall, May is a very good time to visit, and all months up to July enjoy around seven hours of sunshine a day.

The Obby Oss Summer Ceremony In Cornwall
If you happen to visit Cornwall during May Day then a visit to Padstow is highly recommended to witness the all but mad event of Obby Oss. This strange ceremony is performed every year in order to “welcome summer” (something that perhaps the rest of Britain should consider).
During this colourful and noisy procession, two large masks representing horses are paraded through the town accompanied by musicians playing the “Obby Oss May Song”.

Food & Drink In Cornwall – Great Pubs, Good Food And Drink!

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It’s true that the Cornish enjoy their food – so much so that Cornwall & Devon are known almost as much for their culinary offerings as their stunning scenery and coasts.

The famous Cornish Pasty is just one of the local edible treats available in this charming English county. The Cornish pasty is a tasty puff pastry that’s stuffed with beef steak (or mince), onions, potatoes and seasoned with pepper. It must be tried (assuming you’re not a vegetarian) at least once during your visit to Cornwall.

Famous starters include Kiddly Broth, a soup made with onions, bacon and hard bread as well as nettle soup (yes, it’s made from real nettles).

Fish & Chips is a famous English dish – however, the Cornish use beer to make theirs and it certainly makes for an interesting variation of standard fish and chips.
Star Gazy Pie is a pastry made with pilchards (herring or mackerel can also be used), boiled eggs, bacon, onions and white wine.

Fancy something sweet? Cornish sweets include Cornish Cherry Choclets (a mix of chocolate, syrup, cherries and butter), Cornish Splits (made from sugar, milk, flour and lard) and Figgy ‘obbin (a baked treat consisting of raisins, milk, sugar and flour).
As you’d probably expect by now the Cornish also have their own signature drinks. These include Aunt Ellys Nog (a mix of eggs, cream, vanilla, sugar and milk), Cornish Mine Punch (rum, brandy, lemons and sugar) and Cornish Spiced Mead.
Other foods that Cornwall is known for are the rich Cornish fudge and ice cream and Cornish Hevva Cake.

Brief History Of Cornwall & Devon

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The first remains of a basic society in Cornwall dates back to 4500 BC – primative stone tools have been found from this era indicating the existence of a settlement (in a town called Redruth).

Cornwall saw an “invasion” from the Celts during 1000 BC – the Celts were warriors from Europe and were largely the ancestors of current day Cornish folk.

Devon is believed by many historians to be one of the very first places in England to have settlers. Indeed, Dartmoor (a National Park in the centre of Devon) still offers a lot of prehistoric sites of interest. Further it’s from Plymouth that the Pilgrim Fathers first set sail to the Americas – and also where Sir Francis Drake went off to battle the Spanish Armada.

Dartmoor also is home to some of the oldest structures in England – primitive buildings & remains include stone circles, burial mounds and ancient settlements.

While the Roman invasion of Britain left Cornwall largely untouched the same cannot be said of Devon. The Romans took over much of current day Devon - including a port at Topsham and a legion at Exeter.

The Romans were no longer controlling Devon by around 400 and by 800 it had fallen under the rule of Wessex (King Egbert).

During the 14th & 15th century, Devon was under serious threat from the French who raided the Devon coastline.

inking About Taking A Holiday In Cornwall & Devon?

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On the very south-western tip of England lies the beautiful county of Cornwall. With a delightful mix of superb beaches (among the best in Britain), outstanding scenery and charming towns, villages and cities, Cornwall has something to offer every traveller.
Despite the wealth of attractions & scenic beauty on offer, Cornwall has many affordable hotels, B&Bs & guesthouses to suit the budgets of all holidaymakers.

Cornwall is also Britain’s premier surfing capital – not surprising given that it enjoys the best weather anywhere in the country. It also has some of the cleanest beaches and attracts visitors by the millions every year.

Whether it’s lazing on lovely white beaches, ambling along wonderful sub-tropical gardens or exploring quiet, picture-perfect fishing villages you’re after, you’ll find it all when you visit Cornwall.

The famous King Arthur is also believed to have come from Cornwall, in a small town called Tintagel. Cornish history is mystical, ancient and highly fascinating. The many delightful towns and villages are often named after the Christian missionaries that have influenced them.

Like your food and drink? Cornish pubs are known for offering good hearty foods and your choice of flavoursome ales. And let’s not forget the “Cornish pasty” – a tasty must-have meat pie that must be experienced when visiting Cornwall. Holidays In Devon

Devon is famously known to offer the traveller a feast of splendid scenery, lovely beaches and pretty harbour towns. Popular destinations within Devon include Plymouth, Torbay and Dartmoor National Park.

Devon is also a walkers paradise, and like neighbouring Cornwall is one of the most popular holiday destinations within the United Kingdom. And it’s very easy to see why – lush pastures break out into spectacular coastlines, making Devon a Mecca for those hunting for a taste of quaint old England.

While enjoying a holiday in Devon, be sure to experience the wonderfully rugged coastline scenery. Devon is also blessed with some stunning countryside – charming narrow little roads amble on for miles with nothing but lush greenery and flora that offers a myriad of explosive colours during the summertime. Driving through these single-lane roads is an experience like no other – arrive in a Devon town that’s dotted with picture perfect thatched cottages and enjoy a cream tea and scone in one of the many tea-shops.

Devon offers the traveller a classic English village experience – and there are many great hotels, B&Bs and many more types of accommodation to cater to the needs of both the luxury traveller and budget conscious back-packer.

Devon also offers some of the best year-round weather to be found anywhere in the UK. Temperatures in January (when the rest of the country is shivering) average a maximum of 9 degrees.

If you enjoy coasts & estuaries then a holiday in Devon will delight you – the estuaries (such as the Teign) also attract many species of migratory birds.