The Counties of Devon and Cornwall.

Only 2 - 4 hours away from Bath, Devon and Cornwall, in the southwest of England, provide varied opportunities for full day or extended visits.

Both counties offer a rich diversity of seascapes, landscapes, gardens and heritage which have atttracted many writers and artists.

The rugged north coastline creates cliff top and valley towns and villages at Lynton, Lynmouth, Clovelly, Tintagel, Padstow and St Ives, with sandy beaches at Chapel Porth, Constantine Bay and Perranporth. At Lands End, mainland Britian's most westerly point, there is a Heritage Centre.

The sheltered south coast is home to the fishing towns of Newlyn, Mevagissey and Polperro; Charlestown, the tv location for Poldark and the Onedin Line; the Tamar Valley; the Helford Estuary; the Roseland Peninsular and the Lizard, the most southerly point of mainland Britain.

The interior landscape is dominated by 3 heathlands; Bodmin Moor, home of Jamaica Inn; and the National Parks of Dartmoor, with its granite tors, and Exmoor, with the Lorna Doone Valley. Each Moor has its own distinctive style and character.

The gulf stream creates mild temperatures and moist conditions and Cornwall has the most amazing sub-tropical gardens at Trebah, Glendurgan, Trelissick, Trengwainton, Lanhydrock, Cotehele, St Michaels Mount and the Lost Gardens of Heligan. The new Eden Project at St Austell is creating a global micro-climate in old china clay quarries.

Cornish heritage can be discovered at: Penwith, with its ancient moorland; the historic slate quarry at Delabole; the satellite earth station at Goonhilly Down; the tin mining industry at Geevor, Levant and Camborne; the cliff top open air Minack Theatre; the Tate Gallery at St Ives and the county town of Truro with its 20th century cathedral.

Devon heritage can be discovered at: Plymouth, where the Pilgrim Father's departed for America and Sir Francis Drake played bowls on the Hoe; the market towns of Barnstaple, Bideford and Dulverton; the Tarka the Otter Trail; Okehampton Castle; the stately homes of Arlington Court and Saltram House; Sir Edwins Lutyens' Castle Drogo; Buckfast Abbey and the county town of Exeter with its Gothic Cathedral and 17th century Quayside.

Let Bath Parade Guides help you make the most of your visit to Devon and Cornwall. 

Local Links.

> Cornwall Tourism (Tourist Bureau Site)
> Devon Tourism (Tourist Bureau Site)
> Cornwall Wildlife Trust
> Exeter Cathedral
> Lands End
> Lost Gardens of Heligan
> Minack Theatre
> Tate Gallery St Ives
> The Eden Project
> Tintagel