Holidaying in the West Country
The West Country has been attracting holidaymakers for over 100 years. It has seaside resorts, sandy beaches, rugged walking country, guest houses and holiday parks to name a few. It really does have a lot to offer.
So where is the West Country?
Generally when talking about the West Country it means the area of the United Kingdom covered by the counties of Cornwall, Somerset, Devon and Dorset, the City of Bristol, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The area is a peninsula and bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north-west coast and the English Channel on the south-east coast, the toe of the peninsula points into the Atlantic Ocean; at the northern most side it stretches up to the Welsh border.
The area is a haven for surfers; along its north facing coast there are many sandy beaches with regular high waves that attract surfers from all over the world. A number of international surfing competitions are held at the resorts.
Walking is another favourite pastime both along the coast and across the wide expanses of Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and Exmoor, all can be dangerous so walks or jaunts into these areas should be enjoyed with due caution. The coast walks include the South West Coast Path which is 630 miles long stretching from Minehead all the way round to Poole.
There is no need to be so energetic though, you can just visit some monuments or take in some sightseeing. The very impressive Cheddar Gorge with its deep caves falls within the West Country boundaries as do the cities of Bristol and Bath. Bristol has such wonders as the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Brunel’s SS Great Britain; Bath houses the magnificent Roman Baths and Pump House.
In Wiltshire you will find Longleat Safari and Adventure Park sited in the grounds of Longleat House the Elizabethan mansion home of the Marquess of Bath or Stonehenge where those inspiring stones have stood since prehistoric times.
There are also a number of festivals and carnivals in the West Country towns including the world famous Glastonbury Festival and the Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival attracting over 60 illuminated floats using over 20,000 light bulbs.
In an area as large as the West Country it is impossible to list all of the attractions and sights in such a short article.
If you do decide to take a holiday in the West Country you will always find plenty of accommodation whether you stay on the coast or inland; from 5 star hotels to guest houses, from caravan pitches to holiday parks. You really are spoilt when it comes to places to stay in the West Country with a selection of different choices in every conceivable form of accommodation.