A warm welcome to South West England

As the UK’s number one holiday destination, South West England is a region of contrast, from long sandy beaches to windswept moorland, and buzzing cities to traditional fishing villages. Bristol, Bath, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Bournemouth & Poole, the rest of Dorset, The Forest of Dean, Somerset, Wiltshire and The Cotswolds – each part of the region has its own special character.

Boasting four World Heritage Sites around the region, including the Cornwall & West Devon Mining landscape, the beautiful Jurassic Coast covering 185 million years of earth history, the wonderful City of Bath and the famous monuments of Stonehenge and Avebury, the South West is steeped in history, legend and intrigue. There are also many castles, forts, stately homes and mystical locations waiting to be discovered. The South West Coast Path surrounds 630 miles of the coastline; additionally there are National Parks and moorland, wetlands, grasslands, woodlands, lakes and rivers, all teeming with wildlife. Tours may be taken along themes such as ‘myths and legends’ – visit Glastonbury Abbey and Chalice Well in Somerset and Tintagel Castle in Cornwall for a taste of King Arthur’s history, or learn about our maritime history and smugglers and pirates in Bristol.

Many literary figures have found inspiration in the South West, from Agatha Christie, who made her home in South Devon, to RD Blackmore’s Lorna Doone in the Exmoor Valley and Jane Austen in Bath. There are also beautiful and historic gardens to explore, such as Mount Edgcumbe in Cornwall or Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire, the inspriational Eden Project or Forde Abbey and Gardens in Somerset.

The South West is also now recognised as a gourmet region; taste cider in Somerset or Ruby Red beef in Devon – the climate and natural environment provide an incredible range of opportunities, varieties and styles of locally sourced food and drink. The region has many farmers markets taking place throughout the year and visiting one is a real highlight of any trip, giving a great opportunity to meet the locals and friendly farmers, not forgetting tasting the delightful food from the region. For the culinary connoisseurs, there are also at least 15 restaurants with one or more Michelin stars, and cookery courses in many top establishments around the region.

Key celebrations during the year include the Exeter Festival of South West England Food and Drink in April, Cheltenham Jazz Festival in late April and May, the Agatha Christie Festival on the English Riviera in September, Falmouth Oyster Festival in October and the famous Bath Christmas Market in November and December.

Whether you are looking for long walks, fantastic restaurants, historic landscapes and monuments or adventure, the South West of England is a great destination for groups of all ages.

For more information about what to do and where to stay in the South West of England, visit: wwwgrouptravelsouthwest.co.uk.

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First published with the November/December 2007 issue of Group Travel Organiser magazine.