The West Country - Joanna Billing

One of 10 rural guides published in conjunction with Country Living which will eventually cover the whole of the UK & Ireland, the Country Living guide to the rural West Country is full of information on the traditional English countryside in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. The guide takes the reader on a relaxed tour of The west Country's many pleasant villages and market towns, pointing out the attractive features of its varied countryside and coastline as well as describing the region's history, heritage, culture and places of interest. The guide is packed with information on where to go, what to see, what to do, where to stay, where to eat and where to buy.Cornwall offers the visitor spectacular rugged coastlines, atmospheric fishing ports, secluded scenic villages, narrow winding lanes and strong, romantic seafaring traditions whilst Devon is a truly attractive county of green rolling hills, bright fresh streams tumbling through wooded valleys, white thatched cottages, bleak uplands and spectacular rocky coastlines.;Further east is Somerset, a county with an attractive, green undulating landscape with old wool towns and stone-built villages situated on and around the rivers Frome and Avon, and Dorset, a county that encompasses rolling chalk downs, dark heathland (so beloved of Thomas Hardy), the long ridge of the Purbeck Hills and an incomparable coastline with its wealth of magnificent rock formations sculptured by the sea. The guide will definitely appeal to people with a real interest in the beauty, tranquillity and traditional values of the countryside, who are looking for high standards in places to stay, eat and drink and quality craftsmanship in any products purchased. Equally for those readers who are seeking a more active live in the countryside the book provides information on walks, cycle rides and tours as well as details of National Trust and English Heritage properties.