County with the longest coastline - General Discussion - Digital Spy Forums County with the longest coastline Posts: 624 County with the longest coastline I had a stinking cold at the weekend and looked at a lot of A Place In The Sun type progs (thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it!). One day Essex 'had the most coastline in England' and the next day on another programme it was Kent. Now, looking at a map I would say Cornwall. Anyone know? Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement. 28-02-2011, 14:01 Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 600 Kent's coastline is pretty big, but so it Cornwall's. Not sure who'd I put my money on, but it has to be one of them. Sure I've heard somewhere before that it is Kent though.

Location: Cornwall (ex-London) Posts: 65,312 It says here it depends whether you count the Isles of Scilly and river estuaries or not (seems to be Kent, I'd say, from this): Quote: Cornwall is in the privileged position of having two coastlines: the Atlantic coast famous for its surfing beaches and huge expanses of golden sand, and the English Channel coast which is more gentle with hidden coves and tranquil creeks. Argyll and Bute has a longer coastline than France, apparently. Devon's are physically separated though, so I'd say that counts as two. Cornwall may have two coasts, but they are connected at the end. Posts: 38,495 Off-hand, I would have thought Cornwall would win this easily. I guess, perhaps, the coastlines of Kent and Essex might be more "broken" than Cornwall which, technically, gives the coastline a longer length but, meh. Also, I would have said Yorkshire might be in with a shout IF you count the Trent estuary as "coastline".

Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 823 Having visited Herne Bay in kent i would say they have the biggest waistline, well the women there do. Cornwall has a coast on two different bodies of water but it's the same coast as it goes from Saltash along to Lands End and then comes back on the top side towards Bude. Devon has two separate stretches of coastline. I'd agree that one of the Scottish counties has the longest coastline. Kent's coastline is pretty big, but so it Cornwall's. Not sure who'd I put my money on, but it has to be one of them. Sure I've heard somewhere before that it is Kent though. Its between Essex, Kent and Cornwall. Essex has lots of creeks and inlets which would count as "coastline" but I am not too familiar with the geography of Kent to say the same for there. Devon's are physically separated though, so I'd say that counts as two. Cornwall may have two coasts, but they are connected at the end.

Quote: Cornwall has a coast on two different bodies of water but it's the same coast as it goes from Saltash along to Lands End and then comes back on the top side towards Bude. Devon has two separate stretches of coastline. I'd agree that one of the Scottish counties has the longest coastline. It's still a matter of interpretation since I would say that still can be described as two coasts. Not that it matters. It's just jostling for position by tourist boards, I'd say. Britain's Coastline Aldeburgh Small town and coastal resort in Suffolk, eastern England, 33 km / 20 miles from Ipswich. It maintains a small fishing fleet, serving the local market. The Aldeburgh Festival, founded in 1948 by the English composer Benjamin Britten, is held annually at the Snape Maltings, 8 km / 5 miles west of the town. It is the home of the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies. An important and prosperous port in the 16th century, Aldeburgh retains some Tudor buildings, including the timber-framed Moot Hall, built in about 1520-40, which is now a museum.

Once near the centre of the town, the hall presently stands only a short distance from the sea because the shoreline has gradually been eroded. Alde House was home to Elizabeth Garrett Anderson, the first English woman to qualify in medicine. She was elected mayor of Aldeburgh in 1908, becoming the first woman mayor in Britain. Bass Rock Volcanic islet in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, 5 km / 3 miles from North Berwick. It is about 107 m / 350 ft high, and has a ruined castle, a chapel, and a lighthouse. It is a seabird sanctuary, home to the third largest gannetry in the world and the largest in Britain. Bass Rock's castle, which dates from the 16th century, was converted by the English government after 1671 into a state prison in which several eminent Covenanters were confined. The rock was captured in 1691 and held until 1694 for James II by 16 Jacobites against a small army of William III. St Baldred's chapel dates from the 15th century.

The rock can be visited on summer excursions from North Berwick. Baggy Point Baggy Point at Morte near Woolacombe stands proudly on the spectacular, rugged and accessible Atlantic coast of North Devon with its rocky headlands, isolated coves and large sandy beaches. Picnickers are welcome in the grassy fields surrounding the car park. A path leads to the Point with amazing views on both sides and, on a clear day, as far as the Welsh coast. The South West Coast Path passes through the entire property, and there is an extensive network of paths covering the surrounding area. A slipway leads down to the beach where swimming and surfing are popular all year round. On Wednesdays in July and August, tractor rides give the young and old alike a different perspective on this long stretch of sandy beach. Beachy Head Chalk headland on the south coast of England, between Seaford and Eastbourne in East Sussex. Rising to 163 m / 535 ft, it is the eastern end of the South Downs. The lighthouse at the foot of the cliff is 38 m / 125 ft high.

France and the Isle of Wight can be seen across the English Channel from the headland. Belle Tout lighthouse, erected in 1828, was replaced in 1902 by the present cliff-base lighthouse. In June 1690 allied English and Dutch fleets were defeated by the French at the Battle of Beachy Head. To the West of Beachy Head, the 500 ft high chalk cliffs known as the Seven Sisters indicate the end of the South Downs. Seven Sisters Country Park covers almost 700 acres of the Cuckmere Valley and forms part of the Sussex Heritage Coast and the South Downs Way, Long Distance Path. On one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline between Southampton and Hastings, the Seven Sisters are a striking feature of the landscape. From Crowlink and Birling Gap, visitors have open access to both the downs and the beach and can enjoy spectacular, unspoilt views out to sea. Crowlink extends for a mile along the cliffs from Birling Gap. As well as offering a viewing point, it is also a point of entry to delightful walks where families can stroll and picnic.

The chalk cliffs at Birling Gap rise up on either side to frame the beach to the east and west. As well as the open grassland that is rich with butterflies and wild flora, Birling Gap features a delightful beach that is ideal for seaside picnics. With its rock pools and areas of pebbles and sand, Birling Gap is also a marine nature reserve. Nearby sites of arch�ological interest have much to tempt families further along the coast. Boulby Head The Cleveland Way footpath runs close to the wall of cliffs, above rocky coves and fishing villages, linking the National Trust's coastal properties. Walkers can enjoy spectacular views, and the cliff tops also provide stunning stop-off points for picnics, Boulby Head, north of Staithes, is Eastern England's highest sea cliff, 650 ft (200 metres) high. The cliffs, woodland and farmland provide a variety of habitats for flora and fauna. Roe deer enjoy the woodland cover, while kittiwakes and cormorants choose precarious nesting sites on the cliff face. Primroses, orchids, adders, winkles, crabs and anemones are some of the species to be found.

There are many fascinating industrial arch�ological sites including, at Ravenscar, the renowned Peak Alum Works. Huge quantities of shale were removed from the cliffs in order to extract alum, an important chemical in the tanning and dyeing industries. The Trust's Coastal Centre at Ravenscar, explaining how the process worked, also houses ammonites and other fossils for which the area is renowned. Three miles up the coast, at Robin Hood's Bay the Old Coastguard Station is open to visitors, housing information, education facilities and a holiday apartment. Bournemouth Seven miles of sandy beaches, first class attractions and excellent accommodation ranging from the finest four star hotels to guest houses and self catering, make Bournemouth one of Britain's most popular holiday destinations. Clean and green with over 2000 acres of parks and gardens and a year round climate that ranks amongst Britain's best, it's no surprise the resort attracts over 5.5 million visitors per year. At the heart of your holiday, there's seven golden miles of dream coastline, known as Britain's Baywatch.

Wide beaches of deep, soft sand are just so enticing - whether you love to swim, dance about in the surf, build sand castles to die for or just lie back and soak up some sun. Branscombe The Old Bakery is a stone-built and partially rendered building beneath thatch, which until 1987 was the last traditional working bakery in Devon. The old baking equipment has been preserved in the baking room and the rest of the building now serves as a tea-room. Manor Mill, still in working order and recently restored, is a water-powered mill which probably supplied the flour for the bakery. The forge is open daily and the blacksmith sells the ironwork he produces Brownsea Island A wonderfully atmospheric island of heath and woodland, privately owned until acquired by the Trust in 1962, and now a haven for a rich variety of wildlife, including red squirrels and many species of bird. Part of the island is leased as a nature reserve to the Dorset Wildlife Trust. There are many fine walks and spectacular views of Poole Harbour Note: Boats run from Poole Quay and Sandbanks. Visitors may land from own boats at Pottery Pier at west end of island, accessible at all stages of the tide.

Please note that the island�s paths are uneven in places. Crail Ancient seaport and summer resort in Fife unitary authority, Scotland, 15 km / 9 miles southeast of St Andrews. Crabs and lobster are the principal catch of the local fishing industry. The town's harbour district has been designated a conservation area. In June 1559 the Scottish Protestant reformer John Knox preached in Crail on his return from exile on the continent. Dover Market town and seaport in Kent, southeast England, on the coast of the English Channel. It is Britain's nearest point to mainland Europe, 34 km / 21 miles from Calais, France. Dover is the world's busiest passenger port and England's principal cross-channel port, with ferry, hovercraft, and cross-channel train services. As Roman Dubris, the port was an important naval base and the starting point of Watling Street. The Roman beacon or `lighthouse�, dating from about 50 AD, in the grounds of the Norman castle, is one of the oldest Roman buildings in the country. Dover was the largest of the original Cinque Ports.

Dover is known for its white cliffs, and views from the castle keep, 116 m / 380 ft above sea level, can include the French coast from Boulogne to Gravelines, the shoreline from Folkestone to Ramsgate, and many of the fortifications honeycombing the Dover cliffs. The White Cliffs Experience Museum illustrates the history of Dover from Roman times to World War II. Dover Castle was built on the cliffs overlooking the town, on the site of earlier fortifications. The harbour is divided into three main areas incorporating the outer harbour, the seaward boundary of which is the south breakwater, the west docks, and the east docks. The west docks include the Hoverport; Admiralty Pier, the main operating point for cross-channel services; the Prince of Wales' Pier; the train ferry dock; and the tidal basin with the Granville and Wellington Docks. The east docks comprise berths, the industrial land area, and the east docks' car ferry terminal, opened in 1953. The White Cliffs of Dover are internationally famous.

The �Gateway to the White Cliffs� visitor centre has spectacular views and introduces the visitor to five miles of coast and countryside through imaginative displays and interpretation. Much of the chalk downland along the clifftops is an SSSI, AONB and Heritage Coast with interesting flora and fauna, and the visitor centre is an excellent place to watch the world�s busiest shipping lanes The White Cliffs of Dover mark the point where the chalk ridge of hills known as the North Downs meet the English Channel. Perched above the Straits of Dover, the National Trust Saga Gateway to the White Cliffs introduces the visitor to this breathtaking landscape. Containing a fascinating photographic display telling the story of the cliffs from prehistory to the present and assisted by computer interactive and audio sculptures, there is nowhere better to discover the coast and countryside of South East Kent. To take a gentle walk along the cliffs and pause for a picnic on the chalk downland that looks down over the sea is to experience the expansive and refreshing landscape at its best. A walk along the cliff tops leads to South Foreland Lighthouse, quite literally, the 'highlight' of the White Cliffs. A 30-minute tour of the lighthouse reveals how it has protected ships and sailors off the coast of Dover.

From here on Christmas Eve 1897 Guglielmo Marconi made the world's first ship-to-shore radio transmission, to which we owe the safety of countless ships in waters all over the world East Head At the mouth of Chichester Harbour, East Head is a remote, narrow spit of sand and shingle beach punctuated with dunes and mudflats. Families can get away from it all in the wilderness area near the mouth of the harbour, where the sensational coastline becomes increasingly dramatic and exposed. Like the harbour itself, East Head if one of the most exciting places in Western Europe to see a diverse population of overwintering birds. The promontory is a great viewing platform onto the busy harbour, which East Head plays an important part in sheltering. Godrevy The bay at Godrevy offers less mobile visitors a superb site for a coastal picnic. High cliffs support some of the best maritime heathland in the country, with many species of plant, animal and insect life. The coast is edged by National Trust land that is open to the public and gives access to Godrevy Head, the highest point on this coast which boasts magnificent views inland and towards St Ives.

The earthwork at Godrevy Head is believed to have been constructed against the threat of the Spanish Armada in 1588, and Godrevy Lighthouse (which can be seen from the headland) was the inspiration for Virginia's Woolf's novel 'To the Lighthouse'. Families can walk along the cliffs and get active down on the sand too. The long, wide beach between Godrevy Head and Gwithian is ideal for surfing and swimming, and there is a multitude of craggy rocks and coves to explore. Hastings Resort in East Sussex, southeast England, on the English Channel. Fishing is an important activity; the town has Britain's largest fleet of beach-launched fishing boats and a new wholesale fish market. William the Conqueror landed at Pevensey to the west and defeated Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Hastings flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries as the chief of the Cinque Ports. It has the ruins of a Norman castle. The annual Hastings Premier, England's leading international chess tournament, is held here in December/January.

The old town in the east part of Hastings is surrounded by high cliffs, and includes the 13th-century St Clement's Church; the old town hall, now housing a museum of local history; and the Perpendicular All Saints' Church. The castle ruins include a museum which gives an account of the invasion of 1066 and the history of the castle. The Fisherman's Museum, housed in a building which was once the fishing community's church, and the Shipwreck Heritage Centre depict the town's fishing and maritime history. The St Clement's Caves, a labyrinth of sandstone caves below the West Hill and East Hill cliff railways, include a museum which illustrates the importance of smuggling to the economy of the town in the 18th century. The wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman Amsterdam (1748) lies buried in mud on the beach near Hastings. Holywell Bay A stone's throw from the popular resort of Newquay, Holywell Bay is the largest bay on the National Trust's stretch of coast to the NE of St Ives. Convenient access points and link paths enable visitors to devise a variety of easy routes for wonderful walks around the cliffs and across the springy turf of the hinterland.

Picnics can be enjoyed at points all along the South Coast Path. Holywell Beach below offers more sheltered spots to stop for a snack. There are many natural delights to be explored with sand dunes that rise up to 60 metres behind the beach and the half-hidden, grotto-like interior of Holywell Cave. At low tide a 70-year-old shipwreck can be seen in the water just off the beach. Studland Bay Fine sandy beaches stretch continuously for 3ml from South Haven Point to the chalk cliffs of Handfast Point and Old Harry Rocks, and include Shell Bay and a designated naturist area. The heathland behind the beach is a National Nature Reserve and a haven for many rare birds and other forms of wildlife. There are several public paths and two nature trails here. Bird hides at Little Sea Whitby Port and resort in North Yorkshire, northern England, on the North Sea coast, at the mouth of the River Esk, 32 km / 20 miles northwest of Scarborough. Captain James Cook served his apprenticeship in Whitby and he sailed from here on his voyage to the Pacific Ocean in 1768.

Whitby was an important whaling centre and shipbuilding town in the 18th and 19th centuries. Mineral resources include jet, and Whitby also has potash reserves which run under the sea. In 664 the Synod of Whitby, which affected the course of Christianity in England, was held here. The abbey was built on the site of a Saxon foundation established in 657 by St Hilda and destroyed by the Danes in 867. A Benedictine abbey was established in 1078, and the present ruins, reached from the town by 199 steps, date from 1220. Caedmon, the earliest-known English Christian poet, worked in the abbey in the 7th century. Near the abbey ruins stands the partly Norman parish church of St Mary. Captain Cook's ship Resolution was built in Whitby, and the Captain Cook Memorial Museum commemorates the life of the explorer. Other features include the Pannet Park Museum and Art Gallery and the Whitby Lifeboat Museum. The novelist Storm Jameson was born in Whitby in 1897.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897) was set here. Isle of Wight Whether or not the great poet munched his way through a hamper on Tennyson Down, he certainly enjoyed strolling by the coast there. The white chalk cliffs on the SW of the Isle of Wight reach their highest point at Tennyson Down, 147 metres above sea level, and the spot is marked with the cross of the Tennyson Memorial. There are fantastic views along the island's SW coast and to Yarmouth and the mainland. It is easy to get the most out of Tennyson Down, thanks to the network of waymarked paths, and most of the area is covered by spring downland turf, making it a comfortable place to stop, picnic and admire the landscape. It is also one of the most important downland sites in Britain with birds such as cormorants, guillemots and razorbills nesting along the chalk ridge which continues west over West High Down, ending at Needles Headland. Turning north, Alum Bay is known for its multi-coloured cliffs.

Devon travel guide - Wikitravel 16 Get out Devon [1] (also known, far less commonly, as "Devonshire") is a large county in England 's West Country . It is bordered to the west by Cornwall and to the east by Dorset and Somerset . Uniquely amongst English counties, Devon has two separate coastlines: to the south is on the English Channel and to the north, the Irish Sea and Bristol Channel. They are studded with resort towns, harbours and (more recently) surfing beaches. Devon is also home to two National Parks ( Dartmoor and Exmoor ) and includes the island of Lundy in the Bristol Channel/Irish Sea. Note that Exmoor is shared with Somerset, which has the larger share. Devon is one of Britain's most popular summer holiday areas and with good reason, with a scenic coastline and white sand beaches, turquoise waters, good sailing and surfing opportunities and accommodation for a variety of different budgets. Only Cornwall and South-West Wales can really compare. Ilfracombe, Devon Regions[ edit ] Like it's Celtic neighbour of Cornwall, Devon boats two very different coastlines.

South Devon located on the English Channel comprises the relatively gentle, pastoral coastline of the Exe estuary, Torbay (the "English riveria"), the South Hams including the very expensive estuary towns of Dartmouth and Salcombe - which is currently Britain's most expensive coastal location, outperforming even Sandbanks in Dorset - and the elegant city of Exeter, and wonderfully cited although drab looking Plymouth. Mid Devon, located between the two coastlines, is relatively quiet with its classic Devonian landscape of thatched cottages, rolling green hills and bubbling river valleys. North Devon is a very different proposition altogether, located on the Bristol Channel which meets the Celtic Sea at Hartland Point. Where as South Devon is soft and gentle, North Devon has a very raw, cut-throat even guttural coastline - starting at the massive hog back cliffs of coastal Exmoor, which tumble down to the Bristol Channel culminating at the gigantic Great Hangman, the highest cliff in the West Country at 1043 ft.

Exmoor ends, giving way to the harbour town of Ilfracombe, which in turn drops down to Bideford Bay, one of Britain's prime surfing locations (see below) with its superb white sand beaches and also harbouring quaint coastal villages such as Bucks Mills and Clovelly. Bideford Bay ends at stormy Hartland Point, which marks the boundary of the Bristol Channel, and also nearly the end of Devon and the begining of Cornwall's Celtic Sea/Atlantic coast. Coastal property in North Devon is significantly less than it's southern seaboard, but netherless still some of the highest coastal prices in the UK - particularly the main surfing villages of Croyde and Woolacombe which thanks to their access to the Atlantic surf zone can always attract a premium on any property. Understand[ edit ] The name "Devon" derives from the Celtic people who inhabited the southwest of Britain at the time of the Roman invasion, the Dumnonii. Devon's flag is green, with a black and white cross. Devon has produced tin, copper and other metals throughout its history. Tin was found in the granite of Dartmoor, and copper in the areas around the moor.

In the eighteenth century, Devon Great Consols mine (near Tavistock ) was believed to be the largest copper mine in the world. Devon has the highest coastline in southern England and Wales on its Exmoor seaboard. The "hob-backed" hills of the Exmoor national park tumble down to the coast on Devon's Bristol Channel coast, culminating at the awesome "Great Hangman", a 318m (1043ft) hill with a cliff-face of 250m (820ft), while the "Little Hangman" has a cliff-face of 218m (716ft). The best way to see these cliffs is from a boat trip from Ilfracombe or (occasionally) Lynmouth or Swansea ; the ferry service from Penarth in South Wales to Ilfracombe also passes by this massive coastline (see below). Devon's Hartland point is the south-west limit of the Bristol Channel; in other words where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic ocean. The northern limit is St Anne's Head in Pembrokeshire , forty-eight miles from Hartland Point.

Many of the rocks that make up Devon are exceptional geological specimens consisting of the geological period between 416 million years ago and 360 million years ago. It was in homage to this that the period was called the Devonian. Devon is unique in that it surrounded by three of the Celtic nations - Wales to the north across the Bristol Channel/Celtic Sea, Cornwall West across the Tamar Valley, while Brittany lies due south across the English Channel/Atlantic Ocean. Although not a Celtic nation in its own right, Devon netherless shares many similarities with its Celtic neighbours; Exmoor/North Devon has the same reddish-brown sandstone as found in the nearby Gower Peninsula ; the granite of Dartmoor is exactly the same as found in Bodmin Moor and the Penwyth peninsula while the extrusive igneous rocks of South Devon can exactly be found in Brittany - probably because, before at one time Devon, Cornwall, Wales, Brittany and South-West Ireland were part of the same landmass.

In 2007, BBC "Coast" presenter Neil Oliver travelled to Devon and Cornwall for DNA testing of West Country lineage and found that - overwhelmingly- that both Cornish and Devonians were of ancient British/Celtic stock. Like its neighbours in Wales, Ireland and Cornwall, Devon was not fully conquered by the Romans - the leigons established a dwelling in Exeter , most likely as a frontier post - but the rest of Devon was relatively untouched by the might of Rome - the wet, boggy moorland of Exmoor and Dartmoor no doubt providing an excellent barrier to the Roman war machine. This probably explains why the ancient Celtic DNA of Devon (and Cornwall) survives. Another Celtic connection is the fact, until the 20th century, the best way to travel was by sea - so, for example, it was easier for the population of North Devon to sail to the Vale of Glamorgan / Swansea and the Gower Peninsula than to travel the dangerous, bandit ridden country lanes eastwards to Somerset and Dorset - likewise, South Devon had strong links to Brittany and South Cornwall yet the rest of Southern england, was, until the arrival of the railway/car, a distant place.

Another "Celtic" connection is North Devon's surf culture found in Bideford Bay - like Ireland, Cornwall, Wales and Ireland surfing has becomne something of a cult lifestyle of the wind swept butterscotch beaches of Bideford Bay. Devon's Geological Sites include: Dawlish Sea Wall, fine examples of wind blown 'Young Red Sandstone' deposits with Langstone rock, a 250 million year old Conglomerate rock Exeter Castle is situated on an old volcano (volcanic rocks were used in the construction of the Roman buildings) and there are fine exposures of Limestone in Torquay. By train[ edit ] Exeter has two main train stations, St. Davids (where most long-distance services call,) and Central. Central, unsurprisingly, is closer to the centre of town, but the two are within a short walk of one another. If visiting from Cornwall , the railway will take you across the Royal Albert Bridge from Saltash (in Cornwall ) into Devon. When crossing this bridge, you will enjoy marvelous views of the River Tamar, which it crosses.

If visiting from the south, the railway line between London (Waterloo) and Exeter via Salisbury will transport you into east Devon, with connections with other parts of Devon at Exeter (St Davids station). If visiting from Somerset and places north of London and Bristol , the Great Western Main Line will take you to Tiverton Parkway station (a short drive from Tiverton itself) and then to Exeter . It will then carry on to Newton Abbot (where the line to Torquay and Paignton diverges from the main line) to Plymouth and then to Cornwall . By road[ edit ] The M5 is the only motorway to enter Devon. Coming from Bristol from the north-east, it terminates in Exeter, where it continues on as the A38 towards Plymouth and into Cornwal. It also branches off north at Exeter onto the A30 which serves North Devon via Okehampton and then carries on into Cornwall. The M5 can get very congested during the popular holiday periods and it only takes an accident to bring the whole route to a standstill. If you are travelling to Devon by car it is recommended that you travel either early in the morning or later at night to avoid the holiday build up.

There is a once-daily Megabus service to Exeter from London Victoria (and vice versa,) but this ultra-economy service can be very uncomfortable and very late. A park and ride service is available, see National Park and Ride Directory [2] By boat[ edit ] As of 2015, there is no ferry service between North Devon and Wales. It was once possible to travel to Ilfracombe in North Devon from Penarth and Swansea in South Wales on the paddle steamers Waverly and Balmoral, but these have long since stopped running. There is also a strong possibility of a fast catermaran Ilfracombe ferry [3] to Swansea in a year or two's time, although this seems to be getting less and less likely as time goes on. There are regular ferry services to France from Plymouth with Brittany Ferries. These usually travel to Roscoff or St Malo in Britanny . There is also a weekly service to Santander in northern Spain. By plane[ edit ] After the closure of Plymouth Airport in 2011, there is now only one airport in Devon.

Exeter International, is the only airport in Devon and has regular scheduled direct flights to Paris CDG, Amsterdam, Manchester, Dublin, Aberdeen, Leeds Bradford, Belfast, Jersey, Guernsey, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow as well as charter and scheduled services to Spain. There are seasonal services from Germany, Croatia, Switzerland and regional cities in France. Most services are operated by Flybe [4] with Air France [5] codesharing on services from France. Air Transat [6] also operates a scheduled service to Toronto, Canada. [7] Although not in Devon, it is possible to travel to nearby Bristol International Airport, which is a major base for both budget airlines Easyjet and Ryanair with nearly 80 destinations including: Amsterdam also with KLM, Paris also with Air France, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Lisbon, Madrid, Milan, Rome, Prague, Krakow, Bratislava, Kaunas and Riga (but not London). From Bristol Airport it is possible to either hire a car, or get a bus to the city bus and train stations, where you can continue your journey to Devon.

Get around[ edit ] Latitudes and Longitudes in Devon can be obtained from an interactive travel map at Stairway to Devon . Do[ edit ][ add listing ] Surfing in Bideford Bay[ edit ] Along with its nearby neighbours of North Cornwall (the areas around Bude , Padstow Newquay and Perranporth ) and the Gower Peninsula across the Bristol Channel in South West Wales, North Devon's magnificently curved Bideford Bay is one the top surfing attractions in the UK, mainly because just like Cornwall and Gower, Bideford Bay faces westward into the vast Atlantic Ocean. The main surf areas are the white-sand beaches of Woolacombe , Putsborough, Croyde, Staunton and Westward Ho! Croyde in particular is rated as one of the best breaks in the West Country, as at low tide it boasts fast, hollow waves - just like Fistral or Langland's Bay Crab Island.

Be warned however - in the summer Croyde gets extremely congested (both beach and village) and the car parking prices can seem unreasonable in the extreme - during the peak summer holiday months just trying to get into Croyde can be a nightmare, and the impossibly narrow main road into the village doesn't help matters. Fortunately, the nearby Woolacombe and Staunton offer plenty of parking spaces and beach space- even on a hot summers day during the school holidays there is always plenty of spare space available. If you're driving from the Ilfracombe area during the summer and wish to visit one of the Bideford Bay beaches then Woolacombe is probably the best bet - just a five minute drive from Ilfracombe, good parking (and more reasonably priced than Croyde), lots of space, excellent surf rental opportunities and plenty of places for food and drink, although in the peak summer months prices are a bit inflated, although that is true of food outlets around Bideford Bay - especially Croyde.

A good idea is to buy very thick surfing boots just in case you step on a weaver fish which can cause a very nasty searing pain in your foot (think of walking on glass) - weaver fish are a big problem around Devon, Cornwall and Wales - just ask the lifeguards and surf shops!(see below) Ironically, Bideford Bay falls relatively quiet during the autumn and winter months in terms of cars and people - ironic, as this is usually the premier surfing time! From September to February a generous Atlantic swell and an on shore wind combine to make ideal surfing conditions in Devon, Cornwall and Wales. Although the temperatures are very cold, the days short and usually rain lashed and very windy, hardcore surfers prefer the dark winter months in Bideford Bay for the conditions potentially make for some tasty waves and meaty swells. Most winter wet suits can cope with the very cold water in any case. What's more, during the winter "off season" parking, accommodation and eatery prices are substantially reduced, and getting in and out of Croyde is much less of a problem!!

Eat[ edit ][ add listing ] The cream tea, involving scones, jam and clotted cream, is a local speciality which is thought to have originated from Tavistock over a thousand years ago [16] (although neighbouring counties also claim it); in many countries, however, this combination is known as Devonshire Tea. It is also popular in Cornwall with the only real difference being the order in which it is spread. In Devon the preferred method is cream first then the jam, whereas in Cornwall it is the other way around [17] The pasty, a filled pastry case differing from a pie in that it is made by placing the filling on a flat pastry shape, usually a circle, and folding it to wrap the filling, crimping the edge to form a seal. The result is a raised semicircular package. The traditional pasty is filled with beef, sliced potato, turnip or swede (also known as a rutabaga) and onion and then baked. The origins of the pasty are hotly contested between Devon and Cornwall with both sides claiming the fame. Either way, the pasty is a traditional West Country recipe and is worth trying if you are visiting.

South Devon Crab is regarded as some of the best in the world and its stocks are plentiful and sustainably fished. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants, cafes and pubs to try this local produce. Drink[ edit ][ add listing ] Cider- Really traditional Devon scrumpy (scrumpy being the name for farm cider) looks like bright orange juice with bits of apple floating in it. It is made using Devon apples, cider mills and cider presses. Traditionally, scrumpy was made using the wind fall apples. They would be bruised, and not suitable for eating or cooking. However a windfall apple is just right for scrumpy, they would not be quite ripe, so would be sharper and drier. They would have impurities from the ground, which helped fermentation. Scrumpy tends to be quite strong in alcohol and requires a certain degree of caution if you aren't used to drinking it (it can act as a laxative). Beer - Devon is very well served for microbreweries with 29 breweries that were active in the county. The Campaign for Real Ale or CAMRA has details of Devon breweries. [18] Gin - Plymouth Original Strength Gin is 41.2% alcohol by volume.

It has a distinctively different, slightly less dry flavour than the much more commonly available London Dry Gin, as it contains a higher than usual proportion of root ingredients, which bring a more 'earthy' feel to the gin, as well as a smoother juniper hit. There is also a 'navy strength' variety available which is 57% alcohol by volume (100° English proof), being the traditional strength demanded by the British Royal Navy as this was the proof that would not prevent gunpowder from igniting, should it be compromised by spilled spirit Wine - Eastcott Vineyard makes sparkling wines by the traditional method and offers guided tours. [19] Sleep[ edit ][ add listing ] Hawley Farm Holiday Lets, EX137HR, ☎ +44 1404 831250 ( info@hawleyfarm.co.uk ), [20] . edit Peaceful getaway in a unique secluded location. Owners were very friendly when we visited. If you're interested in farming, then they offer a free tour of different aspects of the farm (dairy, sheep, beef, arable). Helpful Holidays Westcountry holiday cottage agency sleeping between 2 to over 40 people!

Stayed with them once before, they are all that their name suggests. Discovery Holiday Homes Devon holiday home agency based in Torquay. Had a lovely time at "the Balcony" [21] Stay safe[ edit ] Devon is a very safe place to live and visit. Crime levels are well below the average for England in part a reflection of Devon's rural population distribution. Bideford Bay has magnificent surf beaches, but unfortunately, like its neighbours in South-West Wales and Cornwall it attracts legions of weaver fish, especially during the warm summer months. Stepping on one of these nasty specimens is comparable to walking on broken glass. Fortunately, most lifeguards on patrolled beaches have plenty of experience with this nasty experience. A good idea is to wear very thick surf boots that provide a decent level of protection. GLBT[ edit ] The larger towns and cities in Devon have small but developing lesbian and gay communities, notably in Plymouth, Torquay and Exeter. Plymouth and Exeter have annual Pride events. In the more rural areas of Devon, homophobia can be common, and discretion is advised.

Get out[ edit ] The county of Cornwall lies to the west of Devon, Dorset and Somerset to the east and to the north.

Question: Which is the only county in Britain to have two separate coastlines?
Answer: Devon