Devon is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK and it is easy to see why. Located in south-west England, it is blessed with some of the country's finest weather and has many great attractions to visit, including the picturesque towns of Ilfracombe and Bideford, glorious beaches and the unspoilt natural landscapes of Exmoor.
Perhaps one of the greatest features of Devon is its excellent blend of urban and rural life. Although it is famed for its countryside and coastline, the county also has some delightful towns and cities, such as Exeter and Plymouth. The former has an excellent shopping centre as well as a world-renowned university, while the latter has a delightful seaside setting as well as a rich sense of history, including links to early English settlers in America. Elsewhere there are plenty of smaller towns that attract visitors, keeping their holidays filled with great activities and things to see and do.
Along the south coast, places of interest include Brixham, Paignton and Dartmouth, all of which see a real boom in the summer holiday season, in no small part thanks to their idyllic coastal location and access to the splendid golden beaches that make Devon famous. Torquay is another prime example of a great Devon seaside resort; its sheer size means it has plenty on offer for holidaymakers, including smaller communities like Babbacombe, which boasts its own attractions.
Away from the coastline of Devon hotels can be found in a number of pleasant inland towns. Barnstaple is a charming town which claims to be the oldest borough in England, boasting ruins of a castle dating back to the 11th Century. For a sense of more recent history, Newton Abbot to the south of the country is a town that really expanded in the Victorian era as it was home to many of the railway works taking place in Devon. Further to the south west lies Kingsbridge, which is a popular tourist hub and offers impressive views across the estuary that shares its name. Of course, no account of Devon's visitor's attractions would be complete without mention of Exmoor. A landscape like no other and with a much starker beauty than that of the rolling hills in the south of the county, Exmoor has been a National Park since 1954 and covers an area of around 270 square miles.
Finding accommodation in Devon is easy with a huge number of hotels, guest houses and holiday cottages on offer. For those looking for a livelier holiday, the larger towns and cities like Plymouth and Exeter may be the best choice, while Torquay or Paignton are ideal for those seeking the quintessential seaside resort. Guest houses and holiday cottages on Exmoor or in the South Hams district will give visitors a prime location amongst the outstanding natural beauty that Devon has in true abundance. Other attractions in Devon, which has a superb maritime history, include Buckfast Abbey, Dartington Crystal and Burgh Island.
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