All posts filed under: South West England

Teignmouth Harbour

Teignmouth, for traditional seaside entertainments in beautiful Devon countryside

Teignmouth in Devon sits on the mouth of the Teign estuary about 14 miles from Exeter. Some of the town is a conservation area and has a wealth of Georgian buildings. The Grade II Listed Church of St Michael dates from the 1821, but retains its Norman entrance. The five-stage west tower, in Early English […]

Bournemouth Beach and Pier
Bournemouth Beach © Visit Bournemouth

Bournemouth – Seven miles of award winning golden sandy beaches

Bournemouth is a great place for those who enjoy exploring the outdoors, it has several gardens and walks along the coast to discover. Visitors can also get close to nature by visiting nearby Poole harbour and its islands or visiting the New Forest.

The four step Market Cross

Surrounded by beautiful North Dorset countryside, Sturminster Newton lies in the heart of Blackmore Vale.

The town’s name reflects two features of the town: the River Stour, and the Minster. The town, which dates from before the Domesday Book, grew as a market for local agricultural products, especially dairy products. Henry III granted the town a charter for a market in 1219. The market, which closed in 1998 was once […]

© Stephen Mckay on Geograph

Taunton in Somerset – a treasure which is waiting to be discovered

Taunton, the county town of Somerset, is a treasure which is waiting to be discovered. The menus in the cafes, bars and restaurants reflects the rich soils in the Vale of Taunton. The weekly farmers’ market offers the chance to explore the best of the local produce. The town has the benefit of many independent charming […]

Port Isaac Harbour View
Port Isaac Harbour © Jack Vincent

Port Isaac – Renowned for having one of the narrowest thoroughfares in Britain

The picturesque fishing village of Port Isaac is one of North Cornwall’s more popular ports. The village provides lovely walks along the coast due to its position in an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and its Heritage Coastal Area status. The village port From the Middle Ages until the middle of the C19th, Port Isaac […]

St Mary in the Castle © Jim Linwood
St Mary in the Castle, Hastings © Jim Linwood

Heritage Open Days – England’s unexplored heritage sites at a town near you. Here’s your starter for ten

In early September the doors will be open on hundreds of unusual and exceptional historic and iconic properties. We start you off with some ideas of where to visit around the country.

St Austell Holy Trinity Church
St Austell Holy Trinity Church © Visit Cornwall

St Austell – A stone’s throw from the Cornish Riviera

Referred to as the Cornish Riviera, St Austell is an old market town not far from the beautiful South Cornish coast line. It is the largest town in Cornwall and overlooked by the white peaks of the China Clay industry. Holy Trinity (above) is an ancient Grade I Listed church and is unusual as parts date back to […]

Portsmouth by 921563 on Pixabay
Portsmouth by 921563 on Pixabay

The city of Portsmouth, with its historic dockyard, proud home of HMS Victory, is a vibrant and popular destination which blends the old and the new.

At the entrance to the Harbour, The Point and the Camber, visitor to Portsmouth will find some of the oldest, and many listed, buildings. In 1180 a wealthy merchant founded a chapel. In time it became the Parish church for the settlement which grew around the Point and Camber, Portmouth. Richard I granted the town […]

The town sign saying Historic Amesbury the home of Stoehenge © www.visitwiltshire.co.uk
© www.visitwiltshire.co.uk

Amesbury is a bustling town, surrounded by an ancient landscape including Stonehenge, a World Heritage Site, which attracts over a million visitors a year.

Amesbury has a rich history dating back beyond the Iron Age. Settlers built a large Iron Age hill fort here defending the River Avon. And, in 2002, archaeologists found the grave of the famous Amesbury Archer. Notably, it held the most Bronze Age artefacts ever found in Britain. The building of the first abbey began […]