The West Country - the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset - enjoys a milder climate than much of England, and consequently Cornwall has long been a popular summer getaway. The area provides the best surfing in England, with towns like Newquay, Bude and Croyde filling with enthusiasts every year. There is excellent walking on Bodmin Moor, domain of the legendary beast, and the coastline is wild and beautiful. There are scenic towns such as Penzance to explore and delicious Cornish pasties to sample. The area also has Celtic links and the legend of King Arthur came from here. It is easy to see where the myths of this area spring from, with the Bronze Age remains and standing stones which still dot the landscape. The Roman city of Bath and seaside resorts of Torquay and Bournemouth are great holiday destinations. The old port town of Plymouth is rich in history and Exeter cathedral is magnificent. If you're after some high class cooking, Padstow offers the famous seafood restaurant run by chef Rick Stein.
