6 things to see in the South West

Mary Youlden
Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted Monday, June 13, 2016 - 6:27am

Are you planning to see some of the south west of England this year? Well, if so, you’re going to need to have a few ideas up your sleeve. While it’s nice to read a book, peruse beautiful villages and walk along the shore, it’s well worth planning a few ‘big’ days out to ensure you see as many as the most breath-taking, inspiring and informative things on offer in this idyllic part of the UK. Here are six things to see in the south west this summer…

1. The Minack, Cornwall
The Minack is an atmospheric theatre perched atop a cliff high above the Atlantic Ocean. Every summer it’s packed with visitors coming to enjoy drama, operas, comedy, story telling and plays, nestling up to 750 guests around the granite stage with the twinkling cobalt blue ocean stretching out as far as the eye can see. You can click here to view live footage from the Minack Theatre and see how it’s looking right now.

2. Lydford Gorge, Devon
Fancy a family-friendly dog walk among lush greenery, cool streams and flowing waterfalls? If so, you should head to Lydford Gorge, the south west’s deepest gorge with a 90-foot waterfall! You’ll walk on a carpet of wild garlic and summer flowers and stroll beneath the canopy of thick trees and damp moss. There’s a number of different walking routes depending on your ability, and the National Trust maintain a café and shop (as well as the Gorge itself) for hungry visitors!

3. Cheddar Gorge, Somerset
Of course, if you think you’ll enjoy Lydford Gorge you’ll likely be rendered speechless by Cheddar Gorge. In Somerset, Cheddar Gorge sees cliffs rising up to a head-spinning 450 feet, with three spectacular caves to explore beneath the surface of the earth too. There’s a great deal of history and science to learn about in this location as well as plenty of sports activities to do, making it an ideal day out for families and thrill-seekers alike.

4. Thomas Hardy’s Cottage, Dorset
Nestled in the Dorset countryside is Thomas Hardy’s charming thatch-roofed cottage. Surrounded by a quintessential English country garden, Hardy’s cottage is open to the public. Find out where the writer was born and grew up with his sisters, parents and grandmother; you can even venture into Hardy’s bedroom and see the desk beneath the window where he wrote ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’, inspired by the scenery outside.

5. St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall
The castle atop an island is one of Cornwall’s most iconic landmarks, and a must-see if you’re visiting the south west this summer. At low tide, a causeway appears from the sea and allows visitors to reach the castle walls by foot, or you can be ferried to the mount’s ancient harbour if the path is submerged beneath the salty ocean. There’s a number of myths and legend surrounding the castle and is well worth exploring if you fancy submerging yourself in the history that St Michael’s Mount has to offer.

6. Tarr Steps, Exmoor
Exmoor National Park is a combination of woodland, moorland, farms and valleys and is just as beautiful today as it was a thousand years ago. Walk through the rolling greenery and get back to nature, leaving your smartphone in your pocket to really take in every inch of the stunning scenery. Locals recommend walking through the woodland to the Tarr Steps, a series of stone slabs formed to create a bridge across the river. It’s the longest bridge of its kind in Britain, mentioned in historical Tudor accounts but known to date back far further in time. 

Once you’ve made your ‘to-see’ list, all you’ll need to do is arrange your accommodation. You could take a tent, tow a caravan or pay (lots!) of money for a hotel room, but we’d recommend checking out Classic Cottages instead. You can take your pick of charming holiday homes, filtering your options based on the number of rooms you need, proximity to towns and beaches, ability to take your pets, and many other important considerations. So… what are you waiting for? Get exploring the south west!

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