Places

Things to do in Brixham

Brixham is a beautiful harbour town with pastel houses clinging to the hillside. It’s a colourful town, rich with history and wildlife, perfect for family holidays or peaceful romantic getaways.

Things to do Philip Eley

Ghost hunting haunted places in south Devon

Do you like to visit a place with a spooky story? Do you dare visit my list of most haunted Devon places with a ghostly connection? Don't just wait for Halloween at half term, Devon ghost hunts can be enjoyed year-round.

Places to Go Philip Eley

Things to do in Tolpuddle

This ancient Dorset town is so tranquil and laid back, R&R is practically guaranteed so you can kick back and zone out. But if you like to occupy your time away, there are plenty of things to do in Tolpuddle.

Things to do Katie Chown

Top 3 dog friendly towns in Cornwall

If you and your canine companion are coming to Cornwall for your holidays we have good news: it’s a seriously dog friendly county!

Places to Go Abby D

Explore Somerset for free

Actually, there's quite a lot of things to do in Somerset without spending money.

Places to Go Katie Chown

Dorset escapes

With the children back at school it is safe for the parents and grandparents to get out into the world unhindered; this might be the perfect time for a romantic getaway, just the two of you on a Dorset escape.

Places to Go Becky Bye

Things to do in Dawlish

Dawlish is a seaside town in south east Devon with a gentle air of sophistication yet still a great place for traditional bucket and spade holidays. With both Dawlish and Dawlish Warren full of ideas for a fun break, here is my guide of things to do in Dawlish.

Things to do Philip Eley

Things to do in Lulworth Cove

If you’re after a coastal day out in Dorset, but fancy something a little more adventurous than Lyme Regis or Swanage, then Lulworth Cove is for you.

Things to do Becky Bye

Best little villages near Bath

Bath is a beautiful place, but it can get very busy. One of the best things about Bath is that on its outskirts it is flanked with a number of beautiful small towns and villages.

Places to Go Kylie Barton

Things to do in Plymouth

Plymouth describes itself as Britain’s Ocean City. It is a vibrant, modern city with plenty of attractions and historic buildings, places to visit, things to do and see and lots of foody destinations.

Things to do Philip Eley

Things to do in Burnham-on-Sea

The town has one of the longest stretches of sand in Europe with seven miles of glorious beaches including the beautiful locations of Brean Down and the famous Lighthouse spot.

Things to do Tasha H

Things to do in Swanage

A day out in Dorset would be far from complete without a trip to the seaside. Swanage is the best town on the Jurassic Coast for scenery.

Things to do Becky Bye

Places to picnic around Somerset

Look no further than the amazing picnicking backdrop of the South. From Dorset to Wiltshire and Somerset to Hampshire, English Heritage and National Trust places to picnic which boast the most beautiful gardens and have their gates open wide for families and dogs.

Classic Fodder Becky Bye

A family day out mixing Legend and History at Tintagel Castle

A visit to Tintagel in North Cornwall is like taking a pilgrimage to a peculiarly mythical land. The castle ruins perched high on the clifftop are the quintessence of one of the greatest legends that course throughout Cornwall’s history.

Places to Go Deb S

Top 5 places in Devon for artistic inspiration

Painting outdoors can be both calming and exhilarating at the same time, making it good for the soul. But where are the best spots for artistic inspiration in Devon?

Places to Go Philip Eley

Market day in Hampshire

Whilst on holiday in a Hampshire cottage you will be sure to want to stock up on local produce to sample during your time with us. I don’t know about you, but one of my favourite things to do as a couple is go to a good country market and a car boot sale. Such a day out is pretty much a relationship goal, it is so simple, yet so enjoyable.

Places to Go Kylie Barton

A couple's day out in Winchester

Winchester is the old capital of England, it is steeped in history, full to the brim with beautiful architecture, fine eateries, and quaint and quirky shops, making for a lovely day out.

Places to Go Kylie Barton

Things to do in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight

A holiday in Shanklin is the perfect bucket-and-spade seafront experience. Full of fun for all the family, it’s the quintessential beach resort destination, but in an idyllic setting on the south east coast of the Isle of Wight.

Things to do Katie Chown

Things to do in Weston-super-Mare

With a perfect mix of culture, heritage and adventure, Weston-super-Mare is perfect for anyone looking to enjoy a slice of traditional beach fun paired with an abundance of things to do.

Things to do Tasha H

Family Day Out at the New Forest Centre

The New Forest Centre is a hub of information and activities through which to learn about the beautiful scenery which surrounds you, and provides a great educational day out for families holidaying nearby.

Places to Go Kylie Barton

Film locations in Cornwall and Devon

Devon and Cornwall boast magnificent houses, rugged coastline, unspoilt villages and wild moorland. All of these backdrops have been used on some well-loved films and TV programmes.

Stories & Characters Philip Eley

Things to do in Southampton

On a glorious spring day last year, we did two things of note. We looked at the sky. Then we gazed at the sea. Then we enjoyed many of the things to do in Southampton that make for a great family holiday.

Things to do Jonathan C

Things to do in Totnes

In South Devon people usually describe anything which is a bit quirky and whacky as ‘a bit Totnes’, and for a long time, the town sign said ‘Welcome to Totnes - Twinned with Narnia.’ Totnes is an interesting, independent, beautiful, historical town. It’s a fabulous place to explore with many distracting turns up exciting alleyways.

Things to do Philip Eley

Things to do in Bodmin

One of the oldest towns in Cornwall, Bodmin is truly steeped in history yet has many modern conveniences to make life easy.

Things to do Abby D

Things to do in Taunton

Exploring the historic county town of Taunton gives you a chance to soak up a range of experiences. From the grounds of Somerset’s County Cricket Club to the impressive heritage of Taunton Castle, this lively hub is an ideal spot to enjoy a mix of culture and entertainment.

Things to do Tasha H

Things to do in Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis is the perfect seaside destination for a weekend break, come rain or shine. Almost bordering on Devon, Lyme Regis is tucked away on the edge of Dorset, along the Jurassic Coast and has lots to do, whether you’re an active family, or a quiet couple.

Things to do Becky Bye

Poldark places

A round up of locations where Aidan has been filming plus the trailer for season two, just for info's sake...

Places to Go Katie Chown

Spontaneous short breaks in Somerset

When did you last do something impromptu? Sometimes, being spontaneous is exactly what you need - and Somerset offers the perfect playground.

Things to do Anna H

A day in Kingsand and Cawsand

Kingsand and Cawsand are twin seafront villages on The Rame Peninsula in Cornwall. They have a rich fishing (and smuggling!) heritage and you can still spot the old fish cellars and stores along the coast.

Visitors' Book Abby D

Dog walking around Burgh Island, Bigbury-On-Sea

Take a wander around, picking up some interesting facts about Bigbury Bay while you're there; the life and times of a Huer, and the pilchard packers. Remember though, it is tidal!

Places to Go B Hutchings

Five best pubs with fires in Cornwall

The best-planned winter activities should factor in a fire, be it a hearth-side Sunday lunch, a cosy pint and pork scratchings or just a large slab of cake and coffee.

Places to Go Rachel Wilson-Couch

The Blue Pool

The Blue Pool in Wareham, Dorset is allegedly home to the Wareham Bears... So make sure you take a picnic!

Visitors' Book Philip Eley

Stay in Dorset's Far from the Madding Crowd

We detail the natural stars of the show, so you can dive into your favourite scenes and experience Dorset for yourself. But be warned - if you haven't seen it, there are some story spoilers.

Places to Go Lizzie H

Distinctly Devon cycle path walk

Totnes to Ashprington is a perfect riverside walk. The path is easy to walk on and beautiful from beginning to end.

Things to do Philip Eley

Family friendly Things To Do for Free in Devon

We are quite a frugal family so the more free things that we can fill our days with, the better. Since we have lived in the West Country we have discovered all sorts of new, free, places to visit and I thought I would share a few of them with you.

Places to Go Gina Caro

St Just in Roseland Church

A place to pull in for a glimpse of the yacht-filled creek that turns out to be so much more.

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

A trip to St Mawes

A little wander around the waterfront on our way through St Mawes.

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

Pub Philosophy by the sea

We bumped into local Pete who told us everything he knew about the area. Well, we don't think he kept any secrets from us...

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

Buried in a tree

A crypt-keeper's poem on an otherwise lovely stroll.

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

The crown of The Jurassic Coast

Whilst the Jurassic Coast is overflowing with beautiful seaside destinations, there is one for me whose charm outshines the rest; Lulworth Cove.

Places to Go Becky Bye

Wild swimming in Cornwall

Here are my recommendations on where to get away from the crowds and take a really wild Cornish dip

Things to do Sian Pickles

There's something about Shaftesbury

The unassuming Saxon hilltop market town may at first appear to be nothing special but this north Dorset spot has a treasure trove of appeal.

Places to Go Becky Bye

Pasties and earbones in Padstow

What happened in the pub and a stroll around Padstow before everyone woke up (except the man with the dog in the pram).

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

Wild Swimming in Devon

Swimming – it's the most natural of activities, yet so many people only ever do it in the most unnatural of locations.

Things to do Pat Kinsella

The best family friendly beach in south Devon

I hesitate to write this because I don’t want too many people to know about THE perfect family friendly beach, but just between you and me, I think I’ve found it.

Visitors' Book Philip Eley

An American in Cornwall: The Minack in the rain

It began to rain, and then it began to pour. The wind started gusting. Backdrops blew over and props flew away. The players had to grip their costumes to themselves and shout to be heard over the whistle of wind in their mics. But there can be no better place in the world to experience Shakespeare.

Visitors' Book Danielle Charles-Davies

Bluebells at Blackbury Camp in Devon

The flowers are short-lived, and so once they are out, you should grab the opportunity to see them at their best...

Places to Go Molly and the Princess

A Dartmoor walk around Chagford

Snowdrops and crocuses have appeared triumphant and herald the start of Spring, soon to make way for carpets of bluebells.

Visitors' Book Molly and the Princess

Yoga at Lanyon Quoit

Driving along yet more winding, narrow hedged roads the landscape was familiar with far reaching views over fields sectioned with stone walls and gorse hedges. An earlier signpost had indicated ‘Lanyon Quoit’ was along here somewhere, but what was a ‘lanyon’? Or a ‘quoit’ for that matter.

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

Strange Stone Circles in the South West

Grateful for the strength of denim on my legs, we parted the brambles and were swallowed into the greenery. Flip-flops were a poor choice in the morning dew with nettles and grass snakes threatening, but melodrama was short lived as we emerged into a more open area.

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

The Magical Mystery Tour of far west Cornwall

We went at the wrong time of day to stumble across the locals. But we still picked up a few tips that sparked a Magical Mystery Tour of the Penwith peninsula.

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

A Barefoot Pub Philosophy in the Blue

In the summer of 2013, we walked up the road to our local, to see where the stories would take us and whether we knew as much about the area as we think we do.

Pub Philosophy Katie Chown

Top Ten UK beaches by TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor's top ten beaches in the UK, as determined by travellers' ratings and reviews. If anyone needed another excuse to visit the South West, eight of them are down here in the West Country!

Places to Go Katie Chown