The Rough Guide to Devon & Cornwall [antikvár]

Introduction to Devon Cornwa Pointing away from England into the Atlantic, the dangling limb of land holding the country's westernmost counties of Devon and Cornwall has long wielded a powerful attraction for holiday-makers - not to mention second-homers, retirees, artists and writers, and anyone keen on rugged landscape and ever-changing coastal scenery. The two counties have a markedly different look and feel: Devon's rolling swards of pasture, narrow lanes and picturesque thatched cottages are a striking contrast to the craggy charms of Cornwall, imbued with its strong sense of Celtic culture. The essential elements, however, are shared: first and foremost the sea - a constant theme and the strongest lure of the place - whether experienced as a restless force raging against rocks and reefs, or as a serene presence bathed in the kind of rich colours more readily associated with some sultry southern Mediterranean shore. You're never very far from the coast in Devon and Cornwall, where the panoramic sequence of miniature ports, placid estuaries, embattled cliffs and sequestered bays are linked by one of the region's greatest assets, the South West Coast Path, stretching from the seaboard of Exmoor to the Dorset border. Most visitors, however, are primarily drawn to the magnificent beaches strewn along the deeply indented coast, ranging from grand sweeps of sand confronting ranks of surfer-friendly roUers to intimate creeks and coves away from the crowds and holiday