95 Best Sights in The West Country, England

These sprawling grounds have something for all garden lovers, as well as an intriguing history. Begun by the Tremayne family in the late 18th century, they were rediscovered and spruced up in the early 1990s by former rock music producer Tim Smit (the force behind the Eden Project). In Victorian times the gardens displayed plants from around the British Empire. The Jungle area contains surviving plants from this era, including a lone Monterey pine, as well as giant redwood, clumps of bamboo, and a wobbly rope bridge crossing the subtropical valley. The Italian Garden and walled Flower Garden are delightful, but don't overlook the fruit and vegetable gardens or Flora's Green, bordered by a ravine. It's easy to spend half a day here. Guided tours can be arranged for groups. Travel via St. Austell to avoid confusing country lanes, then follow signs to Mevagissey.

Water and a cable system power the 862-foot cliff railway that connects these two towns. As it ascends a rocky cliff, you are treated to fine views over the harbor. Inaugurated in 1890, it was the gift of publisher George Newnes, who also donated Lynton's imposing town hall, near the top station on Lee Road.

One of the Southwest's most important contemporary arts and crafts centers is in a converted 19th-century coach house in the village of Bovey Tracey, 10 miles southeast of Chagford and 14 miles southwest of Exeter. The center has excellent exhibitions of local, national, and international crafts, as well as shops and a café.

On three floors, this interactive exhibition narrates the story of Plymouth, from its beginnings as a fishing and trading port to the modern industrial city it is today. Along the way, you'll take in the stories of various expeditions that embarked from here to the New World, including the Mayflower itself. Great harbor views can be enjoyed from the top-floor balcony, and the city's tourist office is also in this building.

In the 19th century, Morwellham (pronounced More-wel-ham) was England's main copper-exporting port, and it has been carefully restored as a working museum, with quay workers and coachmen in costume. Visitors can board a special train that goes along the River Tamar and into the George and Charlotte Copper Mine. Fairs and other special events take place throughout the year. The site lies 2 miles east of Cotehele House and 5 miles southwest of Tavistock.

The three floors of this informative museum contain historical artifacts, domestic knickknacks, traditional agricultural and mining tools, and fascinating insights into the lives of ordinary folk living on the moor. The museum has its own (free) car park and also provides tourist information for Dartmoor and the Okehampton area.

This excellent aquarium—the U.K.'s largest—on the town's harbor presents aqueous environments, from a freshwater stream to the Great Barrier Reef and the Biozone. Don't miss the chance to walk beneath sharks in the Atlantic Ocean tank, alongside clownfish, angelfish, and cleaner wrasses in the Biozone. Feeding times are fun for the kids, and Waves Café, with its harbor views, makes a good spot for a rest and refreshment. Tickets, which are valid for one year, should be booked ahead at peak times.

The granite-and-oak-clad structure by the harbor is an excellent place to come to grips with Cornish maritime heritage, weather lore, and navigational science. You can view approximately 30 of the collection of 140 or so boats, examine the tools associated with Cornish boatbuilders, and gaze down from the lighthouselike lookout, which is equipped with maps, telescopes, and binoculars. In the glass-fronted Tidal Zone below sea level, you come face-to-face with the sea itself. Museum tickets are valid for a year.

On the riverbank a mile southwest of the town center, the jagged ruins of this Norman castle occupy a verdant site with a picnic area and woodland walks.

This gorgeous, 14th-century, stone manor house with yard-thick walls, smoke-blackened beams, and an undulating slate-tile roof has been furnished with items from the 17th and 18th centuries. The walls are hung with "samplers"—embroidered poems and prayers usually produced by young girls. One room originally served as a post office and has been restored to its Victorian appearance.

A small collection in this gracious Victorian villa in Penlee Park focuses on paintings by members of the so-called Newlyn School from about 1880 to 1930. These works evoke the life of the inhabitants of Penzance and Newlyn, mostly fisherfolk. The museum also covers 5,000 years of West Cornwall history through archaeology, decorative arts, costume, and photography exhibits.

As you're heading west from Porlock to Lynton, the coast road A39 mounts Porlock Hill, an incline so steep that signs encourage drivers to "keep going." The views across Exmoor and north to the Bristol Channel and Wales are worth it. Less steep but quieter and equally scenic routes, up the hill on toll roads, can be accessed from Porlock and Porlock Weir.

Two miles west of Porlock, this tiny harbor is the starting point for an undemanding 2-mile walk along the coast through chestnut and walnut trees to Culbone Church, reputedly the smallest and most isolated church in England. Saxon in origin, and dedicated to the Welsh Saint Beuno, it has a small Victorian spire and is lighted by candles, making it hard to find a more enchanting spot.

One of West Cornwall's finest beaches thanks to its natural setting, Porthcurno has a crescent moon of white sand (from crushed shells) at the foot of imposing dark, blocklike granite cliffs. The extraordinary Minack Theatre—carved from solid rock—is on one side, and there are cafés and a pub nearby. A steep slope can make swimming a challenge at times, but one area near a stream is good for families. The village and beach are signed off B3315, and the coastal path runs behind it. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets. Best for: picnics; swimming; walking.

The seat of the earls of Devon, this notable stately home 8 miles south of Exeter is famed for its staircase hall, a soaring fantasia of white stuccowork on a turquoise background, constructed in 1739–69. Other sumptuous rooms, adorned with family portraits by Sir Godfrey Kneller and Sir Joshua Reynolds, were used in the Merchant-Ivory film Remains of the Day. The Belvedere Tower built in the 1770s offers inspiring views over the Exe Estuary, and a second tower, built in 1400 by Sir Philip Courtenay (ancestor of the current owners), stands in the deer park.

House tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and children will enjoy a range of activities such as animal feeding, pony grooming, and goat and alpaca walks (some activities will need booking ahead). Check the website for dates of the "safari" rides (a tractor pulling a trailer) to see the 600-odd fallow deer that live on the grounds, and, in October, the weekly "Deer Rut Safaris." There is a farm shop, a plant center, and various options for eating and drinking (alternatively, bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds).

Dating from the Elizabethan era, this former banqueting lodge that once formed part of a much larger property (long since disappeared) is beautifully preserved, with carved oak paneling and grand, manorial fireplaces. The Great Oak Room, along with two smaller spaces here, are the only surviving Elizabethan rooms in Bristol, and the plasterwork ceilings and sturdy oak furniture—including a four-poster bed—are among the finest you'll see anywhere from this period. Among the paintings is one which may be the earliest portrait of an enslaved person in the United Kingdom. There are also memories of the building's time as a reform school for girls, founded by the educational reformer Mary Carpenter and Lord Byron's widow, Annabella, who bought the property in 1854 and shared Carpenter's vision.

These gardens behind the Royal Albert Memorial Museum were laid out at the end of the 18th century. The land was once part of the defensive ditch of Rougemont Castle, built in 1068 by decree of William the Conqueror. The adjoining Northernhay Gardens contain the original Norman gatehouse and the remains of the Roman city wall, the latter forming part of the ancient castle's outer wall.

This huge citadel was built by Charles II in 1666 and still operates as a military center. Tours of the installation are conducted by Armada Tours and must be booked via Eventbrite ( www.eventbrite.co.uk) at least 24 hours ahead of time. Meet at the Commando Memorial on Lambhay Hill to the north of the Citadel at 2 pm; tours last about two hours. Note that children under seven are not allowed, photo ID is required, and photography is not permitted. There is no parking on-site and no toilet facilities.

In a Georgian building, this museum displays some fine examples of Cornwall-inspired art, a sampling of Cornish archaeology, an absorbing hodgepodge of local history, and an extensive collection of minerals. There's also a small shop and an adjacent café.

An exquisite 18th-century home with many of its original furnishings, Saltram was built around the remains of a late-Tudor mansion. Its jewel is one of Britain's grandest neoclassical rooms—a vast, double-cube salon designed by Robert Adam and hung with paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, first president of the Royal Academy of Arts, who was born nearby in 1723. Fine plasterwork adorns many rooms, and three have original Chinese wallpaper. The outstanding garden includes rare trees and shrubs, and there's a cafeteria and a tearoom. Saltram is 3½ miles east of Plymouth city center; if you're driving, it's best to use "Romilly Gardens" rather than the postal code for satnav (GPS) purposes.

On the aptly named Whitesand Bay, Sennen Cove is a gorgeous expanse of creamy soft sand. When the tide is coming in, the waves attract legions of surfers. When the tide's out, kids paddle in the tidal pools, and the sand stretches as far as you can see. Cafés are nearby, and surfing equipment is for rent on the beach. Sennen is off A30 less than 2 miles north of Land's End, and can be reached on foot on the South West Coast Path. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

This lighthouse, transferred here at the end of the 19th century from its original site 14 miles out to sea, provides a sweeping vista over Plymouth Sound and the city as far as Dartmoor. Brace yourself for the 93 steps to the top. The lighthouse is occasionally closed for special events, and open on selected dates in October; check the website for information.

The steam trains of this railway run through 7 miles of the wooded Dart Valley between Totnes and Buckfastleigh, on the edge of Dartmoor (30 minutes). Check online for information about special trips throughout the season and around Christmas.

Local artists display selections of their current work for sale at this gallery in the former Mariners' Church. The Crypt Gallery in the basement is used for private exhibitions.

North of St. Mawes on the A3078 is St. Just in Roseland, one of the most beautiful spots in the West Country. The tiny hamlet has a 13th-century church set within a subtropical garden, often abloom with magnolias and rhododendrons, as well as a holy well and a graveyard on the banks of a secluded creek.

Outside the village, the well-preserved Tudor-era St. Mawes Castle has a cloverleaf shape that makes it seemingly impregnable, yet during the Civil War its Royalist commander surrendered without firing a shot. (In contrast, Pendennis Castle in Falmouth held out at this time for 23 weeks before submitting to a siege.) Outdoor theater productions occasionally take place here in summer.

Rising out of Mount's Bay just off the coast, this spectacular granite-and-slate island is one of Cornwall's greatest natural attractions. The 14th-century castle perched at the highest point—200 feet above the sea—was built on the site of a Benedictine chapel founded by Edward the Confessor and has served as a church (Brittany's island abbey of Mont St. Michel was an inspiration), a fortress, and a private residence. The castle rooms you can tour include the Chevy Chase Room—a name probably associated with the Cheviot Hills, from the French word chevaux (horses), after the hunting frieze that decorates the walls of this former monks' refectory. Family portraits include works by Reynolds and Gainsborough.

Don't miss the wonderful views from the castle battlements. Around the base of the rock are buildings from medieval to Victorian times, but they appear harmonious. Fascinating gardens surround the Mount, and many kinds of plants flourish in its microclimate.

To get to the island, walk the cobbled causeway from the village of Marazion or, when the tide is in, take the £2.80 ferry (summer only). There are pubs and restaurants in the village, but the island also has a café and restaurant. Wear good walking shoes for your visit, which requires a steep climb. Visits may be canceled in severe weather.

Three rings, two avenues of standing stones, and a burial chamber make up the Stanton Drew Circles, one of the largest and most mysterious monuments in Britain, dating from 3000 to 2000 BC. The size of the circles suggests that the site was once as important as Stonehenge for its ceremonial functions, although little of great visual impact remains, and Stanton Drew is far less well known than Stonehenge and other circles. English Heritage supervises the stones, which stand on private farmland. Access is permitted at any reasonable time, and a donation of £1 is requested. The site lies in a field often used by cows, so wear sturdy shoes.

To get here from Bristol, head south on the A37 and turn right after about 5 miles onto the B3130, marked Stanton Drew. The circles are just east of the village, where more of the stones may be seen in the garden of the Druid's Arms pub.

Occupying a riverside, 17th-century, Dutch-style merchant's house, this museum has period-furnished rooms and displays on local and maritime history. One room has memorabilia belonging to the late actress Vivien Leigh, who spent much time in the region. Just note that the museum opens at 2 pm and closes at 5 pm.

You can climb up the hill in town to the ruins of this castle—a fine Norman motte and bailey design—for a wonderful view of Totnes and the River Dart.