Devon

A county in South West England, Devon, once known as Devonshire, stretches from the Bristol Channel in the north to the English Channel in the south. Cornwall, Somerset, and Dorset form its western, northern, and eastern borders, respectively. The county is made up of the cities of Exeter, which serves as its county town, as well as the districts of East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, and West Devon. Despite being geographically located in Devon, the other two sizable cities, Torbay and Plymouth, are individually run by unitary councils. Devon has a total size of 6,707 km2 (2,590 square miles) and a population of over 1.2 million.

The name of Devon comes from Dumnonia. This was the Dumnonii Brittonic Celts' home during the British Iron Age, Roman Britain, and the early Middle Ages. During the eighth and ninth centuries, as a result of the Anglo-Saxon colonisation of Britain, Dumnonia was partially assimilated into the Kingdom of Wessex. King Thelstan established the western border with Cornwall at the River Tamar in 936. Devon later became a county within the realm of England.

Devon's north and south coasts both boast cliffs and sandy beaches, and its bays are home to coastal resorts, fishing communities, and ports. In comparison to many other regions of England, the inland topography is rural, typically steep, and has a lower population density. At 954 km2 (368 square miles), Dartmoor is the largest open space in southern England. Its moorland stretches across a significant area of granite bedrock. The Culm Measures and Exmoor are to the north of Dartmoor. The soil is richer and better drained in the valleys and lowlands of south and east Devon, where rivers like the Exe, Culm, Teign, Dart, and Otter flow.

In addition to agriculture, Devon's economy also heavily relies on tourism. Devon is a popular location for relaxation and leisure in England due to its comparably mild climate, beach, and terrain. Particularly popular tourist destinations include the Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks, the Jurassic Coast and North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the coasts, which include the resort towns collectively known as the English Riviera, and the countryside, which includes the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape.

Economy and industry

Devon's overall economic production in 2019 exceeded £26 billion, surpassing that of Manchester and Edinburgh combined.

Due to the demise of several key industries, most notably farming, mining, and fishing, Devon historically suffered economically compared to other regions of Southern England. However, it is now substantially more diverse, just like its neighbour Cornwall to the west. Since the 19th century, agriculture has played a significant role in Devon's economy. The UK foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 caused significant disruption to the farming industry. Since then, the agricultural sector has started to diversify and recover, with a thriving local food industry and a large number of artisan producers. But even in 2015, many dairies, particularly big retail chains, continued to supply wholesale milk at low costs, harming the dairy industry.

The area's appealing lifestyle is luring new industries that are less dependent on geography; on Dartmoor, for example, the proportion of its population working in the financial services and digital industries has recently increased significantly. The national and international weather agency for the UK, the Met Office, relocated to Exeter in 2003. The Range, the only significant national retail brand with its headquarters in Devon, has its head office and its first-ever store in Plymouth.

Devon's economy has been strongly dependant on tourism since since beach resorts began to flourish in the 19th century with the coming of the railroads. Since the middle of the 20th century, British coastal resort economies have been on the decline. However, there has been a recent recovery and rehabilitation of some resorts, with a focus on camping, sports like surfing, cycling, and sailing, and heritage. The recognition of the Jurassic Coast, Cornwall, and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Sites, together with the Dartmoor and Exmoor national parks, has contributed to this rebirth. Visitors to the county spent close to £2.5 billion in 2019. More popular tourist attractions are centred on food and drink, such as sea-view eateries in North-West Devon (such as one run by actor Damien Hurst), hiking along the South West Coast Path, biking along the Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Route and other cycle routes like the Tarka Trail and the Stover Trail, participating in water sports like surfing, attending indoor and outdoor folk music festivals throughout the county, and sailing in the 5-mile (8.0 km) inlet that is surrounded by hills.

Incomes are highly variable, although the average is supported by a sizable percentage of wealthy retirees. There are areas of acute deprivation, with earnings in certain places among the lowest in the UK, but for the most part, incomes in the South Hams and in the villages surrounding Exeter and Plymouth are comparable to or higher than the national average.

The table also displays, by subdivision, the population change over the ten years leading up to the 2011 census. Additionally, it displays the percentage of citizens in each district that rely on low-income and/or unemployment benefits; as of August 2012, the most recent figures have been provided, the national average percentage was 4.5%. As can be seen, Torbay, which has slightly more citizens than East Devon, and Plymouth, which has roughly twice as many persons as either of these, are the other two most populous districts in Devon. With 63,839 people as of the census, West Devon has the fewest inhabitants.

Things to Do in Devon

Devon is the destination for you if you're seeking for adventure, adventures, culture, or some R&R. Everything you could possibly want is there in this multicultural county, plus a little bit more. From the vibrant ancient cities of Plymouth and Exeter, where you can take in all the culture you could ever ingest, live music, a thriving nightlife, and diverse coastlines, to the wealth of AONBs, the well-known English Riviera, and everything else in between!

Devon is not just a stunning county, but it also has two National Parks and two coasts. The East of the county is home to the stunning Jurassic Coast, while North Devon offers some of the best coastal vistas in the country. Of course, there is also the untamed beauty of Exmoor and Dartmoor. Devon is the ideal vacation spot because of its many canals, charming market towns, vibrant cities, seaside resorts, and rural retreats.

Devon's Diverse range of attractions

Whatever your hobbies and whatever your budget, Devon offers a wide variety of sights and activities.

Devon is arguably best known for its seaside resorts; the east coast of the county's shoreline, with its dramatic cliffs, is an excellent area for sailing and fishing, while the coast of North Devon is a haven for surfers and people who enjoy watersports and beautiful scenery. The English Rivera and Torbay are located in the south, together with Salcombe's breathtaking beaches. The county is well known for its award-winning beaches, many of which have received the Blue Flag designation and consistently rank among the best in Britain.

Since not everyone has their sea legs, even though adventure begins at water, why not explore Devon's varied countryside instead? The county is truly mother nature's playground thanks to the National Parks, Dartmoor, Exmoor, and the Mid Devon countryside. The area is plentiful in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, biospheres, geoparks, and nature reserves where you may view birds and learn about the local fauna, like beavers and otters.

Devon is ideal for individuals who love the outdoors, whether you prefer the coast or the countryside.

Additionally, Devon is the perfect destination for those who are willing to compromise. Devon is a cultural hub full of amazing festivals, live music, and delicious food, so whether you are inside or out, you'll find something that suits you! The outdoors offers the chance to challenge yourself with watersports, hiking, cycling, and climbing.

With fantastic restaurants selling cuisine sourced locally and several opportunities to use your credit card in a variety of boutique and high street retailers, Exeter, Plymouth, and the larger towns provide plenty of options for a pleasant night out.

It's a great place for kids and adults alike, and with so many cosy cottages, it's ideal for romantic getaways, dog-friendly breaks, and solo adventures as well. It has family-friendly attractions like historical and heritage sites like museums and steam train rides, as well as theme parks and much more.

Scenic Surroundings

Looking for a place to stay? You have a tonne of options in Devon, and thanks to the breath-taking environment, you can nearly always count on getting a hotel with a view. There are some incredible lodging alternatives for you to pick from, whether you're searching for anything by the seaside, somewhere secluded in the countryside, a luxurious manor house, a safari tent, or even a castle.

Experience a real taste of Devon

Devon's restaurants, cafes, tearooms, and hotels have menus bursting with locally sourced, fresh, seasonal food and drink due to the variety of the landscape. Devon is the ultimate gourmet vacation, offering everything from freshly caught fish that was taken from the harbour that morning in Brixham or Ilfracombe, to gin distilled in Plymouth, to opulent cream teas served with homemade jam and local cream.

You may therefore be sure that Devon will provide you with a world of discoveries and experiences, whatever it is that you are seeking from your staycation or UK vacation.