With two coasts and an interior laced with pretty English country gardens contrasted with wild moorland, Devon makes for a beguiling getaway
Founded by the Romans in AD55, large parts of the defensive wall still remain in Devon’s ancient city of Exeter. At the heart of the city lies the magnificent Gothic cathedral, which dates largely from the 12th and 13th centuries and is home to the longest stretch of Gothic stone vaulting in the world.
Exeter was put on the map after the boom in the wool trade, and prosperity grew throughout the Tudor and Georgian eras with merchants erecting elegant houses along the city’s thriving quayside. Today, the merchant houses remain, while the quay has been renovated and is home to antique shops, craft stalls, cafés and pubs.
One of Exeter’s most famous alumni is JK Rowling – it’s widely believed that some city haunts inspired her best-selling Harry Potter novels including Exeter’s narrow Gandy Street which some say was the model for Diagon Alley.
Fursdon house, about 10 miles from Exeter, is one of Devon’s oldest family homes and contains medieval, Jacobean, Georgian and Regency features. The house, gardens and tearoom are open to the public, while two private apartments in the manor house and a cute cottage (complete with inglenook fireplace and fireside wingback chair) in the grounds are available for overnight stays.
When the house is open to the public, guests can roam the extensive grounds (wellies are recommended), which include The Meadow Garden, originally planted 200 years ago, which now forms part of a woodland walk. On your amble you can enjoy views over the River Exe towards Dartmoor.
Bu hikaye The Official Magazine Britain dergisinin May/June 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Official Magazine Britain dergisinin May/June 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Take The High Road
The North Coast 500 is an epic route that takes you past some of the country’s most spellbinding scenery
Where To Stay In 2021
Whether it’s a country house escape, a rustic bolthole or a sophisticated city stay, you’ll find your perfect getaway on these pages
The EMPEROR'S ISLE
Tresco was once a treeless and windswept island, the haunt of smugglers. Dramatically transformed by one man’s vision, it is now one of Britain’s most beautiful spots
Hidden Cornwall
Discover the beautiful, beguiling and rugged land of West Penwith in the far reaches of Cornwall
Wonders of Wales
With its wild cliffs, pretty coves and puffins galore, St Brides Bay holds the best of Pembrokeshire
Yorkshire's MOORS & SHORES
Equal parts mystical moor and secluded seashore, the Yorkshire coast beats some of Britain’s more traditional summer destinations hands down
PEAK PERFORMANCE
From heathery moors to rolling hills and underground caverns, the Peak District is home to some of the most majestic landscapes in the country
Culture CAPITAL
After a year of stop-start openings, London's museums are welcoming visitors back in 2021 with an array of blockbuster exhibitions
HISTORIC NORFOLK
Spend time exploring this peaceful county, whose stately homes are a grand counterpoint to its unadorned rural landscapes
1066 COUNTRY
England’s sunny south coast has a rich heritage, harbouring ancient castles and evocative landscapes that tell the story of the Battle of Hastings and beyond