South West England

South West England has the longest coastline in the UK, stretching for 700 miles. Its shoreline is the most dramatic in the country and its climate, the mildest. Many of the region's seaside towns retain an unspoilt, undiscovered feel and offer a more tranquil alternative to the resorts found North and East.

Devon is home to the Jurassic Coast, the only UNESCO World Heritage Site in England. Its Northern and Southern coastlines abut the Bristol and English Channels respectively. The county, which is the 4th largest in England features some of the more refined seaside resorts in the region such as Torquay Sidmouth and Teignmouth. It is also home to historical ports such as Plymouth, and Dartmouth.

Dorset lies on the Bristol Channel. It's distinctive coastline form part of the UNESCO Jurassic Coast and features landforms such as Chesil Beach, Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove. The brash and bustling Bournemouth, one of the South West's major seaside resorts, can be found on Dorset's shores. There are also quieter, more refined alternatives such Lyme Regis, Swanage and Weymouth.

North Cornwall is an area of outstanding natural beauty. The coast, which is exposed and weather beaten, features a number of sweeping beaches, particularly around St Ives, Bude and Padstow. The raging atlantic ocean is also a major attraction for surfers. Each year they flock to the UK's surfing capital, Newquay, to sample the powerful, hollow waves that hammer its beaches.

South Cornwall is more sheltered and offers a collection of charming little fishing villages like Fowey, Looe and Mevagissey. The so-called Cornish Riviera, which enjoys a temperate climate consists largely of sand and shingle beaches such as the one at Falmouth. Also of note is Penzance, the most Westerly seaside resort in Great Britain. Its grand promenade is fronted by the beautiful Mounts Bay

Somerset has a 65 mile coast that forms the county's northern border and abuts the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel. Like southern Cornwall, it enjoys a milder climate than other regions of the UK. The resorts of Minehead and Weston-super-Mare, which are situated to the north east, offer a traditional British seaside ambience, as does the more refined, slower-paced Weymouth.