Places of Interest- Devon & Somerset

On this page are Places of Interest in Devon and Somerset

*Devon*
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park Totnes Road Paignton Devon TQ4 7EU 01803 527936 www. paigntonzoo.org.uk	Given a 4-star rating and ranked as one of the best zoos in the country by Holiday Which. Here at Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, our animals live in their own habitat zones. The Zoo is divided up into six zones, 'Primley', savannah, forest, wetland, tropical forest and desert. All of these represent world habitats, except for Primley which is an area in the Zoo where animals from a mixture of habitats live.

	A living Benedictine monastery.The church is the centrepiece, filled with art treasures and stained glass produced at Buckfast. Also visit the Abbey's historic precinct and 3 new gardens- the Physic garden, the Sensory garden and the Lavender garden. The Abbey Church ,precinct and gardens are open daily, admission free.	Buckfast Abbey Buckfastleigh Devon TQ11 OE 01364 645500 www.buckfast.org.u

Becky Falls Woodland Park Manaton Nr Bovey Tracey Devon 01647 221259 www.beckyfalls-dartmoor.com	Featuring rescued Owls & birds of prey, Dartmoor ponies and greyfaced sheep, Lambs to feed, Badgers, Otters, Mink etc. Also marked wildlife discovery trails, picnic areas and gift shop.

	Spanning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, these magnificent gardens are set in East Devon's picturesque Otter Valley, between the ancient city of Exeter and southwest England's Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Magnificent Historic Gardens, museum and children's play area.	Bicton Park Botanical Gardens East Budleigh Devon EX9 7BJ 01395 568465 www.bictongardens.co.uk

Powderham Castle Kenton Exeter Devon 01626 891883	The historic family home of the Earl of Devon. Visit the Woodland Garden, the Secret garden, the Farm shop and plant centre. The Castle lies in a beautiful setting in an ancient deer park alongside the River Exe and is at the centre of a large traditional estate of about 4,000 acres. The Castle is open to the public and welcomes thousands of visitors between Easter and October every year

	A 400 year old house, now a museum of Plymouth's history. Step back into an Elizabethan Merchant´s house and get a taste of what Plymouth life was like in the past - from beggars to the Blitz. Browse potions and lotions in our reconstructed chemist shop.	The Merchants House 33 St. Andrews Street Plymouth Devon PL8 6DZ 01752 304774

The National Marine Aquarium Rope Walk, Coxside, Plymouth, PL4 0LF Tel: 01752 600 301	The National Marine Aquarium was the first aquarium in the United Kingdom to be set up solely for the purpose of education, conservation and research. It remains Britain's foremost aquarium and in the six years it has been open it has attracted over two million visitors through its doors

	BUY YOUR ADMISSION TICKETS TO CREALY ADVENTURE PARK ONLINE! HOTLINE: 01395 233200	Crealy Park Sidmouth Road Clyst St Mary Exeter Devon EX5 1DR

The Landmark Ilfracombe Box Office 01271 32 42 42	The two brick cones are built from more than 300,000 bricks. The foyer floor is made of white Carrara marble broken in to pieces and laid with black terrazzo grout and each cone is 22.5 metres high.

	Newton Abbot Racecourse is the leading summer racecourse in the UK. It is therefore a showcase for the industry and aims to provide quality competitive National Hunt racing to a wide audience drawn from both the general public and from the corporate sector.	Newton Abbot Racecourse Newton Abbot Devon 01626 353235

Lundy Shore Office The Quay Bideford Devon EX39 2L 01271 863636 Fax: 01237 477779	The MS Oldenburg has on board a bar, buffet, shop and information centre. The bar offers a wide range of drinks and a relaxing atmosphere, whist hot and cold food is provided at the buffet. M.S. Oldenburg can carry 267 passengers, has a licensed bar and small buffet. Cruises to Lundy - Evening river cruise from Bideford. Coastal cruise from Ilfracombe. Lundy lies off the coast of North Devon, where the Atlantic ocean meets the Bristol Channel with nothing between it and America, a granite outcrop, three and a half miles long and half a mile wide.

*Somerset*
Wookey Hole Caves Wookey Hole Wells Somerset BA5 1BB Call our information Line on: 01749 672243	Revamped, restored and totally remarkable, the new Wookey Hole experience is bursting onto the 2005 holiday scene in an explosive mix of history,mystery and fun. With new attractions, great new facilities and the classic glory of Britain’s most spectacular underground caverns, the centuries-old site near Wells in Somerset has been given a brand new lease of life.

	A major tourist attraction for over 200 years, with plenty to do above and below ground. Outstanding Natural Beauty, where you'll find many rare species. The Cathedral-like Caves and Britain's biggest Gorge are million-year-old Ice Age river beds. Your ancestors have lived here for 40,000 years, and world-famous Cheddar Man is Britain's oldest complete skeleton.	Cheddar Caves & Gorge Cheddar Somerset BS27 3QF 01934 74234

Wells Cathedral Chain Gate Cathedral Green Wells Somerset BA5 2UE 01749 674483	Situated in the gentle county of Somerset – with its name originating from the three springs in the grounds of the old Bishops Palace – Wells is one of England’s smaller cathedrals.The site history has been traced back to Roman times, and the first church dates back to early 8th century. By the middle of the 13th century the imposing west front had been decorated with a vast array of statues. This outstanding collection of Kings, saints, angels and biblical characters is believed to be the largest collection of medieval sculptures in the world.....

	The abbey is set in 36 acres of beautifully peaceful parkland in the centre of the ancient market town of Glastonbury. It is traditionally the first Christian Sanctuary in Great Britain, visited, so legend has it by Joseph of Arimathea and Saints David and Patrick. Many believe that the Holy Thorn tree that can be seen in the grounds originated from Joseph of Arimathea's staff and others are convinced that King Arthur was buried in the Abbey beside his lovely wife Queen Guinevere.	Glastonbury Abbey The Abbey Gatehouse Magdalene Street GLASTONBURY Somerset 01458 832267

Bath Abbey Bath 01225 422462	Edgar, the first king of united England, was crowned in a church in Abbey Courtyard in 973, but the present abbey, more glass than stone , was built between 1499 and 1616, making it the last great medieval church raised in England. The nave's wonderful fan vaulting was erected in the 19th century. The most striking feature of the abbey's exterior is the west facade, where angels climb up and down stone ladders, commemorating in stone a dream of the founder bishop Oliver King .

	Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived in this cottage in Nether Stowey from 1797 to 1800. You can follow in the footsteps of the Romantic poet by walking The Coleridge Way.Coleridge wrote some of his finest poems here: Fears in Solitude, This Lime-Tree Bower my Prison, The Nightingale, Frost at Midnight, the first part of Christabel and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, which has many references to neighbouring places.	Coleridge Cottage Lime Street Nether Stowey Somerset

West Somerset Railway Bishops Lydeard Somerset 01823 433856	The West Somerset Railway recaptures the era of the branch line country railway in the days of steam. Enjoy 20 miles of glorious Somerset scenery as the train gently rolls back the years on its journey beside the Quantock Hills to the Bristol Channel coast. From Bishops Lydeard, trains run beside the Quantock Hills northwards to the Bristol Channel coast at Watchet and Blue Anchor. The end of the line is the holiday town of Minehead, with its sandy beach, thrilling fun fair, beautiful gardens and lots of shops to explore. Buses run on Exmoor and steamers call at the harbour.

	Clevedon Court is a 14th century manor house but with much of the original building dating back to earlier times. There is a 12th century tower and a 13th century great hall. This has been the home to the Elton family since 1709 and their descendants still live here at Clevedon Court. The house contains a collection of glassware and some impressive paintings and furniture.	Clevedon Court Twickenham Road Clevedon Somerset BS21 6QU 01275 872257 A National Trust Property

Dyrham Park nr Chippenham, SN14 8ER 0117 9372501 A National Trust Property	Spectacular late 17th-century mansion, garden and deer park. Dyrham Park is a beautiful baroque country house set in 110ha (274 acres) of garden and parkland, designed by Talman for William Blathwayt, Secretary at War during the reign of William III. As a consquence of Blathwayt’s royal connections and influential uncle, Thomas Povey, the house was to become a showcase for his taste in Dutch decorative arts. The collection includes delftware, paintings and furniture.

	Launched in 1843, the SS Great Britain was the world’s first iron-hulled, steam-powered, ocean-going ship. Her designer was the inventive genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Intended for the trans-Atlantic luxury passenger trade, she was more used to carry emigrants to Australia. In 1970 she was rescued from an ignominious fate as a hulk in the Falklands and returned to the dockyard where she was built, where she is being lovingly restored.	SS Great Britain The Great Western Dockyard Gasferry Road Bristol 0117 926 0680

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Places of Interest- Devon & Somerset

Devon and Somerset places of interest and attractions