South West England Reinvented as Cultural Hotbed
Southwest England has shaken off its country-bumpkin image and reinvented itself as a cultural hotbed according to the first edition of Lonely Planet’s Devon, Cornwall & Southwest England released this month and one of the first to include a “Greendexâ€.
Coordinating author Oliver Berry said “The southwest’s in flux. Regeneration is happening everywhere you look: futuristic greenhouses are springing up in abandoned clay pits, run-down docksides are being rejuvenated and designer bistros are setting up shop all along the coastline.â€
Devon, Cornwall and southwest England are no longer just destinations for caravans, the blue-rinse brigade, beach bums or long queues on the M4. According to Lonely Planet’s new guide, what was once dismissed by snooty urbanites as a cultural backwater, is now reinventing itself as an eco-haven, a creative trendsetter, a culinary paradise and, of course, an outdoor playground.
From the Eden Project and Britain’s first plastic bag-free town to world-famous cheeses and celebrity chefs; numerous outdoor activities such as walking, surfing and sailing to name but a few, this region has much to offer. Fancy a culinary treat but had enough of pasties and cream teas? Head to Padstow where TV chef Rick Stein started the foodie revolution of the west and don’t forget about Bristol – its city walls still wet from the latest offering by notorious graffiti-artist, Banksy.
Written by two resident authors, the first regional UK guide for Lonely Planet offers comprehensive coverage of the diversity found in Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
The guide also highlights the benefits of travelling within the UK and is one of the first Lonely Planet guidebooks to include a Greendex – a new reference index of attractions, tours, restaurants and accommodation that are considered sustainable.
However, not everything is rosy in the southwest. The guide recognises that “the southwest’s always had a love-hate relationship with the summer influx of emmets and grockles (tourists); overflowing car parks, low-paid seasonal jobs and summer traffic jams have long been a fact of life out west. Villages have had their hearts sucked out as the holiday lets and second-homers have moved in.†(p16).
The boom in UK tourism may have boosted the southwest’s economy, but not necessarily for the better. When a narrow sliver of land in south Dorset can command higher property prices than a penthouse apartment in downtown Manhattan, you know something has got to give.
Despite this, you do get the feeling from every corner of this charming region, that Devon, Cornwall and southwest England has kissed goodbye to its corn-chewing, tractor-driving stereotype and been reborn as a tonic for the heart.
South West Tourism is expected to announce shortly that it has hit the 400-mark of tourism establishments certified by the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
Valere Tjolle
Valere
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent