Travel Tips

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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center"><font size="6"><b><i>About Plymouth<o:p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="left">As a home or a holiday centre Plymouth offers an unrivalled variety of excursions into the surrounding countryside, whether on foot, by car or public transport.

The city is bordered on the south by the huge natural harbour that is Plymouth Sound and divided on the west from Cornwall by the River Tamar. To the east lies
the picturesque South Hams - beautiful, lush countryside with rolling hills and characteristic red earth.

Just a few miles north of the city boundary lies the sweeping and majestic
terrain of Dartmoor, designated as a National Park in 1951, mainly open moorland
dominated by massive granite tors some over 2,000ft and justifiably described as
the last great wilderness in Southern England.

An unsurpassed variety of scenery is within this small area (365 sq miles).
Fourteen rivers rise on Dartmoor of which only two flow northwards - resulting in steep wooded valleys carpeted in spring with wild flowers.

Only two main roads cross the moor - one having a regular bus service. Numerous by-roads, mainly single track, connect the picture post card villages with their
granite buildings and thatched roofs.

Dartmoor is a paradise for the stroller, serious rambler and horse rider - well supplied with paths and bridleways. But ramblers should nevertheless be well equipped and proficient with map and compass.

It is an area rich in history, inhabited since the Bronze Age. Tin was discovered in the 12th century and mined until the 1930s.

Industries were supplied with water by a system of leats and in 1590 Sir Francis Drake constructed one which kept Plymouth supplied with water for the next 300
years.

The army use parts of the moor for live firing - days and times can be obtained from information centres and local police stations and on no account should
anyone go into an area when red flags are flying from the tors.

The South West Way is a coastpath running some 620 miles form Lyme Regis in Dorset to Minehead in Somerset but the section adjacent to Plymouth going eastwards offers some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the country with soaring cliffs, ever changing colours of the sea and pretty coves.

To the west Cornwall is easily accessible by road bridge and both vehicle and foot ferries. The foot ferry crosses to the Mount Edgcumbe estate where the
house and ground are open to the public. It is possible to walk to the old fishing villages of Kingsand and Cawsand and onwards to Rame head.

It is therefore hardly surprising that there are several walking groups in Plymouth, the largest being the Rambler Association (Plymouth Group) with some
370 members.

There are regular Wednesday and Sunday walks and sometimes Saturdays between eight and 10 miles and walkers are invited to join a walk. Route and starting
place can be obtained by telephoning the walks Secretary on 01752 702500 or the Group Chairman on 01752 205958.<o:p>
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<p style="margin-top: 2; margin-bottom: 2"><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica" size="1">Revised:
13 November 2001
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<p style="margin-top: 2; margin-bottom: 2"><font face="Trebuchet MS, Arial, Helvetica" size="1">Copyright ©
2000-2 The University of Plymouth. All rights reserved.</font> </div>

<font color=red> With grateful thanks to the University of Plymouth for their permission to reproduce this information</font>