Kingsbridge and District in the Heart of Southernmost Devon KINGSBRIDGE - the first WALKERS ARE WELCOME town in Devon
We are proud to have been awarded by the English
Tourist Council their Award for Excellence as the best Tourist Information
Centre in the West of England in 1999.
A Quality Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
The ancient market town of Kingsbridge lies betwixt Plymouth, to the
west, Torbay to the east and Dartmoor to the north and is the historic
and natural centre of the South Hams. Kingsbridge can truly claim to
be the “hub of the wheel” from which to explore this beautiful
area.
The modern town of Kingsbridge is actually made up of two medieval
towns, Kingsbridge and Dodbrooke, originally a quarter of a mile apart.
Kingsbridge and the lands around it passed into the possession of the
Abbots of Buckfast Abbey some time after the Norman Conquest. The Abbot
of Buckfast was granted the right to hold a market in Kingsbridge in
1219, his monks selling their produce of honey, fruit, vegetables and
thick cream, and so began the tradition of Kingsbridge as a market town,
which continues to this day.
Kingsbridge is still a vibrant working town, not just a holiday centre,
and has a varied selection of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs which
are open all year. The major crowd pulling events in town are the Music Festival, held during June and Fair Week,
by tradition in July. The fact that we are often lucky enough to have
late, balmy autumns and early springs mean we are very much open for
business ‘out of season’ and with Kingsbridge now awarded accreditation as the very first WALKERS ARE WELCOME town in Devon, it offers a whole year round interest for vsitors.
The South Hams always enjoys one of the mildest climates in Britain,
protected as it is by Dartmoor National Park to the North and caressed
by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream to the South – even the
name ‘Hammes’, is taken from the Anglo-Saxon for ‘sheltered
place’. While it always helps to have perfect weather, it is not
vital in order to enjoy the many, varied and wonderful sights, events
and attractions that make the South Hams the ideal holiday venue for
all ages and interests the year round.
The South Hams has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
with its rolling hills, wooded river valleys, patchwork fields, sandy
beaches, a spectacular coast line and small picturesque villages. There
are ample opportunities to walk, sail, surf, windsurf, fish, ride, golf
etc. as virtually every sport and outdoor activity is well catered for.
For walkers, in particular, the town has been awarded WALKERS ARE WELCOME status so you canl be assured of a friendly, helpful reception in the area with accommodation providers and local businesses happy to "go the extra mile" to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.
Culture – art galleries and exhibitions; craft markets; open
air theatre and amateur theatrical shows; live music – open air
concerts on the band stand, choral concerts, barbershop, folk and popular
artistes in many of the pubs. Not forgetting the professional theatres
in Torbay, Plymouth and Exeter.
Wildlife – in the estuary and and just out to sea, porpoises,
dolphins and whales can often be seen, while unusually in October 2004
our very own seal pup was born in Hope Cove. The area is rich in birdlife
including cirl bunting, egrets, peregrines, sparrowhawks and buzzards.
Gardens – tropical or English country; cliffside or woodland;
riverside or formal; or a little on the wild side.
Attractions – farm animals to touch and feed; wild animals to
wonder at – penguins and sea lions or tigers and snakes, fabulous
fish or scary shark; steam trains or river boats; caves or water slides;
model village or museum; vineyard or nightclub.
Kingsbridge - where there truly is something for everyone.