Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Devon & Cornwall Today
From the thorny topics of tourism and holiday homes to the future of southwest food,
here's a quick overview of some of the most important issues facing Devon and Corn-
wall over the next few years.
The Second Home Issue
If there's one issue that still divides opinion in
the southwest more than any other, it's the
thorny question of second homes. According to
the 2011 census, Cornwall now tops the league
when it comes to holiday properties (more than
23,000 at the last count), with Devon only a
short way behind.
While arguments rumble on about the eco-
nomic benefit of these homes-away-from-
home, there can be little doubt that the region's
enduring popularity has contributed to rapidly
rocketing house prices - especially in pictur-
esque places such as Salcombe, St Mawes, Per-
ranporth, Padstow and Fowey, which all now
figure in the top 10 list of the most expensive
places to buy property in the UK.
Across the region, the average house price is
now more than £200,000, almost 10 times the
average wage of around £22,000 - leaving
many locals, and especially the region's young
people, struggling to get onto the housing lad-
der.
It's a difficult problem to solve: the region's
popularity with urban escapees and cash-rich
retirees, coupled with limited space for house-
building, inevitably means that house prices
look set to continue rising in the coming years.
Best Books
Jamaica Inn
(Daphne du Maurier; 1936) Clas-
sic thriller on Bodmin Moor.
The Levelling Sea
(Philip Marsden; 2011)
Covers Falmouth's maritime history.
And Then There Were None
(Agatha Christie;
1939) Mystery on Burgh Island.
Vanishing Cornwall
(Daphne du Maurier;
1967) Lyrical history of Cornwall.
Best Films
War Horse
(2011) Spielberg filmed key scenes
on Dartmoor.
Alice in Wonderland
(2010) Cornwall's An-
tony House doubled as Wonderland in Tim Bur-
ton's version.
Summer in February
(2013) Account of the
Lamorna School of artists.
When The Whales Came
(1989) Dreamy chil-
dren's tale set on Scilly.
Resources
Cornwall Beaches
(
www.cornwall-
beaches.co.uk
) Online guide to the county's
sands.
Love the Flavour
(
www.lovetheflavour.co.uk
)
Devon's best food and drink.
Cornwall and Devon Wildlife Trusts
www.devonwildlifetrust.org
) Great resource for
wildlife enthusiasts.
