Hi, my name’s Claire
[ux_banner height=”900px”] [text_box position_x=”100″ position_y=”50″]And I’m the person behind Go South West. I live in beautiful Exmouth in Devon, and spend my time exploring Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and Bristol!
My gran lived in Exmouth for 40 years, and I spent a lot of my childhood here and all over Devon. In 2020, my partner and I ended up back here, and the rest is history.
I’ve spent a lot of my life in Cornwall as well. I have family from Cornwall and used to visit them multiple times per year. More recently, I spent a whole summer in Cornwall, travelling the length and breadth of the Duchy, meeting locals and tracing back my Cornish heritage. I’ve even learned a little of the Cornish language – Dynnargh!
Now I’m living in Exmouth, I have all of Devon and Cornwall at my doorstep, and I spend at least one day a week travelling around the region and finding new stories and attractions to share on this website.
I also lived in the wonderful city of Bristol for 10 years (and one in Bath)! Thanks to Exmouth’s advantageous position, I can visit Bristol frequently and spend as much time as possible exploring Somerset.
I’ve devoted my professional life to knowing everything you need to about travel in Bristol, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, and I’m going to share it all here!
I’ve also recently set up a local tour company, Exmouth Tours. Initially, I’m offering walking tours around Exmouth Town Centre, but I’ll also be branching out into the rest of South West England as the business grows. Feel free to join me on a tour to learn more about this incredible town (one of the UK’s oldest seaside resorts!).
I’m also expanding into Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.
As I know South West England like the back of my hand, this blog will inform (and hopefully entertain!) anyone who’s planning a trip here.
I hope that it will inspire you to see more of this region and to learn all about the fascinating stories that it has to tell.
I hope you enjoy reading this blog!
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Facts About me
- I graduated from the University of the West of England with a degree in English literature
- I love travelling and have been to 52 countries – and yes, the West Country is still one of my favourite places in the world!
- I travelled from Bali to London without taking a single flight – and I’m writing a book about it!
- When I’m not travelling or writing, I like to cook, hike, and read.
- I love potatoes in all forms, but my favourite is roast potatoes.
There’s so much that I love about South West England, or the West Country – locals and tourists alike will tell you that it’s a really special place. The beaches in Cornwall and Devon are, of course, spectacular – but both counties have so much more to offer. From Cornwall’s strong cultural identity to Devon’s expansive moorland, there’s so much to enjoy in the far South West of the country.
Somerset is an equally fascinating county. With staggering rolling countryside, the epic Cheddar Gorge and charismatic and historic towns, it’s a rural place to visit with centuries of fascinating stories to learn about.
Dorset has the Jurassic Coast one of the best coastal areas of the entire country, and inland is Hardy’s country – he loved the gentle countryside of this spectacular county. Go to Wiltshire for Stonehenge, and Gloucestershire for some of the Cotswolds – both globally famous UK attractions, located here in the West Country.
There’s so much to explore in this mesmerising corner of the planet that I am so lucky to call home. So grab a pint of cider and have a browse of this website – learn about what has shaped this part of England and find your next South West holiday destination!