Happy Devon Day, one and all! It's one of the most popular counties to visit in the UK thanks to its rich culture and sensational landscapes. But here are seven things you need to know about Devon before you visit.
Photo Credit: Pixabay
1. The countryside is amazing
Being from the Yorkshire Dales, it's hard for me to admit that the British countryside could be finer anywhere else... But there truly is nothing like Devon. Glorious coasts, enchanting woodlands, fields and meadows that shame Hobbiton. After all, it is home to the panoramic spectacle that is Dartmoor National Park.
2. It's a Jurassic heaven
If you love fossil hunting, places like the Jurassic Coast are goldmines for fossilised remains of creatues dating back to Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods thanks to the coastal erosion. It's amazing to think that such priceless pieces of ancient history could be found in our humble little country.
3. It's the English Riviera
Also known as Torbay, it's one of the nearest places you can get to Spain from the UK so temperatures are generally at their highest in the country, which means you can actually enjoy the country's best sandy beaches with the appropriate weather. Towns like Torquay, Paignton and Brixham are tourist hot spots in the summer.
4. Which comes first: The jam or the cream?
It's a timeless question that transcends philosophical imagination - but for Devonians, there is a very definite answer. Always put the clotted cream on BEFORE the jam, and enjoy this traditional British treat with a cream tea brewed Devon-style. Cornwall do things the other way round; jam then cream. No wonder there's such a bitter rivalry between the two counties.
5. They take their pasties seriously
Most of us are happy with Greggs, but everyone knows that Devon and Cornwall are the pasty capitals of the world. However, Devon distinguishes itself from its neighbouring county by crimping its pasties at the top, rather than at the side. Food politics is important!
6. The mother of all bakeries
Speaking of which, Devon is also home to the oldest bakery in Britain, Jackas in Plymouth. It's been around since the 16th century, so nowhere does traditional loaves and cakes like here.
7. It's radioactive
Worrying about which order to add jam and cream to your scone seems awfully trivial when you discover that Devon and Cornwall are the two most radioactive parts of the UK. Background doses hit 7.8 millisieverts (mSv), which is almost three times the national average. It's so high that there's actually a sign on the border between Somerset and Devon reading: "Warning: You are now entering a radioactive area".
That sounds pretty shocking, but it's still very far off the health risk levels which starts at around 100 msv. The cause is down to naturally released radon from the decay of uranium within the Earth's crust. The most concentrated areas tend to be those in granite rich areas like Devon and Cornwall.
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