Rick's Great Britain book is great but conspicuously omits information on southwest England. Just returned from there. The area is full of neautiful little seaport towns most of which played a roll in D-Day embarkation. Penzance and the penninsula it sits on is particulalry nice. The area has St. Michael's Mount which is a castle/monestary on an island accessible via causeway at low tide (England's Mont St. Michel), the Minack Theater hewn out of rock on a cliff over the sea with wonderful productions, old mines and more. Mouse Hole village is well worth the stop but park at the top of the hill and walk into town. Holbien House B&B on Alexandra Road was one of the nicest places we stayed this trip. Affordable, well appointed rooms, excellent location two blocks from the waterfront, very attentive owners whose dog Elvis is happy to great everyone, made it memorable
Posted by
Duluth 🛶
7976 posts
Mouse Hole village is well worth the stop but park at the top of the hill and walk into town.
Why do you say that? I found plenty of parking down in the harbor. That’s where I parked and it was easy for me to walk around town without having to climb a hill at the end.
Posted by
Everett, WA
1299 posts
Southwest England (along with some other areas including Oxford) are only covered in the RS England book. Because the Great Britain book covers a much larger area, it does not cover as many areas in England. Most of the things you mention are well covered in the England book.
Neither of the books cover my favorite area of England.
Posted by
Cornwall
334 posts
I was in Penzance yesterday and pleasantly surprised at how many Americans were there.
Btw It’s Mousehole and pronounced to ryhme with Cow-Zul. The locals make a nice Christmas light show in the harbour to raise money for the RNLI in memory of the 8 lifeboat men of the village who died in the Penlee Disaster in 1981, along with the 8 crew of the Union Star.
Posted by
Winchester, UK
136 posts
I met an American couple in Penzance last year, they had just been in Northampton where the husband had served at the US base long ago. They were slightly distraught at the state of our roads.
An odd omission from Rick's guidebook, perhaps it's because the SW isn't the Cotswolds! Nonetheless, I am glad you enjoyed it!