The coast of South Devon has some wonderful places to visit and among these are four towns close together in the area around Torbay and the River Dart. Totnes, Dartford, Brixham and Paignton all have long and interesting histories and all merit a visit if you are in the region. Totnes (so the legend goes!) was where Brutus of Troy landed on the island which he was to name Britain, nice story but unlikely to be true. Totnes is however an interesting place to visit and was at one time one of the wealthiest towns in England. At the mouth of the Dart estuary the fishing port of Dartmouth was significant way back in the 12th century, and was the port from which many of the Crusaders set sail in both 1147 and 1190, Dartmouth has seen many notable departures and landings since those early times, it now attracts tourists in their thousands who visit to soak up the atmosphere of this ancient port. Just north of Dartmouth is the fishing town of Brixham, still notable for its fishing, but these days also more reliant on tourism for its survival. Among Brixham’s many attractions is a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship – The Golden Hind. A little further north still find you in Paignton, another historic coastal town which has become a renowned family holiday resort. Paignton was for many centuries a small fishing village, but grew in importance after a harbour was built in 1837, railway links with London fuelled this growth. Paignton beach and the nearby Preston Sands are big attractions for the area. Devon Map.
August 27, 2009
Totnes Dartford Brixham and Paignton Devon
Braintree Billericay and Clacton Essex
Three of the larger towns in Essex, Braintree, Billericay and Clacton on Sea all have interesting histories, in different ways from each other. Braintree, located some 10 miles from Chelmsford, has a population of around 42,000, somewhat more than 4,000 years ago when it was a tiny village, as it still was when the Romans invaded Britain and built two roads, at the junction of which the settlement grew (though later abandoned). Recorded as Branchetreu in the Domesday Book, the present name is thought not to have come from the River Brain, but rather, the other way round. A famous son of Braintree, naturalist John Ray, was actually born in the village of Black Notley, two miles south of the town. Billericay was possibly settled even longer ago than Braintree, with evidence of burial mounds found in Norsey Wood, dating from the Iron and Bronze Ages. The Romans also knew about Billericay and built a fort close to the town at Blunts Well. Due to later settlement being centred around Great Burstead, Billericay doesn’t get a mention in the Domesday Book, though by the 13th and 14th centuries it was attracting pilgrims heading south for Canterbury. Clacton on Sea is a relative ‘baby’ compared to these ancient towns, only founded in 1871 as a seaside resort. Clacton reached its height of popularity during the 1960’s and 1970’s, the town’s famous pier being a major draw. Clacton and Great Clacton were however still settled in ancient times, with Celts being in the area in around 100BC, the original village was also named in the Domesday Book as Clachintuna. Essex Map.
Rimini, Ravenna and Bologna Italy
Three historic cities in the Emilia-Romana region of north-eastern Italy, Bologna, Ravenna and Rimini are all worthy of a visit if you are travelling in the area. Bologna, home to the world’s oldest university, is located in the valley of the Po River, it was founded by the Etruscans in 534 BC and given the name Velzna. The Roman colony began in 189 BC and led to the building of the Via Emilia road, which still cuts through the city. There are plenty of sights to see in Bologna including numerous fine churches, parts of the old Roman ramparts, medieval defensive towers, and later 13th century ramparts. Ravenna was once a significant port, though it is now mostly silted up and only joined to the Adriatic via a canal. The original Ravenna settlement was built on small islands in a marshy lagoon, with houses constructed on piles (similar to Venice). Under the Romans, Ravenna became an important city, it even became the capital of the Western Roman Empire in 402 AD (replacing Milan). Ravenna has a huge number of historic monuments to visit, 8 of which appear on the World Heritage List. To the south of Ravenna, Rimini is a coastal city on the Adriatic Sea, and was also settled before Roman times, with Etruscan, Greek and Umbrian colonies. The Romans founded it as Ariminum, naming it after the nearby River Ariminus. A thriving fishing port for many centuries, Rimini also has plenty of historic attractions including the thirteenth century San Francesco cathedral, the 2nd century Roman Ampitheatre (one of Rome’s greatest), and the 1st century Arch of Augustus, which was restored in the 18th century. Italy Map.
Dunstable Houghton Regis and Toddington Bedfordshire
To the south-west of Bedford in the county of Bedfordshire, England, you will find the 2 historic towns of Dunstable and Houghton Regis and the ancient village of Toddington. Dunstable was originally established by the Romans as a posting station on Watling Street, an important road at this time, though it was probably settled much earlier than this as evidence of Palaeolithic flint implements and an Iron Age Fort have been found in its environs. Dunstable was one of the twelve sites chosen in 1290 for the erection of Eleanor Crosses after the death of the wife of Edward I. Close to Dunstable and possibly even older is the town of Houghton Regis, until recent years just a small village. Getting its name from the Saxon “hoe” (spur on a hill) and “tun” meaning village, Houghton became Houghton Regis during the time of Edward the Confessor, it remained a village until the 1950’s and 1960’s, when London overspill caused it to grow into the town it is today. Near to Dunstable and Houghton Regis, the pretty village of Toddington is gathered around its spacious village green, where you will find its parish church and 4 of its public houses.
August 26, 2009
The Costa Brava Town of Blanes
Located in the region of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain, the town and resort of Blanes is popular with both Spanish and International holidaymakers having a 4 kilometre stretch of coastline with plenty of fine sandy beaches and a number of pretty coves and bays. Originally a small fishing village, Blanes is now a busy resort albeit quieter than some of its Costa Brava neighbours, its seafront is lined with high-rise apartment blocks and hotels, though remains of the old town still remind visitors of its former charm. Blanes experiences a typical Costa Brava climate with beautiful sunny, warm summers and somewhat cooler winters, the weather in Blanes can generally be relied on to be fine from June to September. One of the Costa Brava’s best known resorts Blanes is only 30 kilometres from the nearest airport at Girona. Blanes Map.
Sant Lluis and Binibeca Vell Menorca
Two very contrasting towns situated in the south-east of Menorca in the Spanish Balearic Islands, Binibeca Vell and Sant Lluis could not be more different. Sant Lluis was built as a garrison for the French fleet when they invaded Menorca in the eighteenth century and much of the grid layout of the town remains with some of the old garrison buildings also standing. Binibeca Vell is on the coast and is a purpose designed holiday complex, built to fit in with the typical Mediterranean style which it does in many ways. Binibeca Vell offers an opportunity to stay in a holiday resort on this popular island, while staying in a charming fishing village atmosphere.