Devon is a large county in South West England that has two coastal boundaries. Much of the county is rural with a relatively low population density. The most important city in Devon is Exeter, a popular historic cathedral city. Devon has seaside resorts and historic towns and cities, rural scenery and a mild climate, accounting for the large tourist sector of its economy.
Like neighbouring Cornwall to the west, Devon is disadvantaged economically compared to other parts of Southern England, owing to the decline of a number of core industries, notably fishing, mining and farming. However, the attractive lifestyle the area offers is drawing in new industries, such as the financial sector. In fact, Exeter is consistently rated as the top city in the UK to live in terms of lifestyle.
From its coastal waters through to its moorland peaks, Devon supports an outstandingly rich and varied range of habitats and species. It is one of the best places to watch wildlife in the whole of the UK. It has a wealth of different species of plants and animals. Much of this richness is found in particular places where nature has thrived for centuries, untouched by mankind.
Devon has a variety of festivals and local traditional practices, including the traditional orchard-visiting ‘Wassail' every January the 17th. The county has given its name to a number of culinary specialities. The Devonshire cream tea, involving scones, jam and clotted cream, is thought to have originated in Devon. The region is also famous for its local cider and gin.
