Climbing Accommodation > England - South > West Country > Area Information

West Country Area Information

Tourist Information Offices

For help and information on all aspects of a visit to the West Country the tourist information centres and websites listed below are a good starting point. The major TICs, closest to the climbing, are listed.

  • Bristol - Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5DB el: 0906 711 2191
  • Bideford – The Quay, Bideford, Devon, EX39 el: 01237 477676
  • Bude - The Crescent, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8LE el: 01288 354240
  • Camelford - The Clease, Camelford, Cornwall, PL32 9PL el: 01840 212954
  • St. Ives - Street-an-Pol, St Ives, Cornwall, TR26 el: 01736 796297
  • Penzance - Station Road, Penzance, Cornwall, TR18 2NF el: 01736 362207
  • Bodmin - Mount Folly Square, Bodmin, Cornwall, PL31 2DQ el: 01208 76616
  • Torquay - Vaughan Parade, Torquay Devon, TQ2 5JG el: 01803 211211
  • Swanage - Shore Road, Swanage, Dorset, BH19 1LB el: 01929 422885

Pubs
Below is a list of some of the West Country’s best pubs that are within a quick stroll or drive of the cliffs. Some have good beer and cider, some have great food, most have both.

  • The Coronation Tap - Handy for the Avon Gorge, just above the suspension bridge.
  • Coxes Mill - Big bar at the entrance to Cheddar Gorge.
  • The Thatch Inn - Lively pub in Croyde close to Baggy Point.
  • The Old Smithy - Nice old pub at Welcombe village, handy for the Culm Coast.
  • The Bush Inn - Good spot at Morwenstow, close to Sharpnose Point.
  • The Port Garvene Inn - A pub in a quiet fishing cove. Good for Doyden Point and Pentire.
  • The Tinner’s Arms - An atmospheric pub in Zennor close to Bosigran and Gurnard’s Head.
  • The Logan Rock Inn - Good for south coast granite in the village of Treen.
  • The Cadgwith Cove Inn - Lovely pub close to The Lizard and its beaches.
  • The Meavy Inn - On Meavy village green close to the Dewerstone and Sheeps Tor.
  • The Rugglestone - Great Dartmoor pub with a fine beer garden.
  • The Berry Head Hotel - Great views across Torbay, close to The Old Redoubt.
  • The Carey Arms - Close to Anstey’s Cove at Babbacombe Beach.
  • The Cove House - Good spot to watch the sun go down after climbing on Portland.
  • The Square and Compass - Popular haunt and convenient for the Swanage cliffs.

Cafes
It is impossible to provide a guide for all the cafes and tearooms in the West Country since that would be a guidebook as thick as this one in itself. Suffice to say that a decent cafe or tearoom selling diet-busting cream teas or pasties is never more than a brief drive.