Deciding to raise a family is a big thing, and where you decide to raise your family is a big element of that decision. If you’re looking for something new, a better or more wholesome environment or better opportunities for your children, it can be helpful to look elsewhere.
There are a lot of great options across the country, but the West Country is among the top options. There is so much that the West Country can offer. The schools, the community, and the peace of life are all qualities that would make any child very happy. Read on to find out what we think are the best aspects of living in the West Country and we’ll prove it to you.
3 Reasons the West Country is a Great Place to Raise a Family
The nature
The West Country has been known to contain some of the most beautiful spots in Britain, and who can blame them? The kids will love exploring the West Country with it’s rolling hills and coastal scenes to awe at.
One good spot to see is Cadbury Castle. Perhaps prepare the kids that it’s not got Willie Wonka inside, but instead is a beautiful castle on the coast that is known as Camelot to the locals as it’s said to be the inspiration for King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
For a heavy dose of nature and whimsy, you can take the whole family to the Lost Gardens of Heligan, which has an amazing collection of botanicals. Some have been moulded into bio-structures, like creatures peeking out of the grass, making for a greenery-infused wonderland.
And then there is St Michael’s Mount. Cornwall’s most intriguing landmark is a fortress atop an island that can only be accessed at low tide. It’s been the inspiration for a lot of myths and movies, including the Woman in Black, Dracula, and Game of Thrones.
The culture
The West Country is a popular tourist spot for a reason. People come to the area for a taste of the country life and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Anyone who has visited the West Country would be familiar with the need to drop all their things at their local Safestore Bristol and downsize into a little cottage by the coast.
The stereotype that no one in London is friendly is starkly seen when you visit the West Country and see how welcoming everyone can be. The community is very intertwined, where you can rely on your neighbours to help you with any issue.
The events
No place does events like the West Country. We’ve come up with some whacky ways to keep ourselves entertained out here, and it’s guaranteed that you will never have seen anything like it before.
For one thing, there is the Orange Race that occurs every August in Devon. The story tells of the 1550s Sir Francis Drake knocking into a boy carrying oranges around the town and from the madcap chase through the steep high streets came an annual event of chasing oranges through the town to the finish line at the bottom. It’s a must-see for kids who perhaps have a habit of running circles around the house.
There is also the famed tar barrel rolling. This one is for the kids to observe from a safe and measured distance. Sleepy Devonshire isn’t about to be outshone on Bonfire Night and does it in a spectacular way. Visitors to the town will soon see a barrel making its way through the town, rolled by a few local residents – alight. That’s right. It’s a rolling bonfire touring the town and is one of the most famous bonfire events in the country.
