SUL Language Schools

Why visit South West England?

South West England is the largest region of England, also known as the West Country. It includes the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

It is the ancient kingdom of Wessex, once ruled by King Alfred. It stretches out into the Atlantic with Land’s End being the most westerly point in England. Surrounded by the sea, it enjoys a mild climate, allowing sub-tropical trees to thrive and encouraging visitors of all ages!

• This region is famous for its surfing beaches and beautiful coasts, its festivals, ecological projects and friendly communities; it a place where people can re-connect to Nature and leave behind the worries of their fast city lives and completed school exams!

• The South West has been a favourite destination for families looking for a de-stressing holiday, a place to relax in unspoilt natural environments.

• Students on language holidays love being near the sea in this beautiful region.

• Students in school groups can explore both the myths and history of ancient Britain and the modern experiments in a more sustainable way of living.

A distinctive culture and way of life

This is a land of villages and small towns, communities where people still know their neighbours. There are only a few important cities, all known for culture, education and trade rather than industry – Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Plymouth and Truro were all either river or sea ports.

The Romans established Bath and Exeter but the Celtic myths surrounding King Arthur, Merlin and Knights of the Round Table are most alive in the imagination of people today in Tintagel and Glastonbury. Stonehenge and Avebury all add to the feeling that history and legend remain important in our lives.

Many famous artists were drawn to the special quality of life in the West Country including D H Lawrence and Virginia Woolf, Charles Causley and Daphne Du Maurier, Barbara Hepworth, Bernard Leach and Patrick Heron in Cornwall. Young artists continue to come, some studying in the famous Falmouth School of Art.

The traditional forms of employment were fishing, farming, tin and copper mining, shipbuilding and overseas trade. Today tourism is vital but so is the education and research into a more sustainable way of life. The ecological experiment of the Eden Project is helping to promote more sustainable communities. University scientists are developing ways to make electricity from wave and tidal energy, looking for heat in the granite rocks and better ways of predicting and living with climate change.

This is the place where people who value their connection with Nature and a way of life which allows times for human relationships and visitors!