Escape to the Country

There are journeys that stay with you long after you have unpacked your suitcase, and my recent adventure through the Cotswolds, Devon, and Cornwall was exactly that kind of trip. From chance encounters with television stars to standing at the very edge of England, every moment felt like stepping into a living postcard.

My journey began in the honey-coloured heart of the Cotswolds, in the village of Blockley, where they film the hit series Father Brown. I was shocked when I saw a film crew surrounding the lead character, Father Brown. I walked up, interrupted his conversation with someone, and said, “Hi, I’m Jon. I came all the way from Canada just to see you.” He turned, smiled and said, “Then we should have a proper chat.” I was shocked as he asked me about Canada and my visit. I asked if we could take a photo, and he handed my phone to the man next to him. He turned out to be the director, so I knew the photo would be good. I had the pleasure of meeting several other characters, and was amazed at how friendly they were, taking time from their busy schedules.

From Blockley, I wound my way through some of England's most photographed villages. Bourton-on-the-Water lived up to its nickname as the "Venice of the Cotswolds," with the River Windrush flowing gently beneath low stone bridges, while ducks paddled lazily past centuries-old cottages. Just down the road, Lower Slaughter offered an even quieter beauty. Its name was derived from the Old English word for marshy place, not anything sinister. The village felt frozen in time, with a working watermill, and cottages that seemed to emerge from the landscape itself.

Castle Combe took my breath away entirely. Often called England's prettiest village, it is easy to see why filmmakers have chosen it as a backdrop for period dramas. The Market Cross stands at the village centre, surrounded by weavers' cottages with steeply pitched roofs, and not a single modern intrusion mars the medieval atmosphere.

Continuing south toward Exeter, I found myself drawn into the city's magnificent cathedral. The Gothic architecture soared above me, its ceiling is the longest uninterrupted stretch of medieval stone vaulting in the world. The astronomical clock, dating back to the 15th century, still marks the hours as it has for over 500 years. From Exeter, I ventured to Clovelly, a village so steep that donkeys once carried goods up and down its cobbled main street. Cars are banned here, and the whitewashed cottages cascade down the cliff toward the harbour.

Devon revealed more treasures at every turn. At Buckfast Abbey, I discovered these Benedictine monks aren't just devoted to prayer, they are also master distillers. Their famous Buckfast Tonic Wine has quite the reputation, and learning about the centuries-old traditions of monastic brewing added an unexpected flavour to my journey. In Cockington, I wandered past the quintessential thatched-roof cottages, that define the English countryside in so many imaginations.

Ashburton brought literary history to life. This moorland town was Arthur Conan Doyle's base, when he wrote "The Hound of the Baskervilles," and standing in the streets he once walked, I could feel the inspiration that seeped into his gothic masterpiece. I wandered through the cemetery and came upon gravestones of Henry Baskerville and Dr. Mortimer. A.C. Doyle simply borrowed the names of townspeople for his best-selling novel.

Then came Dartmoor Forest and the moors themselves, a landscape unlike anything I have experienced. The eerie beauty of these windswept expanses is haunting in the best possible way. Granite tors rise from the heather like ancient sentinels, mist rolls across the valleys, and wild ponies graze among the gorse.

Cornwall welcomed me with dramatic coastlines and legends. At Land's End, I stood at England's most westerly point, watching waves crash against granite cliffs that have withstood the Atlantic's fury for millennia. The sense of being at the edge of everything was profound, and I even shared a marmalade sandwich with Paddington Bear. Saint Michael's Mount rose from the sea like something from Arthurian legend, a castle-crowned island accessible by causeway at low tide. Make sure you leave before the tide floods the causeway.

The Minack Theatre left me speechless. Carved into the cliffs above Porthcurno Bay, this open-air amphitheatre is one of the most spectacular performance venues in the world. Even empty, it radiated drama, with the turquoise sea providing a backdrop no stage designer could ever match.

My final stops brought me full circle to television tourism. Port Isaac, with its narrow lanes and working harbour, is instantly recognizable as the home of Doc Martin. The village has embraced its television fame, while maintaining its authentic fishing village character. In Looe, where Beyond Paradise is filmed, I found another charming Cornish town where the fictional and real blend seamlessly. Both communities have that rare quality of feeling genuinely lived-in, rather than preserved as museum pieces.

As I made my way home, I reflected on how this corner of England manages to be both timeless and alive. People live in those thatched cottages, worship in those ancient churches, and walk those cobbled streets daily. Yet they've retained a beauty and character that feels increasingly rare in our modern world. From celebrity encounters to literary pilgrimages, from monastic liqueurs to moorland mysteries, my journey through the West Country reminded me that the best travel experiences are not just about seeing beautiful places, they are about feeling connected to the stories, landscapes, and people that make those places truly unforgettable.