When thinking of your next holiday destination you should seriously consider visiting the county of Devon. Situated in the south west region of England, Devon is an area of outstanding natural beauty and it has numerous historical sites of interest as well as many tourist facilitie. This makes the county so appealing to thousands of holiday makers each year. Here are just five of the many reasons why you should put Devon at the top of your holiday list.

1. Stunning Countryside: The landscape of Devon is truly awe-inspiring with luscious green hills and many idyllic villages. There is plenty to do if you love the countryside including horse riding, cycling or even just taking a relaxing stroll if you so wish. Devon is also teeming with wildlife and has several nature reserves and estuaries that are just breath-taking.

2. Excellent Coastline: Devon's coastline is magnificent with steep sandstone cliffs in the east and striking hills in the north. There are many fishing villages and tourist resorts dotted around the coastline and the beach areas are a prime spot for surfers who come in their thousands each year. There are many coastal activities on offer including windsurfing, boating and jet skiing to name but a few.

3. Fantastic Accommodation: One thing you will not have to worry about when visiting Devon is finding a place to stay. There are many hotels that vary in splendour, from 5 star luxury rooms right down to more modest accommodation for those who have a tighter budget. Wherever you intend on staying in Devon it is likely that you will have a very nice view of the coastline or countryside which will add to the magic of your holiday.

4. History: Devon has an amazing array of history that will satisfy the appetite of any budding historian and is the birthplace of many famous people including Agatha Christie, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh. For those who are interested in legends and myths of old, then a visit to Tintagel in neighbouring Cornwall will be of special significance as here you will find the ruins of King Arthur's castle. Exeter has links with the Norman invasion and in 1067 the city was besieged by William the Conqueror army and the residents held out until their final surrender in the following year. Exeter also houses a magnificent Cathedral which is well over 800 years old.

5. Magnificent Gardens: Devon has some of the most famous gardens in the world which have a beautiful variety of plant arrangements full of dazzling colours. The majority of these gardens are part of stately mansions or historic houses and there is plenty of history to be learned about their past owners. Arlington Court is a splendid regency house surrounded by delightful parks and gardens. Visitors here can view a collection of model ships and several horse drawn carriages and there is also some relaxing woodland walks to help you unwind.

These are but a few things Devon has to offer and if you are seeking a relaxing holiday with plenty of activities to keep you busy this beautiful English county will more than live up to your expectations.