Devon is a place in England.
It has many hills and valleys. It sits near the big blue sea. You can see tall cliffs there.
It is a fun place to visit. Do you like the sea?
Devon is a place in South West England.
It has two coasts. One side faces the sea to the south. The other side faces the water to the north.
Many rivers start in the high hills. These rivers flow down to the sea.
There are big parks with wide moors.
Some parts of the coast have tall cliffs. The cliffs show old rocks. These rocks are very old.
People like to visit the seaside. You can go surfing in the north.
The waves are great for it.
Devon is a very beautiful place to see.
Devon is a large county in South West England.
It sits on a peninsula. This means it has two coasts. The north side faces the Bristol Channel. The south side faces the English Channel.
Many people visit the seaside resorts in the south. Torquay and Paignton are close to each other. In the north, you can find great surfing. The waves at Bideford Bay are very good for it.
The land in Devon is very varied. There are big, high areas called moors. Dartmoor is a large national park in the center. Part of Exmoor is also in Devon. Most of the county's rivers start in these high moors. One long river is the Tamar. It forms a border with Cornwall.
The south coast has tall cliffs. These cliffs are part of the Jurassic Coast. They show rocks that are very old. Some of these rocks are from the Devonian period. This time period is named after Devon!
The name Devon might mean "deep valleys." This comes from the people who lived there long ago.
Devon is a large ceremonial county in South West England.
It sits on a peninsula, which means it has two different coastlines. To the north, the land meets the Bristol Channel and the Celtic Sea. To the south, it faces the English Channel.
The county is the third largest in England by area. It has more miles of road than any other English county. Many people visit the seaside resorts in the south, like Torquay and Paignton.
In the north, the area is more rural with towns like Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.
The landscape of Devon is very varied and interesting. It contains two large upland moors called Dartmoor and Exmoor.
These moors are also national parks. Most of the county's rivers start in these high places. This includes the Taw, the Dart, and the Exe rivers. The longest river is the Tamar, which forms the border with Cornwall.
The southeast coast is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. This area is famous for its tall cliffs. These cliffs show layers of very old rocks from different times.
People have lived in Devon for a very long time. Human remains were found in Kents Cavern in Torquay from 30,000 to 40,000 years ago.
Long ago, a group called the Dumnonii lived here. Their name might mean "deep valley dwellers."
Later, the Romans occupied the area for about 350 years. Around the year 600, Anglo-Saxon settlers began to move in from the east. King Æthelstan set the western border at the River Tamar in 936 AD.
This border has stayed almost the same for a long time.
Devon is also famous for its special rocks. The north and south coasts have sandstones and slates. These rocks come from the Devonian period.
This period was named after Devon by scientists in the 1840s. It is the only time period named after a British county. In central Devon, the granite of Dartmoor forms a kind of "spine" for the area.
The county has also been a place for mining. People have produced tin and copper from the land since ancient times. Tin miners even had their own special group called the Stannary Convocation.
Today, Devon is a very popular place for holidays. The weather is a cool oceanic climate. The North Atlantic Drift helps keep the winters mild.
In the north, the waves at Bideford Bay are great for surfing. People love the beaches at Woolacombe and Saunton.
In the south, people enjoy the rolling hills and small towns. You can find pretty villages with thatched cottages there. Whether you like high cliffs or sandy beaches, Devon has much to see.
Devon is a large ceremonial county located in South West England.
It sits on a peninsula, which gives it the unique feature of having two separate coastlines. To the north, the land meets the Bristol Channel and the Celtic Sea. To the south, the county faces the English Channel.
Devon is a significant part of the British landscape. It is the third largest county by area in England. It also contains more miles of road than any other county in the country. The county is divided into several parts for local government. This includes a non-metropolitan county with eight districts. It also includes the unitary authority areas of Plymouth and Torbay.
The geography of Devon is remarkably varied and complex. The landscape is shaped by high upland moors and deep valleys. Dartmoor National Park lies entirely within the county borders. Exmoor National Park is also located there, though it sits in both Devon and Somerset.
These high moors serve as the source for most of the county's rivers. These include the Taw, the Dart, and the Exe. The longest river in Devon is the Tamar. It rises in the northwest hills and forms most of the border with Cornwall.
The southern coast is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. This area is famous for its tall cliffs. These cliffs reveal layers of Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous geology.
Devon has a very deep history of human occupation. Evidence of humans in Torquay, specifically Kents Cavern, dates back 30,000 to 40,000 years.
During the Iron Age and Roman periods, the area was home to the Dumnonii. The name Dumnonii is thought to mean "deep valley dwellers."
The Romans held the region under military occupation for about 350 years. Later, Anglo-Saxon settlers began moving in from the east around 600 AD. This led to the partial assimilation of the Dumnonia region into the kingdom of Wessex. In 936 AD, King Æthelstan set the western boundary at the River Tamar.
A genetic study by the University of Oxford suggests the Anglo-Saxon migration was limited. This is because genetic groups in Devon and Cornwall remained distinct from the rest of Southern England.
The geology of the county is globally significant. Devon is the only British county used to name a geologic period. The Devonian period was named after the county by scientists in the 1840s.
This period involves rocks that are between 395 and 359 million years old. These include sandstones and shales deposited under tropical seas. Central Devon is defined by a massive granite intrusion called the Cornubian batholith. This granite forms the "spine" of the southwestern peninsula at Dartmoor.
Other rock types include the Culm Measures from the Carboniferous period. These rocks often create a gentler, greener landscape. The eastern parts of the county feature Permian and Triassic sandstones. These sandstones are responsible for the well-known fertile red soils in East Devon.
Industry and resources have shaped Devon for centuries. The county has produced tin, copper, and other metals since ancient times.
Tin miners in Devon held a high level of independence. They were represented by the Stannary Convocation, which existed from the 12th century until 1748. The county has also seen much political and social change. It was involved in many English conflicts, such as the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War. Even the arrival of William of Orange during the Glorious Revolution in 1688 took place at Brixham.
Today, Devon is a major destination for tourism and recreation. The climate is a cool oceanic climate. This is heavily influenced by the North Atlantic Drift. This current helps keep the winters relatively mild.
The south coast features many seaside resorts. Torquay and Paignton are major centers in the south. In the north, the area is more rural with towns like Barnstaple and Ilfracombe.
The North Devon coast offers excellent surfing conditions. This is due to the west-facing Bideford Bay and the Hartland Point peninsula.
Many people visit the beaches at Woolacombe, Saunton, and Westward Ho! to surf.
Devon's landscape offers many different experiences for visitors. You can find high cliffs on the Exmoor coast. The Great Hangman is a famous "hog's-back" hill with a steep cliff-face.
You can also find rolling hills and small towns in South Devon. Places like Dartmouth, Totnes, and Salcombe are popular. Many villages feature traditional thatched cob cottages. Whether exploring the high moors or the dramatic coastline, Devon remains a diverse region.
Where will your curiosity go next?
🖼️ Images & Media (13)
+ 1 more
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.