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Devon's Climate and Geography

Climate
Devon's mild climate makes it an attractive destination for visitors throughout the year. Washed by seas warmed by the Gulf Stream, Devon's coasts enjoy milder winters than the rest of the UK. And in summer, sea breezes generally moderate to a pleasant warmth the sweltering heat suffered by cities.

Spring comes early to Devon, with gardens full of flowers and the occasional butterfly in February and hedgerows awash with wild flowers by March. For sunshine, too, Devon is a winner, with a higher number of sun hours than the rest of the UK. Along the coasts summer's temperatures average a very pleasant 20 degrees celsius, dropping only to around 12 degrees celcius, perfect for allowing the visitor to enjoy the range of activities Devon has to offer.

Some spots can be more chilly - temperatures naturally drop with altitude and Dartmoor certainly bears this out, with temperatures usually some 4 degrees celcius lower than along the coast. Cloud too gathers around the heights, giving heavier rainfall. Much of the coast, however, compares favourably with the rest of Britain for its annual rainfall.

Geography
Devon is rightly proud of its countryside - over 50% of the county is covered by environmental designations, including a UNESCO biosphere reserve, England's only natural World Heritage Site, two National Parks and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Besides being incredibly beautiful, Devon's landscape offers an astonishing encapsulation of Earth's history. The spectacular geological formations of the Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage Site, travel back over 250 million years, spanning the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Dartmoor consists of a massive dome of granite, forced up around 280 million years ago whereas Exmoor is a mass of different layers of rock.

The result of this rich geological combination is the wide variety of landscapes found in Devon, from the bare of expanses of moorland to the rolling hills of the south, deeply indented estuaries and dramatic towering cliffs.