South Hams

South Hams

      southernmost district in the administrative and historic county of Devon, southwest England. It extends from Dartmoor in the north to the English Channel in the south. Its scenery and rural character attract holiday visitors, retired people, and purchasers of second homes (especially in Stokenham, Salcombe, and Marlborough).

      Part of Dartmoor National Park extends into the northern portion of South Hams. The moor is mainly heathland used extensively for the grazing of sheep, cattle, and ponies. The moor's common grazing land is fringed by irregular fields that have extended up the main river valleys from the ancient peripheral villages. Dartmoor's formerly drier, warmer climate brought considerable settlement during the Bronze Age, and old hut circles, enclosures, field boundaries, and stone monuments still remain.

      The land falls from Dartmoor toward the coast in a series of steps, deeply incised by rivers flowing south from the moor. The steep sides of the valleys are generally wooded, and the floors form rich meadows. In the hedged fields between the rivers, dairying predominates, and Totnes is a centre for collecting, processing, and distributing milk products. Stock rearing is also important. Barley is the main crop; fruit, vegetables, and flowers are also cultivated.

      The coastline extends for 51 miles (82 km) of picturesque headlands, cliffs, estuaries, and bays, forming the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Ports have grown up on the sheltered river mouths. Dartmouth, a historic port on the River Dart, is a yachting centre with marine and light engineering. On the branching Kingsbridge estuary are Salcombe, a holiday and residential town noted for sailing, and Kingsbridge, which has retail and tourist services. Area 342 square miles (887 square km). Pop. (2001) 81,846.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • South Hams — District Lage in Devon Status District Region South West England Verw.grafschaft Devon …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • South Hams — is a local government district on the south coast of Devon, England. It contains the towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, Salcombe, and Totnes, where the district council has its offices.To the north it includes part of Dartmoor National… …   Wikipedia

  • South Hams — Distrito del Reino Unido Ubicación en el condado de Devon …   Wikipedia Español

  • South Hams — 50° 25′ 53″ N 3° 41′ 28″ W / 50.43138889, 3.69111111 …   Wikipédia en Français

  • South Hams local elections — South Hams Council is elected every four years.Political controlIndependent 1973 1983No overall control 1983 1987Conservative 1987 1995No overall control 1995 1999Conservative 1999 presentCouncil electionsSouth Hams Council election 1999South… …   Wikipedia

  • South Hams Radio — Radio station name = South Hams Radio airdate = December 1 1999 frequency = 100.5 MHz, 100.8 MHz, 101.2 MHz, 101.9 MHz share = 8.8% share as of = March 2008 share source = [http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly listening.php] area = South… …   Wikipedia

  • South Hams (UK Parliament constituency) — UK former constituency infobox Name = South Hams Type = County Year = 1983 Abolition = 1997 members = oneSouth Hams was a county constituency based on the South Hams district of Devon. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons… …   Wikipedia

  • Ashford, South Hams — infobox UK place country = England static static image caption= latitude= 50.31 longitude= 03.85 official name =Ashford, South Hams population = shire district= shire county= Devon region= South West England constituency westminster= post town=… …   Wikipedia

  • Bickleigh, South Hams — Bickleigh is a small village on the southern edge of Dartmoor in Devon, England. It has a population of roughly 50 people. It is in the South Hams district, and is about seven miles north of Plymouth city centre.In the village is a 500 year old… …   Wikipedia

  • South West Coast Path — The starting point at Minehead Length 630 miles (1,014 km) Location England: Somerset, Devon, Cornwall …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”