The Citadel stands proudly overlooking Plymouth Sound. The views from it are amazing, you can see…read moreRame, Mount Edgcumbe, Jennycliff and Drake's Island. I went to a forces wedding here and it was incredible. The photos were simply stunning.

A famous landmark on Plymouth's Hoe, it was originally built on the Eddystone reef in 1759…read more However, it was removed in the early 1880s when it was found that the sea was undermining the rock underneath. Most of the structure was moved stone by stone to its current place on Plymouth Hoe where it now stands as a memorial to the engineer and designer, John Smeaton. It has been a Grade 1 listed building since 1954. I have lost count of the times I've climbed the 93 steps and ladders up this 72 ft high tower, usually to show a relative or friend the sights of Plymouth Sound and the city when they came to visit! It's open to the public all year round (apart from Christmas and Good Friday).

This artificial ruin was built in 1747 and it replaced an obelisk which had stood there before. It…read morewas built using medieval stones which were salvaged from the churches of St George and St Lawrence in Stonehouse. An artist in the 1800s wrote that the Earl of Edgcumbe had his workers build one folly, blew it up, didn't like how it looked so had it rebuilt and blown up again. This time he was satisfied with the result!! It's possible to climb to the top to appreciate the views of Drake's Island, Plymouth Sound, Breakwater and Embryo Point. I used to go over to Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park quite often and have climbed the folly two or three times. That part of the park is free to ramble around (you need to pay to enter the House and Earl's Garden).

Spectacular views but you may be keeping very dodgy company!…read moreGreat panorama of most of Plymouth Sound in largish car park. Used by OAPs with sandwiches and regular dog walkers but beware the frequent police patrols are not random. A lot of people seem to come here for more irregular activities. Not the harmless young or older couples kissing and cuddling but sinister clusters of cars and vans pulling up at quieter, and not so quiet times, for what seem to be the passing and use of drugs, a bit of 'dogging' and sometimes a spot where working girls take their punters. Enjoy whatever views you are seeking but be aware!

Wonderful if you can find it…read more This property is deep in heart of Devon and it took some doing to get there. Since it was originally constructed as a monastery in 1278, it is in a secluded location. There are many winding roads and narrow lanes en route. But every child spends time learning about the explorers and both of my boys were particularly fascinated by Sir Francis Drake. So when choosing which National Trust homes to visit, the Drake family home seemed like a perfect fit. It turned out to be my favorite. A large part of my (and particularly my son's) enjoyment was due to the educational aspect. Not just some dry lecture, they had a young guy on site in period costume discussing weapons. In particular archery and some of the great military campaigns against the French. Really cool stuff. Inside Buckland Abbey, there is also wonderful information about Sir Francis Drake. Videos about his voyage around the world and his victory over the Spanish Armada. He grew up nearby, then purchased the abbey once he became one of England's most successful explorers and a favorite of the queen. There is a lovely Elizabethan Garden and the barn is used for special events and exhibitions. On the upper floor, there are also outfits that the kids can try on to visualize another time and place. Like many National Trust sites, there is an on-site cafe. We skipped it in favor of seeking out a local tavern and that was a bit of a mistake. This location is truly remote and it was a challenge finding other local options. When we visited London, we saw a replica of Drake's ship, The Golden Hind, moored along the Thames. I only wish my boys were writing their reports on Drake this coming term.

Came here in the late afternoon for a quick visit. Since we're members entrance was free. Our…read moreEnglish Bulldog was welcome on the site as well. The site is very nice and green. Very quiet when we've visited with only a handful of visitors. Surprising. Because even though not the biggest, it is a very interesting and beautiful castle. The big 13th-century round tower was built by Richard, Earl of Cornwall. You can climb up to the top to enjoy the views of the beautiful valley. The castle also served as prison and was also used as the base for the Cornish Royalist defence of the county. A very pleasant visit. Nice history, great surroundings. A small souvenir shop at the entrance as well. We enjoyed it. We parked our car at the nearby Westgate Street Multi-Storey Car Park and Coach Park. Only a few steps away.

This is a is a Norman motte and bailey earthwork castle on a high mound overlooking the town. It…read morewas once the administrative headquarters for the Earls of Cornwall who owned many estates throughout the region. It is thought that a castle was on this spot as early as 1067. In the 12th century a stone keep was constructed and then in the 13th century Richard of Cornwall held the earldom and made many alterations to the castle. After his death his son moved the administration to Lostwithiel which resulted in the castle's gradual decline in importance. It later became a prison for a time. Worth a visit if you are in the area, especially to see the views from the top. There is a nearby castle shop as well for souvenirs.

The Hoe is a really good park to chill for a hour or 2…read more.. Great view of the Plymouth Sound and Drake Island. A few monuments scattered around the Park... Most noticeably the Smeaton's Tower which is the upper portion of John Smeaton's Eddystone Lighthouse, which was originally built on the Eddystone Rocks (22.5 km south) in 1759. It was dismantled in 1877 and moved, stone by stone, to the Hoe where it was re-erected. Tinside Pool is a unique 1935 Art Deco lido, outdoor swimming pool for the public to enjoy from June to end of September. Local festivities and carnivals also held in the Park during summer. Plymouth Hoe is where the locals and visitors all have a great time!

I enjoyed a walk around Plymouth Hoe. A lot of people out and about. A lot of dogs and kids as…read morewell. A great place to spend a sunny afternoon. A few monuments scattered throughout. Walk all the way to the end and see the awesome view of the water!

A lovely Tudor estate in the English countryside, I have to admit that I enjoyed the outside more…read morethan the inside. The National Trust site describes the house as "festooned with tapestries," but that is an understatement. In some rooms they overlap on the walls and cover the doors making it both dark and a little claustrophobic. I definitely got a haunted house sort of feeling. The first room we entered in the main house was filled with interesting relics, including partial sets of armor, taxidermy and weaponry. The kitchens in these stately homes are always fascinating. But, the rest of the house, I found a little creepy (maybe it was the little windows/peepholes). It didn't help that the docents were a little terse. There are informational binders in all of the rooms, so you don't need to rely on them for information. My son's absolutely favorite part of our visit was Prospect Tower. Built as a folly prior to a royal visit, if you climb the narrow staircase to the top, there are lovely views of the countryside, River Tamar and aqueduct. The gardens are beautifully maintained and the Discovery Center down the hill at Cotehele Quay provides more educational opportunities and there is a Cornish ice cream stand. We ended up preferring our time at Buckland Abbey in Devon, but if you want to view tapestries and don't mind a little poltergeist or two, this is well worth the visit.

This National Trust property is offering quite a bit for its money. It has the main house in all…read moreits glory (tapestry galore I just say), with a great upper and lower garden. It also has a quay as well as a mill. We did it all and it took us some time, as each areas is very well presented and has a lot of interesting information. I especially liked the folks at the mill, who were very eager to explain the history and the workings of the water wheel powered mill.

During my stay in Devon and Cornwall, my most memorable visits were to several grand estates. This…read moreone was special because my family lives just down the road and it has some of the loveliest views of Plymouth across the River Tamar. You can visit the grounds (865 acres) for free, so my review is limited to that experience. For a fee you can visit the Mount Edgcumbe House and Earl's Garden. There is no garden like an English garden. This one was absolutely lovely since there were so many different and distinct areas as you rambled through the large estate. The manicured Italian and French Gardens led to the more rambling American Garden with a geyser in the middle. But really the most interesting for my son were the battery, with cannons, pointing out over the river. There is a Block House nearby that helps a child imagine defending the estate against all intruders.

One of the nicest places for a walk in the area with some great views. It's worth seeing the…read moreinteresting buildings within the park including the 18th century Folly, the Doric Thomson's Seat and the circular Milton's Temple. There are some lovely woodland trails to follow, many of which are suitable for everyone including wheelchair users. There are formal gardens too and the lovely Orangery and restaurant is well worth a visit.

A real little hidden gem - hardly changed for a 100 years. The fort is more of a cross of a…read morebarracks and a fort - I'm sure nobody ever expected it to be used. Probably built to keep the army high profile and using money - but it inspires the imagination. The 19th century army comes to life, there are passageways and tunnels to explore, cannons to climb on and a huge parade ground to drill your kids on. A grand and interesting place to run around in and while away an afternoon.