Agatha Christie & Charles Dickens : Devon

The English Riviera offers scenic beauty on a world-class scale, which is probably why its literary connections are equally feted. So join us as we take a mystery tour of literary Devon.

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Devon

The gentle climate, fresh sea air and sandy bays make life on the English Riviera a refreshingly breezy affair. In fact the Devon way of life accentuates positivity to such a degree that when in search of darker themes, its most famous literary resident had to make them up! So when taking a literary tour of Agatha Christie's Devon you may well be dwelling on the author's fascination with nefarious deeds, but you'll find the surrounding bright skies, sparkling waters and golden sands make for a more than adequate contrast.

• Find cottages in Devon
• There are hundreds of cottages throughout Devon
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• Download a FREE Audiobook TODAY!
• Choose from over 40,000 audiobooks. Ideal for that long car journey to a cottage holiday. Transferrable to many SatNav units, MP3 players including the iPod, and mobile phones. www.audible.co.uk/cottages4u

Top spots: where did the authors find inspiration?

• Greenway, Galmpton, near Brixham
  Agatha Christie's holiday home in Devon, now open to visitors by the National Trust.
  visit location in our maps >>
• Agatha Christie walk, Torquay
  A walk from the tourist information office taking in 10 landmarks associated with the author.
  visit location in our maps >>
• Dartmoor
  Location for The Hound of the Baskervilles. Arthur Conan Doyle/ Sherlock Holmes.
  visit location in our maps >>
• The Tarka Line, Exeter
  39 miles of land where Tarka the Otter was set.
  visit location in our maps >>
• The Turk's Head, Exeter
  Pub frequented by Charles Dickens, where he got the inspiration for some of his characters.
  visit location in our maps >>

• Yetson Barn : Ashprington
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• Sleeps 7-9
• This beautiful stone barn conversion is set in a tranquil location near Bow Bridge.
• More details>

• Palm Cottage : Galmpton
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• Sleeps 2
• Situated in the heart of Galmpton, home of Agatha Christie.
• More details>

• Lower Towsington Cottage
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• Sleeps 5
• A 300-year-old, thatched cottage is situated on the edge of Exminster.
• More details>

• The Tree House : Doddiscombleigh
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• Sleeps 4
• In the heart of the Teign Valley, 10 minutes from the coast.
• More details>

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  Play Sample
• Dickens - Great Expectations - Devon
  Great Expectations is regarded as one of the greatest and most sophisticated novels by Charles Dickens Serialised between December 1860 to August 1861, it tells the heartwarming story of Pip, a poor boy who gets an unexpected chance to move up in society
• Get Audio book >

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• Agatha Christie's Devon
  Bret Hawthorne has created a book which fans of Agatha Christie will find adds so much to their appreciation of her writing, while for others it simply provides an exciting means of exploring the area and coming across little known gems in the Devoncountryside.
• Find out more >

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• Devon (Best of Britain): Accessible, Contemporary Guides by Local Experts
  Rolling hills, lush farmland, thatched cottages, pretty country pubs, dramatic rivers, unique double coastline, wild seascapes, picturesque fishing villages, historic harbour towns, stunning beaches. Devon offers the best of Britain in one county. But modern Devon also offers stylish restaurants set up by the likes of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Damien Hirst and Michael Caines, cool new boutique B&Bs and chic urban hotels. and all the modern facilities and quirky attractions to create a perfect break however long you stay.
• Find out more >

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• Pocket Pub Walks Devon
  This is a pocket-size collection of fifteen circular walks each based on a local pub serving good food. It includes routes near Ilfracombe, Chulmleigh, North Tawton, Seaton, Hexworthy and Totnes, with maps and photographs.
  
  
• Find out more >

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• Perfect Devon
  An absolutely fabulous book. Jen Bryant has captured Devon in all its beauty & glory.
• A timeless book that not only shows Devon as being a wonder of the modern world, but it is testimony to Jen's patience and dedication as her eye for a photographic moment is unrivalled. "D.Hurst"
• Find out more >

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• Devon (AA 50 Walks Series)
  Walking is one of Britain's favourite leisure activities, and this guide features a variety of mapped walks to suit all abilities. The book features all the practical detail you need, accompanied by fascinating background reading on the history and wildlife of Devon, as well as other local points of interest. All walks are annotated with places to visit along the way, including tea rooms and pubs, with extra details on their character and the food on offer.
• Every walk is given a summary of distance, time, gradient, level of difficulty, type of surface and access, landscape, dog friendliness, parking and public toilets.
• Find out more >