Geography
The area covered by the various definitions of West Country is mostly rural, with only a few sizeable towns and cities, such as Bristol, Bournemouth, Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, Cheltenham, Swindon, and Gloucester. Tourism and agriculture, especially dairy farming, play a significant role in the economy. The landscape is principally granite moorland in the west, and chalk and limestone downland and clay vales in the east. Historically, tin mining and the fishery were sources of income and employment in the west of the area, but less so today, although the latter still contributes to the economy. The region is traditionally famous for its production of cider, clotted cream, and pasties, but now at least equally well known for the Glastonbury Festival and other attractions.
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