Online Information for Backpackers about PLYMOUTH!

There is no better time to visit Plymouth than right now! The Plymouth Summer Festival runs right through from May to September and offers a plethora of local, national and international events throughout the city. Justice to the jam-packed programme can't possibly be done and so here is a mere taster:

June 15th: Mega Ride - The UK’s largest charity motorcycle ride with over 8000 bikers taking part!

July 4th: Jimmy Carr - This British Comedy Award winner is doing what he does best with a brand new show 'Repeat Offender'.

July 5th: Fat Face Night Series - A number of night-time dinghy sprints with spot lights flooding the sea.

August 12th-13th: British Fireworks Championships ­ An explosive display from British Fireworks Teams all competing against each other for your viewing pleasure.

And, there's plenty more fun-filled festivities to get your teeth into!

by Luke Bell

SIDE TRIP TO SALTASH

Hop on the ferry for a scenic journey passing the naval dockyard to Saltash. This river crossing dates all the way back to Roman times! Known as 'The Gateway to Cornwall', Saltash is a charming little town in a scenic setting.

It has a small high street with a treasure trove of shops and a range of traditional pubs offering hearty British food.

Elliott’s Stores is an authentic 1970s shop now run as a museum. It’s open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Trematon Castle is a ruin dating back to the Norman Conquest. It has a shell wall 10 feet thick and 30 feet high. The treasures plundered by Sir Francis Drake on his round-the-world voyage were stored here.

Also worth a visit is Mary Newman Cottage: dating back 450 years, this is the preserved cottage of Sir Francis Drake’s wife. It is open from April 7th on Wednesdays and at weekends.

by Luke Bell