What Yeovil is known for

The largest settlement in the Yeovil Destination is Bristol, the city for which the Bristol Channel is named, as it is located on the shores of the sea. However, Bristol is not only a city, as it also bears a function of the ceremonial county and unitary authority. The town gained importance during the 15th century, when it became one of the significant starting ports of voyages exploring the "New World," America. Willis Memorial Building, Bristol Cathedral, and Clifton Suspension Bridge are among the most visited areas and sites in today's Bristol.[9] 

Moreover, Stonehenge is among some of the most popular and world-renowned places within the Yeovil Destination. The site is a monument from prehistoric times, which can be found in the central part of the region, on the Salisbury Plain. According to archeologists and researchers, Stonehenge was constructed from approximately 3000 BC to 2000 BC. The monument consists of an outer ring of vertically aligned stones weighing about 25 tons, with several rocks placed inside the circle. It is believed that Stonehenge marks a spot of the burial ground, as human bones dating from 3000 BC were discovered in the area. Nowadays, the whole site is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is regarded as a "British cultural icon."[2]

To the south of Yeovil Destination's east coast—in the British Channel—is the only island of the destination, Isle of Wight. Aside from being designated as an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty), the Isle of Wight is presumably known best for the Needles. The Needles Landmark of Isle of Wight is a row of three stacks of chalk rising approximately 30m out of the sea.[10] Boat trips are organized from the island for tourists to see the Needles up close. Apart from the boat rides, a chairlift along the Isle of Wight's coast provides views of the coastline, sea, and the Needles.[11]

Geography

The Yeovil Destination can be found in the eastern part of the South West England region. Counties contributing to the Yeovil Destination are the Bristol Area, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset, and Somerset. To the south, the destination neighbors the English Channel, and located further to the south overseas is France. Part of the Bristol Channel represents the northwestern boundaries of the region. The cities of Bristol and Reading are the last larger cities in the northern direction within the destinations' borders. And finally, the UK's capital, London, can be found east of the Yeovil Destination. Isle of Wight, located to the south in the British Channel, is its own county and represents part of the Yeovil Destination as well. It also is the largest and second most populous island in the UK.[5] 

Within the Yeovil Destination's borders, several protected Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) can be found, such as Dorset AONB, Cranborne Chase AONB, Isle of Wight AONB, North Wessex Downs AONB, and Mendip Hills AONB. Besides the AONBs, two national parks are located in the destination. The South Downs National Park, located in the eastern part of the territory, stretches across approximately 160 hectares, represented mainly by grassland, scrub, mixed woodland, and yew forest. Several endangered, protected species, for example, 11 species of orchids, 39 species of butterfly, badgers, weasels, stoats, and roe or fallow deer, inhabit South Downs territory.[6] A New Forest National Park can be found on the south coast of the Yeovil Destination's territory. The park's main objective is to restore habitats and reduce the disturbance of rare birds. The New Forest National Park comprises wet and dry heaths, mires, bogs, pasture woodland, coniferous plantations, acid grasslands, mixed farmland, and a coastline. Thus, a considerable number of outdoor activities are available to tourists visiting the area.[7] 

The Yeovil Destination is located in the oceanic climate area, characterized by cool winters, warmer summers, and precipitation all year round.[1] The warmest month in Yeovil is July, with an average daily temperature of 22°C, while January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 8°C. April tends to be the driest month in Yeovil, with an average of 49 mm of rainfall. The most precipitation falls during December, with an average of 86 mm.[8]

History

Most of the Yeovil Destination is located in the South West England region, stretching over the counties of Bristol Area, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, Dorset, and Somerset. The whole territory has been populated since prehistoric times, as evidence of the earliest human population can be traced back to the times before the last Ice Age. After the Ice Age, Neolithic people inhabited the territory and built trackways. The Sweet Track from the 39th century BC is thought to be the world's oldest timber trackway.[1] Stonehenge, a world-famous prehistoric monument located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, is one of the proofs of human habitation of the Yeovil Destination during the Neolithic and Bronze Ages.[2]

The largest agglomeration in the Yeovil Destination, Bristol, has also been settled since the paleolithic era. Similarly to the rest of England, Bristol came under Roman rule during the Roman period, which ended with the fall of the Roman Empire. At the beginning of the Middle Ages, Normans ruled over the territory. The Jewish population of Bristol was one of the more important in England. However, discrimination against Jews started soon, and the whole community was finally expelled in 1209. Later, in the 13th century, Bristol developed into one of England's significant ports, exporting mainly woolen cloth and importing wine from France. The 15th century was the time of exploration of new lands. At that time, Bristol became a starting port for John Cabot's voyage of exploration to North America. Over the following years, Bristol and its population grew steadily.[3] The two world wars halted the development, mainly during the Second World War, as Bristol and the adjacent area were heavily raided. In today's time, Bristol's contiguous urban area is inhabited by approximately 587,400 people. Thus, the city is England's sixth most populous metropolitan area.[4]