Definition of West country

The West Country is an informal term for the area of southwestern England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. The West Country encompasses the counties of Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset, while the counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire are usually included, and definitions sometimes include even wider areas. The area is mostly rural, with a few notable cities, such as Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth. 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, but not so much today, although the latter still contributes to the economy. The region is most famous for its production of cider, clotted cream and pasties.