The
West Country is a loosely defined area of south western
England, often regarded as encompassing the historic counties of
Cornwall,
Devon,
Dorset,
Somerset, and the
City and County of Bristol, while the counties of
Gloucestershire and
Wiltshire, and the
Isles of Scilly, are also often included. Some usages of the term include wider areas, while others are more specific, though with little consistency of definition.