West Country

• Type: Geographical Region
• Location: South West England
• Owner/Residents: The region is home to numerous Wizarding families, including the Weasley family, the Lovegood family, the Diggory family, the Fawcett family, and formerly the Potter family and the Dumbledore family. Bathilda Bagshot was also a notable resident.
• Key Features: A large rural area with a significant, though hidden, wizarding population. It contains several important magical settlements and homes, most notably Godric's Hollow and the community around Ottery St Catchpole.

The West Country is a real region in the south-west of England, known in the wizarding world for its high concentration of magical families who have lived there for generations. Many wizards and witches choose to settle in this area, living in small, tight-knit communities that are often hidden from their Muggle neighbours. The region's rolling hills, secluded villages, and ancient history make it an ideal place for wizards to live discreetly. The area encompasses several counties, including Devon, where The Burrow is located, and Cornwall, the location of Shell Cottage. Its most famous wizarding settlement is Godric's Hollow, a village of immense historical importance. The presence of so many magical families in one region suggests a long history of wizards and witches favouring the West Country as a place to call home, far from the bustling Muggle metropolis of London.

The West Country is the setting for some of the most significant and personal events in the series, often representing the concepts of 'home' and 'family' in contrast to the institutional setting of Hogwarts.

• The Burrow: Located near Ottery St Catchpole, the Weasley family's home serves as a second home for Harry Potter. It is a place of warmth, love, and safety for much of the series, and the site of key planning meetings for the Order of the Phoenix, Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour's wedding, and a Death Eater attack during the Second Wizarding War.
• Godric's Hollow: As Harry's birthplace and the site of his parents' murder by Lord Voldemort, Godric's Hollow is a location of profound importance. It is also the birthplace of Godric Gryffindor and the final resting place of Ignotus Peverell, the Potters, and the Dumbledores. Harry and Hermione Granger's visit in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a pivotal moment, where they discover more about Albus Dumbledore's past and narrowly escape an ambush by Voldemort and Nagini.
• The Lovegood House: The quirky home of Xenophilius Lovegood and Luna Lovegood is where the trio first learns the full legend of the Deathly Hallows. Their visit ends in a destructive confrontation when Xenophilius attempts to betray them to the Ministry of Magic.
• Stoatshead Hill: This landmark near The Burrow served as the location for a Portkey that transported the Weasleys, Diggorys, Harry, and Hermione to the 1994 Quidditch World Cup.

• Godric's Hollow: A celebrated wizarding village in the West Country, once home to Godric Gryffindor, Bowman Wright, the Dumbledore family, Bathilda Bagshot, and the Potter family.
• Ottery St Catchpole: A Muggle village in Devon near which live a number of wizarding families, including the Weasleys, Lovegoods, Diggorys, and Fawcetts.
• The Burrow: The home of the Weasley family, situated just outside Ottery St Catchpole.
• Lovegood House: The cylindrical, rook-shaped home of the Lovegood family, located on a hill near Ottery St Catchpole.
• Stoatshead Hill: A large hill near The Burrow used as a Portkey point.
• Tinworth: A coastal village in Cornwall, where Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour resided at Shell Cottage.

• In interviews, J.K. Rowling has stated that she populated the West Country with many wizarding families because the real-world region is rich in folklore and has a “magical” reputation. Her own upbringing near the area influenced this choice. (J.K. Rowling interview)
• The film adaptations used several real-world locations to portray West Country settings. The village of Lacock in Wiltshire was used as a filming location for parts of Godric's Hollow in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. (film) Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire, Wales, was the filming location for Shell Cottage and Dobby's grave. (film)