Exmoor National Park Centres Our National Park Centres in Lynmouth, Dunster and Dulverton are a great first port of call for your Exmoor adventure. From best-loved beauty spots to experiences you wouldn't want to miss; our friendly team will be happy to share their wealth of knowledge about the National Park, in person or by phone or email.
elcome to the 2022 issue of Exmoor Visitor. Exmoor has long been known for its wild open moors, ancient woodlands, picturesque villages and dramatic coastline. But it’s heartwarming to learn from last year’s visitor survey – the first since the pandemic – that more of you than ever are coming to experience the magic of our night Sarah Bryan skies and to sample the wealth of local Chief Executive Officer Exmoor National Park Authority delicacies produced right here on the moor. We have a whole section in this year’s issue dedicated to Exmoor’s new Dark Sky Discovery Trail, taking you on an exhilarating stroll into one of the very darkest places in the National Park. Our dark sky friendly businesses are also here to help you explore deeper and experience more from Exmoor’s status as an International Dark Sky Reserve. Look out too for the Produced In Exmoor branding, highlighting the wide range of delicious food and local products available from our farmers and rural crafters. Many local producers place sustainable and ethical practices at the heart of the goods they produce. Buying these products in turn supports their vital contribution towards crafting our beautiful landscape. Exmoor is renowned as a walker’s paradise and no doubt many of you will have been inspired to make regular walking a bigger part of your lives after the lockdowns. We are immensely proud to have one of the best maintained rights of way networks in country, with 1,300 km of public paths waiting to be discovered. Not sure where to start? Then our ten easy Explorer Walks are for you. If there is one silver lining to the pandemic, it’s in the more diverse range of visitors now discovering Exmoor. Our national parks are sometimes referred to as the ‘natural health service’ since we share a common goal to improve the health and wellbeing of the nation. We’ll again have more rangers on the ground this year to help empower everyone to share the beauty of this place responsibly. Alongside our rangers are our dedicated National Park Centre staff, who are very much the ‘Exmoor Experts’ and here to help you get the most from your experience. Do take time to visit for some friendly advice at one of our awardwinning National Park Centres in Lynmouth, Dunster and Dulverton. No time to visit in person? Then our online shop may be for you: shop.exmoornationalpark.gov.uk. It’s our mission to deliver a National Park that is healthier, greener and even more beautiful for future generations and you can also read here about some of our flagship projects. None of this would be possible without our partners and specialist teams whose job it is to monitor, research and reveal all that is special about Exmoor. Small change quickly adds up to big change and your generous donations to CareMoor for Exmoor are also crucial to this vital work. Whatever brings you, we look forward to sharing this beauty with you to make Exmoor’s story part of your story too.
You’ll find all the supplies you need for a great day out, from practical maps, guides and wildlife identification sheets, to souvenirs, gifts and locally crafted products to remind you of your visit. They also have a variety of interactive displays, and Dunster and Lynmouth have their own film theatres showing a range of short films in full HD to inform and inspire. Don’t have time to shop in person? You can now buy online at: shop.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
Start your Exmoor adventure here…
National Park Centre, Lynmouth The Pavilion, The Esplanade, Lynmouth, Devon. EX35 6EQ.
National Park Centre, Dunster Dunster Steep, Dunster, Somerset. TA24 6SE.
National Park Centre, Dulverton 7-9 Fore Street, Dulverton, Somerset. TA22 9EX.
01598 752509
01643 821835
01398 323841
NPCLynmouth @exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
NPCDunster @exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
NPCDulverton @exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
We asked Lynmouth NPC co-manager, Julian Gurney what he loves most about the job:
I love sharing my passion for walking on Exmoor. I’m enthused by its wildlife and landscape and it’s great to be able to share that knowledge with others. I get a lot of satisfaction when someone I’ve offered advice to comes back to say, ‘thank you, I really enjoyed that.’ Meeting new people, visitors and locals to Exmoor is a real pleasure. An ad hoc conversation on a quiet day can be as informative for me as I hope it is for them. Many who use the Centre have a brilliant sense of humour and I find much of the day is filled with laughter; indeed, I can find my myself chuckling on the way home as I recall some of the witticisms of the day. Favourite Place: It's difficult to pick a favourite place on Exmoor, it very much depends on my mood and the time of year. In truth there’s not much I don’t like about it. However, if forced to choose I would cheat a little and say the South West Coast Path, all of it from Minehead to Combe Martin. It has it all, moorland, spectacular views across the Bristol Channel, villages, wooded valleys, waterfalls and, above all, it’s great for spotting wildlife..
Cover image: Dunkery Beacon Milky Way by Richard Presley richpresley.co Exmoor Visitor is published by Exmoor National Park Authority Editor: Ailsa Stevens, astevens@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk Advertising by West Somerset Free Press: ria@tindlenews.co.uk Facebook: /ExmoorNP
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Twitter: @ExmoorNP
Instagram: exmoor_national_park
IN THE NEWS…
A round-up of how we’ve made headlines:
New economic vision A new shared vision for Exmoor’s future economy launched in 2021, following two years of research and consultation with businesses, communities, and stakeholders. A key focus is to build community wealth by directing benefits and ownership back into the local community, with success measured not only in economic terms, but also relative to the value gained for Exmoor’s environment and communities. See Rural Enterprise Exmoor on our website and social media. Farming in Protected Landscapes Farmers and land managers across England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) can now apply to for funding through Defra’s Farming In Protected Landscapes programme. The initiative has been set up to support one-off projects that promote nature recovery, mitigate against climate change, boost nature-friendly farming and improve people’s access to and understanding of these special landscapes. White Rock Cottage Historic buildings in Simonsbath central to the story of Exmoor’s former Royal Forest have been signed over to a new Trust to plan their future use by the community. It follows an 8-year project led by the National Park Authority to restore ‘White Rock Cottage’ and neighbouring Ashcombe gardens and uncover the extraordinary role that the Knight family played in shaping the Exmoor landscape after acquiring the estate in 1818.
Art & landscapes study Exmoor’s most painted views from history have been analysed by a leading university academic as part of a study to track landscape change in the National Park. The findings highlight Lynmouth, the Valley of Rocks and Dunster as artistic hotpots and reveal how strikingly unchanged some of Exmoor’s most celebrated views have remained over centuries, with much of its rich natural and cultural heritage intact. Watch this space for future talks, exhibitions and resources delving into the findings.
Plastic Free Exmoor Local businesses and communities are getting behind a campaign to make Exmoor the first National Park to be wholly accredited under the Surfers Against Sewerage Plastic Free Communities scheme. All those signed up have committed to cutting single use plastic from their day-to-day activities and spreading the plastic free word to inspire others. Look out for Plastic Free Exmoor wooden plaques and certificates on display in participating businesses around the region and do take any steps you can to support our plastic free mission. Pinkery decarbonisation fund Our Pinkery Centre for Outdoor Learning welcomes around 2,000 school children a year and is set to benefit from over £100,000 of funding from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy supported by Salix towards measures to make the off-grid site carbon neutral. The funding will allow installation of a biomass boiler, energy saving measures and increased renewable energy capacity adding to the existing wind turbine and solar panels. This will save an estimated 30 tonnes of carbon a year with the goal of creating a centre of excellence for learning about sustainability and renewable technologies.
England coast path Our access and rights of way team has been working with landowners to obtain planning permission for a number of variations to the coast path aimed at improving sea views. It forms part of a scheme by Natural England to establish the England Coast Path as the longest unbroken coastal path in the world, spanning 2,795 miles around the whole coast of England. Award winning National Park Centres Our National Park Centre in Dunster was recognised as one of the top Visitor Information Services in the region, having scooped a silver award in the Bath, Bristol and Somerset Tourism Awards. It is the second of our three centres to become award-winning, after National Park Centre Lynmouth won awards in both the Devon and South West Tourism Awards last year. Climate action plan Exmoor National Park Authority has approved a climate action plan setting out important steps towards the organisation reaching net zero by 2030 and our ambition to lead climate action across the National Park as a whole. Measures include practical changes, such as changing all lighting to LED bulbs and further improving building energy efficiency, as well as reducing emissions from travel and beginning the switch to electric vehicles. It follows the declaration of a Climate Emergency in 2019.
GET EXMOOR DELIVERED Our new online shop brings Exmoor to your home. Souvenirs, maps, guides, books and more are Orde available for home delivery. r T shop.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/
oday
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Our shared promise Our connection to the natural world is part of being human. It’s precious and vital to our wellbeing and the health of our planet. The Countryside Code is a few simple steps to keep it special. For people, for nature, for everyone.
Respect everyone l Be considerate to those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside l Leave gates and property as you find them l Do not block access to gateways or driveways when parking l Be nice, say hello, share the space with other users l Follow local signs and keep to marked paths unless wider access is available
Protect the environment l Take your litter home - leave no trace of your visit l Take care with BBQs and do not light fires l Always keep dogs under control and in sight l Dog poo - bag it and bin it - any public waste bin will do l Care for nature - do not cause damage or disturbance
Enjoy the outdoors l Check your route and local conditions l Plan your adventure - know what to expect and what you can do l Stick to designated sites for camping and motorhomes
Illustration by Richard Allen.
l Enjoy your visit, have fun, make a memory
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Exmoor is a wonderful destination for wildlife. Here’s a taster of the incredible encounters that await you and how you can help protect nature.
Top tips for nature lovers
How to have a Great Wildlife Experience
Where to spot: Winsford Hill and Brendon Common are good choices, especially when the heather blooms in late summer.
DEER - Many people come to Exmoor in Autumn to observe the rutting season. This is when groups of red deer come together as stags (male red deer) to compete for the attention of groups of female hinds in displays of dominance. Look and listen out for aggressive bellowing (known locally as ‘bolving’) and the occasional clash of antlers.
Listen out in Spring for the characteristic call of the cuckoo, and the return of other migratory visitors such as swallows, swifts and house martins, screeching and careering madly around rooftops and houses. Skylarks are also common and often heard before they are seen, by their distinctive high-pitched song high over open moorland.
Skylark, Chris Gomersall rspb-images.com.jpg
Ground nesting birds lay their eggs in the spring and are known to abandon them if disturbed. To give them the space they need, keep dogs on a lead between 1 March and 31 July, and stick to paths. Never feed the animals. Being fed by humans changes their natural behaviour and can make them ill or even increase the chances of them being involved in road collisions. Sign up on iNaturalist. Upload your photos to ‘National Parks UK LookWild’ on the iNaturalist app and our growing community of nature enthusiasts will help you identify what you’ve found. To find out more about Exmoor’s wildlife, pick up a free Pocket Guide in our National Park Centres.
Where to spot: Molland or West Anstey commons for moorland species or Porlock Marsh for wetlands.
AQUATIC LIFE - Investigate almost any body of water on Exmoor and you’ll discover each contains its own little world. One of the first signs of spring approaching is the frogspawn that accumulates in puddles and standing pools of water around the moor. Peering into rockpools, you may find snakelocks anemone with its neon green and purple tentacles, a hermit crab finding a new home or marine molluscs, like the dog whelk, attached to the side of a rock. Stream dipping with a net and bucket can reveal caddisfly and dragonfly larvae, freshwater snails, rare aquatic jelly lichen and even the odd minnow or crayfish. Always carefully return any creatures to where you found them.
Baby deer (calves) are born in June and July. For a few days the calf will lie quietly, well-camouflaged with dappled spots on its russet coat looking like sunlight on dead bracken. If you do see a calf do not touch it or the mother may abandon it. Soon it will be strong enough to run with the herd. Where to spot: Prayway Head or Cloutsham Gate. Look out for Autumn deer walks on our website or why not book a wildlife safari?
Keep dogs on a lead around all livestock, including ponies, and pick up any dog mess. Drop the lead if cattle are spooked.
Where to spot: Lee Abbey beach, Lynmouth and Combe Martin all offer excellent opportunities for rockpooling. For stream dipping try Tarr Steps, Horner Water or the approach to Heddon’s mouth.
Question: Which of these is the most dangerous animal on Exmoor? (answer below) Longhorn Cattle
Tick
Adder
Exmoor Beast
Answer: Ticks may cause up to 8,000 cases of Lyme Disease in the UK every year and the incidence is rising. Enjoy the outdoors but #BeTickAware
Far from just a tourist attraction, these animals have an important job, helping to improve biodiversity and quell problem plants wherever they graze.
BIRDS - Birdwatching on Exmoor can be extremely rewarding. A good pair of binoculars will help with identification and can be purchased from our National Park Centres. However, they aren’t essential, and the main enjoyment comes from simply being out in nature and slowing your pace to take it all in.
Tick removers are available to purchase from National Park Centres.
PONIES - Exmoor ponies, one of Britain’s ancient native pony breeds, can easily be spotted grazing all around the moors. But don’t be fooled into thinking they are completely wild. The movement of herds is carefully restricted through a system of gates and cattle grids. These allow breeding to be controlled and monitored by a dedicated network of herd owners, making it important that you close the gates.
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A night walking adventure for all the family Exmoor’s Dark Sky Discovery Trail is an easy 2-mile walk taking you to the heart of Exmoor’s dark sky zone. Let the glow-in-the-dark waymarkers guide you as you as you experience 360-degree views of the night sky with not a single point source of artificial light visible. We sent Communications Officer Ailsa Stevens on a family visit to test out the route. One warm September evening last year, myself and two very excited small boys set out to be amongst the first to try the National Park’s new Dark Sky Discovery Trail. The route launched in autumn 2021 at the start of Exmoor’s fifth Dark Sky Festival - the same year the National Park marked ten years as an International Dark Sky Reserve. Billed in the accompanying guide as ‘an easy walk under Exmoor’s dark skies to Larkbarrow ruins’, the two-mile route starts on the high moors between Exford and Porlock, at the heart of National Park’s dark sky zone – a core area conserved for its minimal light pollution. On a clear night it provides the chance to experience 360-degree views of near pristine starlit skies in one of the darkest places in the country. Exmoor’s status as Europe’s oldest dark sky reserve also affords a wealth of benefits for nocturnal wildlife, such as insects, owls and 16 of the UK’s 17 breeding species of bat. We arrived just as the sun was setting, in nearperfect conditions for a night-time adventure. As we set off along the wide, stony path, under almostcloudless skies, there was barely a breath of wind and for once the forecast had held true.
As the moment came for us to leave, we pulled out our red-light torches, which have the advantage of preserving night vision. I’m told you can achieve much the same effect by strapping the red wrapper of a well-known cheese over the end of a white torchlight! Months on and the exhilaration of that night is still a topic of conversation in our house – memories that I hope will contribute to a lifelong passion for outdoor adventure. I urge anyone with a love of Exmoor and nature’s treasures to discover the wonder of Exmoor’s exceptionally dark night skies and add this experience to their bucket list. At intervals amongst the long, shaggy purple moor grass we spied the backs of sheep grazing and on the path was ‘evidence’ that a large herd of cattle had passed through, who were now staring back at us in the distance. My sons were excited to climb up every bank and patch of raised ground to wonder at just how far they could see, the humidity and expanse reminiscent of a great African plain. The route is marked out with beautifully carved traditional waymarker signs that are just as easy to follow by night as by day thanks to their luminescent paint. One mile from the road a distinctive engraved post marks Larkbarrow ruins, the best place for stargazing and the remote midway point of the walk. Here we stopped to set up a picnic of hot chocolate and cookies, and snuggled up on a blanket to watch the first stars appear. It wasn’t long before Saturn revealed itself, soon joined by Jupiter and then a torrent of tiny pinpricks with the long train of the Milky Way easily visible to the naked eye. We could have used binoculars, but it wasn’t necessary to feel the deep sense of awe that soon came over us as we contemplated our place in this vast, inky darkness. I could tell my boys felt it too because there was a rare moment of silence after the excitement of arrival. Looking around the skyline, not a single point of artificial light was visible, making for a timeless experience – one that spanned millennia and had been shared across generations of humans.
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FIND OUT MORE More information about the walk can be found at exmoorwalks.org/darksky - where you can also watch a short film previewing the route, order a trail guide (£1) and find links to OS mapping. The guide (above) is available to buy in National Park Centres at Dulverton, Dunster and Lynmouth, where it’s also possible to rent a telescope.
This article first appeared in the Spring 2022 issue of Exmoor Magazine, which is available in local shops throughout the area, online at exmoormagazine.co.uk and on social media @exmoormagazine. It is reproduced here by kind permission of the editor. Photos by Will Gater (willgaterastrophotography.com)
How dark are our night skies?
Experience the stars with a Dark Sky Friendly Business If you’re used to viewing the night sky from a builtup area, then the wonder of seeing thousands of stars and planets under a truly dark sky can be a truly magical experience. Our Dark Sky Friendly business scheme is here to help you get the most from the experience, with more than twenty businesses now offering exclusive stargazing experiences and stays.
Exmoor National Park
All those accredited to the scheme have undergone expert training on the importance of dark skies and how to help visitors make the most of them through a range of unforgettable night-time experiences. As well as offering astronomy advice and guides, some accommodation providers also have specialist equipment such as telescopes and binoculars available for you to use during your stay. Wild About Exmoor, run by Jennie and Malcolm Wild, was among the first local businesses to gain accreditation through the scheme. They run popular stargazing suppers every Thursday from Exford Bridge Tea Rooms – the first of several ‘Dark Sky Discovery Hubs’ planned for the National Park. A range of more exclusive guided stargazing experiences can also be arranged for small groups, see website for details: www.wildaboutexmoor.com
The answer is exceptionally dark! Exmoor is one of the few truly dark places left in Southern Britain. Less than 100 years ago, everyone could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky. Now, millions of children across the globe will never experience the Milky Way where they live. Yet on Exmoor the benefits of a pristine night sky are still clearly evident – from the magic of the Milky Way in summer, to the bats, moths, glow worms and array of nocturnal wildlife that thrive here.
Annual readings of the night sky quality indicate it is sufficiently dark to be regarded as ‘silver tier’ by the International Dark Skies Association. This is reflected in the Bortle scale, which astronomers use to quantify how easily celestial objects can be seen in the night sky in terms of the interference caused by light pollution.
Jennie Wild said: “As daylight hours reduce, autumn and winter are ideal seasons for stargazing and visitors are encouraged to plan a visit to experience the wonders of the milky way and other astronomical sights that are visible with the naked eye on a clear night. From learning to recognise some basic constellations to using telescopes to see deep sky objects, the possibilities are endless.” Stargazing can be a wonderful experience on Exmoor at any time of year, but don’t forget in the height of summer you might have to stay up very late for it to get truly dark. The Exmoor Dark Skies Festival in autumn when the nights are longer can be a particularly exciting time to visit and this year takes place from 13th to 30th October 2022. During the festival events suitable for all ages and levels of experience take place across the National Park. Book your accommodation early. Our Dark Sky Friendly businesses are here to help guide and advise you and are listed online at: www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/stargazing
On Exmoor there are many suitable sites for stargazing rated as Bortle scale 1 and 2, compared to an inner city reading of 9. These are all excellent places to set up a telescope and are listed in an Astronomers Guide available on the website and National Park Centres. In it are hints and tips on lunar, constellation, deep sky and summer Milky Way observations. Much can still be seen with the naked eye, however, and a pocket guide is also available for those newer to stargazing. The National Park Authority has strict policies that mean dark sky friendly lighting is often a condition of planning consent. This extends to development in neighbouring areas. Last year this meant adjustments to lighting were a condition of planning consent in 69 cases, with more stringent steps required depending on how close the development is to the core dark sky zone. Despite tight controls, it remains that a minimal background sky glow is ever present in the National Park from surrounding towns and cities, with the greatest area being generated from across the Bristol Channel along the South Wales coastline. The National Park must work hard to protect its status as an International Dark Sky Reserve, a designation it earned in 2011 when it was the first in Europe. It is now one of 195 dark sky places worldwide who are all committed to the importance of dark skies for humans and the planet.
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Photographer Shaun Davey’s stunning image of sunset at Porlock Marsh in Exmoor National Park was chosen as the winner of the Campaign for National Parks Photography Competition 2021, which focused on documenting climate change in National Parks. Shaun had these words to share on his winning image. Tell us more about your winning image when/how you captured it etc... Porlock Marsh is a salt marsh on the Exmoor coast. With its skeletal trees and hedges it seems an ancient landscape, but the marsh is only 25 years old; it was previously agricultural land. Porlock Marsh was formed when the National Trust and the Environment Agency took the controversial decision to ‘let nature take its course’ when the shingle ridge protecting the area from the sea was breached in a storm in 1996. The marsh is now a haven for wildlife and an Site Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). We will have difficult decisions to take as the effects of climate change are felt, and Porlock Marsh is an example of how such changes can be managed successfully. The marsh is now an outstanding location for photographers, walkers and birdwatchers. The image shows a sunset across the flooded marsh at high tide - the breach is clearly visible beyond the more distant tree. Because I live fairly close to the location, I can pick and choose the occasions that I go to photograph it. I am a bit nerdy, and compile an annual calendar of times when there will be a high spring tide close to sunset and sunrise - so I know when the conditions might be right. You need a 10 metre plus tide to get the water as high as it was that evening. The precise date and location of this image is 8 June 2020 at around 9pm, at SS87844739. The image is a multishot panorama, stitched in Adobe Lightroom. How do you feel being chosen as the overall winner? Delighted and flattered. It’s really nice to have an image recognised nationally in this way. 8 Exmoor Visitor 2022
Tell us about your relationship with Exmoor National Park? I was brought up in the area and we moved back to Exmoor about eight years ago - so I have a very strong connection. I think Exmoor is an outstandingly beautiful location - the sheer range of landscape types is incredible in such a small area: open moorland with peat bogs, deep wooded valleys, agricultural land, coastline and, of course, salt marsh. How did you get into photography and how have you developed your skills? I used a 35mm film camera and dabbled with a wet darkroom when I was younger, but I came back to (digital) photography when I semi-retired a few years ago. I try to capture what I see, and produce images that best reflect my memory of the scene. I am constantly learning, and try to look for better ways to produce impactful images. Why do you think climate change is important when it comes to National Parks? All wild areas will feel the impact of climate change in ways which may be devastating and might change them fundamentally. However, it’s important to also see the positive contribution that National Parks can make to managing climate change - such as how we respond to rising sea levels; how we manage extreme weather events and rainfall; how we can restore/preserve peat bogs as carbon-sinks; and how we can provide low-impact grazing for meat production. In addition the parks have a strong educational role, in alerting visitors to the effects of climate change and, through that, modifying the behaviour of those visitors. Those who appreciate
the natural world are more likely to try to avoid damaging it further. National Parks will inevitably be negatively affected by climate change - but they can also help us find some of the mitigations, provide insights into how we manage the challenges, and educate the wider population. How important do you think photos are in raising awareness/prompting change? They say a picture paints a thousand words - well very few read a thousand words any more - so images are essential in getting messages across to today’s audience. For me, there is nothing more compelling than a strong image: whether that be a beautiful wildlife photograph or a pitiful turtle caught in discarded plastic fishing gear. It will be images - both moving and still - which prompt change in the majority.
If Shaun’s photo has inspired you to visit Porlock Marsh to see it for yourself then our Exmoor Explorer walk No.8 is the perfect guide to the area and is available in all our National Park Centres for just £1. This Q&A was reproduced with kind permission of Campaign for National Parks, which exists to campaign for better protection and promotion of National Parks, www.cnp.org.uk, @Campaign4Parks.
Find Shaun on Instagram and Twitter @shaun.g.davey shaundaveyphotography.com
If we are to meet the daunting climate challenges faced both locally on Exmoor and in the wider world, then we need today’s young adults to be tomorrow’s climate scientists, teachers, ecologists, farmers, foresters and low carbon energy specialists. ‘Generation Green’ is helping to achieve just that, backed by £2.5 million from the Green Recovery Fund and a national coalition of outdoor partners including Exmoor National Park Authority. The project aims to connect a diverse range of young people with our wonderful National Parks, many for the first time, and in doing so to inspire a new generation to take green pathways into their future careers. The National Park’s Pinkery Centre for Outdoor Learning is the main hub for the project on Exmoor, having played host to school visits for over 50 years. Money from the project has enabled us to appoint a Generation Green Ranger specifically to work on outreach and facilitate visits from schools in more urban areas like Bristol, where we know there are a greater proportion of young people who – due to social, economic, or cultural factors – would traditionally be less likely to visit a National Park. Ben Totterdell, Learning and Engagement Manager, said: “For some it’s about making a connection with their own local environment, while for others it may be the first time they have ever been to the countryside. But for every young person, we hope a visit to a National Park like Exmoor is the beginning of a connection with nature that will last and grow throughout their lives, supporting their health and wellbeing and perhaps inspiring some to take an active role in the green economy and working to safeguard our environment for future generations.”
Young ranger weeks Impact: Around 30 young rangers hosted on four-day residential visits in 2021/22. Our Young Ranger programme provides the chance to explore green careers, visit a regenerative farm, discover the important role of peatland in fighting climate change and get a real taste of rangering through them hosting their very own outreach event for families. Here’s what they said about the experience:
“I really enjoyed meeting the farm animals especially the goats. It was good because they almost talked to you as you pet them. It made you feel more a part of the whole thing.” “Being outside in nature was a really good experience for me. I enjoyed being somewhere other than home.”
Climate change workshops Impact: Over 1,800 young people across 23 schools have participated in our climate change workshops.
Not all young people can, or will want to, start a career in the green economy. Yet almost all industries have a part to play in delivering climatefocussed solutions. How could a footballer help environmental causes? How can a chef cut food waste? How might the clothing industry respond to the impact of ‘fast fashion’? Our workshops encourage students to think about how their passions can be framed to address environmental issues. Studies show around 70 per cent of young people experience eco-anxiety but that acknowledgement and forming a deeper understanding of how their actions make a difference can help manage these feelings.
Shopping at the Co-op Did you know that no matter where you live you can support local causes, like our Young Ranger programme, by simply signing up for a Co-op Membership and choosing us as your cause? 1) Sign in on the Co-op App or online at coop.co.uk
“A challenge I overcame during the trip was helping the families at the dark skies event. It made me feel tired. But happy.”
2) Choose ‘Exmoor Young Rangers’ as your cause membership.coop.co.uk/causes/60346
Exmoor Young Rangers Billy and Logan also attended the National Youth Voice Conference in the Peak District this year, hosted by the YHA as part of Generation Green. They joined young rangers from around the UK discussing the future of our national parks and how to ensure they remain inclusive to all.
By supporting our young rangers you'll be helping the next generation develop new skills and friendships that could set them on the path for a lifelong love of nature. And the best bit? It won't cost you a penny extra!
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Dunkery Beacon (Exmoor Explorer walk no.2)
Exmoor is a landscape that has inspired poets, writers and artists for centuries, and one of the best ways to experience it is to put on your most comfortable shoes and set out on foot. With over 1000km of paths waiting to be explored, all carefully signposted and maintained by our dedicated ranger and field services teams, it’s undoubtedly a walker’s paradise.
Our popular Exmoor Explorer series is a set of ten of the most stunning and quintessentially Exmoor routes. Each of the easy-to-follow, self-guided walks lasts up to two and half hours and aims to show you a different aspect of the National Park’s distinctive landscape and character. Each one has its own video giving a flavour of the route. When you’ve decided which is for you, head to one of our National Park Centres (see page 2) to buy the route guide, printed on a water and tear resistant paper. As well as giving detailed route directions, they take you through the story of the landscape - its wildlife, history and legends. They cost £1 each or £8 for the complete set of ten in a presentation box (below). You can also buy the complete set online at shop.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk. So, whether you’re a regular to Exmoor or just starting out, we hope you’ll enjoy learning about this special place and discovering its many wonders.
Explorer Walks Series 1. Doone Valley 7.8km Beautifully romantic - an inspiration to writers and poets throughout history. 2. Dunkery Beacon 3.9km Heather moorland amid Exmoor’s highest point. 3. Dunster Village 2.2km One of the country’s best-preserved medieval villages. 4. Haddon Hill 2.3km Spectacular views and the chance of seeing Exmoor ponies. 5. Heddon’s Mouth 3.6km Follow a babbling stream to this wild smuggler’s cove.
Looking for inspiration? Our new website dedicated to walking has a range of walks taking you to some of our most iconic places: www.exmoorwalks.org
6. Horner Woods 5.4km Winding combes along one of the country’s finest oak woodlands.
Some of the UK's finest long distance routes pass through Exmoor National Park. You will find information and links to: l The South West Coast Path National Trail l The Coleridge Way l The Two Moors Way l The Tarka Trail
See pages 18 & 19 for Guided Walks
These well planned and waymarked trails are perfect for exploring in sections or as part of a longer walking trip. You can also find all the information on how to follow our Dark Skies Discovery Trail near Exford (see page 6) . 10 Exmoor Visitor 2022
7. Lynmouth and Watersmeet 5.9km Explore the tree-lined banks of the fast flowing East Lyn River.
ing Keep an eye Comon so for our new range of longer EXMOOR walks, the CLASSICS Exmoor Classics coming this year.
8. Porlock Marsh 5.8km Where the sea and the land combine and the views change with the tide. 9. Simonsbath and Wheal Eliza 3.8km This there-and-back walk takes in a classic Exmoor Valley steeped in history. 10. Tarr Steps 3.5km The home of Exmoor’s famous clapper bridge.
How we care for your Rights of Way
…and how they care for you
Be Adventure Smart Exmoor offers excellent opportunities, whether by foot, bicycle or horseback, to EXMOOR explore wild areas, seek out hidden gems, perhaps spot some rare wildlife and have adventures. However beautiful it may appear, there are hidden dangers.
We’ve been helping care for Exmoor’s rights of way network since its designation as a National Park in 1954. All our gates, signs and bridges are handmade using timber removed through conservation management in our own woodlands, typically travelling less than 25 miles from the tree to their final place on a path.
Remember Exmoor is remote - the weather can be changeable and phone signal poor, meaning it shouldn’t be relied on for navigation. Waiting for a response to an accident can take time. You will get cold waiting, perhaps hungry - are you prepared?
It’s a virtuous circle that: 1
Supports local skilled jobs.
2
Increases biodiversity through better managed woodlands.
3
Channels timber into longer-term uses to lock away more carbon.
Funding from CareMoor went towards a new ambulance
The volunteers of Exmoor Search & Rescue Team provide a free to use mountain rescue service to Exmoor and remote parts of Devon and Somerset. Available 24/7/365 they locate lost and missing people and treat and evacuate casualties from remote areas. www.exmoor-srt.org.uk
More than 40% of people claim nature, wildlife and visiting local green spaces is even more important to their wellbeing since the pandemic (Natural England, 2020). The benefits of time in nature can’t be underestimated and we’re proud of the vital role our rights of way play in supporting people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing.
Before you go ask yourself three questions:
Local resident Tim Taylor challenged himself to walk 1100 miles in lockdown, including almost all of Exmoor’s rights of way network: “At such a time when the outdoors was one of few freedoms left, it was a huge privilege to have Exmoor on my doorstep and to be able to cover such a magnificent landscape in its entirety. The teams which work to maintain the footpaths, gates, styles and signs in such great condition are to be highly commended.”
1.
Do I have the right gear?
2.
Do I know what the weather will be like?
3. Am I confident that I have the knowledge and skills for the day? If you answer ‘Yes’ to all three, then off you go, have a fantastic day! Not sure? Why not get in touch with one of our National Park Centres to help you plan your trip.
Summary of Rights of Way Report 2020/21
How to report a problem on a path Reports from members of the public can be very helpful. To report a problem please use the interactive map: https://roam.somerset.gov.uk, email: us at access@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk or call 01398 323665.and select option 2 from the menu.
Exmoor Visitor 2022 11
Our National Park needs your help! We love having so many people enjoy our
Be an Exmoor Park Protector
National Park, but more visitors can sometimes mean more mess. An act of kindness can go a long way to help our Park and our own wellbeing, so we would love you to become an Exmoor Park Protector.
Complete 8 of these 12 tasks, get them signed off by a grown up then head to one of our National Park Centres for a free certificate and sticker. Completion medals (right) can also be purchased for just £2 (subject to availability). Litter pick-up
Hug a tree
Plastic-free picnic
Mindful moment
On your visit if you see some litter, pick it up and dispose of it correctly. Even better, head out with some gloves and a rubbish bag and go on a litter search. Always wash your hands afterwards.
Trees need love as well! Did you know, England’s tallest tree is growing on Exmoor, if you visit Nutcombe Bottom, be sure to look (up) for it.
Try and pack a no single use plastic picnic to take with you on your adventure. Did you know that Exmoor is working hard to earn its Exmoor Plastic Free Award, help us out by bringing and using less.
Get comfy and take a break, use all your senses to look, listen, feel and smell your surroundings. Do this in as many different places as you can. Maybe you’ll fall in love with the sound of a stream, the smell of the ocean or the softness of the moss on a tree.
Signature of completion
Signature of completion
Signature of completion
Signature of completion
Eye spy
Visit a National Park Centre
Get your feet wet
Make a pebble tower
Increase your nature knowledge by downloading the iNaturalist App on your phone or using one of our free pocket guides to identify a new creature, tree, flower or plant that you don’t know the name of. Find out how to join the Look Wild team at www.nationalparks.uk/look-wild
We have three National Park Centres open for visitors (see page 2) Pop along to one of them to meet our friendly staff, do an activity and pick up some free habitat posters and leaflets.
Paddle in a stream or rockpool and see what kind of creatures live under the rocks. Don’t forget to be gentle when moving anything, they might be someone’s home! Be water safe and check the tides.
Challenge yourself and build a tower as high as you can. Don’t forget to put them back when you are done.
Signature of completion
Signature of completion
Signature of completion
Signature of completion
Recycle
Become an Exmoor Explorer
Bug hotel
Turn your lights off
While putting your rubbish in a bin is great, taking your litter home to correctly recycle is even better!
Our ten Exmoor Explorer walks take you to some of the most beautiful places in the National Park and are suitable for the whole family. Challenge yourself to complete one and discover some of the qualities that make Exmoor special. For more details go to www.exmoorwalks.org Signature of completion
Using debris and natural items you can find around you, build a warm and safe home for a small creature.
Turn your lights off at night to see just how many stars are out there. Exmoor is Europe’s first Dark Sky Reserve for a reason.
Signature of completion
Keith Trueman
Signature of completion
Signature of completion
Make your visit to Exmoor National Park count, leave no trace, and take only memories. 12 Exmoor Visitor 2022
Exmoor Events Diary 2022 Important Information How to use the listings: Each organisation is responsible for their own listings, please contact event organisers direct for the latest information Postcodes are listed wherever possible but please note that in rural areas a single postcode may cover a large area and a sat-nav may not always direct you to the exact location. Walks are graded as follows: Easy Going Stroll - Very gentle pace for up to 2 hours. More accessible locations that are likely to be suitable for most people including many less mobile people and generally suitable for many wheelchair users and pushchairs. Stroll - Normally up to two hours at an easy pace. Likely to be suitable for many children and slower walkers. Walk - For more experienced or fitter walkers. Open moor and/or rough ground may be covered in walks that vary in length and type of terrain. If you are unsure about the suitability of a walk please contact the event organiser on the phone number in the event listing. All Exmoor National Park Authority walks and events (in green text) are fully risk-assessed, however all persons taking part do so at their own risk. Children under 18 years on guided walks and events must be accompanied by an adult.
Spring Fair & Dog Show Sat 9th Apr 12pm - 5pm Allerford & Selworthy Community Hall. TA24 8HL. The Exmoor Pony Centre Activity Afternoon Thu 14th Apr 12pm - 3pm Get up close with some of the ponies that are in our care and have a fun time at the Centre. Free admission with small charges for individual activities. Pony Rides - the minimum age for riding is 4 years old and there is a 12 stone weight limit. Pony Grooming Crafts Refreshments. No need to book - just turn up. TA22 9QE. 01398323093. www.moorlandmousietrust.org.uk The Exmoor Pony Centre Activity Afternoon Thu 21st Apr 12pm - 3pm See 14th April for details. Grand Book Sale Sat 30th Apr 10am Dulverton Heritage Centre. TA22 9EY.
MAY
Cowbridge Sawmill Open Days: Sat 7th & Sun 8th May
APRIL
Coffee, Cake and Clean-up: Sat 9th Apr
Greenmatthews presents Witty Ditties Sat 2nd Apr 7:30pm A new show which explores our rich history of witty wordplay and melodic mirth. Porlock Village Hall. TA24 8QD. Dark Skies Discovery Hub at Exford Thu 7th Apr and through the year 7pm - 10pm Indoor Planetarium Presentation with Food & Optional Night Walk. Exford Bridge Tea Rooms. TA24 7PY. Booking essential. Enquiries to: info@wildaboutexmoor.com. 01643 831759. wildaboutexmoor.com/exmoor-stargazing-andnight-hikes. Brendon Open Gardens Sat 9th, Sun 10th & Mon 11th Apr 11am - 4pm Two National garden scheme gardens open. Lunches and teas served outdoors and in a barn. Display of vintage telephones and toys. EX35 6PU. Coffee, Cake and Clean-up Sat 9th Apr 10am - 1pm Please join our annual Community Beach Clean. Litter pickers, gloves and bags are provided. Coffee and cake will be served in the car park before heading for the beach. Supported by the National Trust and Exmoor National Park. Meet at Bossington National Trust car park. TA24 8HF.
Cowbridge Sawmill Open Days Sat 7th & Sun 8th May 11am - 4:30pm 4ft Water wheel, rural craft displays and guided tours throughout the weekend. Refreshments available. Free Admission but donations welcome. At junction of A396 and Wootton Courtenay Road, Timberscombe TA24 7TD. No need to book - just turn up. www.cowbridgesawmill.org Basic Spoon Carving Sat 14th May 9:45am - 4:45pm Group course aimed at beginners or those whoʼve carved before and want to improve. Brompton Regis. TA22 9NP. Booking essential. 01398 371686. www.riversideproject.org. Opening Night Concert of Dunster Festival Fri 27th May 7pm - 9pm Featuring the Aurora Percussion Duo. Priory Church of St George, Church Street, Dunster. TA24 6SH. Booking essential. 07968 808 595. dunsterfestival.co.uk/-festival/ Nettlecombe Fete Sat 28th May 2:30pm - 5:30pm The green at Nettlecombe Court. TA4 4HT.
JUNE
Rockpooling with Rangers: Thur 2nd Jun
Guided walks are listed on pages 18 & 19. The Exmoor Pony Centre Activity Afternoon Thu 2nd Jun 12pm - 3pm See 14th April for details. Rockpooling with Rangers Thur 2nd Jun 1pm - 3pm Join Exmoor National Park Rangers for a Seashore Safari to explore the rockpools of Lynmouth. All ages welcome! Weʼll search for crabs, sea snails, fish, chitons and even Nemoʼs home - the anemone. Meet opposite Lynmouth National Park Centre. EX35 6EQ. The Queenʼs Platinum Jubilee Community Picnic Fri 3rd Jun A traditional afternoon picnic is planned, with music and lots more besides! Exmoor Lawns, Dulverton. TA22 9HL. Brayford Duck Race, Dog Show & Hog Roast Fri 3rd Jun 1pm - 5pm Brayford village. EX32 7QJ Whispering Willows - Wassail Theatre Company Fri 3rd Jun 4pm - 4:50pm A highly accessible show for families: itʼs nonverbal and features beautiful puppets made from withies. Porlock Village Hall. TA24 8QD. Allerford Parish Jubilee Celebrations Sun 5th Jun Join the village of Allerford to celebrate this amazing event. TA24 8HL. Lyn Valley Classic Sun 12th Jun 10am - 4pm A gathering of over 400 motor vehicles, cars, bikes, tractors, sports and super cars. Manor Green, Lynmouth. EX35 6EN. 01598 753777. lynvalleyclassic.co.uk. Brendon Open Gardens Sun 12th Jun 11am - 4:30pm See 9th Apr for details. Exmoor Perambulation Sat 18th Jun 6:15am Challenge yourself to walk or run 15/30 miles around the boundary of Exmoorʼs former Royal Forest in this historic event dating back over 725 years. Booking essential. 01643 803885. www.channelevents.co.uk. Pinkery Centre for Outdoor Learning. TA24 7LL. Launch event for Porlock Churchʼs Spire Re-Shingling Project Sat 18th Jun 3pm - 6pm With photographic exhibition, historical information, fun and refreshments. An event for the whole community. The re-shingling of the unusual truncated spire in Porlock takes place once every 80 years or so. Come and see photos from the past and exciting plans for this time around. Porlock Village Hall. TA24 8QD. Man vs Moor Sun 19th Jun 8:30am Take on Exmoorʼs toughest challenge and battle the elements in our most exclusive and challenging event yet. Based on the ancient ʻChainsʼ area of Exmoor, the routes take you through some of the most remote parts of Exmoor National Park. Each obstacle has been created naturally over time through the history and legacy of the moor. Booking essential. 01643 803885. www.channelevents.co.uk. Pinkery Centre for Outdoor Learning. TA24 7LL Exmoor Visitor 2022 13
Go to www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/enjoying/events for full booking details and a greater selection of events.
JULY
AUGUST
The Exmoor Pony Centre Activity Afternoon: Thu 4th Aug Open Farm Day: Sun 10th Jul
Allerford Open Gardens Sat 2nd & Sun 3rd Jul 11am - 5pm Enjoy the flora. Refreshments available. Allerford & Selworthy Community Hall. TA24 8HL. Porlock Church Fete Sat 2nd Jul 2pm - 4:30pm The Rectory Garden, Off Parsons Street. TA24 8TW. The Dulverton Artisan Food, Drink & Craft Fair Sat 9th Jul An exciting new event to be held on the Exmoor Lawns, Dulverton alongside the River Barle celebrating the many artisan producers located across Exmoor. Dulverton. TA22 9HL. Stogumber Open Gardens Sat 9th & Sun10th Jul 10:30am - 5:30pm Stogumber Village Hall. TA4 3TG. Horner Farm Open Farm Day Sun 10th Jul 11am Learn about the farm animals and how we farm ensuring we are restoring nature to the farm. There will be a mix of timed activities of farm walks, outdoor activities and meet the animals sessions. Food and Drink will be available on the Day. No Dogs due to farm animals. Horner Farm. TA24 8HY. The event is free but booking is required. www.horner-farm.co.uk. 01643862757. From Downton Abbey to Dulverton Station Tue 12th Jul 3pm A talk by local historian John Atkins. Tea and cakes included in the entry price. Dulverton Heritage Centre. TA22 9EY. 07947583173. www.dulvertonheritagecentre.org.uk/events.html. Forest Bathing and Basket Weaving Sat 23rd & 24th Jul 9:30am - 4:30pm Brompton Regis. TA22 9NP. Booking essential. www.theriversideproject.org/ Rockpooling with Rangers Fri 29th Jul 12pm - 2pm See 2nd June for details. Horner Farm Summer Feast Sat 30th Jul 6:30pm Our feasts are designed to bring people together to celebrate incredible food from the British Isles. We focus on in-season produce by seeking out suppliers who share our goals of high quality produce with strong environmental focus. An informal talk is featured giving you an insight into our farm and Exmoorʼs surrounding wildlife. Horner Farm. TA24 8HY. Booking essential. 01643862757. www.horner-farm.co.uk. Porlock Horse Show Sun 31st Jul 10am - 5:30pm West Luccombe Farm, Porlock. TA24 8RG. 07881 406306. porlockhorseshow.org.uk. 14 Exmoor Visitor 2022
The Exmoor Pony Centre Activity Afternoon Thu 4th Aug 12pm - 3pm See 14th April for details. Exmoor Rail Fri 5th Aug 4:30pm This show will feature many high quality working layouts, traders, demonstrations, societies and displays. The West Somerset Community College Bircham Road, Minehead, Somerset. TA24 6AY. 01643706736. Big Breakfast Sun 7th Aug 8am -11am Allerford & Selworthy Community Hall. TA24 8HL. Exford Horse Show Wed 10th Aug 9am - 5pm Exford Showground,nearest postcode TA24 7NC. Rockpooling with Rangers Thu 11th Aug 11am - 1pm See 2nd June for details Performance of Choral and Orchestral Music Sat 13th Aug 2pm - 3pm Yarn Market Hotel, Dunster. TA24 6SF. Withypool Flower Show Wed 17th Aug 2:30pm Withypool Village Hall. Brompton Regis Show and Gymkhana Sat 20th Aug 9am -5pm Including traditional village stalls and attractions, refreshments, ice creams and BBQ. Family dog show, childrens entertainment, raffle etc, TA22 9NJ. Forest Bathing and Basket Weaving Sat 20th & Sun 21st Aug 9:30am - 4:30pm See 23rd Jul for details. Classic Car Tour of Exmoor Sun 21st Aug 8:30am - 4pm Allerford & Selworthy Community Hall. TA24 8HL. 01643 863104 Rockpooling with Rangers Thu 25th Aug 10:30am - 1am See 2nd June for details Rockpooling with Rangers Mon 29th Aug 1pm - 3pm See 2nd June for details
SEPTEMBER
Porlock Carnival: Sat 3rd Sep
Challacombe Sheepdog Trials Sat 3rd Sep 10:30am - 4pm Stalls, sideshows, skittles, refreshments. Whitefield Barton, Challacombe. EX31 4TU. Porlock Carnival Sat 3rd Sep 5:30pm www.porlockcarnival.co.uk The Dulverton Vintage Fair Sun 4th Sep 12pm - 5pm A festival of vintage for all the family, featuring the wonderful Liberty Sisters, the energetic South West Lindy Hoppers, swinging jazz, historic vehicles and stalls selling vintage items and lots more! Exmoor Lawns, Dulverton. TA22 9HL. Book Signing With Jackie Morris Sat 17th Sep 11am - 4pm Jackie has over thirty years experience writing and illustrating. Her books appeal to an incredibly broad age range and the success of The Lost Words created in partnership with Robert Macfarlane has become quite a phenomenon. Seven Fables Dulverton. TA22 9HB. www.sevenfables.co.uk. 01398 324457. Candlelit Evening of Song and Music Sat 17th Sep 7:15pm - 9pm St Dubricius Church, Porlock Barn Dance Sat 24th Sep 7pm - 11pm Buttercross Community Orchard. A Talk By John Burgess Thu 29th Sep 3pm For many years John worked as a photographer for Exmoor National Park and got to know the people of Exmoor - farmers, huntsmen, craftsmen and many warm-hearted characters with wonderful tales to tell. This fascinating talk gives a glimpse of life once lived on the moor. Dulverton Heritage Centre. TA22 9EY.
OCTOBER
Exmoor Dark Skies Festival : Thu 13th- Sun 30th Oct
Photo: Adrian Cubitt
St Dubricius Church, Porlock Annual Open Day Sat 1st Oct 11am - 4pm Two Moors Festival Thu 6th - Sun 16th Oct Directed by internationally acclaimed violinist, Tamsin Waley-Cohen, the Two Moors Festival is held over two weekends, one on Dartmoor and one on Exmoor, bringing extraordinary music to remarkable places. A Hedgehogs Life A Talk By Local Expert Lisa Chapman Fri 7th Oct 3pm Come and discover how we can share our outdoor spaces with these spiny mammals and learn how easy it is for us to make some subtle changes to improve the habitats we share. Dulverton Heritage Centre. TA22 9EY.
Exmoor Events Diary 2022 Cream Tea with Inspirational Women Sat 8th Oct 2:30pm A celebration of Ada Lovelace Day, with a cream tea and inspirational women, who this year include Miranda Mowbray from Bristol lecturer in AI, Lena Lewis, Exmoor farmer, Valerie Forgeard from women in TECH, Dr Anna Scott, who spoke at our first AD day returns to update us on her research into combining metals, and local metal worker Belle Cole who will bring some of her stunning creations. Ticket will be on sale early in Sept, online and at Porlock Visitor Centre. Porlock Village Hall. TA24 8QD. Booking essential. 01643863117.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Exmoor Dark Skies Festival 2022 Thu 13th- Sun 30th Oct Around 50 events, suitable for all ages, will take place all over Exmoor National Park. Check our Stargazing page for more details.
The Exmoor Pony Centre Festive Opening Sat 19th & Sun 20th Nov 11am - 3pm Come and join us in The Green Room for festivities, mince pies and to meet the ponies. A chance to do some last minute shopping plenty of stocking filler ideas, cards and calendars. The Exmoor Pony Centre. TA22 9QE. The Exmoor Pony Centre Festive Opening Sat 26th & Sun 27th Nov 11am - 3pm See 19th Nov for details. Exmoor Christmas Fair Sat 26th & Sun 27th Nov 12pm -6pm Porlock Village Hall. TA24 8QD.
Apple Day Sat 15th Oct 11:30am - 2:30pm Watch or join in traditional apple pressing and take away juice Free if own apples and container provided. Outside Dunster Memorial Hall in High Street Dunster. TA24 6RT. Fun Quiz and Supper Sat 15th Oct 7pm Dulverton Town Hall. TA22 9EX. Wild About Exmoor Stargazing Talk Tue 18th Oct 3pm Come and enjoy as we travel through and learn the basic constellations and solar system as part of the Dark Skies Festival. Dulverton Heritage Centre. TA22 9EY. Talk by Exmoor National Park Ranger, Richard Eales on The Red Deer Wed 19th Oct 3pm Come and hear stories and learn the life of the Exmoor Red Deer. Back by popular demand! Dulverton Heritage Centre. TA22 9EY. Wildlife At Night Wed 19th Oct 5:30pm - 7pm Join the Exmoor ponies in discovering the Wildlife at Night on Exmoor. Family friendly event to inspire everyone to engage in their local wildlife. Hot chocolate and marshmallows. Opportunity to interact with the ponies. The Exmoor Pony Centre. TA22 9QE. Booking essential. 01398 323093. www.moorlandmousietrust.org.uk. Wildlife At Night Thu 20th Oct 5:30pm - 7pm See 19th Oct for details. Harvest Supper Sat 22nd Oct 7pm Allerford & Selworthy Community Hall. TA24 8HL. Wildlife At Night Weds 26th Oct 5:30pm - 7pm See 19th Oct for details The Exmoor Pony Centre Activity Afternoon Thu 27th Oct 12pm - 3pm See 14th Apr for details. Wildlife At Night Thu 27th Oct 5:30pm - 7pm See 19th Oct for details Horner Farm Autumn Feast Sat 29th Oct 6:30pm See Summer Feast 30th Jul for more details.
Exmoor Christmas Fair: Sat 26th & Sun 27th Nov
Go to www.exmoornationalpark.gov.uk/enjoying/events for full booking details and a greater selection of events. Lynton & Lynmouth Christmas Shopping Sat 3rd & Sun 4th Dec A festive weekend in Lynton and Lynmouth for Christmas shopping and eating. Christmas Fair Sat 3rd Dec 10am - 4pm Allerford & Selworthy Community Hall. TA24 8HL. The Exmoor Pony Centre Festive Opening Sat 3rd & Sun 4th Dec 11am -3pm See 19th Nov for details. Living Nativity - Porlock Fri 9th Dec 6pm - 7:30pm The Exmoor Pony Centre Festive Opening Sat 10th & Sun 11th Dec 11am -3pm See 19th Nov for details. The Exmoor Pony Centre Festive Opening Sat 17th & Sun 18th Dec 11am -3pm See 19th Nov for details.
JANUARY 2023
Wassailing Night: Mon 16th Jan 2023
Wassailing Night Mon 16th Jan 2023 7:30pm - 8:30pm Traditional Wassailing ceremony with music and stories Cake and Mulled Cider available followed by torchlight procession to local pub for more songs and music. Buttercross orchard. TA24 6RT.
Guided walks are listed on pages 18 & 19.
Evening Talks @ The Pavilion The Esplanade, Lynmouth, EX35 6EQ. Tel: 01598 752509. 6:30pm - 8pm. £5 per Person. Tea and coffee available and the Centre will be open to browse. Archaeology of Watersmeet and Countisbury Thu 28th Apr Join Shirley Blaylock, Exmoor National Park Archaeologist, for a fascinating presentation on the historical landscape of the Lyn Valley, what are those lumps and bumps and what do they tell us? The National Trustʼs National Carriage Museum Thu 12th May Phillippa Turner, Collections and House Manager, talks about the amazing historical carriages housed at Arlington Court on the western edge of Exmoor. The collection is the second largest in the UK, find out how it is managed and conserved for the Nation. Ancient Trees Thu 9th Jun Cheryl Duerden works with trees and is also an Ancient Tree verifier for the Woodland Trust. She will be sharing with us her passion for recording ancient and veteran trees, showing some of her favourites and highlighting the importance of these trees to biodiversity and landscape. Exmoor Hill Farming Network Thu 14th Jul Katherine Williams and Chris Eveleigh, of the Exmoor Hill Farming Network, come to the National Park Centre to give an illustrated talk about hill farming on Exmoor and the work of the Exmoor Hill Farming Network. What makes Exmoor special for them, how does farming here differ from farming in the lowlands and what challenges are Exmoorʼs farmers facing. The Lynmouth Flood Disaster 70th Anniversary Thu 11th Aug We mark the beginning of a weekend of commemorations for the 70th anniversary of the Lynmouth Flood Disaster with a talk from local researcher Dave Wilde. Dave is well known locally for his extensive knowledge of the Flood and will, no doubt, have some fascinating facts as well as moving first-hand accounts of that fateful night. Lynmouth Coastguard 200th Anniversary Thu 8th Sep 2022 is the 200th anniversary of the Coastguard, come along and listen to Lynmouth Station Officer Ashley Clark will joining us to talk about how things have changed in that time and how a modern volunteer coastguard team like Lynmouth operate. Exmoor Dark Skies Thu 13th Oct The last of our seasonal talks see the return of the ever-popular Seb Jay who will be talking about astronomy and the Exmoor Dark Sky Reserve. Sebʼs talks will leave you completely fascinated by sheer enormity of the universe and the wonders that can be seen both with the naked eye and telescope. We will finish outside with a look through the telescopes if the night is clear. Exmoor Visitor 2022 15
Getting Around Exmoor
Keep an eye open for businesses displaying the CareMoor for Exmoor logo (right). Our CareMoor supporters help us raise funds for vital conservation and access projects to help keep Exmoor special. You can help us too by making a contribution, however large or small via participating businesses, at our National Park Centres or online. Find out more at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.k/caremoor. 16 Exmoor Visitor 2022
Keep your eyes peeled for the Exmoor Coaster bus service. The open top service runs along Exmoor’s coast between Minehead and Lynmouth. For details of this and all bus routes on Exmoor visit www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/exploremoor.
This map is only intended as a guide. More detailed maps are available from our three National Park Centres in Lynmouth, Dunster and Dulverton or online at: shop.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
Exmoor Visitor 2022 17
Exmoor National Park run a great programme of volunteer-led guided walks. The walks are free but donations to CareMoor for Exmoor are welcomed. Dogs on short leads welcome. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Booking is recommended but itʼs also OK just to turn up on the day. To book go to: www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/getinvolved/events-and-training
Our walk grading s s explain are ed on page 13 Discover Porlock Marsh Walk
Hidden Dunster Walk Enjoy a step back in time into the rich tapestry of history in Dunster. A gentle stroll around the village centre, led by local walk leader, lasting around 1½ hrs. Meet at Dunster National Park Centre. TA24 6SE at 11am. Walk. 13 Apr 27 Apr 11 May 25 May 8 Jun 22 Jun 13 Jul 27 Jul 10 Aug 24 Aug 14 Sep 28 Sep 12 Oct 26 Oct Dunster Outback - Batʼs Castle walk A 4 mile circular walk through the ages, from the outskirts of Dunster village up to Batʼs Castle with amazing views of moorland, coast and woodland. A moderate level of fitness is required. Meet at Dunster National Park Centre. TA24 6SE at 11am. Walk. 6 Apr 4 May 1 Jun 6 Jul 3 Aug 7 Sep 5 Oct Lynmouth Flood Walk Join a guided walk leader on a Flood Walk around Lynmouth to hear all about the Great Flood of 1952 and how it changed the village. Meet at Lynmouth National Park Centre, EX35 6EQ at 2pm. Easy Going Stroll. 7 Apr 5 May 2 Jun 7 Jul 4 Aug 1 Sep 6 Oct
Discover Porlock Marsh Walk Join a guided walk leader on a 2 hour walk to discover the history and formation of the Porlock Bay landscape and how this has affected the village and surrounding area. Walks leave from outside Porlock Village Hall. TA24 8QD at 10:30am. Parking available at the hall. Walk. 1 Apr 6 May 3 Jun 1 Jul 5 Aug 2 Sep Discover Bossington Walk Join a guided walk leader on a 2 hour walk to discover the beauty of Bossington. Learn about its history and the natural beauty of the landscape that surrounds it. Walks start in the National Trust car park in Bossington. TA24 8HQ at 10:30am. Walk. 15 Apr 20 May 17 Jun 15 Jul 19 Aug 16 Sep Hidden Porlock Walk A 2-hour guided walk around the village. Visit sites of historical interest and explore hidden parts of the villageʼs past. Dogs and children are welcome. Booking essential via 01643 863150. Meet outside Porlock Visitor Centre TA24 8QD at 10am for 10.15am start. Easy Going Stroll. 26 Apr 31 May 28 Jun 26 Jul 30 Aug 27 Sep 25 Oct
Julianʼs Watersmeet Wednesdays Join retired Head Ranger and nature writer Julian Gurney on a gentle to moderate natural history walk from the National Park Centre in Lynmouth to Watersmeet House and back. Julian worked in these woodlands and river valleys for over 20 years and has a wealth of knowledge about our local natural history. We will stop at Watersmeet House for a drink, not included in price, or bring a picnic to eat by the river. £10 per person. Walk. Third Wednesday of the month 11am - 4pm 20 Apr 18 May 15 Jun 21 Sep 19 Oct
Join Julian Gurney for a short but steep walk down into Church Combe looking for the Small Pearl Bordered Butterfly. Meet Barna Barrow car park, Countisbury. £7.50 per person. Walk.
Butterflies of Countisbury Wed 8 June 12:30pm - 4pm 18 Exmoor Visitor 2022
Archaeology of Countisbury Thu 15 Sep 11am - 3pm. Countisbury has a wealth of Archaeological interest from Wind Hill Castle with its huge ramparts on West Ground to corn ditches, an ancient form of stock control. National Park Archaeologist Shirly Blaylock will lead us on a moderate walk to look at these and other interesting remains. Barna Barrow Car Park. £10 per person. Walk.
Walking Book Club: Seven Fables Dulverton. TA22 9HB. Booking essential. 01398 324457. www.sevenfables.co.uk/walking-book-club. Please note a level of walking fitness is required, do wear suitable footwear and dress appropriately as we walk in all weathers. Walks last about 2½ hours. Sat 30th Apr 2pm: Shalimar Wall and talk with Davina Quinlivan, author of Shalimar. Shalimar is a conjured place, but it is also an inheritance. A blend of nature-writing, magical realism and memoir, it is an incantation, but also a ship carrying a family safe inside, a sorrow-song and a fever dream. Sorry no dogs are permitted on this walk and talk. Walk. Sat 9th Jul 2pm: Drift Join our Walking Book Club in the woods of Dulverton to discuss Drift, the English debut novel by award winning welsh author Caryl Lewis. Drift is a hypnotic tale of lost identity, the quest for home and the wondrous resilience of the human spirit. Happy sociable dogs welcome! Walk. Sat 8th Oct 2pm: Swanfolk Joining our Walking Book Club in the woods of Dulverton to discuss Swanfolk by Kristín Ómarsdóttir. An astonishing dystopian novel about a woman's discovery of a community of swan-people from one of Icelandʼs greatest writers. Happy sociable dogs welcome! Walk. Dulverton Town Tour Learn of Dulvertonʼs history and visit some of its special and unique places. £5 per person. Meet outside Dulverton Heritage Centre TA22 9EY. www.dulvertonheritagecentre.org.uk/events.html. Easy Going Stroll. Mon 4th Apr 3pm Thu 12th May 3pm Thu 9th Jun 3pm Thu 14th Jul 3pm Nightjar Evening Forest Ramble Fri 17th Jun then weekly through to Fri 12th Aug 8:30pm - 10:30pm See the tallest tree in England on a forest walk, see nightjars and other creatures of the night. Walk the tall trees trail and then out onto heathland to see Exmoorʼs wildlife come out at dusk - a magical experience! Meet at Nutcombe Bottom, TA24 7LY for welcome drinks and an introduction to this fascinating migrant bird and the folklore around it. £30 per person, £15 for under 16 years, or minimum charge of £95 for a bespoke evening. Please wear good walking boots or shoes and bring a torch. Sorry, no dogs on this one! Booking essential on 01643 831759. www.wildaboutexmoor.com. Stroll. Well Being Walks With Bella the Shetland Pony A well being walk with Bella the Shetland Pony is the perfect way for children, teenagers and grown-ups to enjoy the stunning Exmoor Countryside. See www.theriversideproject.org/ for details and other dates. Booking essential. 01398 371686. Easy Going Stroll. Sat 28th May 2:15pm - 2:45pm Sat 18th Jun 2:15pm - 2:45pm Sat 16th Jul 2:15pm - 2:45pm Sun 14th Aug 2:15pm - 2:45pm
The Exmoor Societyʼs programme of guided walks on Exmoor runs from April to October. Walks start from different locations across Exmoor and are of different lengths and on a wide variety of themes. The walks are led by volunteers who enjoy sharing their time, knowledge and passion for Exmoor. Members and non-members alike are welcome to join the walks which are free, although donations are very much appreciated. All walks must be booked in advance using the form on the Societyʼs website: exmoorsociety.com or by email or telephone: 01398 323335. Lichens and Mosses at Heddon Valley Wed 6th Apr 2pm - 5pm Circular walk exploring the woods and paths along the Heddon Valley giving an introduction to the moss and lichen flora found in these beautiful woodlands. A slow walk allowing time to discover. Easy Going Stroll. Dulverton - Barle river, weir and leat Wed 13th Apr 10am - 1pm A 3½ mile walk around Dulverton, taking in the old mills, the mill leat and weir, and the River Barle as far as Marsh Bridge. If there is time we will also visit Oldberry Castle. Walk. The Lost Village of Clicket Sat 23rd Apr 11am - 1:30pm 150 years ago five families lived in a remote Somerset valley. Then, in the space of two years, they vanished. This beautiful stream-side walk through magnificent beech woods takes us to the lost village of Clicket. We will pass the quarries and the mill where its inhabitants made their living, and hear the story of life in one of Exmoorʼs most remote villages. Walk. Cutcombe and the Saxon Herepath Mon 25th Apr 10am - 3:30pm Starting at Wheddon Cross we pass through Cutcombe to look at the church and a not uncommon but nice Victorian post box. We continue to Cutcombe Cross and along the Coleridge Way to join the route of the Saxon Herepath and down to east of Luckwell Bridge before returning to Wheddon Cross. Along the way we learn about Exmoor related Saxon military activity, Management of Exmoorʼs Temperate Rain Forests and Ferns, Mosses and Lichen that we see. Walk. In the Footsteps of Cecil Aldin, Artist Wed 11th May 10:30am - 1:30pm This walk follows routes described by the popular artist Cecil Aldin (1870 -1935) in his book Exmoor ‒ The Riding Playground of England, published shortly before he died and written largely from memory. Walk. Discover Molland - its church and moor Tue 17th May 10:30am - 1:30pm Hugh Harrison, an internationally known timber conservation expert living locally leads a specialist company of consultants, designers and contractors in the conservation and surveying of historic structural and decorative woodwork. Linking to his talk during Simonsbath Festival, he will provide a short insight into the medieval church of St Mary, Molland. Walk. Porlockʼs Coastal Wildlife Thur 26th May 10am - 1pm A spectacular circling walk starting in the picturesque village of Bossington, via the dramatic cliffs at Hurlstone Point, continuing around the sweeping shingle ridge and across the ever-changing saltmarsh. Walk.
Farm Walk at Westermill, Exford Tue 7th Jun 2pm - 5pm This farm walk will take in meadows beside the Exe, used for sheep and camping, as well as an 18,000 native tree plantation with stunning views and waymarked walks for visitors. We will visit the farm buildings which are open to visiting campers during lambing. Walk. Ley Hill Medieval Settlement Wed 15th Jun 10:30am - 1pm A walk with a knowledgeable leader to the deserted medieval settlement on Ley Hill, excavated during archaeological evaluation work for the National Trust. There are the remains of a hamlet of seven buildings, surviving as low stony banks, though no documented history survives. The buildings are grouped along a former route from Exford to Porlock, and are associated with a field system nearby. Walk. Hope Bourne in Withypool Thur 23rd Jun 10:30am - 1pm A walk around the Withypool area following the footsteps of Exmoor artist and author Hope Bourne, taking in some of her favourite views. Stroll. Around The Chains: Moorland Archaeology Walk Thur 30th Jun 10:30am - 4pm Join two Exmoor National Park staff for an exploration of the archaeology of the high moorland around the Chains. This is a challenging foray that will reveal the 'archaeological treasure house' of our moorland which stretches across four millennia; our walk will reveal how people have shaped, and been shaped by, this harsh upland environment. Walk. Murder & Mystery at Wheal Eliza Wed 6th Jul 10:30am - 12:30pm On this short walk along the River Barle, in addition to the history of the Knightsʼ family, you will hear of mining in this part of Exmoor and the tragic murder and mystery at Wheal Eliza. Stroll. Hawkcombe Butterfly Walk Fri 15th Jul 1pm - 3pm This walk with ENPA Woodland Officer, Graham McVittie, will look at some of the coppice management work in this National Nature Reserve to help the recovery of the heath fritillary butterfly (aka the Woodmanʼs Follower), though sight of the butterfly is entirely weather dependent. We will also follow a circular route through the woods to see other butterflies, hopefully including the silver washed fritillary. Walk. Exmoor Ponies On Molland Tues 19th Jul 2pm - l 4:30pm A walk to see and hear about Mollandʼs Exmoor pony herd; unregistered but quality by any standard. We may drive on to a different start point, depending on where the ponies are. Walk. Porlockʼs Coastal Wildlife Thurs 28th Jul 10am - 1pm See 26th May for more details.
A History of Woody Bay Fri 5th Aug 10am - 12:30pm An exploration of the history and beauty of Woody Bay, stopping to admire the various views en route. Woody Bay has a wealth of interesting history to discover. Walk. Simonsbath and the Barle Valley Thurs 11th Aug 10:30am - 3:30pm Starting in Ashcombe Plantation, the Picturesque Style Garden planned, but uncompleted, by John Knight for his new mansion in Simonsbath. We walk along the Barle Valley, past the site of Wheal Eliza Mine to the Hill Fort of Cow Castle. Along the way we talk about Simonsbath and Exmoor Forestsʼ history, the Management of Exmoorʼs Temperate Rain Forests and Ferns, Mosses and Lichens that we see. Walk. Historic Lynton and the Valley of Rocks 17th Aug 10am - 12:30pm A two and a half hour walk from the Valley of Rocks into Lynton and back, to look from a different angle at how the Victorians influenced what we see today and how they were drawn to this majestic coastline and the splendour of the Valley of Rocks. Stroll. North Hill with a Compass Tues 23rd Aug 10am - 1pm This walk is designed to demonstrate map and compass navigation on the open moorland of North Hill (please bring a compass if you have one; there will be a few spares on the day). We will also visit some of the remains of the WWII tank training ground, and if there is time we will return on the contour path around Bratton Ball. Walk. Hope Bourne in Withypool Wed 7th Sep 10:30am - 1pm See 23rd Jun for details. Tractor-drawn Tour of West Ilkerton Farm Sun 11th & Sun 18th Sep 11am - 1pm Enjoy a tour of West Ilkerton Farm in a purposebuilt tractor-drawn trailer. You will be able to see local breeds of animals (Devon cattle, Exmoor horn sheep and Exmoor ponies) at close quarters and, with any luck, red deer and other wildlife. Easy Going Stroll. The Bats of Horner Wood Thurs 22nd Sep 7pm - 9:30pm Fifteen of the seventeen known species of bat can be found in Horner Wood. Learn more about bats from an expert ecologist and take a fascinating evening stroll along the valley bottom, beside the Horner Water, watching for emerging bats as they forage in and around the tree canopy. With the aid of sophisticated bat detectors, you will also get the chance to hear them as they hunt for flying insects. Stroll. Ashley Combe Landscape Restoration in Culbone Wood Fri 7th Oct 10am - 2pm This walk will follow the South West Coast Path from Ashley Combe to Culbone Church and back, looking at the work to restore some of the surviving features of the Ada Lovelace era designed landscape. We will also discover some of the earlier history and management of these fascinating coastal woodlands. Walk. Exmoor Visitor 2022 19
Plenty to do whatever the weather Opening times vary and may change at short notice. Please check online or ring ahead for the latest information. Our National Park Centres are on hand if you need help to plan ahead. Combe Martin Museum Three floors of exhibits dedicated to the maritime and natural history of Combe Martin. Regular events throughout summer. www.combemartinmuseum.co.uk Dovery Manor Museum A charming museum reflecting local life in an historic building in the centre of Porlock. Open Monday-Saturday from 1 May to 28 September. Free entry, 01643 863117. www.doverymanormuseum.org.uk Dunster Castle Enjoy exploring this splendid National Trust castle, evolved from a Saxon stronghold to a Victorian family home over 1,000 years of history. The castle closes for conservation work during the winter months, during which daily tours can be booked. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle-andwatermill Dulverton Angling Association has several beats on the Rivers Barle, Exe and Haddeo, with the primary fish species being wild brown trout, plus grayling, salmon and the occasional sea trout. Call into Lance Nicholson fishing & game shop in Dulverton for information, 01398 323409, www.dulvertonanglingassociation.org.uk Dulverton Heritage & Arts Centre For 2022 we are featuring an exhibition on Lorna Doone - back by popular demand! From 11th April until end of October, we open Monday - Friday from 11 until 4:30pm and Saturday morning from 11 until 1:30pm. Model railway opening times on our website. Free admission. www.dulvertonheritagecentre.org.uk Exmoor Hawk & Owl Centre In addition to owls and hawks, this family friendly centre has a mixed collection of small farm animals to enjoy and activities you can book onto from flying the owls or riding horses. The villages of Bossington and Allerford are nearby, as is Porlock Marsh. www.exmoorowlhawkcentre.co.uk Exmoor Natural History Centre adjoins the car park at Porlock Weir and is run by knowledgeable volunteers who will help you identify any interesting wildlife finds. Displays, information, books and guides are all on offer. Details of our opening dates and hours can be found on our website or by ringing 01643 863124. www.enhs.org.uk. Exmoor Society Resource Centre in Dulverton holds extensive public archives and a unique collection of books to purchase. It has a public workspace with displays on current issues and campaigns, and a lichen identification area supported by Plantlife. Find out about their guided-walks series, competitions, events and membership. It’s worth telephoning beforehand if you are making a special visit. 01398 323335, www.exmoorsociety.com 20 Exmoor Visitor 2022
Exmoor Zoo An award winning, friendly, relaxed zoo where you can get up close and meet the animals. Home to the real Exmoor beast - the only pair of black leopards on exhibit in the UK! www.exmoorzoo.co.uk Lyn & Exmoor Museum A charming small museum with collections of historic agricultural and domestic tools. Also maritime, railway, and natural history. Unique pictures of the Lynmouth Flood, and a Victorian dolls house. Housed in Lynton’s oldest surviving domestic dwelling, it even includes its own ghost! Tucked away in the Old Village area, check at the National Park Centre for opening times.
Woody Bay Station
Also nearby… The West Somerset Railway, one of the UK’s longest heritage railways. www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk Minehead Eye, skate, scoot & climb at this giant indoor skatepark catering for all ages. www.mineheadeye.co.uk Ilfracombe Aquarium, see the wonders of the local marine world. www.ilfracombeaquarium.co.uk
Lyn Valley Arts & Crafts Centre A unique collection of arts & crafts from producers in Exmoor and North Devon, including ceramics, local soaps, paintings, confectionary, woodwork and much more. www.lynvalleyartandcrafts.co.uk Lynmouth National Park Centre & Cafe has a fascinating range of exhibits about Exmoor’s wildlife and history. Watch a series of short films about Exmoor in the theatre and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable staff. Regular craft workshops and guided walks take place throughout the year.01598 752509. www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk, .
Ilfracombe Aquarium
Minehead Museum Exhibits include Minehead’s Hobby-Horse tradition, the life of Arthur C. Clarke and filming of A Hard Day’s Night with The Beatles. Located in the Beach Hotel, opposite the West Somerset Railway Station. www.mineheadmuseum.co.uk Quince Honey Farm near South Molton truly offers fun for all ages and weathers, with an indoor play hive, creepy crawly encounters, bee keeping experiences, honey tasting, gift shop and more. www.quincehoneyfarm.co.uk West Somerset Rural Life Museum is housed in the old school at Allerford with thousands of artefacts from ploughs to clay pipes, plus an agricultural display outside. The Victorian schoolroom with original desks and benches dates from 1821 with slates, toys and examples of schoolwork and clothing. www.allerfordmuseum.org.uk Woody Bay Train Station offers 25-minute rides on a picturesque narrow-gauge railway steaming through the Exmoor countryside www.lynton-rail.co.uk. Team it up with a ride on the nearby world-famous Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway www.cliffrailwaylynton.co.uk.
Dovery Manor Museum
Exmoor Zoo
Exmoor’s fascinating churches Exmoor National Park has an incredible array of historic churches that are open for all to explore and enjoy. For centuries these buildings have been pivotal to the communities of Exmoor and the focal point for people meet, worship, celebrate and grieve. Exmoor has 11 grade I listed churches, these are buildings of exceptional historic and architectural interest. Four of these are mentioned in the Hobhouse report of 1947 that formed the basis of Exmoor’s National Park status. The size and style of Exmoor churches reflects the wealth of the parishes. Simple, small moorland churches found in the farming areas contrast against the grander churches in areas of manufacture or trade. There is far more than meets the eye to all these amazing structures. It’s not just the churches but also the gravestones, tombs and monuments in and around these buildings that provide an insight into the past so be sure to take your time and explore these amazing buildings. 1. Selworthy, All Saints With its whitewashed tower visible from miles around this grade I listed church is an Exmoor landmark. The listing details refer to this church as “one of the finest in the county” and Pevsner in “The Buildings of England”, calls the south chancel its “great glory” and “unsurpassed in the county” Selworthy, Minehead, TA24 8TR. 3 miles west of Minehead off A39 and 2 miles east of Porlock. Open daily. 2. Culbone, St. Beuno’s Culbone church is one of Exmoor’s hidden treasures. Only accessible by foot and at 35 feet in length it is widely reported as being the smallest parish church in England. Believed to predate the Norman conquest of 1066 the building is one of the earliest on Exmoor. Culbone, Porlock Weir, Minehead, TA24 8PQ. 2 miles west of Porlock Weir. Only accessible by foot. Open daily. 3. Parracombe, St Petrock St Petrock’s in Parracombe has a fascinating history. With Norman origins, a 13th century chancel and a fine Georgian interior the church fell into disuse in the 19th century but was saved from demolition by John Ruskin in 1879. The new church built further down the hill saved St Petrocks from Victorian ‘restoration’ that befell many other churches. Church Lane, Parracombe, Barnstaple EX31 4RJ. 11 miles north-east of Barnstaple off A39 and 4 miles south-west of Lynton. Open daily.
5. Porlock, St Dubricius Porlock church is dedicated to St Dubricius and was built in c.1120, almost certainly on the site of an earlier building. The wooden framework of the spire dates to the 13th century but this was damaged in a storm in 1703. A fragment of a Saxon cross can be found in the west wall. High Street, Porlock, Minehead TA24 8LB. 6 miles west of Minehead off A39 in village centre. Open daily. 6. Stoke Pero Set on the high moor at 1013ft above sea level this is reportedly at a higher altitude than any other church in England. Its remoteness means that it still relies on candles for lighting. The tower is 13th century but the rest of the church was largely rebuilt in 1897. Stoke Pero, Porlock, Minehead TA24 8JT. 2 miles south of Porlock, 3½ miles north of Exford along single track roads. Open daily. 7. Oare, Church of St Mary Exmoor is Lorna Doone country and Oare church was used as the setting for the marriage of Lorna Doone to John Ridd in R D Blackmore’s classic novel. Blackmore’s grandfather was rector of the church 1809-42. Inside look out for an unusual piscina in the form of man's head clasped between two hands (right). Oare, Lynton EX35 6NX. 5 miles east of Lynton, 10 miles west of Minehead off A39. Open daily.
4. Tivington, Chapel of St Leonards This Anglican chapel dates from the mid 14th century is one of a tiny number of thatched churches in the country. The church was restored by the Acland family and the bell is said to come from their yacht ‘Lady of St Kilda’. Prior to restoration the church was used as a school.
8. Winsford, Church of St Mary Magdalene The substantial Parish Church with its tall late 15th Century tower indicates that Winsford has been an important community since at least medieval times. The Parish Church font has some fine Norman carving, the chancel is 13th century and there is a remnant of 14th century stained glass in the east window.
Tivington, Minehead TA24 8SU. 2 miles west of Minehead off A39. Open daily.
The Steep, Winsford, Minehead TA24 7JQ. 10 miles south of Minehead off A396. Open daily.
9. Dunster, Priory Church of St George (above) Dunster was a wealthy trading centre by the 13th century and the size of this church is a reflection of this wealth. The church contains 12th and 13th century work and some impressive monuments. Church Street, Dunster TA24 6SH. 3 miles south-east of Minehead and 18 miles northwest of Taunton, in centre of Dunster. Open daily. 10 Simonsbath, St Luke’s Built in 1856 by Frederic Knight after the residents of Simonsbath petitioned him as the next nearest church, in Exford, was a two hour walk away. This church contains some good Victorian fittings. St Luke’s, Simonsbath TA24 7SH 8 miles south of Lynton on B3223 on eastern edge of Simonsbath. Open daily. 11. Lynton, St Mary the Virgin Set in a beautiful position overlooking the dramatic north coast there has been a church on this site since at least the 13th century. The 19th century fittings by local craftsmen are unusually fine. Church Hill, Lynton EX35 6HY. Lynton Town centre, just down from Town Hall. Open daily. 12. Porlock Weir, St Nicholas Church The rapid population growth of the 19th century resulted in a need for cheap and quick to erect churches. Corrugated iron kits soon came into production. These churches became known as Tin Tabernacles, of which St Nicholas is an excellent example. Other examples on Exmoor can be found in Monksilver and Rodhuish. Worthy Toll Road, Porlock Weir, Minehead TA24 8PA. 1 mile north-west of Porlock. Open daily. There are many more churches on Exmoor to find and explore. Take a look at our Historic Environment record for more information. www.exmoorher.co.uk
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We want to see 75% of the National Park managed for nature by 2050, placing Exmoor at the forefront of urgent efforts to reverse biodiversity loss and climate change. Exmoor is home to some incredible wildlife and beautiful landscapes. But even here nature is under pressure and urgently needs our help. By creating homes for wildlife, rebuilding lost ecosystems and reinstating the networks wildlife once used to move through and beyond the boundaries of the National Park we want to build a more sustainable future for wildlife, people and climate.
Will you help us achieve our vision?
High Brown Fritillary © Neil Hulme
We are developing a new shared vision for nature recovery on Exmoor. The challenges faced are vast, but there are many inspiring examples of brilliant people doing brilliant things to help nature continue to thrive. If you share our belief that the action you take on holiday, at home, at school, at work or on your land should matter for nature please read our vision and consider what more you could do to make space for nature. Go online for the latest updates and be inspired by the amazing projects already underway to protect nature on Exmoor: exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/naturerecovery
Richard Allen @richardallenart 22 Exmoor Visitor 2022
Work to rebalance nature on Exmoor
We worked with Butterfly Conservation as part of their 3-year All the Moor Butterflies project to restore habitat for some of Britain’s rarest butterflies and moths.
We‘ve set up a Meadow Makers group on Exmoor to help restore wildflower meadows and are working to create a sustainable seed bank through our new ‘Sowing the Seeds’ project, working together with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and Devon Wildlife Trust.
Our ENNIS project is working in partnership to pioneer innovative chemical-free methods for non-native invasive species control.
We‘ve been a key partner in South West Water’s Headwaters of the Exe project, providing capital grants to land managers on Exmoor to help improve the health of river habitats. Exmoor’s Ambition Test and Trial involved 26 farmers and foresters across the National Park working together to build evidence for the way farming benefits nature, climate and people.
3,000 hectares of carbon capturing peatlands are being restored through the Exmoor Mires Partnership.
Through their Riverlands project, the National Trust has reintroduced beavers into two enclosures on the Holnicote Estate. It forms part of ongoing work to restore five of the UK’s most precious rivers, including Porlock Vale river catchment.
We’re working with Plantlife to safeguard some of Exmoor’s most rare and threatened lichen and bryophyte communities within the rare temperate rainforests of south-west England.
Pinkery and Driver Farm was last year designated as a new SSSI for its array of waxcap and other rare fungi.
The Graze the Moor Project explored the role that traditional grazing can play in the restoration of heather moorland as part of an 8-year collaboration between the Molland Estate, Exmoor National Park Authority, farmers, leading academics and conservation bodies. data that can help better protect wildlife in and out of national parks.
Ever tried micro volunteering? Look Wild is a UK-wide citizen science project making it easy to learn about the incredible plants and wildlife all around us. By logging the nature that you see, you’ll also be contributing valuable
Find out more by searching ‘National Parks UK LookWild’ on the iNaturalist App or go online at nationalparks.uk/look-wild.
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Senior Woodlands Officer, Graeme McVittie is in charge of the National Park Authority’s 594-hectare woodland estate and works closely with local landowners to encourage sensitive woodland creation and management. Here he explains the National Park’s vision for Exmoor’s future treescape.
Q&A: 1. The Government has ambitions to treble tree planting rates by the end of this parliament as part of a drive to take woodland cover in the UK from 13-17% by 2050. What does that mean for Exmoor? Lifting Exmoor’s woodland cover from 13.5% to 17% amounts to an increase of 2500 hectares over 25 years, or the equivalent of 100 rugby pitches a year for the next 25 years. The principle of ‘right tree, right place’ needs to be at the heart of this work, as it has always been for any new woodlands we have helped to create. There is always a risk with externally derived targets that the reality will not meet up to the ambition, which is why we’re putting added emphasis on local engagement to ensure any new trees make a positive contribution to rural lives and livelihoods, in harmony with all the other special qualities that people love about Exmoor. 2. That sounds like an awful lot of trees. How many trees a year is that and where are they all going to come from? If say around 1000 trees are needed for every hectare planted, this amounts to a demand of
100,000 trees every year – just for Exmoor to meet the minimum requirement set nationally. It will be many millions for the entire country. There is not the capacity in the nursery sector to supply this many trees, which is why the Forestry Commission have launched a number of schemes to boost tree production. We will need to use every tool in our toolbox. Some woodlands may be extended through natural colonisation from seedlings, while others will need to be planted. For our own planting we will largely rely on commercial nurseries locally, such as Exmoor Trees, who are working hard to scale up production. Thanks to generous donations to our CareMoor scheme and grant funding from Devon Environment Foundation, we have also begun establishing a small tree nursery, through which we hope to produce a few thousand trees per year from seed collected locally by volunteers. Involving people is a big part of our ethos. Sharing knowledge and skills in woodland creation and management, and ultimately a sense of shared ownership, is key to ensuring the saplings we plant today grow and thrive into the future. 3. People love coming to the National Park for its heather moorland and sense of wild open space. Will Exmoor still look like Exmoor?
Because you Donations to CareMoor help fund valuable conservation and access work in the National Park. Here are some of the projects your donations have helped support: Bye Wood £25,000 Donation have helped to scale up our efforts to use only the best environmentally friendly practices and materials as we plant 13,000 trees to create ‘Bye Wood’ - a unique and sustainable woodland that we hope will be treasured for generations to come. Sowing the Seeds £10,000 A short-term project with a longterm legacy, working to increase and link wildflower habitats rich in pollinator-friendly plant species in communities, on farms, road verges, schools, and public spaces as a first step to creating a long-term seed bank on Exmoor. CareMoor donations have helped pay for seed harvesting machinery within this Heritage Lottery Funded project.
24 Exmoor Visitor 2022
Olive sowing wildflower seeds in the Brendon Hills as part of Exmoor Sowing the Seeds project.
Definitely! Exmoor’s landscape is very precious so we will be working very hard to ensure any new trees reflect and enhance the character of the landscape. Detailed ecological, landscape and archaeological surveys are all part of our work to ensure important natural and historic features are conserved, while maximising opportunities to store more carbon, improve flood resilience and enhance the landscape. We hope people in the future will treasure these trees, just as we value the treescapes others in history have created for us. 4. What specifically is the National Park Authority doing to support the effort? We are looking closely at our own land to map out opportunities for tree planting and regeneration, prioritising those that will have the most benefits for climate, nature and communities. This includes our work to establish Bye Wood, which you can read about on the next page. This year we aim to publish a draft Woodland Strategy to stimulate discussion about where new woodland, and other important treed habitats such as hedgerows, would be most beneficial on Exmoor. We are also working with neighbouring councils, the Woodland Trust and Forestry Commission to further scope out initiatives to support woodland creation and nature connectivity throughout Exmoor and beyond.
Ashcombe Gardens £5,000 At Ashcombe, Simonsbath, we are bringing an early 19th century picturesque wild garden back to life. Ash dieback has meant the felling of many trees there but, thanks to CareMoor donations, we’ve been able to use this as an opportunity for new planting to enhance the resilience and amenity of the remaining woodland. When finished, the valley garden will help tell the story of Exmoor through its associations with the English romantic movement and Knight family, whose influence can still be seen all over central Exmoor.
Tree Nursery £5,000 The new tree Nursery we are establishing will involve volunteers in growing trees from locally collected seeds to be used in communityfocused projects around Exmoor. CareMoor donations are supporting us to establish the layout of the new nursery and together with our volunteers this Spring we’ll be working hard to germinate our first saplings from seeds collected last Autumn.
planting species such as Scots pine, Italian alder and Norway maple which will do well in warmer, drier climates yet still provide the ecological and carbon sequestering benefits of the native trees. Across the site we’re planting just over 13,000 trees, which will capture around 2500 tonnes of carbon in the first 50 years of growth.
The making of a wood
Natural colonisation of trees is also part of the design – we’re planting at varying densities across the site, with areas at low density where naturally-colonising saplings will create a patchwork of differently aged trees. Following over a year of planning and consulting with local interest groups and residents, as well as with the Forestry Commission, the planting began last winter. With the help of our volunteers and local contractors, we have successfully planted the first 8,000 trees. The second stage will be this coming winter when we aim to plant the remaining 5,000 trees. All the trees will be protected and cared for over the first few years of life to give them the best chance of reaching maturity and providing Exmoor with all the benefits of woodlands for centuries to come.
Work is well underway to create ‘Bye Wood’ – a major new 12-hectare woodland on the outskirts of Winsford supported by donations to our CareMoor Woods & Trees appeal. From conserving Exmoor’s special landscape and features, to maximising carbon storage, wildlife connectivity and flood resilience, there’s a lot that goes into designing a new woodland, as our Woodland Assistant, Jack Hunt, explains: Planting 2500 hectares of Exmoor with trees by 2050 has to start somewhere, and we settled on Exmoor National Park Authority’s 12-hectares of land at Bye Hill. We chose Bye Hill as its location on the Exe and proximity to extant broadleaf woodland would help us to achieve our target of improving habitat connectivity in this important wildlife corridor, while helping to prevent flooding and slow down soil erosion in the catchment. This land had been fenced off and ungrazed for around 30 years and a dense layer of bracken had developed which was suppressing all other growth, so if we wanted woodland we would have to plant rather than rely solely on natural colonisation of trees. Modern woodland creation tries to achieve woodland with multiple purposes, including improving biodiversity, sequestering carbon, minimising floods and soil erosion, timber production and all the other benefits woods can provide for people. Our target was to achieve as many of these aims as possible in our new woodland. We wanted to avoid some of the tree planting techniques which have become ingrained in British forestry practice over the past few decades, such as use of non-biodegradable plastics, single species blocks and grid-pattern planting. Although these techniques are good at getting a lot of trees growing fast, they come with their own inbuilt issues. Plastic pollution is an obvious one, but the final makeup of the woodland in terms of species and structure is a big consideration, especially when designing for a landscape as iconic and precious as Exmoor. We wanted to make sure that the final woodland was as resilient as possible, which meant
including species which were diverse enough to deal with both the influx of tree pathogens and the changes to our climate which we know we will experience over the next few decades. Alongside natives of southern Britain, such as sessile oak, hornbeam and birch, we’re also
Bye Wood By Species
Aspen 1%
Follow us on social media to find out about future winter tree planting days or go online and subscribe to our Get Involved newsletter. Beech 2%
Italian alder 2%
Rowan 2%
Sessile oak 20%
Blackthorn 3% Norway maple 3% Holly 4%
“We’ve included species which will do well in warmer, drier climates yet still provide the ecological and carbon sequestering benefits of the native trees.”
Scots pine 13%
Wild cherry 5% Hawthorn 5%
Devon service tree 5%
Field maple 6% Silver birch 13% Hazel 10%
Hornbeam 7%
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Things to do
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Lynton & Lynmouth The twin towns of Lynmouth, at sea level, and Lynton, considerably higher, are linked by a unique Victorian water-powered cliff railway, a steep and scenic journey lasting just a few breath-taking minutes. There is no doubt why the Victorians named the area ‘Little Switzerland’ - the alpine-like topography is stunning. Rolling moorland tumbles down into wooded valleys alongside the fast flowing East and West Lyn Rivers which rush out to sea, whilst on either side some of England’s highest sea cliffs provide a dramatic backdrop. North Devon’s most northerly towns offer the perfect base for keen walkers who can pretty much choose a different circular walk every day of their holiday, however long they stay. The Lynmouth Pavilion houses a National Park Centre with state of the art and traditional displays and there are a growing number of delightful cafes in which to relax after a strenuous day and plenty of small independent shops and galleries to browse away a few hours. Boat trips leave from the harbour in the summer months and intrepid surfers can even be seen attempting the challenging waves that break.
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Dunster
Porlock
The charming medieval village of Dunster is not to be missed. Once an important centre for the wool trade, the village boasts over 200 listed buildings all remarkably preserved and offering a fascinating glimpse of time gone by.
Surrounded on three sides by the glorious heather-clad hills of Exmoor National Park and on the fourth by the sea, the charming village of Porlock has long been a firm favourite with visitors to the area. Porlock Vale has strong literary links and it is easy to see why the Romantic poets Coleridge, Shelley and Wordsworth were drawn to the area.
Set on a wooded hill, Dunster Castle rises commandingly above the village. Now owned by the National Trust, a castle has existed here since at least Norman times, with an impressive medieval gatehouse and ruined tower giving a reminder of its turbulent history. Other fascinating buildings to visit include St George’s Church, the Yarn Market, the Dovecote, Butter Cross, Pack Horse Bridge, the working Water Mill and Conygar Tower.
To the west of the village is the pretty harbour of Porlock Weir with its boats, shops and cafes - an ideal place for an afternoon stroll. And to the east lies the unique Porlock Marsh which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and perfect for walkers and birdwatchers. A boardwalk across part of the marsh provides easier access to this fascinating site.
The village has lots of eclectic shops, restaurants and cafés and its cobbled streets are busy throughout the summer and also at Christmas time when gift buying is a pleasure. It is thought Dunster was the birthplace of the popular hymn ‘All Things Bright & Beautiful’, written by Mrs Cecil Alexander when she came to stay. You can see why she might have been so inspired.
Minehead
Often called the gateway to Exmoor, Minehead is the perfect family holiday destination. The long sandy beach is ideal for a day making sandcastles and splashing in the sea or you can buy an ice-cream and stroll along the prom to explore the quaint harbour. For energetic youngsters, check out the Minehead Eye - skate, climb, music and more. For tips on what to see and do, there’s an information centre in The Beach Hotel. Then why not hop aboard a steam train - the historic West Somerset Steam Railway begins in Minehead and travels 20 miles through the beautiful Somerset countryside stopping at ten country stations along the way. If you are feeling energetic, hike up North Hill for breathtaking views over the harbour, out towards the Welsh coast and across Exmoor National Park. Or lace up your walking boots and have a go at the first part of probably the UK’s most scenic long-distance walking trail - the South West Coast Path starts (or finishes) in Minehead. Head up the tree-lined Avenue and here you’ll find shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants which offer ample opportunities for eating and drinking. Or pack a picnic and relax in beautiful Blenheim Gardens where you can appreciate the colourful floral displays and listen to the many summer musical events held in the park. 28 Exmoor Visitor 2022
Enjoying something of a microclimate, Porlock’s temperate weather makes an ideal base to explore Exmoor and walkers, cyclists and riders can take any number of paths from the village up on to the moors. Picturesque yet practical, the village has some lovely shops, cafes and restaurants. There are also art galleries, a visitor centre and a museum as well as a thriving community with events happening throughout the year
Dulverton A visit to Dulverton comes as a lovely surprise, tucked away as it is in a deep wooded valley at the southern edge of Exmoor.
This attractive town has many interesting buildings, quirky independent shops and lovely cafes, restaurants and pubs. The Guildhall Heritage and Arts Centre where visitors can learn all about Dulverton’s history is well worth a visit, as is the Exmoor Resource Centre in the High Street which is headquarters of the Exmoor Society.There you will find one of the best collections of books about Exmoor and documents relating to the history of the National Park over more than 60 years.The centre is usually open to the public Mondays to Fridays 10am to 4pm but if you plan to make a visit it is advisable to phone beforehand (01398 323335). The town is also a hub of outdoor activity, truly making the most of its beautiful location. Well-marked walks spiral out of the town in every direction, a highlight being the walk through Burridge Woods along the river. There are also plenty of challenging routes for cyclists and bridleways for horse riders.
A visit to the nearby Tarr Steps, the longest clapper bridge in the country, is a must for most visitors to the area. A report commissioned by Exmoor National Park Authority suggests that the bridge was originally built in the 15th or 16th century to provide a dry crossing for people wishing to get to the corn grist mill which once existed across the river – or another version is that it was built by the devil for sunbathing purposes!
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Places to Eat Produced on Exmoor Whilst enjoying your stay in beautiful Exmoor National Park, take a few moments to really appreciate the views and go one-step further by considering the connection between the stunning landscape and the traditional ways of farming that help sustain it. Among the many local delicacies, you’ll find succulent Red Ruby Devon beef and Exmoor lamb reared on our nutritious moorland grass, grade A oysters cultivated in the waters off Porlock Bay, homemade jams, chutneys and honey, local ales, gins and other tipples, plus top-end locally crafted products.
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At our National Park Produced In... Centres in Dunster, Dulverton and Lynmouth, you can pick up a free Eat Exmoor food and drink guide, with a useful map and listing of local food outlets, cafés and restaurants to help you plan your stay, or check online at www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/eat-exmoor. Look out for the ‘Produced on Exmoor’ branding when you shop.
Accommodation Key to abbreviations used in adverts for Self-Catering and touring Caravan Parks and Camping sites Ch D
Children welcome (minimum age in brackets) Dogs accepted
WH Water heater
R
Power points for shaving
S
Shop on site
T
Tradesmen welcome
W
Washroom Calor/camping gas stocked Chemical toilets
L
Laundry facilities
B
Baths/Showers
CG
E
Mains electricity for touring caravans
CT
M
Mains water
WC Flushed toilets
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