Category: Activities

Secret Location Dining on Exmoor: A Mediterranean Feast

Join us for our second Secret Location Dining event for an evening of good food, a stunning location and a bit of a mystery where we are going to take you!

If you are dreaming of a sunny holiday in the Mediterranean, of eating delicious, freshly prepared food in a Taverna with a glass of wine while watching the sun go down over the sea – then this is the event for you.  Our South African Chef Sam and his team will serve up a delicious Mediterranean buffet to remind you of hot evenings in Spain or Greece. Hopefully the Exmoor weather will do the rest!

And here is the new menu:

Starter (Sharing Platter)
A selection of charcuterie from Somerset Charcuterie
Served with –
Cheese Stuffed mini peppers
Olives
Hummous
Grilled Haloumi
Dolmades
 Focaccia
Breadsticks

Mains (Buffet)
Smokey Albondigas with tomato salsa
Yoghurt marinated chicken skewers cooked on the BBQ
Lebanese style lamb kebabs
Stuffed sweet peppers (v)
Patatas bravas (v)
Tabbouleh (v)
Greek Salad (v)
Vegetable couscous with harissa dressing (v)

Dessert
Honey pistachio tart with yogurt.
Baklava

Your Ticket includes:

  • Transport to and from the venue
    (pick-up from West Somerset Railway Station in Minehead at 7pm)
  • A “Travel Bag” with a 20cl bottle of Prosecco and a few other goodies to enjoy on your scenic journey to the venue
  • A choice of Pimms or Raspberry Prosecco Cocktail on arrival
  • Home-made Lemonade
  • Half a bottle of wine
  • The full menu (see above – and possibly even more!)

PS We are hoping to be able to dine al fresco. But if it is too cold, to wet or too windy, then we will retreat indoors and admire the stunning view through large windows!

 

Childhood Dreams 

‘Childhood Dreams’-wooden boat and an Exmoor stream, what more could a small child wish for?

Lindsey McDonnell

Snowdrop Valley 2017

On Saturday, 28 January 2017, Snowdrop Valley opens again to visitors until the end of February.

Snowdrop Valley is a privately owned remote valley in a hidden part of Exmoor close to Wheddon Cross.  The Badgworthy Land Company kindly allow access to the valley while the beautiful carpet of snowdrops is in bloom throughout February each year.

Park and Ride buses running on the middle two weeks: Saturday 4th February to Sunday 19th February inclusive.

The first and last weeks are for walkers only and the valley will be closed to traffic. For coach bookings and disabled access please contact the Co-ordinator Gemma Wesley on 07507 797169 or email snowdropvalley@googlemail.com

Find out more here

Date for the Diary: Farm & Food Tour across Exmoor

Join Shaun and Daphne for a scenic drive across the moors in a LandRover to a remote hill farm for a tour of the farm with the farmers who will show you their free range pork, Dexter cattle, dairy goats and alpacas. You are then invited into the traditional farmhouse for refreshments and tastings of the delicious food they produce, followed by a demonstration of alpaca wool spinning.

10 February 2017
Depart Luccombe 1.30 pm, transport provided.  
Return to Luccombe approx. 5.00 pm
On the road from Exford to Porlock. Photo by Rob Hatton, February 2013
West Country Farm & Food Tours
When we talk to people about our business, we often receive comments relating to our enthusiasm and passion. We thought you might like to know why we do what we do.

1) We get a kick out of the facial expressions of our tour guests when they learn something new or taste something delicious. We enjoy receiving feedback from our host farmers and food producers – especially when they’ve opened someone’s eyes to something they didn’t know existed. Seeing our group purchase produce direct from its source knowing they will enjoy eating it later really makes us smile.

2) We get to spend the day travelling around the stunning countryside of the West Country, pootling along country lanes and visiting locations that are often not open to the general public – heaven! For our guests who dont know the area or who dont like narrow lanes with high hedges, we take away the stress of reversing or getting lost and replace it with comfort, companionship and commentary.

3) Food. We like food – especially locally produced food. One of the most important elements of a day out with us is our lunch stop. Sometimes we will head to a café, tea room or pub, other times one of our host food producers will provide a light lunch at their location. We can also make use of suppliers to create yummy picnics that we can enjoy wherever we choose.

4) We see ourselves as a link bringing together suppliers (farmers and food producers) and consumers (our tour guests). We might visit a farm to learn about their beef production, but our guests will leave knowing there are idyllic holiday cottages and a camp site there too. Our group will learn where products can be purchased in the future too, such as local farmers markets or on line.

5) Our transport is provided by local community transport groups for which we pay a commercial rate. This enables them to use the money to support the vital community based work they often struggle to fund. We make sure we treat the drivers properly too – they come on the visits and enjoy lunch with us.

6) Children are indeed the future, and we want to give them a taste of our tours too. Already some of our tour guests have given us a contribution to our education fund, and some of our host farmers have insisted on giving their fee to the cause. Our aim is to be able to provide local schools with a taste of West Country Farm and Food Tours.

Date for the Diary: Dark Skies Talk and Tour at Wimbleball Lake with Seb Jay – Tuesday 13th December

wimbleball-dark-sky-004

The Big Wheel in Minehead

Visitors to Minehead can now get a bird’s eye view of the town, coast and countryside  from this new the observation wheel which will be at the seafront for 8 weeks this summer.

The wheel, standing 33m high is open 10am-8pm. Tickets £5 for an adult, £4 for children and senior citizens and £15 for a family ticket.

Date for the Diary: The Big Adventure Family Camp out at Wimbleball Lake

Horner Campout1Campers will be hoping for stars in their eyes at the Big Adventure Family Camp Out on Saturday 13 August at Wimbleball Lake (TA22 9NU) in Exmoor National Park.

The event, organised by the National Park Authority, is ideal for first time campers and a chance to camp out in a wonderful location. The site opens at 4pm when there is time to set up camp and cook dinner after which there will be activities to enjoy. Tents need to be down by 11am on Sunday 14 August.

National Park ranger Adam Vasey says: “We’re really lucky to be able to offer this camping experience here on the shores of Wimbleball Lake.  Not only have we got the family camping area especially reserved for us, but we’ve got storytelling, a camp fire, guitar playing as well as a bat walk and, when it gets dark, some astronomy (weather permitting). 

“It’s a really friendly environment for first time family campers so don’t be scared, there’ll be people to help out and everyone is welcome!”

The camp site has easy access to the cafe and children’s play area, with beautiful walks and a cycle trail around the lake itself. Facilities include showers, toilet block and washing up facilities; the site is also dog friendly. Exmoor National Park is an International Dark Sky Reserve and Wimbleball Lake is a Dark Sky Discovery Site – so here’s hoping for clear skies.

Booking for the Family Camp Out is essential, for more information and to book please visit:

events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=vjzs4adab&oeidk=a07ec82aef9fa6d8bc2  or telephone the National Park Centre in Dulverton 01398 323841

Charge: £20/family (two adults & two children). £10/additional adult. £5/additional child.

Images show the recent Family Camp Out at Horner Wood

Horner Campout3

Free Junior GO TRI Duathlons to be held on Exmoor this summer

This summer there will be opportunities for children to test their skills and fitness in a series of challenging, fun junior off-road duathlons on Exmoor. Organised by XMAN Events, in partnership with Exmoor National Park, the events will take place on 30th July, at Wimbleball Lake, and on 3rd September, in Lynmouth.

The duathlons involve running and cycling and are being organised in conjunction with the adult extreme triathlons being held on the same weekends. They are open to children aged 8 to 14 and entry is free. Full details of the events and how to enter can be found at www.xmanevents.com .

The aim of XMAN Events is to provide challenging activities in spectacular surroundings. Supported by the Exmoor National Park Partnership Fund, the purpose of these free junior events is to introduce children to the sport and encourage the enjoyment of physical activity in beautiful outdoor settings. The intention is that they will become annual events alongside their adult counterparts.

Macbeth in the Valley of Rocks

Macbeth_Poster_1

Exmoor theatre company, Pleasure Dome, are set to be the first to stage an open air theatre production at the Valley of the Rocks near Lynton. In order to fund the production, Pleasure Dome have launched a crowdfunding campaign and so are calling upon the support of the local community.

This summer, Pleasure Dome Theatre Company, will bring open-air entertainment to both the community and holiday makers alike, by staging a production of Macbeth to mark the year of Shakespeare’s 400th birthday. This production will be the start of a seasonal programme of outdoor entertainment consisting of classical theatre, opera and modern productions situated in the stunning surroundings of the Valley of the Rocks.

“We are an artistic collective who aim to utilise the dramatic and beautiful scenery of The Valley of The Rocks near Lynton, making Exmoor a cultural destination as well as a tourist hub. We provide outreach programmes and will offer local opportunities to work within a professional company to aspiring youngsters and enthusiastic older members of the locale alike.”

“I decided to found Pleasure Dome in 2015 after a lifetime of thinking someone should do some theatre at The Valley of the Rocks. I spent my early summers scrambling up and down it’s weaving pathways and peering out to sea. I always thought it was an otherworldly and magical location, somewhere not quite of this planet, a place where the sea meets the sky, a place where imagination meets reality, and I can think of nowhere more fitting to perform in. ”
Helena Payne

To buy tickets to Macbeth, or to become a patron of the company, visit http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/new-open-air-theatre-in-the-valley-of-the-rocks

To find out more about the production and the cast, please go to www.pleasuredometheatrecompany.com

Macbeth will run from the 2nd-20th of August at 7:30 (with no show on Mondays) and 3:00 Sunday matinees. 

‘Bogtastic’! – Tuesday 26 July 2016

NEWS FROM EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

A free, fun family adventure day for all ages around Simonsbath and Blackpitts, Exmoor National Park

 “I held my first glow worm”; “Amazing fun, very informative”; “fantastic free event”; “lots of muddy but happy people”
Bogtastic visitors

This  ‘drop in’ event will feature the Bogstacle course, stream dipping, live bats, the opportunity to visit one of the South West’s last remaining operational water powered sawmills, and lots more all-weather and undercover activities. There is something for everyone! Entrance is free, although some activities may request a small charge. There are toilet facilities and food available on site – parking at Simonsbath, follow the Bogtastic signs.

Held during UK National Park’s Week and in the month of International Bog Day, Bogtastic is the South West’s biggest and best bog festival celebrating the special qualities of Exmoor’s bogs, heritage and wildlife. Over 400 people attended last year!

The UK has 20% of the World’s blanket bog and Exmoor is fortunate to have some of this rare and fascinating habitat.  This unique and internationally important landscape is often considered to be the UK’s equivalent of Brazil’s exotic rainforest. Not only is it home to numerous endangered species and a carnivorous plant, the sundew; it naturally stores carbon dioxide and water.

Exmoor National Park ‘has some of the finest and unique examples of bogs in the UK. Bogtastic is a festival of fun and learning – a great opportunity to learn more about this special landscape and Exmoor’s amazing wildlife and heritage’ Morag Angus (Exmoor Mires Partnership).

Bogtastic coordinator Lucy McQuillan says: ‘Bogtastic is great fun for all ages so do come and join in the fun, please wear outdoor clothing, wellies and bring spare clothes.”

For further information on Bogtastic please contact: Lynmouth National Park Centre on 01598 752509. If you’d like volunteer at this event please contact Patrick Watts-Mabbot on 07973 727469|
or visit www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk
or the Facebook page www.tinyurl.com/bogtastic16.  #Bogtastic16.