Category: Events

Date for the Diary: One Day on Exmoor – 25 May 2015

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On Bank Holiday Monday, 25 May 2015, we want you to record what you are doing on Exmoor that day.  

Whether you are out walking the dog, go rock climbing, put your toe into the sea, have a cream tea or just dig over the garden – take a photo (or more) and send them to us.  As we are quite a nosey lot, we are also keen on hearing from you. This can be a short paragraph – a bit like a “Dear Diary” entry – or a longer account*. You an also send us a video or do a voice recording.

We will collate all the entries and send them on to the country archives.

All photos and stories will be published here on the Exmoor4all blog. We are also hoping to publish a photobook.  All fingers crossed, there’ll be a public screening of the photos during the summer. Just watch this space!

You images and stories on Facebook www.facebook.com/Exmoor4all, send them via Twitter @Exmoor4all or email them to exmoor4all@gmail.com

We’re looking forward to lots and lots of photos and stories!

PS: This is NOT a competition, just a bit of fun – and a way to show the world how fab it is to spend a day on Exmoor!

  • No longer than 600 words, please!

Date for the Diary: Alas Poor Johnny…. Birdie Johnson at the Simonsbath Festival

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Birdie Johnson – Wednesday May 13 – 7.30pm – St Luke’s

Alas Poor Johnny –

Buster Johnson’s memoir of life on an Exmoor farm, edited by Birdie Johnson with a foreword by grandson Boris

Birdie Johnson, Buster Johnson’s daughter, talks about Alas Poor Johnny, her mother’s highly entertaining memoir of life on an Exmoor farm in the 1950s, and how, after all these years, it has finally come to be published.

In 1951 Buster moved with her husband Johnny and their four children to West Nethercote, a remote farm four miles from Winsford. Cut off from the world she used to know, of domestic servants and bridge parties, she threw herself into her new life. Her world shrank, revolving around Johnny and the children, an assortment of friends and neighbours, and, above all, around the animals. Isolated as she was, Buster kept in touch by writing letters, sharing with friends and family the seemingly daily dramas of life at Nethercote; it is these letters she drew on, some ten years later, when writing Alas Poor Johnny.

Refreshments available in the interval and an optional snack, costing £4, may be booked in advance for the interval by telephoning Marian Lloyd on 01643 831451.

Admission: £10 to reserve the seat of your choice; £5 for unreserved seating; 14 year-olds and under free.

 

Birdie JohnsonBirdie Johnson, editor of Alas Poor Johnny, is the youngest of Buster and Johnny’s four children. Brought up at Nethercote, she spent a large part of her life there, moving back twice as an adult and continuing to live there after Buster and Johnny had died. In 2002 she produced the Exmoor Oral History Archive (www1.somerset.gov.uk/archives/exmoor) and, with photographer Mark Rattenbury, co-authored Reflections: Life Portraits of Exmoor, the book of the archive. In 2009, with some reluctance (looking to the future), she made the final move away from the isolation of the Nethercote valley to the High Weald of East Sussex, where the landscape serves as a replacement for the Exmoor she has left behind.

For more information about Alas Poor Johnny go to http://www.troubador.co.uk/shop.

ALAS POOR JOHNNY

Buster Johnson’s vivid and entertaining account of life on an Exmoor farm in the 1950s, edited by Birdie Johnson and with a foreword by Boris Johnson, her grandson

“It is wonderful to hear her voice again”
Boris Johnson

Alas Poor Johnny cover“Few people can have been less qualified than I was to become a farmer’s wife. Town bred, I had been groomed by my French mother for the diplomatic arena.”

In 1951 Buster Johnson moved from Surrey to Exmoor with her husband Johnny, four children, a couple of dogs and a vanload of pigs and poultry. Naturally gregarious, she exchanges a life of domestic servants and bridge parties for a remote and spartan existence at West Nethercote, a farm in the heart of Exmoor national park. Alas Poor Johnny, written some ten years later, is her vivid and fascinating account of their life there, and of farming on Exmoor in the fifties, told with a strong sense of drama and of the absurd.

The void left by her lost cultural and social pursuits becomes filled by the minutiae of everyday life, and by her husband Johnny and their four children. Above all, it is filled by the animals. These take the place of absent friends in her affections, their personalities permeating the book. There is a small but strong supporting cast, including busybody Mrs Stevens at the next door farm; Arthur the ex-cowman who moves with them from Surrey; SRN Tommie, the butt of an aggressive ram – and Alby the rabbit catcher, who plays the mouth organ and dances wild dances, enchanting the children. Finally, threading through all this with a glint of steel, is Johnny. He is her antithesis; strong and undemonstrative, generally preferring animals to people. Their relationship is the heart of the book.

Alas Poor Johnny is a first-hand account of life on a farm in the 1950s, written at the time but reading with the freshness of the present. It will appeal to anyone, whether interested in Exmoor and old farming practices, a lover of the countryside and of animals, or just wanting to cheer themselves up with a good story, well told. It is a delight to read, hugely funny and, at times, touching.

Buster and Johnny spent the rest of their lives at Nethercote. She died in 1987, without ever publishing her book. Her daughter Birdie, who herself lived there for many years, has now done so on her behalf. Boris Johnson, Buster’s grandson, has written a foreword.

The Exmoor Coast Festival, 23 – 31 May 2015

PrintFrom crabbing to kayaking and walking to photography, the Exmoor Coast Festival celebrates all the wonderful things to do along our stunning coastline. The event is coordinated by Bryan Cath for Exmoor Tourism and there is something for everyone to enjoy, mostly free, from Ilfracombe in the west to Watchet in the east.

For those who have lots of energy there are some challenging activities to try their hand at with qualified trainers. Probably the most daring is coasteering at Hele Bay near Ilfracombe on Tuesday 26 May – this is rock climbing, but sideways with the sea always close by. For those who want to try out vertical rock climbing then the Valley of Rocks on Thursday 28 May is the place to go. There are two opportunities to try out kayaking, at Lee Bay near Lynton on Wednesday 27 May and Combe Martin on Thursday 28 May. For the bikers there’s a guided mountain bike ride around Horner near Porlock on Monday 25 May.  And there’s an opportunity to try coarse fishing at Slade Reservoir on Wednesday 27 May with a South West Lakes ranger.

There are a variety of walks, one around Lee Abbey near Lynton on Saturday 23 May, takes in the grounds of the abbey, which are not normally open to the public. On Thursday 28 May there is a coastal walk around Porlock and at Combe Martin a walk find out about the trades and settlements heritage walk. For those who want to stretch their legs there’s a challenging walk along the rugged coast path on Selworthy Beacon with the Exmoor Society on Saturday 30 May.

Bryan Cath says: “The range of events on offer is astonishing and we do hope that people will come along and join in as many as possible.”

For those with smaller children there are several events taking place which will be perfect. On Saturday 23 May Combe Martin celebrates Hunting the Earl of Rone where children can join in the Junior Party Day and on Monday see the main parade through the length of the village. On Sunday 24 May there is a charity duck race at Porlock. On Monday 25 May there is a beach safari at Lynmouth with a National Park Ranger and a sandcastle competition at Combe Martin beach. On Thursday 28 May join in a free day with the National Park on their Big Adventure Day at Lynmouth. On Friday 29 May you can join the Devon Wildlife Trust in a Shoresearch looking for pond-life at Lynmouth. On Saturday 30 May why not join in the Exmoor World Championship Crabbing Competition at Porlock Weir. At Combe Martin Museum you can join in a fun afternoon at the Children’s Activity Workshop.

Running throughout the Coast Festival is an art exhibition at Contains Art at Watchet. This displays artists’ impressions of the geology of the impressive rock formations in that area, our own Jurassic coast. There will also be a barbecue with music and activities on Saturday 30 May at Watchet. Somerset Wildlife Trust are putting on an exhibition of coast art and marine wildlife at Porlock on Wednesday 27 May.

The National Park’s Lynmouth Pavilion is putting on various events throughout the Coast Festival. On Saturday 23 you can enjoy songs, stories and pictures celebrating the history of Exmoor. On Monday 25 May come and see the film about the amazing feat of endurance when the Louisa Lifeboat was hauled from Lynmouth to Porlock Weir to save a stricken ship. On Wednesday 27 May meet the Coastguards and discover the challenges they face on our dangerous coast. On Thursday 28 May in the evening come and enjoy some stunning photography taken around the National Park by Dr Nigel Stone from Exmoor National Park.

There are some more relaxing events taking place. On Monday 25 May in the afternoon enjoy the open gardens at Woolhanger near Parracombe with craft stalls and cream teas. We all love our cream teas and there are more at the Sail Loft at Combe Martin Museum on Tuesday 26 May in the morning. On Thursday 28 May at The Ship in Porlock Weir come and join in some sea shanties in the evening. On Friday 29 May go along to the Regal Theatre in Minehead for an enchanting puppet show about the Musicians of Bremen. On Saturday 30 May visit the Knitting Workshop in Combe Martin to brush up on your skills. Closing the festival on Sunday 31 May is an afternoon of music, readings and more cream teas at St Mary’s Church at Lynton.

The Coast Festival is supported by Exmoor Tourism, Exmoor National Park Partnership Fund and South West Water, for more details of the Coast Festival visit www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/coast-fest

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More information

To find out full details of each event please visit http://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/coast-fest or the full listings at http://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/types/coast-festival/map

A5 double-sided leaflets will be distributed throughout the area promoting the event.

The festival is co-ordinated by Bryan Cath for Exmoor Tourism. Contact Bryan at bryan@westcountrywalks.co.uk or 01271 883131.

Simonsbath Festival starts tomorrow

Simonsbath Festival 2015 starts on Bank Holiday Monday May 4 at 2.30pm with traditional May Day celebrations for all the family on Exford Village Green.  There will be magical tales about the Exmoor Forest from popular local storyteller Frances Harrison, followed by maypole dancing to live music from Howard Harrison on guitar and Ben van Weede on fiddle.  Tea and refreshments will be available.

In the next six weeks the tiny village of Simonsbath, and its magical moorland setting, will be buzzing with an exciting mix of events, from classical, jazz, opera and world music concerts to poetry readings, talks, walks, workshops and much more.

The festival’s opening concert brings the warm Mediterranean sounds of Greek music to Simonsbath with a performance by the outstanding George Kypreos Band at St Luke’s Church on Saturday May 9 at 7.30pm.

And on Wednesday May 13 at 7.30pm Birdie Johnson comes to St Luke’s to talk about the book she has just edited by her mother Buster Johnson (with foreword by grandson Boris).  Birdie’s talk will include highlights from Alas Poor Johnny, her mother’s colourful and entertaining memoir of life on an Exmoor farm in the 1950s, and she will explain how, after all these years, it has finally come to be published.

Throughout the festival period Boevey’s Tea Rooms will host an exhibition of art by local artists featuring mainly Exmoor themed work including paintings in oil, watercolour and pastel as well as printmaking and photography.

Simonsbath Festival runs from May 4 to June 19.  For information or to request a full-colour printed festival programme phone Victoria Thomas on 01643 8313434, email simonsbathfestival@mail.com or visit the website www.simonsbathfestival.co.uk.  To book tickets phone Marian Lloyd on 01643 831451.

And here is an overview of events:

Performers and Speakers

Birdie Johnson  Wednesday May 13 – 7.30pm, St Luke’s

Birdie Johnson, Buster Johnson’s daughter, talks about Alas Poor Johnny, her mother’s highly entertaining memoir of life on an Exmoor farm in the 1950s, and how, after all these years, it has finally come to be published.   Read more….

Geoff Nichols  Good Vibes  Friday May 22 – 8.30pm,  Exmoor Forest Inn

Geoff Nichols returns to the Exmoor Forest Inn with his Swing jazz band Good Vibes. Having led the legendary Avon Cities jazz band for many years, trumpet and vibes star Geoff Nichols turns to the Swing music of the 1930s and 40s to present his Good Vibes band for the discerning jazz fan.   Read more…..

The George Kypreos Band   Saturday May 9 – 7.30pm,  St Luke’s  

Simonsbath Festival opens with the sunlight and warmth of the Mediterranean evoked by the sound of Greek music from the George Kypreos Band. The band is led by the virtuoso bouzouki and distinctively soulful voice of George Kypreos, accompanied by Greek female vocals, and driven by the strong rhythmic grooves of gypsy guitar, Syrian darbouka and a rocking English back-line.    Read more….

Kausary  Saturday May 30 – 4:00pm and 7.30pm, St Luke’s

The Peruvian band Kausary’s workshop at 4pm will take participants on a journey through Andean culture to experience the vitality of the music and dance of Latin America. The emphasis is is on hands-on experience, with the opportunity to play some of the instruments, including panpipes, guitar and charango, so that participants can discover their own Andean spirit!

Then at 7.30pm the six-piece band  plays a rich repertoire of traditional Andean and contemporary Latin sounds, playing with unequalled depth of emotion in styles typical of the Andean highlands, coastal lowlands, Amazon basin and forest, and Cuba.   Read more….

Le Jazz  Saturday June 6 – 7.30pm, St Luke’s

The highly entertaining and dazzlingly dexterous musicians who form Le Jazz show their mastery and enjoyment in a variety of musical styles, performing a richly diverse programme of music from Faure to Django Reinhart, with Gershwin and Jewish Klezma music along the way.    Read more….

Michael Bochmann and David Watkins  Saturday May 23 – 7.30pm, St Luke’s

Sacred and Profane – music for violin and harp.

World class violinist Michael Bochmann and harpist David Watkins perform an irresistible programme of music from the sublime to the more down to earth, including works by Bach, Vivaldi, Saint-Saens, Paganini, Mozart and Massenet, and much-loved traditional pieces to herald the arrival of summer. Read more….

Njabulo Madlala  Saturday May 16 – 7.30pm, St Luke’s 

South African baritone and 2010 Kathleen Ferrier Award-winning Njabulo Madlala brings a voice of rare distinction and beauty to the Simonsbath Festival and demonstrates the quality and range of his musicianship in a dazzlingly diverse programme featuring Schubert lieder, African-American spirituals, French art songs, English ballads and traditional South African folk songs.      Read more….

Pop-Up Opera  Saturday June 13 – 7.30pm, St Luke’s

The Italian Girl in Algiers

Playboy Mustafa is bored with his wife Elvira; what he really wants is an Italian girl. Coincidentally, an Italian girl Isabella arrives, in search of her sweetheart Lindoro, a young Italian man recently captured on the high seas by Mustafa’s pirates and now in his service.    Read more…. 

Rob Wilson-North  Wednesday June 3 – 7.30pm, St Luke’s 

Rob Wilson-North, Conservation Manager for the Exmoor National Park, explains how current research is revealing more about the enterprising Georgian industrialist John Knight’s vision for Exmoor and his plans for a great mansion at the heart of his estate in Simonsbath with pleasure grounds after the picturesque style.      Read more….

Dr Sue Baker  Wednesday May 27 – 7.30pm, St Luke’s 

Author of ‘Survival of the Fittest – a Natural History of the Exmoor Pony’ and past chair of the Exmoor Pony Society, Dr Sue Baker assesses the future of the Exmoor Pony.    Read more….

Tom and Barbara Brown   Wednesday June 10 – 7.30pm, Exmoor Forest Inn

Moor Songs

The Exmoor Forest Inn hosts an open session of Exmoor music and song led by popular folk and traditional entertainers Tom and Barbara Brown. Singers, musicians and audience are all welcome.     Read more…..

Tracey Elliot-Reep  Wednesday May 20 – 7.30pm, St Luke’s 

Adventures on horseback

Tracey gives an inspirational and entertaining presentation about her amazing horse riding adventures in distant lands, illustrated with stunning photography and film.   Read more….

NEWS FROM EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK: Tourism is a BIG Issue for Exmoor!

Exmoor Society Logo

Tourism is such a big issue for Exmoor that it is the theme of this year’s annual Spring Conference to be held by The Exmoor Society in Dulverton on Friday 24 April 2015. The conference will consider some of the big issues of the day including how we balance tourism with conserving the natural environment, how we can promote unique experiences to visitors and how we fit within the wider region of the South West which is the primary holiday destination in the country.

National Parks, such as Exmoor, were set up just after the second world war, not only to conserve and enhance special landscapes but also to promote people’s enjoyment of them.  Access, in particular, to open country such as mountain and moorland, with the provision of a well-managed rights of way system and other visitor amenities such as car parks and loos, were to be developed by the statutory National Park authorities responsible for these designated areas.  At the same time there was suspicion by the National Park movement that a tourist industry would encourage large numbers of people and forms of enjoyment that would spoil the very countryside needing protection.  Today, in contrast, tourism is seen as the economic driving force in most of these areas and visitors are welcomed to them.

“Worth almost £100m a year tourism is the single largest component of the Exmoor economy and many communities depend on the value it brings to the area,”  said Dan James, sustainable economy manager at Exmoor National Park Authority,  “research shows that over 95% of visitors are attracted to the area due to the landscape and scenery and the trick is to manage tourism sustainably to ensure the very reason for the National Park designation is not compromised.”

However, how sustainable is tourism in these fragile landscapes and can protection and prosperity go hand-in-hand?  Can Exmoor, one of the smallest National Parks, attract more people with so much visitor choice in the South West?  Could Visit England do more to encourage rural tourism?  What do the visiting public desire from Exmoor?  These are some of the questions that will be explored and debated at the Conference.

Rachel Thomas, chairman of The Exmoor Society, said “The conference, in partnership with the National Park Authority, aims to raise important issues and influence the debate on how to manage this complex landscape.  We are delighted that a range of speakers, including from Visit England and Exmoor Tourism, will be dealing with the questions raised, with plenty of opportunity for delegates to open up the debate on how to make the best use of the incredible assets found here on Exmoor.”

Please book through The Exmoor Society website www.exmoorsociety.com, or email info@exmoorsociety.com.

Winners of the Exmoor4all Photo Competition in February

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John Spurr was the overall winner of the Exmoor4all Photo Competition in March.

John Spurr was the overall winner of the Exmoor4all Photo Competition in March.

Photo by John Spurr
Photo by Steve Manley
Photo by Martin Webber
Photo by John Spurr
Photo by Mark Perry
Photo by Driftwood Arts
Photo by Craig Palmer
Photo by Lauren Sommerville
Photo by Jo Caunt

Exmoor Food Fest has launched!

The Exmoor Food Fest was launched with great success on Wednesday, 28 January, at The Combe, the training restaurant at the Skills & Enterprise Centre (West Somerset College, Minehead) when Michelin star chefs Mark Dodson, Thomas Carr , Andrew Dixon and  Richard Boggie cooked an amazing five course dinner with the Combe’s hospitality students for invited guests.

Richard Boggie was in charge of the Amuse Bouche , Mackerel ceviche, wasabi and Exmoor Caviar, which set the tone for an amazing feast. The former Combe student who left the College two years ago, is now Chef de Partie at the renowned Bath Priory.

Mark Dodson, whose restaurant Masons Arms in Knowstone holds one Michelin star, followed with a starter of tuna on Chinese cabbage.   Thomas Carr,former headchef at Nathan Outlaw’s restaurant and now owner of The Olive Room in Ilfracombe, followed with Exmoor rump of beef, tongue and Jacobs ladder pie, 
 herb dumpling, ginger carrot and, for the vegetarian guests, truffle and potato terrine, crispy free range hens egg and 
 pickled mushroom dressing .

Guests were then treated to a pre-dessert by Richard Boggie, set Tonka bean cream, apple caramel and cider, followed by Andrew Dixon’s (The Cafe at Porlock Weir) apple tart tatin
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“Great students, great food, great evening”, commented Mark Dodson on Twitter.

Hollie Borland, reporter for the Somerset County Gazette tweeted “What an amazing evening put on @The_Combe_Mhead by #WestSomCol students too for the #ExmoorFoodFest launch #poshnosh”.

Martin Hesp, editor-at-large for the Western Morning News, tweeted “Been to amazing launch of #ExmoorFoodFest tonight – thanks students of #WestSomersetCollege and chef tutors.”  This was seconded by Somerset Life editor Charlotte Skidmore who also tweeted “What amazing food at the launch of #ExmoorFoodFest”.

It was a brilliant experience for the hospitality students who all enjoyed working with these top chefs. One student tweeted to the chefs “Thank you for tonight in the kitchen. Amazing experience in there to watch what you all do!”

The Masons Arms, The Olive Room , The Cafe at Porlock Weir and The Combe all take part in the Exmoor Food Fest during February, offering the deal of 2 courses for £10.00/ 3 courses for £15.00.  Please check on their pages on what days this offer is available.

To see some of the photos Clayton Jane took at the launch, please pop over to exmoorfoodfest.com

 

 

Media Release: Exmoor Food Fest celebrates local food & venues during February 2015

 

cropped-taste-of-exmoor-2

Exmoor.– The first Exmoor Food Fest will come to Exmoor in February 2015, celebrating everything Exmoor has to offer.
For a whole month, outstanding restaurants across the region will be offering 2 courses for £10.00 and 3 courses for £15.00 to give locals and visitors alike the opportunity to sample dishes prepared with excellent local produce.

Customers will be able to pick up vouchers for the Exmoor Food Fest “Tenner Deal” at participating restaurants or download them online. As an extra incentive to visit as many of the restaurants as possible, customers will receive a passport which will be stamped every time they order an “Exmoor Food Fest Deal”. Once the passport is full it will be entered into a draw for a Taste of Exmoor hamper.

The Exmoor Food Fest will be launched on 28 January 2015 at The Combe, a training restaurant based at the Skills and Enterprise Centre in the grounds of West Somerset College Minehead. Local chefs Mark Dodson (Masons Arms Knowstone), Thomas Carr (The Olive Room, Ilfracombe), Andrew Dixon (The Cafe Porlock Weir) and former student Richard Boggie (now Chef de Partie at Bath Priory) will be cooking a five-course-menu with the hospitality students for invited guests.

The grand finale of the Exmoor Food Fest is taking place at Minehead Harbour on 28 February in conjunction with the first Family Angling Day. Street Food Traders will give the harbour a village feel, inviting people to stroll around the harbour, watch the anglers and taste delicious food. A local produce and craft fair will take place at The Beach Hotel in Minehead where chefs like Mark Dodson will do cooking demonstrations throughout the day. Other venues along the seafront will also join in the celebration. Street artists and entertainment complete the recipe for a great family day out.

Andrew Dixon, owner and Chef at The Café at Porlock Weir, came up with the idea of the Exmoor Food Fest to promote the many outstanding food venues across the region.
“Exmoor has so much to offer, but February tends to be a very quiet time for us. The ‘Tenner Deal’ is an excellent opportunity for us to showcase what we can do while making it affordable for our customers,” explained Andrew.

Kentisbury Grange is one of the Devon-based venues taking part in the Exmoor Food Fest, where renowned Chef Michael Caines MBE has recently become involved.
“We are delighted to join this promotion of local food and Exmoor as a region,” commented Peter Farquhar, General Manager. “Michael’s involvement is very exciting as it will enable us to move to a whole new level in all aspects of our hospitality offering.’

The Exmoor Food Fest is organised and run by Exmoor4all, an internet platform based on sharing photos and stories of Exmoor with people all over the world as well as providing a network for local businesses. Andrew Dixon, who now is also a tutor at The Combe, and Werner Hartholt, the Combe’s Chef Lecturer, are co-organisers and technical consultants for the Exmoor Food Fest.

A total of 15 restaurants will take part in the first Exmoor Food Fest. A list is available on www.exmoorfoodfest.com, complete with contact details and days when the special Exmoor Food Fest deal is available.

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Exmoor Food Fest 2015

Here is a quick overview of what the first Exmoor Food Fest has to offer!  We are still working on the final touches – fingers crossed we’ll be able to give you a full list of participating restaurants and events across Exmoor by the end of this week.

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Snowdrop Valley 2015

Snowdrop Valley 2015 Exmoor

Open from Saturday 31st January
to Sunday 1st March inclusive

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

Cutcombe Parish Council, in conjunction with Exmoor National Park Authority runs a Park and Ride Service to Snowdrop Valley and staffs the Snowdrop Valley Information Point in the Car Park

Visitors can also walk down into the valley and there is a variety of merchandise available to purchase as souvenirs.

Buses will be operating to the valley from Saturday 7th to Sunday 22nd
February inclusive. The buses have disabled access
There will be walking access only when the buses are not operating
(31st Jan to 6th Feb and 23rd Feb to 1st March)
No vehicles will be allowed into the valley

Downloadable Snowdrop Valley Brochure for 2015

Visitors with mobility problems who cannot visit the Valley while the buses are
running should contact snowdropvalley@gmail.com to arrange a visit on the weekend of 31st Jan/1st Feb or 28th Feb/1st March to be issued with a mobility pass

Parking for all vehicles is at the Exmoor Farmers Market, which is also the start of the walks into Snowdrop Valley, and is clearly signposted from the village

Snowdrop Valley Information Leaflet 2014 ….click here to download

Walking route maps
Winter clothing and suitable sturdy walking footwear is essential. The walking routes take in bridleways and footpaths, and can be very muddy

Short Walks – Route – Map
Medium Walk – Route – Map
Long Walk – Route – Map

Snowdrop Valley Merchandise Please click here to view

The single track lane into the valley is closed by a legal road closure order throughout February. Any vehicle entering the valley without an authorised Vehicle Pass will be reported to the police.

(via www.wheddoncross.org.uk)