Date for the Diary: Photography Break – “Spring on Exmoor”

February 2, 2014

A residential 3 day landscape photography workshop led by Don Bishop, ARPS.

4 nights accommodation package on a full board basis to include bed, breakfast, evening meal, packed lunches for the days out with your camera and all tuition.

On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you will be taken out onto Exmoor to take photos of the National Park area and coast under the guidance of Don, and each evening there will be a discussion of landscape photography. This workshop is limited to a maximum of 10 people to ensure you get plenty of help and tuition to finish the workshop with some great images.

£490.00 per person. For further information please contact the Yarn Market Hotel on 01643 821425 or email hotel@yarnmarkethotel.co.uk

Date of Event: 10th to 14th March 2014

Location of Event: Yarn Market Hotel, High Street, Dunster, TA24 6SF

Email: hotel@yarnmarkethotel.co.uk

Website: http://www.yarnmarkethotel.co.uk/photography_workshop.html

14 winners in our Photo Competition in December

February 2, 2014February 2, 20141 Comment

Date for the Diary: Wimbleball Lake Astro Camp

February 2, 2014

101 Wimbleball Lake Event

From Saturday 1^st until Saturday 8^th March 2014 South West Lakes Trust would like to invite you to their Astro Camp at Wimbleball Lake as part of National Astronomy Week.

Exmoor National Park is designated as the International Dark Sky Reserve, the first place in Europe to achieve this prestigious award and only the second in the World. Wimbleball Lake was nominated as the first Dark Skies Discovery Site on Exmoor in November 2011.

The week long camp will incorporate a variety of exciting activities for all the family to enjoy including, talks and presentations, workshops, Planetarium, telescopes, stargazing opportunities, plus BBQ’s on Sat 1^st, Friday 7th and Sat 8^th March. People can attend for a couple of hours, or for the whole week, depending on their availability. Camping / caravanning is also available on our AA 3* rated campsite to maximize the stargazing opportunities. We also have 2 camping pods that are available to hire.

Alex Forster, South West Lakes Trust Exmoor Area Manager said, ‘South West Lakes Trust are really excited to be hosting this Astro Camp as part of National Astronomy Week. Stargazing at Wimbleball is phenomenal as there is so little light pollution, however there will be a wide variety of indoor activities each evening just in case it is cloudy!’

There are many positions at Wimbleball Lake where individual or group activities can take place with level hard surfaced areas overlooking the scenic lakeside with clear big sky views. For more information please call 01398 371116 or email aforster@swlakestrust.org.uk

South West Lakes Trust is the region’s largest combined environmental and recreational charity. Its 50 inland water sites, encompassing 5,000 hectares of land and water spread across Devon, Cornwall and West Somerset, attract in the region of 2m visits annually. It is listed as being in the top 3,000 of the country’s 150,000 charities. 3,112 days of assistance by volunteers were freely given in 2011, in return training was offered in relevant skills (86 days in 2011). SWLT involved over 90,000 people in water sports activities in 2011, including 24,400 children. It manages large tracts of moorland and significant areas of woodland, with Forest Stewardship Council accreditation.

59 Entries in our Photo Competition 2013/14 – January 2014

February 1, 2014

The Road to Exford

February 1, 2014

Photographed on a blustery day in September 2013 by Peter French

South West Tourism Excellence Awards Success for Calvert Trust Exmoor

February 1, 2014

Calvert Trust Exmoor are very pleased to have won two Gold awards and Winner of Winners at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2013-14, which took place in Plymouth on 30 January 2014.

Calvert Trust Exmoor runs the only 5 star activity centre in the country, and caters for people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities of all ages and levels of ability, together with their families, friends & carers. Activities on offer include sailing, horse riding, wheelchair abseiling, accessible cycling and archery. Over 3,700 guests had a residential break with Calvert Trust Exmoor last year.

The two Gold awards were in the “Access for All” and “Tourism Sport and Experience of the Year” categories.

Tony Potter, Chief Executive of Calvert Trust Exmoor; “This is fantastic news that rewards all the hard work that the Calvert Trust Exmoor team consistently put in; we are so pleased to be recognised for delivering an excellent experience for anyone and everyone, of any ability or age. Going on to win the Winner of Winners award was the icing on the cake; I was delighted to be able to accept these awards on behalf of our whole team. ”

Regarding the Winner of Winners award The Judges said:

“There are no criteria for this award. At the end of the judging panel meeting its members are asked to identify any entrant which, in their view, has shone out as an exemplar in its field. On this occasion the debate was short. This year’s Winner of Winners was visited independently by two mystery visitors. Both of them came away declared themselves “inspired” by a business that is doing things that others regard as impossible, or simply hadn’t thought of. It is a genuine exemplar to all tourism businesses on how to widen their audience, be accessible, and deliver excellence.”

With Gold in both the Devon and South West Awards this year Calvert Trust Exmoor are now looking forward to the prospect of represent the region in the National Visit England Awards for Excellence 2014 in May.

Calvert Trust Exmoor is the South West’s premier holiday destination for people with disabilities, and the only 5 star accredited activity accommodation in the country. We welcome over 3,500 residential guests and 5000 day visitors a year with the philosophy of “At Calvert Trust Exmoor it’s what you CAN do that counts”. This sums up our approach to what we do, we help people of all levels of ability to fulfill their potential and be all that they can be.

CalvertTrust Exmoor is the third Calvert Trust Centre. It was opened in 1996 to offer people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities – and their friends and families – the chance to achieve their potential through the challenge of outdoor adventure.

www.calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoor

www.facebook.com/CTExmoor

www.twitter.com/calvertexmoor

www.youtube.com/CalvertTrustExmoorUK

Ilfracombe, part 2

January 30, 2014January 18, 2014

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An Inspiring Day of Environmental Games and Activities

January 29, 2014January 29, 2014

Posted on 12 December, 2013 by moorlandpartnership

Friday 7 February – 10:00-15:30

This day is designed for people who would like to know more volunteering with Exmoor National Park and its partners to support education and outreach work with the National Park.

You will be able to visit the Lynmouth Pavilion, explore with the Moorland Classroom, develop new activities for 2014 and hear more about volunteering with the National Park team over a roll and a bowl of soup

Location/start point: The Pavilion, The Esplanade, Lynmouth, EX35

Places are limited, booking essential. To book please visithttp://exmoorvolunteers.eventbrite.com/

Click here to download the PDF poster for this event.

For further information, contact David Rolls, Moorland Education and Outreach Officer, Heart of Exmoor Project on: drolls@exmoornationalpark.gov.uk or 07875 565823

Happy Birthday Exmoor National Park!

January 27, 2014

Sixty years ago today, the first steps towards creating Exmoor National Park were made when The National Parks Commission made a Designation Order that set the boundaries for the proposed National Park, recognising that it was a special place and worthy of protection for the nation. Time was then allowed for comments and decision by the then Minister for Housing and Local Government, Harold Macmillan. His Confirmation Order came on 19th October 1954.

A 60^th Anniversary edition of the free Exmoor 2014 (where to go and what to see) publication (previously titled the Exmoor Visitor) has just been printed and contains information about the National Park and details of hundreds of events that will be taking place across Exmoor this year.

Clare O’Connor, editor of Exmoor 2014 said: “There seems to be more happening in the National Park than ever this year with something to do all year round. Due to limited space we couldn’t fit everything in Exmoor 2014 but there are even more events to be found on our website http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/visiting/events . People are welcome to upload their events and can do so at anytime throughout the year.”

Free copies of Exmoor 2014 are available to tourism providers. The publication is packed in bundles of 75 copies so if anyone would like a supply please contact us via email: info@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk