The Lonesome Tree
The Cliff Path at Hurlestone Point
Evenings @ ThePavilion – and more
A fortnightly series of evening talks will be starting at the new Lynmouth Pavilion, kicking off with Julian Gurney on Thursday 9 January, showing his wonderful photos and talking about his coastal work as Head Ranger for the National Trust.
Following that is astronomy enthusiast from Porlock, Matt Morris, talking about the Dark Skies of Exmoor, on Thursday 23 January, again 7pm at Lynmouth Pavilion. Telescopes will be set up outside for star gazing if weather permits.
Louise Reynolds, Lynmouth Pavilion Project heritage officer says: “We also have an exciting range of talks in February including an archaeological romp through the parish of Lynton and Lynmouth by Exmoor National Park’s conservation manger Rob Wilson-North: From Hoaroak to Hollerday Hill on Thursday 6 February, and fishing enthusiast Wayne Thomas from Combe Martin will be entertaining us with amazing images as we ‘Glimpse into North Devon’s Angling Past’ on Thursday 20 February.”
Evenings@ThePavilion, 7pm every other Thursday, all welcome.
And more…
On Saturday 11 January Frances Harrison delights us all with her Dark Starry Skies Story Cafe – come and enjoy local stories about Exmoor’s night sky and what it meant to people of the past. There is an opportunity for the audience to add their own stories and poems if they wish. Astronomical refreshments (along a starry theme) are available throughout. Families are encouraged to come along – 3pm-5pm at Lynmouth Pavilion.
Sunday 12January sees the first of a few folk evenings ‘Moor Music Sessions’ which will alternate between the Blue Ball Inn at Countisbury and the Exmoor Forest Inn at Simonsbath. The first one is at the Blue Ball Inn, 8pm on Sunday 12 January – a celebration of local music and song. Musicians, singers and audience welcome!
A fortnightly morning art group aimed at families and children will be starting at Lynmouth Pavilion on 18 January – 10am-12.30, run by a local Lynton artist and volunteers. Please phone 01598 752509 for more details and to book (space is limited so booking is essential). Trial period for 4 sessions – if they go well then the group will continue.
Photo by Peter Duckett
Experience Exmoor Safaris: a journey of discovery
Sit back, relax and enjoy the views and the wildlife while you embark on an Exmoor safari with Experience Exmoor
The Calvert Trust helps armed forces families
The Calvert Trust’s three centres in Exmoor, the Lake District and Kielder are gearing up to help armed forces families from across the UK, following George Osborne’s announcement yesterday that they are one of the twenty four projects to receive funding from the third tranche of the MOD’s Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) Fund.
Over the next two years the three Calvert Trust centres will assist 240 serving, reserve and veteran armed forces families with a disabled service person, partner or a child in the family.
Tony Potter, CEO of Calvert Trust Exmoor and LIBOR project leader for The Calvert Trust; “we feel privileged that our project ‘Uniting Service families with disabilities’ has been selected by the MOD. The Calvert Trust already has a proven track record cooperating with many Armed Forces Charities; we are relishing the opportunity to help and support as many families as we can through our programme of adventurous activity breaks at our 3 Centres’.
One of the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant is to overcome disadvantage faced by members of the armed forces, especially those injured in service. The Calvert Trust has over 40 years’ experience in helping members of the disabled community to overcome obstacles and discover “it’s what you can do that counts”.
If you are a serving, reserve or veteran armed forces family and want to find out more about accessing this support please contact one of the three centres.
Exmoor; 01598 763221, Kielder; 01434 250232 or Lake District: 01768 772255.
The Chancellor’s announcement can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/libor-fines-fund-a-further-twenty-four-armed-forces-charities-and-good-causes
The Armed Forces Covenant sets out the relationship between the nation, the state and the armed forces. It recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the armed forces and their families and it establishes how they should expect to be treated.
The Armed Forces Covenant (LIBOR) fund is £35 million of funding, taken from fines levied on banks for attempting to manipulate the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The Government allocated this money to the Covenant Reference Group to support the Armed Forces Covenant. The remaining funds will be allocated over the next two years.
The intention of the Libor Fund is to support the two key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are that the Armed Forces Community should not face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services, and that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
The Calvert Trust comprises three independent, not-for-profit, charities that each share the same Vision and Mission (which can be found on their website here: http://www.calvert-trust.org.uk/about-us/vision). The three centres are Calvert Trust Kielder, Lake District Calvert Trust and Calvert Trust Exmoor.
The Calvert Trust has 40 years’ experience in providing adventurous breaks to the disabled community. We pioneered access to challenging outdoor activities and our staff advise local authorities and sports governing bodies on access issues. Since 1974 we have helped over 200,000 people with disabilities to become more active and adventurous.
For more information about The Calvert Trust please contact Rob Lott, Head of Communications on rob@calvert-trust.org.uk or 01598 763221
Web: www.calvert-trust.org.uk/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CTExmoor, www.facebook.com/calverttrustkielder, www.facebook.com/pages/Calvert-Trust-Lakes/249894035066697
Twitter: @CalvertExmoor, @Calvert_Kielder, @CalvertLakes
YouTube: www.youtube.com/CalvertTrustExmoorUK
Cliff Walk
The Cliff Walk at the Valley of the Rocks. Photo by Dave Rowlatt
After the storm
Exmoor Ponies on Haddon Hill
Letter from Exmoor: ……..the path I walk’s in the wrong direction……..
Text and photos by Gary Scarlett
(first published Saturday, 21 December 2013, on his blog “Chunky Mamil“)
Went out on the road bike last week, the weather forecast was a bit dodgy but I wanted to get up the Toll road one last time before the year was out. You can break up the ride up into two really, the first half just past the toll house is nice and sheltered in the trees and I did my best time of the year. The second half is more exposed and if the wind is in the wrong direction it’s hard going, and it was. Once up and after catching my breath I went straight back down, battling across the moors in the wind didn’t appeal. Did a loop around some lanes and a sprint down the seafront, the wind in my favour this time.
This week I’ve been mainly mountain biking, wet,windy and freezing cold on the road bike didn’t appeal so I rode up some hills on the big green bike for a couple of days. Quite pleased with how I’ve progressed this year with my fitness. Eighteen mile mtb rides used to be a major expedition and take most of the day but now I just want to keep riding, what used to be two separate rides I’m now doing as one.
On Thursday I did a loop which took in some hard climbs, even trickier when its wet, muddy and still mulchy out on the trail. It’s a balancing act going up hill on the mtb, trying to keep your weight distributed, fighting to keep the front end down whilst the back wheel is slipping did get a bit annoying and led to some expletives. Whacked my shin slipping off, it smarted, didn’t cry though.
Lucky with the weather again though but it was cold on top of the hill before heading back to home. A herd of Exmoor ponies came and said hello though which was nice., went like this.On Friday I went in the opposite direction but just went where the mood took me. I did consider keeping low and riding some lower paths but that doesn’t make sense so headed up then down Dunster Path to the red mud. Went this way to see how I fared on the fireroad slog up after riding yesterday, not my quickest but did it, nearly 6000ft of climbing in 36 miles, is that classed as hill repeats?
Moor Encounters, Part 2
Exmoor 4 all 