If you would like to get married on Exmoor and enjoy this magnificient view with your guests, then please contact Little Quarme Cottages.
Exmoor Ponies on Molland Common
Photo by Dave Webb
Exmoor Club: Stay another night at the Luttrell Arms in Dunster
50% discount on second night stay for club members
THE LUTTRELL ARMS IS A 3 STAR, 28 ROOM HOTEL IN SOMERSET
Situated in the heart of Dunster, this famous landmark Exmoor hotel, dates from the 13th century and has spectacular medieval features and picturesque gardens. Today’s atmosphere is relaxed, informal and unique and the comfortable bars are open all day serving local ales, carefully chosen wines and a selection of tempting menu items for breakfast, lunches and dinners.
This much loved Exmoor hotel at the top of the High Street directly overlooks Dunsters famous Yarn Market. The Luttrell Arms Hotel Exmoor has remained mostly unchanged having been lovingly restored with the aim of retaining the unique and charming features of bygone days and carefully combining these with the essential contemporary comforts required by 21 century guests.
28 en suite bedrooms are all furnished and equipped to the highest standards providing the comfort and ambiance that guests would expect from this famous Exmoor Hotel bearing the aristocratic name of the Luttrell family whose imposing castle defines Dunster and the surrounding area. Within the ancient building there are many interesting architectural features and antiques including 5 fine four poster bedrooms.
The Head Chef leads an enthusiastic team of chefs in our Dunster Restaurant who pride themselves in providing menus to suit all occasions whether it be a hearty breakfast, swift and light lunchtime snack or a special dining occasion. The aim being that finest local ingredients are sourced and used to create memorable food and the standards of service to ensure that our customers are eager to return on future occasions.
Date for the Diary: Walk Some Moor, 31 August 2014
“WALK SOME MOOR!”
A sponsored one day walk across Exmoor in support of Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
(www.muscular-dystrophy.org) starting at Lynton and The Cleaves, taking in the spectacular views on Cheriton Ridge, across rugged moorland to Exe Head and Badgworthy, passing famous landmarks – Cloud Farm, Lorna Doone Farm and finally through the wooded valley via Watersmeet back to Lynmouth and Lynton.
Date
Sunday 31st August 2014 @ 9am
Lynton Bottom Meadow Car Park, Castle Hill. Own transport to be arranged.
Walkers
Please ensure you have plenty of water and food, comfortable walking boots and waterproofs (OS Map 180 1:50,000 recommended). The walk can be joined either at the start or at the following points: Hillsford Bridge, Brendon Two Gates.
Further Details
For further information, sponsor forms (and FREE T shirts – optional) via Laura Crouch,
Volunteer Fundraising Manager for the South West and South Wales,
Mobile: 07771 374836;
Email: l.crouch@muscular-dystrophy.com
To donate directly:
Muscular Dystrophy Campaign
(Quote: ‘Exmoor Walk’)
HSBC Bank Plc.
Sort Code: 40-06-21
Account Number: 42287129
“Walk the Moor!”- Directions
1.Lynton – The Cleaves
(Stunning vistas and woodland)
From Lynton Bottom Meadow Car Park, turn right and walk down the hill. Cross over the road (Lynmouth Hill) that heads down to Lynmouth and continue along the road until you reach The Cottage Inn pub.
There is a footbridge to the right of the pub. Cross the footbridge and turn left. Climb The Cleaves (the path through the woods), taking the top right path at all times, following signs to Hillsford Bridge. The path will end at a winding road (Watersmeet Road). Walk down the road to the junction – Hillsford Bridge.
2.Hillsford Bridge – Blackpitts Gate
(Woodland, 360 degree views of open moorland)
At the junction, turn right at the sign ‘Bridge Ball, Cheriton, Scoresdown’ and head towards Combe Park. Turn right at the sign for Cheriton Ridge before the house that takes you through woodland. Keep on the path following signs to Cheriton Ridge (the lower path) until it ends at Smallcombe Bridge and the farmhouse on your left. Turn left and then right up an uneven path behind the farmhouse – this is Shortacombe Common. Keep left until you arrive at Scoresdown Farm, the start of Cheriton Ridge.
Turn right into a lane next to the farm which reaches a 3 way junction. Take the middle track onto Cheriton Ridge. Stick to a straight line as this track will take you to a ford and a gate at Hoar Oak Tree. Cross the ford and pass through the gate and take a left turn until you reach another gate. Pass through the gate and continue along the track. Keep going and continue on the path to Exe Head (signposted with a gate).
Turn right at Exe Head, and follow the fence until you
come across a narrow path that leads to Blackpitts Gate on the B223 road to Simonsbath. Be sure to take a left turn at the yellow marker just after a signpost showing Blackpitts Gate – otherwise you will come out along the B223 road and will need to add an extra 5-10 minutes onto the walk to get back to Blackpitts Gate! On this section from Exe Head, stay left and head towards the B223 road which you will see in the distance.
3.Blackpitts Gate – Brendon Two Gates
(Half way; short walk along the B223 road to Simonsbath)
From Blackpitts Gate, turn left along the B223 road that runs between Lynton – Hillsford Bridge and Simonsbath. Beware of oncoming traffic. There is approximately a 20-30 minute walk until you reach Brendon Two Gates where there is a cattle grid (the first you come across from Blackpitts Gate).
4.Brendon Two Gates – Badgworthy
(Open moorland, idyllic, picturesque ancient woodland)
Turn right immediately after the cattle grid and follow the rough track across this part of the moor to Badgworthy.
Follow a straight line until you reach a gate. Go through the gate and follow the path down to the river.
There is a footbridge to the right as a point of reference. Turn left, avoiding the footbridge and walk along the path keeping the river on your right until you reach a footbridge taking you pass the tearooms at Cloud Farm.
5.Cloud Farm – Lorna Doone Farm – Watersmeet – Lynmouth – Lynton
(Famous landmarks, tearooms, toilets, stunning woodland by the river)
At Cloud Farm, turn left and continue along the lane until you reach a junction. Turn left until you come to Lorna Doone Farm. Take the lane behind the shop, keeping right. Continue along the lane with the river on your right, passing through the village of Brendon until you reach the village of Rockford. Just before The Rockford Inn pub, there is a small footbridge crossing the river. Cross over the footbridge and continue along the path through the woodland until you reach the tearooms at Watersmeet House.
From Watersmeet House, take either the left or right path along the river which leads out into Lynmouth. Turn left on the bridge then right up Lynmouth Hill back to Lynton. Beware of oncoming traffic. At the top of Lynmouth Hill, turn right and you will reach Bottom Meadow Car Park.
Exmoor Literally: Pets Aplenty
MY HEART BELONGS IN CULBONE.
by
Malcolm D. Welshman
I’ve a special place in my heart for Exmoor, with its sweeping moorland vistas, rugged coast and villages steeped in history. My love for the area is all the more ardent as I was married in Culbone Church, that tiny jewel tucked into the cliff top to the west of Porlock. Often my mind floats back to that glorious sun-kissed day in May of 1976 when Maxeen became my wife. So it’s an extra-special pleasure to be returning to the area for the Porlock Arts Festival 25-28th September where, on the Sunday, I shall be talking about my life with animals and how they have influenced my writing. Little did I realise when I signed Culbone’s register – only the 49th signature in the past 163 years – how varied and engaging my life would be as a vet over the next 30 years. From working at London Zoo, travelling across Africa in a truck, treating a camel and ostrich along the way, to escapades in a small animal hospital on the Sussex coast which formed the basis of my three pet novels. The first of those, Pets in a Pickle, has a foreword by James Herriot’s son and reached number two on Kindle’s bestseller list. My third, Pets Aplenty, published this August, continues the exploits encountered by my alter-ego, Paul Mitchell, and his relationship with Lucy, the junior nurse at the hospital. So far, it’s been very much an on-off romance. Readers of the earlier books have been keen to know how things might develop. Let’s just say that in the next book after Pets Aplenty, readers will be transported to a magical spot on the edge of Exmoor, drawn into a tiny church on the cliffs, while May blossom spirals confetti-like round a blissfully happy couple, echoing the scene of nearly forty years ago.
I’m a retired vet and author. My first novel, published by John Blake Publishing in May 2011, was Pets in a Pickle. This has a foreword by James Herriot’s son and quotes by Sir Terry Wogan and Richard Madeley, amongst others. The ebook version reached number two on Amazon Kindle’s bestseller list. The second book in the series, Pets on Parade, was published April 2012. The third,Pets Aplenty, will be published in the summer of 2014.
For further info: www.malcolmwelshman.co.uk
DATE FOR THE DIARY: Meet Malcolm at the Porlock Arts Festival on 28 September 2014.
Red Arrows over Minehead
Date for the Diary: A Midsummer’s Dream at Wimbleball Lake, 25 August 2014
Show me the way….
Well now I’ve been officially told not to walk up any steep hills or uneven ground for 6 weeks while under physio for my ankle that has plagued me since Feb, I took a drive across the top of Exmoor today to a few favourite spots accessible right next to the road..
This is a tree that’s much shot, due to the way it shows exactly where the prevailing winds head!Bob Small, 17 August 2014
Over Porlock way….
Lynmouth fete, 24 August
Date for the diary!
Exmoor 4 all 