About Exmoor

Exmoor National Park, covering an area of 267 square miles, has long been famous for its unique tranquil environment, diverse and dramatic scenery and unspoilt natural beauty. Picturesque hamlets and villages nestle amongst the foothills, whilst the whole area is home to a vast array of plants and wildlife.

The face of Exmoor is forever changing. Each season brings its own beauty, whether it's spring when carpets of snowdrops cover the valleys and woodlands, summer when Exmoor ponies can been seen frolicking amongst the gorse, autumn as the moor is turned into a sea of purple heather, or the snowy isolation of winter, when the moor is covered in white… a real winter wonderland.

Dunkery Beacon at 1,705 feet is the highest point on Exmoor – views from here extend across to both the Bristol and English Channels, Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and the Brecon Beacons. The pretty and popular village of Dunster is full of history and even afforded a mention in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Torre. The Norman castle, beach and working water mill are all within walking distance of the village centre and the building which previously housed the 17th Century yarn market still remains in the village High Street, complete with a hole left in a roof beam as a result of cannon fire in the Civil War!

Further along the coast, the famous twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth – known locally as “Little Switzerland” – are linked by the popular funicular railway which is now over 120 years old. Just two miles from here is the stunning Valley of the Rocks, a natural gorge which is home to a herd of native British goats.

At two miles long the High Street in Combe Martin along the western edge of Exmoor is reputed to be one of the longest in the country. Annual events taking advantage of the long street include the carnival and The Hunting of the Earl of Rone. One particular place of interest along the High Street is the Pack o' Cards pub. Originally this consisted of 52 windows, 13 rooms and 4 floors. Combe Martin is also renowned for the Great Hangman, a Hog-backed hill of 1043ft, making it the highest cliff in Southern Britain, which can be accessed by following the nearby South West Coastal Path.

Flora and fauna play a major role in Exmoor’s splendour. Valley woodlands provide a home for birds such as the Pied Flycatcher and Redstart as well as giving cool and shady conditions for lichens, ferns and mosses. Red deer can often been spotted throughout the moor accompanied by rutting stags. Ponies too have made Exmoor their home since ancient times and it is also one of the few remaining habitats of the Barbastelle Bat.

Famous folk of Exmoor include Lorna Doone, a fictional character from the novel of R D Blakemore – set in the late 17th Century and a more recent local character and wildlife enthusiast Johnny Kingdom, who has written many books and compiled many DVDs about the area.

Whatever your interest there is something for everyone on Exmoor, from sailing, canoeing, cycling, mountain biking, hiking or simply sampling a delicious cream tea! Even astronomers are not forgotten as Exmoor has been granted Dark Sky Discovery Site status.

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