EXMOOR SOCIETY GUIDED WALKS 2020

Friday 3rd April 2020, 10am – 1pm Bats Castle and Gallox Hill, Dunster The walk begins through Dunster Deer Park up to Withycombe Hill Gate. It continues over Bat's Castle iron age hill fort settlement and down to see 's tallest tree in Nutcombe Bottom before returning over Gallox Bridge to Dunster. Dogs welcome. 5 miles. Refreshments available in Dunster. Meet Dunster Castle NT car park SS 993433 / TA24 6SL. Ref. JR

Tuesday 21st April 2020, 10.30am – 2.30pm Woodland Well-being Wander In our busy lives there is always somewhere to be and something to do. How often do we give ourselves time to slow down and take a closer look at the places we walk in? On this well-being wander you will be encouraged to use all of your senses to explore the woods. You will have time to sit, listen, relax and breathe in ’s beautiful clean air and hopefully leave feeling refreshed. No dogs. 2 miles approx. Tea and coffee provided; bring a picnic. BOOKING ESSENTIAL at http://bit.ly/wellbeingwander Meet Horner NT Car Park TA24 8HY / SS 898454. Ref. RJ Wednesday 29th April 2020, 10am – 12.30pm Historic Lynton and the Valley of Rocks A 2.5 hour circular walk from the Valley of Rocks into Lynton, to look from a different angle the Victorians’ influence on what we see today and how they were drawn to this majestic coastline and the splendour of the Valley of Rocks. Dogs welcome. 2.5 miles. Refreshments available in Lynton. Meet Valley of Rocks ENPA picnic area, adjacent to the public toilets. SS 711497 / EX35 6JH. Ref. TP

Tuesday 5th May 2020, 10am – 1pm Winsford, Yellowcombe and the Punchbowl This is a challenging walk on Winsford Hill taking in the Caratacus Stone and the Punchbowl. Steep inclines: stony and slippery if wet. We will cross some fields which may be muddy. An alternative route from Winsford will be taken if very wet under foot. Dogs on leads. 5 miles. Bring a picnic, or lunch at The Royal Oak. Meet Winsford car park. SS 905348 / TA24 7JE Ref. JR Friday 15th May 2020, 11am – 1.30pm Discover Molland - its church and moor Hugh Harrison, timber conservation expert, leads a company specialising in the conservation of historic structural and decorative woodwork. Linking to his talk in Festival, he will provide a short insight into the medieval church of St Mary, Molland, following which there will be a circular walk to Molland Moor (optional). Dogs on leads. ½ hour talk; walk 4 miles /2 hours approx. Meet 11am at Molland church, EX36 3NG. Parking in village hall car park. Lunch can be booked at the London Inn, Molland. Ref. LP

Thursday 20th May 2020, 10.30am – 12.30pm Murder & Mystery at Wheal Eliza On this stroll along the , you will hear the history of the Knights’ family, mining in this part of Exmoor and the tragic murder and mystery at Wheal Eliza. One or two short climbs but overall an easy walk along the valley. Return to Simonsbath for optional pub lunch or bring a picnic. Dogs welcome. 2.5miles Meet 10.30am Ashcombe Car Park, Simonsbath, TA24 7SH / SS 775394. Ref. RT

Wednesday 27th May 2020, 10am – 2pm Ashley Combe Landscape Restoration in Culbone Wood This walk will follow the from Ashley Combe to Culbone Church and back, looking at the work to restore some of the features of the Ada Lovelace-era designed landscape. We will also discover some of the earlier history and management of these coastal woodlands. The grounds of Ashley Combe are private but we can get a good impression from the SW Coast Path and land the ENPA owns. Dogs on leads. 2.5 miles. Some steep climbs. Meet 10am Worthy Combe Toll Gate car park (£2 fee) SS 858481 / TA24 8PG. Ref. GM

Thursday 4th June 2020, 11am – 3pm Lyn Down and Roborough Iron Age Castle This circular walk starts at Hillsford Bridge and climbs steadily to reach Myrtleberry Cleave, with views across the East Lyn valley. We then cut inland to cross Lyn Down with wide Exmoor views, and visit Roborough Castle, an Iron Age defensive settlement. A small ford crossing of the Hoar Oak Water takes us to Cheriton, and we return down to the river to follow it back to the start. Parts of this walk will be muddy if the weather has been wet. Dogs welcome. 5.5 miles. Bring a packed lunch. Meet Combe Park car park (NT) SS 739477/ EX35 6LF. Ref. BC

Wednesday 17th June 2020, 11am – 3pm Crofts and Castles - Exploring John Knight’s forgotten buildings In 1819 John Knight began erecting little ‘Scottish’ crofts across his Exmoor estate. Join Rob Wilson-North and Tom Thurlow for this walk, linked to a Simonsbath Festival event on 10th June. From the recently conserved White Rock Cottage, we venture out through Ashcombe Gardens to consider the landscape Knight was set on creating and to the traces of another ‘croft’ in a remote moorland valley. Dogs on leads. 4 miles. Bring a packed lunch. Meet Ashcombe Car Park, Simonsbath. TA24 7SH. Ref. RWN/TT

Saturday 27th June 2020, 10am – 1pm Knights and knights on Exmoor Starting near Alderman’s Barrow, this walk will pass evidence of knights from the bronze, medieval, neolithic, and Victorian ages. At Larkbarrow we will hear about the Knights who tried to reclaim Exmoor and we will see the effect of World War Two on Exmoor. Near Three Coombes foot we hope to see red deer. Dogs on leads. 5 miles. Meet Alderman’s Barrow cattle grid SS 835422. Ref. CB

Wednesday 1st July 2020, 1pm – 3pm Hawkcombe Butterfly Walk A walk to look at some of the coppice management work being done in this National Nature Reserve to help the recovery of the heath fritillary butterfly (sight of the butterfly is entirely weather dependent). We will follow a circular woodland route to see other butterflies including the silver washed fritillary (hopefully). Dogs on leads. 3 miles. Meet at car park on south of A39, 400m west of cattle grid at top of Hill, SS 861 460. NB. Do not go down to Bromham Farm; TA24 8LT for guidance only. Ref. GM Wednesday 15th July 2020, 10am – 1pm Porlock Coastal Wildlife A spectacular circling walk starting in the picturesque village of Bossington, via the dramatic cliffs at , continuing around the sweeping shingle ridge and across the ever-changing saltmarsh. The walk will provide lots of opportunities for discovering coastal and marine wildlife, historic landscape features and the dynamic morphology of this nationally important coastline. Dogs on leads. 3 miles. Bring a packed lunch. Meet Bossington NT car park (£2). TA24 8HF/SS 898480 Ref. NH Thursday 30th July 2020, 10am – 1pm Brendon Common with a compass A walk on the high moorland of Brendon Common practising map and compass navigation (or just come and enjoy the walk). Bring a compass if you have one, map extracts supplied. Including the Maclaren memorial, Lankcombe Ford and Shilstone Hill, and possibly (group and weather depending) steeper terrain to Farley Water. Dogs welcome. 4-5 miles. Meet on B3223 4 miles N. of Simonsbath (2.4 miles S. of Hillsford Bridge), parking area on east side of road at the signed bridleway to Malmsmead. SS 759451. Ref. SL

Tuesday 11th August 2020, 10.30am – 1.30pm Sun-printing in Exmoor’s Rainforest Exmoor’s rainforests are full of beautiful shapes and textures. On this gentle woodland walk with an expert from conservation charity ‘Plantlife’, you will learn more about them while becoming familiar with some of the smaller plants, the lichens, mosses and ferns found there. Using the sun’s energy you will make a selection of cyanotypes or sun-prints to take home with you. No dogs. 2 miles. Tea & coffee provided. BOOKING ESSENTIAL at http://bit.ly/exmoorsunprinting Meet Tarr Steps car park TA22 9QA / SS 872324. Ref. RJ

Tuesday 18th August 2020, 10am – 1pm Wheddon Cross - the Saxon Herepath A circular walk from Wheddon Cross taking in Hare Path and part of Thorne Lane, thought to be part of the herepath, a Saxon military road from Bristol on to Exmoor. Most of the walk will be on tracks and lanes, but in wet weather be prepared for some mud and slippery rock. Dogs on leads. 5 miles. Refreshments available at Wheddon Cross after the walk. Meet Wheddon Cross inn car park TA24 7DR / SS 924388. Ref. SL

Monday 24th August 2020, 2pm – 4.30pm Exmoor ponies on Molland - A traditional but unrecognised herd A walk to see and hear about Molland’s Exmoor pony herd; unregistered but quality by any standard. We may drive on to a different start point, depending on where the ponies are. The walk will be over rough moorland going. No dogs. 3 miles. Meet Molland Moor Gate (between Molland and Anstey Commons) SS 835298 near TA22 9QT. Ref. CW

Wednesday 2nd September 2020, 7pm – 9pm The Bats of Horner Wood

Fifteen of the seventeen known species of bat can be found in Horner Wood. Learn more about bats from an expert ecologist and take a fascinating evening stroll beside the Horner Water, watching for emerging bats as they forage in and around the tree canopy. With the aid of sophisticated bat detectors, you will also get the chance to hear them as they hunt for flying insects. Bring a torch. No dogs. 1.5 miles. Meet 7pm NT car park Horner village TA24 8HY / SS 898456. Ref. NH

Tuesday 8th September 2020, 10am – 12.30pm Horner Woods

The route of this walk passes through 800-acre Horner Wood, one of our largest ancient oak woodlands. It is especially beautiful in autumn and is a designated SSSI. There is a steep climb up to Webber's Post with extensive views, and a steep downhill path to return via Horner Water through the woodland. Possible sighting of deer and Exmoor ponies. Dogs welcome. 4 miles. Refreshments available at Horner. Meet Horner National Trust car park. TA24 8TJ / SS 898455 Ref. JR

Thursday 17th September 2020, 2pm – 5pm Exmoor hill farming today

This walk on a traditional farm which incorporates tourism will take in meadows beside the Exe used for sheep as well as camping, and an 18,000 native tree plantation with waymarked walks for visitors and stunning views. We will also visit the farm buildings which are open to visiting campers during lambing. Some uphill walking. Dogs on leads. 2 miles. Tea & cake provided. Meet Westermill Farm, Exford TA24 7NJ / SS 954474. Ref. JE

Friday 25th September 2020, 10.30am – 2pm Brendon Common and the East Lyn

An Exmoor walk with some good variety, including open moor, the deep wooded valley of the beautiful East Lyn, with some country lane walking. The walk includes a rooted steep path beside a stream. Dogs on leads. 5 miles. Possible pub lunch stop or bring sandwiches. Meet Dry Bridge on B3358 Brendon Common. SS 759455 Ref. BC

Saturday 3rd October 2020, 10.30am – 1pm Hope Bourne in

A walk around the Withypool area in the footsteps of Exmoor artist and author, the late Hope Bourne, taking in some of her favourite views from her writings and from her time living in the village. A moderate walk with some parts rough underfoot and steep in places; possible extension onto Withypool hill. Dogs welcome. 3 miles. Optional refreshments afterwards in Withypool or bring a picnic. Meet Withypool Car Park TA24 7RA / SS 842353 Ref. LE & CT-R

Wednesday 7th October 2020, 10am – 12.30pm Farming and water management on Exmoor

Headwaters of the Exe Project. This walk will explore the issues facing the management of water quality in the and the measures farmers and landowners are implementing to protect water quality in the River Exe. We will take in the role of woodlands and trees as well as farmland and the opportunities for woodland creation and the restoration of landscape features, such as hedgerows, in the Exmoor landscape. Dogs welcome. 2.5 miles. Refreshments available at Tarr Farm. Meet Tarr Steps car park. TA22 9QA (Tarr Farm side of the river) / SS 872323 Ref. AL

Participants take part in events at their own risk. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Dogs under control are welcome unless otherwise stated. Dogs must be on leads (max 2m length) during the bird nesting period between 1 March-31 July. Our guided walks are free to members and non-members alike but donations are welcomed to cover administration and printing costs.

VERY OCCASIONALLY WALK DETAILS MAY CHANGE SO PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE IN ADVANCE.

For any enquiries, please contact The Exmoor Society, 34 High Street, TA22 9DJ [email protected] 01398 323335 www.exmoorsociety.com