EXMOOR SOCIETY GUIDED WALKS 2019

Monday 15th April 2019, 9:30am – 4.30pm West Webfoot Walk A circular moorland walk with some historical interest. Starting at Goat Hill Bridge, via Pinkery Pond, Shallowford, Hoaroak, Exe Head and Barrow. The area is always wet underfoot, and it may be necessary to change the route. If so, we'll meet as arranged and move to a new start point. Wear suitable clothing and footwear, and bring refreshments. Dogs welcome. 10 miles. Meet 9.30am Goat Hill Bridge on B3358 East of SS 723 405. Ref. RM

Tuesday 23rd April 2019, 10am – 1.00pm The Lower Plants of Exmoor’s Temperate Rainforest This stroll will introduce you to the fern species found at Horner Woods. You will learn a method for identification and be shown key features of the species encountered. You will also find out about some of the other interesting plants and lichens special to this habitat. The walk is being led by Plantlife as part of the Building Resilience in S W Woodlands project. No dogs. Meet 10am Horner Village Pay & Display Car Park TA24 8HY / SS 898 454. Ref. AS

Thursday 25 th April 2019 9.30 – 1.00pm Marsh Join a walk from Bossington village over Porlock Marsh, to Porlock Weir, and then back for lunch at The Top Ship in Porlock via the woodland path and gardens through West Porlock. 6 miles; no dogs. Meet 9.30am Bossington National Trust car park TA24 8HF (fee payable). Ref. CC

Tuesday 30 th April 2019 10.00am – 2.00pm Landscape Restoration in Wood This walk will follow the from Ashley Combe to Culbone Church and back, looking at the surviving features of the Ada Lovelace era designed landscape and the work to help restore some of its features. We will also discover some of the earlier history and management of these fascinating coast woodlands. 3miles. Dogs on leads. Bring refreshments. Meet 10am Ashley Combe Lodge (Toll House) TA24 8PG / SS 858 481 Ref. GM

Saturday 18 th May 2019 10:00am - 1:00pm Knights, knights and WW2 on Exmoor Starting near Alderman’s Barrow, on this walk we will find 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 find evidence of World War Two’s impact on Exmoor. Near Three Coombes foot we hope to see red deer. 5 miles / 3 hours approx. Meet 10am Alderman’s Barrow cattle grid SS 835 422. Ref. CB

Thursday 23 rd May 2019 10.30am – 12.30pm Murder & Mystery at Wheal Eliza On this stroll along the , 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 for optional pub lunch or bring a picnic. 2.5miles Meet 10.30am Ashcombe Car Park, Simonsbath, TA24 7SH / SS 775 394. Ref. RT

Friday 24th May 2019 10.30am – 4.30pm Doone Country - Heroes, Heroines, Hunter-gatherers and hermits Join Rob Wilson-North for a longish walk over rough moorland to Badgworthy in the footsteps of author RD Blackmore (this being the 150th year since the publication of Lorna Doone). We will also be on the trails of hermits and hunter gatherers. This is an exploration of one of Exmoor’s most iconic places. Dogs on leads. Bring a packed lunch/refreshments. 4 miles. Meet 10.30am Two Gates, nr Simonsbath, SS 765 433. Ref. RWN

Saturday 25 th May 2019 11.00am – 2.30pm Trentishoe Down & the South West Coast Path Starting on Trentishoe Down, the walk visits the delightful small church at Trentishoe before skirting along Heddon’s Mouth Cleave to reach the coast path. This is followed westerly to reach The Glass Box before returning to the start by Trentishoe Down. Dogs on leads. Bring a packed lunch. 4.5 miles. Meet 11am at the car park at the fork of the road going down to Trentishoe church SS 635 480, near EX31 4QD. Ref BC

Friday 31st May 2019 10.00am – 12.30pm Burridge Wood and Court Down, A walk around Dulverton starting in Burridge Wood, where the bluebells may still be out. Then over Marsh Bridge and up to Court Down for wonderful views, returning down Hollam Lane. There is a steep climb up from Marsh Bridge. 4.5 miles. Meet 10am in Dulverton Lower Car Park (by the bridge) TA22 9EX / SS 912 279. Ref. JR

Thursday 6th June 2019 9.30am – 1.00pm Ada Lovelace Walk to Culbone The walk follows the South West Coast Path up from Porlock Weir through woods via the ruins of Ada Lovelace’s home, Ashley Combe, to Culbone Church (the smallest parish church in ). Some lane walking before descending through Worthy Wood to Porlock Weir for a late lunch. 5 miles. Meet 9.30am Porlock Weir Car Park (parking fee payable) TA24 8QD. Ref. JR

Wednesday 19 th June 2019 11.00am – 3.00pm Winsford Hill and This circular walk starts at Mounsey Hill Gate with an easy start to reach the Caratacus Stone. The walk then gently loses height following tracks to Knaplock and down to the River Barle. We then follow the river to Tarr Steps, with an opportunity for refreshments at the inn. The walk then climbs over Varle Hill back to the start. Dogs on leads. Bring a packed lunch. 5.5 miles. Meet 11am at car park by the cattle grid at the south-eastern end of Winsford Hill (Mounsey Gate) SS 892 319. Ref. BC

Saturday 22 nd June 2019 11.00am – 3.00pm From Lype to Starting at Old Stowey Farm we will walk through fields to the first of Luxborough’s three hamlets, Churchtown, stopping at the Norman church, St Mary’s. We will continue steeply up Monkham hill, to the trig point with views over the and then descend through woods to the second hamlet, , to stop for refreshments in the pub. The walk back to Old Stowey is gently uphill following the stream through deciduous woods and fields. 6 miles. Meet 11am Old Stowey Farm, Wheddon Cross, TA24 7BT / SS 956 383. Ref. KO

Friday 5th July 2019 1.00pm – 3.00pm 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 dependant. We will follow a circular woodland route to see other butterflies including the silver washed fritillary (hopefully). Dogs on leads. 3 miles. Meet 1pm at car-park on south of A39, 400m west of cattle grid at top of Porlock Hill, SS 861 460. NB. Do not go down to Bromham Farm; postcode for guidance only. Ref. GM

Tuesday 9 th July 2019 10.00am – 12.30pm Historic and the Valley of Rocks A 2.5 hour walk from the Valley of Rocks into Lynton, to look from a different angle at how the Victorians influenced what we see today and how they were drawn to this majestic coastline and the splendour of the Valley of Rocks. 2.5 miles Meet 10am Valley of Rocks ENPA picnic area, car park adjacent to the public toilets, EX35 6JH / SS 711 496. Ref. TP

Wednesday 17th July 2019 10.00am – 1.00pm Coastal Wildlife - Porlock area A spectacular circling walk starting in picturesque Bossington, via the dramatic cliffs at Hurlstone Point, continuing around the sweeping shingle ridge and across the saltmarsh. The walk will provide lots of opportunities for discovering coastal and marine wildlife, historic landscape features and the changing features of this nationally important coastline. No dogs. Refreshments available in Kitnor’s Tearoom, Bossington. 3 miles. Meet 10am NT car park Bossington TA24 8HF (fee payable). Ref. NH

Thursday 25 th July 2019 10.30am – 2.30pm Moorland walk from Landacre Bridge A walk onto the open moorland above , including Brightworthy Barrows, Withypool Hill and the stone circle, demonstrating map and compass navigation. There will be rough ground, some boggy conditions and two shallow fords, so good boots advised. Two fairly steep climbs near the start. Dogs on leads. Please bring a packed lunch. Optional tea room at Withypool afterwards. 6 miles. Meet 10.30am Landacre Bridge SS 817 361. Ref. SL

Saturday 27th July 2019 11.00am – 2.30pm Lyn Down and Cheriton This walk starts at Combe Park car park, Hillsford Bridge. It climbs to Myrtleberry Cleave with views across the East Lyn valley. We then cross Lyn Down and drop into the Hoar Oak Water valley with a small ford crossing to Cheriton. If there has been a lot of rain the walk will be shortened to avoid the ford. We then return to the Hoar Oak Water to follow it back to the start. Bring a picnic and waterproof footwear. Dogs on leads. 5 miles. Meet Combe Park car park (NT, fee payable) EX35 6LF / SS 739 477. Ref. BC

Friday 9 th August 2019 1.00pm – 4.00pm North Hill Woods ‘Continuous Cover’ Forestry On this stroll we will be looking at some of the principles of “continuous cover forestry”, sometimes called “close to nature” forestry, and the measures to help woods become more resilient for the future. The discussion of some technical issues will be included. 2 miles Meet 1pm at the Tank Grounds, North Hill, Minehead TA24 5LB (gets you to campsite –go 500m on the right) / SS 954 474. Ref. GM

Tuesday 13 th August 2019 10.00am – 1.00pm Wheddon Cross: The Saxon Harepath 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. Mostly on tracks and lanes, but be prepared for some mud and slippery rock. A moderate walk with some steady climbs. Dogs on leads. Refreshments available in the Rest and Be Thankful after the walk. 5 miles Meet 10am at the car park next to the inn at Wheddon Cross TA24 7DR / SS 924 388. Ref. RT & CT-R

Wednesday 21 st August 2019 10.00am – 12.30pm Molland Moor Heather Management A walk to look at the flowering heather on Molland Common and to discuss moorland management, including the impact of heather beetle, and reduced swaling. 5 miles. Meet 10am Molland Moor Gate (between Molland and Anstey Commons) SS 835 298 / near TA22 9QT. Ref. CW

Thursday 29 th August 2019 10.30am – 4.00pm Wimbleball Circular 9-mile circular walk round Wimbleball Lake, one of the South West Lakes Trust reservoirs. May be muddy in places. Bring a picnic. Dogs under control welcome. Meet 10.30am Car Park TA4 2DP / SS 969 285 Ref. JR

Wednesday 4th September 2019 7.00pm – 9.00pm The Bats of Horner Wood Fifteen of the seventeen known species of bat can be found in Horner Wood. On this walk, 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 898 456. Ref. NH

Thursday 12 th September 11.00am – 2.30pm East Lyn, Watersmeet and Hoar Oak Water This circular walk starts at the lovely Combe Park NP car park. The walk climbs steadily to Myrtleberry Cleave before quickly losing height through an old settlement to reach Watersmeet. We then follow the East Lyn River upstream to Ash Bridge before returning the other side back to the Hoar Oak Water to the start. We will stop at Watersmeet for refreshments. 3.5 miles. Meet 11am Combe Park NT car park (donation payable) EX35 6LF / SS 739 477. Ref. BC

Tuesday 17 th September 2019 10.00am – 1.00pm Gallox Hill and Bury Castle, This walk will take us up through Dunster Deer Park to Hill Gate. We will continue over Bat’s Castle Iron Age hill fort settlement before going down to see England’s tallest tree in Nutcombe Bottom and returning over Gallox Bridge to Dunster. 5 miles Meet 10am Dunster Castle NT car park (fee payable) TA24 6SL / SS 993 436. Ref. JR

Thursday 3rd October 2019 10.00am – 12.30pm The Headwaters of the Exe A walk within the South West Water Headwaters of the Exe project catchment area to look at the work farmers are doing on Exmoor to protect water quality in the . Likely to be wet underfoot. 3 miles Meet 10am Winsford village car park TA24 7JQ / SS 906 349. Ref. AL

Saturday 12 th October 2019 10.00am – 1.00pm Yellowcombe and Winsford A fairly challenging 5-mile walk around Winsford Hill taking in the Caratacus Stone and the Punchbowl. Stunning views with some steep inclines which are stony and slippery if wet, and muddy fields. The Royal Oak in Winsford is available for lunch afterwards. Meet 10am Winsford village car park TA24 7JQ / SS 905 348. Ref. JR

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, DULVERTON TA22 9DJ [email protected] 01398 323335 www.exmoorsociety.com