EXMOOR National Park Pocket Guide Discover one of England’s finest landscapes.... 5 things not to miss...How to get here Where to find out more Welcome to Exmoor has some great travel links with the rest of We have three National Park Centres, where our Enjoy the space the UK. The mainline railway skirts south of Exmoor. friendly and knowledgeable staff will help you make Exmoor Taunton and Tiverton Parkway are ideally placed to the most of a visit to Exmoor. Each Centre has a and views of link with other transport services to Exmoor range of information, publications and displays. the open moor including numerous bus routes, and a bus Dunkery Hill connection to the West Somerset Dulverton National Park Centre One of from Porlock Hill Railway line from Taunton. Bristol 7-9 Fore Street, Dulverton, TA22 9EX Find the Exmoor Bath To the west of Exmoor Tel 01398 323841 famous Britain’s spaces the Tarka Line runs Barnstaple Taunton breathing Dunster National Park Centre Exmoor from Exeter to Exeter Dunster Steep, TA24 6SE Ponies Barnstaple, which is Exmoor Ponies at Tel 01643 821835 Little Ash Combe also linked by St. Ives buses to Exmoor. Lynmouth National Park Centre Listen to one of Exmoor’s There are also coach services available to Taunton, Lyndale Car Park, Lynmouth beautiful rivers Tiverton, Minehead and Barnstaple. Exmoor can be Tel 01598 752509 reached in 30-60 minutes from junctions 24, 25 and River Exe at Winsford 27 of the M5 - follow the brown tourist signs. Explore Contact us: Exmoor’s How to get around Exmoor National Park Authority dramatic For information, inspiration and ideas to get around A unique landscape of moorland, On Exmoor it is still possible to find Exmoor House coastline the National Park without a car, visit Dulverton Foreland Point woodland, valleys and farmland, shaped tranquillity and peace as well as www.exploremoor.co.uk which Somerset, TA22 9HL by people and nature over thousands of rediscover your sense of adventure; to includes an interactive transport map, Telephone: 01398 323665 years. Where high cliffs plunge into the catch a glimpse of wild red deer, be timetable links and car free itineraries. Treat yourself to a Fax: 01398 323150 Bristol Channel, and cosy pubs and amazed by dark skies full of stars, and For up to the minute public transport information [email protected] cream tea in one of tearooms offer delicious local produce. explore villages full of character. call Traveline on 0871 200 2233 (BT calls charged at Allerford Exmoor’s historic villages 10p per minutes, plus 6p call set up fee, mobile and other providers’ charges vary). Cover photo by Adam Burton, other photos by Exmoor National Park Authority staff Ponies at Landacre BridgeDoone Valley Porlock Weir Wimbleball Lake Tarr Steps Chubhill Woods Where to stay Local accommodation, as well as events listings and attractions, can be found online at www.visit-exmoor.co.uk. To help keep Exmoor special you can also search for green accredited accommodation. A brochure can also be requested via the site or by calling 01643 702624. www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk Did You Know? What makes Exmoor special? Exmoor has the longest wooded coastline in Britain. The Exmoor coast has the highest and lowest tides in Europe. An inspiring landscape Treasuring the past Red Deer Stag Within its 267 square miles Exmoor National Park The landscape of Exmoor tells the story of how Exmoor is home to England’s tallest tree, a Douglas fir contains an amazing variety of landscapes that people have lived in, exploited and enjoyed near Dunster. provide inspiration and enjoyment to visitors and Exmoor over the last 8000 years. Burial mounds Exmoor has the highest sea cliffs on the British residents alike. Large areas of open moorland on high ridges, unique and ancient patterns of mainland. provide a sense of remoteness, wildness and standing stones, cliff top Roman forts, astonishingly tranquillity rare in southern Britain, while preserved medieval villages and incredible Exmoor ponies are Britain’s oldest native breed of spectacular coastal views, deep wooded valleys, Victorian industrial engineering are all there to be horse. high sea cliffs and fast flowing streams all combine explored. The Exmoor Coast is the most remote in England. to form a rich and distinct mosaic. Exmoor has plants that grow nowhere else in the Long Stone world, including two species of whitebeam tree. Britain’s longest footpath, The South West Coast Path, begins on the Exmoor coast. Beech trees grow at greater altitudes on Exmoor than anywhere else in Britain. A wealth of wildlife Looking to the future Exmoor National Park has some of the darkest The moorland, woodland, streams and farmland of Exmoor is a deeply traditional place, where rural skies in the UK, and is a great location for Exmoor support a great diversity of wildlife skills and knowledge are still valued, and locally stargazing. including herds of wild red deer, rich lichen distinctive breeds such as Exmoor Horn sheep and communities, rare butterflies, bats, and other herds of free-living Exmoor Ponies are a common 71% of Exmoor National Park lies within Somerset species uncommon in southern Britain. Salmon sight. But Exmoor is also a place with an exciting and 29% within Devon. still return from years at sea to travel up rivers future, where “green” tourism and sustainable The highest point on Exmoor is Dunkery Beacon at such as the Exe and Barle to the same spawning energy is encouraged and our moorlands are 519m above sea level. grounds they hatched from. valued for their ability to provide clean water and store carbon in deep peat. Shingle ridge, Porlock Packhorse Bridge, Allerford Deer spotting on Porlock Hill Tour of Britain, Brendon Common Hawkcombe, view to Dunkery Gallox BridgeHeath Fritillary, Alcombe Common Butterfly Walk Dartford Warbler Photo: Ben Hall (rspb-images.com) Confidence in the countryside Exmoor’s well maintained Footpaths and Bridleways offer great opportunities for exploring. You will find routes to suit everyone including a range of more Dog walking on Dunkery accessible routes. For more information please contact one of the National Park Centres. Public rights of way are signed from the roadside Exmoor with the following colours: Yellow Public Footpath Selworthy walkers only Blue Public Bridleway walkers View across Porlock Bay horse riders cyclists Purple Restricted Byway walkers Bluebells near Clicket horse riders This map is only intended as cyclists a guide. For more detailed carriage drivers mapping we recommend OS All our wooden signposts are made using timber from Explorer map 0L9 (Exmoor), sustainably managed woodland in Exmoor National Park. available from National Park Centres and many other outlets The Countryside Code: throughout the National Park, which Wax caps Be safe - plan ahead and follow any signs shows Access land where the public has Leave gates and property as you find them a right of access on foot for open air recreation. Protect plants and animals, and take your © Copyright Exmoor National Park 2010 For more information visit www.openaccess.gov.uk litter home Keep dogs under close control Find walks and more on our new interactive mapping section Consider other people online at www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/visitor-map Enjoying local produce Wandering in the woods Minehead: 36 Although just outside the National Some of the best places on Exmoor for.... Whether visiting one of the larger settlements or The woodland walks that start at the famous Tarr Park boundary, Minehead acts as the eastern gateway exploring our many villages you should never have to Steps 30 and run alongside the beautiful river Barle, to Exmoor and has all the services, shops and Inspiring Landscapes Exploring Exmoor’s Past go hungry on Exmoor. In places such as Bossington15 , are popular places for family walks. Horner Wood31 , facilities you would expect in a bustling coastal town. Dunkery Beacon 1 is the highest point on Exmoor With a history going back thousands of years the Brendon16 , Challacombe17 , Exford18 , Luxborough19 , to the south of Porlock and Watersmeet 32 near For a nostalgic journey go on a West Somerset and has spectacular 360 degree views. Haddon Hill 2 past is all around you on Exmoor. The higher ground Malmsmead20 , Parracombe21 , Roadwater22 , Lynmouth, both owned by the National Trust, are Railway train often pulled by steam locomotives. 23 24 25 has an easily accessible moorland walk with views is rich in ancient standing stones and Selworthy, Simonsbath, Wheddon Cross, beautiful and very special areas of Exmoor oak Porlock: 37 Set in its own vale, on one of the few 26 28 over Wimbleball Lake and beyond. The southern earth mounds or “barrows” from Winsford, Withypool27 , and Wootton Courtenay woodland rich in rare lichens that thrive in the clear areas of low ground along Exmoor’s rocky high coast, moorlands of Exmoor have views reaching right the Neolithic and Bronze ages you will be able to find everything from a traditional moist air. To see England’s tallest tree, then the Porlock and the nearby historic port of Porlock 33 across rolling Devon countryside to Dartmoor. Great (3000 to 700 BC). In the Iron cream tea to a satisfying pub lunch made with top specially built “Tall Trees Trail” near Weir38 are full of character and historic interest. A Hangman 3 near Combe Martin, Hurlstone Point 4 age (700BC to the Roman quality local ingredients. One of the delights of Dunster is the place to go with a range great base to explore the South West Coast Path. near Bossington and the Invasion in 43AD), hillforts exploring Exmoor off the beaten track is coming of level and accessible woodland walks.