Foodie Outings for Walking Festival

The North Devon and Exmoor Autumn Walking Festival, 1^st – 4^th October, will feature 32 guided walks including several foodie outings linking with the Exmoor Food Festival, which takes place from 2^nd – 10^th October.

Planned to suit a range of abilities, the walks will vary from 10 mile, full day hikes to more gentle strolls of around 4 miles. Guides will include local enthusiasts, landowners, wardens and rangers from Exmoor National Park and two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

Events linking with the Exmoor Food Festival include a circular, 7.4 mile moorland walk on Friday 1^st October, which then drops down to the river Barle for lunch at Tarr Farm beside the famous Tarr Steps clapper bridge. A more strenuous walk over Selworthy Beacon on Monday, 4^th October stops at Hindon Organic Farm for a delicious Exmoor Brunch and a chance to sample the farm’s own award-winning sausages, bacon and Aberdeen Angus beef.

Other foodie outings include a coast walk with a break at Hunters Inn for a ploughman’s lunch with local Exmoor cheese or home-made game pâté, and a more challenging hike to some of Exmoor’s highest points with lunch at Exmoor House. Two further walks finish with delicious cream teas at Brendon House in the East Lyn valley and the Fox & Goose at Parracombe.

The walking festival also coincides with the West Somerset Railway autumn steam gala; enthusiasts can take a ride on the impressive railway from Dunster to Washford and then walk back to the start point.

Exmoor has a good choice of outings taking in sections of the South West Coast Path as well as stunning open moorland and the area made famous by RD Blackmore’s novel, Lorna Doone. October is the perfect time to hear the red deer rutting; two walks led by Exmoor rangers on Friday 1^st and Sunday 3^rd October go in search of these majestic animals to experience the spectacle. Also taking place on 3^rd October is a 4.5 mile, circular walk beside Wimbleball Lake, the largest reservoir on Exmoor which is well known for its excellent watersports facilities.

The North Devon walks include several within the North Devon AONB, which covers the beautiful coastal strip, plus additional scenic inland outings. For the first time on Saturday, 2^nd October a warden from the Quantocks AONB is also giving a 7.6 mile, guided linear walk along the Ridgeway giving excellent views across to Exmoor and over the Bristol Channel to Wales. It finishes in the attractive Quantock village of Holford with minibus transfer back to the start.

Prices range from £5 per person up to £16 (to include a two-course lunch); dogs on a lead welcome on most walks.

For further details visit the North Devon & Exmoor Walking Festival website at www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk, while to discover more about the Exmoor Food Festival go to www.exmoorfoodfestival.co.uk.

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Autumn Walking Festival offers something for all

Now one of the UK’s biggest walking festivals and celebrating its 10th anniversary, the North Devon & Exmoor

Walking Festival is packed full of variety this Autumn.

Among the guided walks you can join Exmoor rangers to find a deer rut or join experts in the North Devon and Quantocks AONB’s. Have fun and join a linear walk that uses the West Somerset Railway during its Autumn Steam Gala to get to Washford and walk back.

Join the Exmoor Natural History Society chairman for a close look at the local flora and fauna. Or join the owners of Hartland Abbey with their specific knowledge of that area. Two walks take in the countryside around the two SW Lakes Trust lakes with their managers.

The walks range from about 4.5 to nearly 11 miles, from half-day to a full days outing. There is a good choice on each of the four days of the festival. This year the walking festival has joined with the Exmoor Food Festival.

There are six walks that include some delicious local produce in glorious surroundings. These walks include the guided walk and stops at lunch or for a cream tea in the ticket price. You can enjoy the gorgeous food as you will walk it off!

You can book online or call 01271 863 001, Ilfracombe Tourist Information Centre to book by phone.

We look forward to seeing you.

Bryan Cath
Festival Coordinator
Active Exmoor

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Walkers welcome to Dunster

Walkers are Welcome

Dunster has become the first destination in Exmoor to gain the prestigious ‘Walkers are Welcome’ award.

Dunster now joins 45 other towns across the country that have gone the ‘extra mile’ to make walkers welcome. Dunster already has a well known reputation amongst visitors as having splendid walking opportunities and local businesses have worked together through the Dunster Chamber of Commerce and Trade to achieve the award with the support of the National Park Authority, Crown Estate and West Somerset council.

Antony Brunt of the Yarn Market Hotel commented: “There were six criteria we had to meet. Showing there was support for the concept was easy as we collected 460 signatures in just 10 days. We have worked in conjunction with the Local Authorities and they have all been very supportive. We are lucky that both the Crown Estate and the Exmoor National Park Authority have excellent way marking for many of their paths.”

Research by the National Park Authority has shown that walking is the number one activity undertaken by visitors and now Dunster is hoping to encourage other destinations across Exmoor to follow suit, helping to make Exmoor as welcoming to walkers as possible.

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The Tallest Tree in England

In 2009 a Douglas Fir tree in Dunster forest was confirmed as the tallest tree in England measuring a  massive 60.5 meters. The 4,000 hectare forest also boasts England’s tallest magnolia tree and both can be seen via a new ‘all abilities’ access trail.

The Tall Trees Trail snakes its way past the tallest tree and its lofty companions, so that people can get a true sense of the scale of these amazing living giants. The trail links with the extensive existing trail network, and provides an additional 300m of track suitable for wheelchairs and buggies – all within easy reach of the popular Nutcombe Bottom car park.

Englands tallest tree trail

With bridges made from timber grown in the Dunster Estate’s sustainably managed forests, and signage also made from Exmoor’s certified woodlands, this is an attractive and environmentally friendly addition to the facilities available on the Dunster Estate.

www.activeexmoor.com

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Exmoor’s most challenging walk

Exmoor Perambulation 2010 31 Miles Full Distance or 16 Miles half distance What do you have planned for the 19th June? If you’re looking for a challenge, this could be it…. A 31 mile cross country walk across the undulating hills of Exmoor National Park where you will be able to take in breathtaking views and access countryside not normally open to the public. You would also be participating in history as perambulating the old Royal Forest of Exmoor is a tradition dating back over 725 years! There is also a 16 mile half distance category available, still a challenge and worthy of a hot bath in the evening! For more information or to book your place visit the Perambulation website 19th June 2010 Exmoor Perambulation £15 Adult Full Distance £10 Adult Half Distance Under 18 Free! Book online or call 01398 324 599 NB Places strictly limited to the first 300 entrants.

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North Devon Hospice

Walk for Life – 28th March 2010

This is an event for the whole family,  the walks are tailored for all ages and abilities. Walk For Life offers people the chance to enjoy the wonderful scenery on our doorstep with excellent insight from HM Coastguard. The coast always looks magical at Spring time and North Devon Hospice organisers have put together 8 different walks to suit everyone, no matter what your age or fitness level.

Every walker will get a free hospice pin badge as well so you can show your support.

As well as walking for fun, many people take part in Walk For Life and raise sponsorship in memory of a loved-one who is no longer with us.

To get involved, please download the application form from the North Devon Hospice website (www.northdevonhospice.org.uk) or
contact Gerard Fawcitt at North Devon Hospice on 01271 347224 or
email gerardfawcitt@northdevonhospice.org.uk.

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Exmoor Perambulation now open for booking

The Exmoor Perambulation is now open for booking once again.

Every year hundreds of keen walkers congregate on Exmoor National Park to following a tradition dating back over 725 years – to follow the boundary of the old Royal Forest of Exmoor.

It’s no mean feat however; the walk involves covering 31 miles of moorland, track and country lanes. Building up your walking to such an event is a must as completing the Perambulation is quite some achievement, an opportunity offered perhaps by the Spring Walking Festival?

There is an option of doing a half distance walk on the day for those slightly less intrepid.  The BBQ at the half way mark

is always welcome to keep the energy levels up.

Bookings are also being taken online this year with places limited to first come first served.

Website –  www.exmoorperambulation.co.uk

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The North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival

Thursday 29^th April – Friday 7^th May

The tenth North Devon and Exmoor walking festival will be the biggest yet with 84 guided walks on offer from Thursday 29th April to Friday 7th May.

It’s one of a series of events taking place within the North Devon Coast AONB to celebrate its 50th anniversary; their designated area extends from the Exmoor boundary at Combe Martin down to the Cornish border at Welcombe.  Several of the walks will be guided by a member of the AONB team whose specialist knowledge will help explain more about the area and the work they carry out.

The other festival outings will cover most of North Devon and Exmoor with guided walks ranging from a short half-day up to a full day’s hike, so there is something for most abilities.

New Walks for 2010

Around half are new for 2010 such as the afternoon Art and Nature walk and theBraunton on the Move, Explorer Walk, which will make use of the North Devon AONB’s handheld multi-media GPS controlled device.  Combe Martin Silver Trails, will take in the deep cut pathways for the horses that once carried ore to the harbour, while an Exmoor National Park ranger led walk will visit Clicket, an abandoned hamlet in a fairly remote part of the moor.

Exmoor safaris are also being included for the first time taking you onto the moor in a Land Rover searching for its wildlife.  Experienced drivers know the best places to look for the rare breed Exmoor pony and red deer and there will be opportunities to take photographs and look through binoculars.

Other special walks include the regular trip to Lundy Island, which this year it will be an all-day outing departing at 8.15am and returning around 8.30pm to Bideford. This means that there is much more time on the island to explore. There are also the popularphotographic walks with two professional photographers, which provide a great chance to experience how the professionals capture coastal scenes at Hartland Quay and the landscapes at Exmoor’s highest point near Dunkery Beacon.

Car Free and Foodie Outings

This year some of the outings link in with public transport timetables, which mean you can come to the area without your car and enjoy some linear and circular walks. There are also an increased number of walks that include lunch and a cream tea as many walkers enjoy a foodie break – and you can walk it off afterwards!

Last year the new autumn walking festival proved popular so that it’s being repeated this year. The dates are 1st to 4th October, which coincides with the Exmoor Food Festival – some great food walks are being planned amongst others.

How to Book

There are a couple of free welcome walks on the opening day, otherwise prices range from £4.50 up to £36 for the day trip to Lundy including the boat fare; most of the outings are family friendly and well behaved dogs are welcome on many of the walks.

To find out more and to book your walks for the spring walking festival, visit website http://www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk. A festival brochure is available by emailingbryan@activeexmoor.co.uk giving your name and address or call 01271 883131.

Festival Holidays walking the Exmoor section of the South West Coastal Path from Minehead to Combe Martin can be booked direct with the Yarn Market Hotel, Dunster by calling 01643 821425; or for a holiday walking part of the Two Moors  Way and Macmillan Way West telephone the Simonsbath House Hotel on 01643 831259.

Other accommodation suggestions can be found in the 2010 Exmoor guide; for a free copy call Minehead Tourist Information Centre on 0845 166 1001; information can also be found on http://www.exmoor.com and http://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk.

The North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival is sponsored by Holiday Cottages with support from the North Devon Coast AONB Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) and Exmoor National Park; its organised by Active Exmoor with West Country Walks.

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The North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival Celebrates 10 years

Now booking!

Set amongst the stunning scenery of Exmoor National Park and North Devon, this popular walking festival is celebrating its tenth birthday with the widest range of guided walks yet.

Partnering with the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is currently celebrating its 50^th anniversary, the festival offers some of the best walking locations in the country.

The choice of walks covers all Exmoor as well as North Devon and with 84 walks to choose from, you will be spoilt for choice. There are easy short walks, half-day walks and full day hikes, so something for everyone. There is a good selection of special walks, such as photography walks taking in Exmoor landscape and North Devon coastal scenery with professional photographers. The popular trip to Lundy Island takes place again and this time it is all day, from 8.15 in the morning to 8.30 in the evening. You can also learn to map-read or go on an Exmoor safari, all with their friendly and knowledgeable guides.

Bookings are now being taken so to find out more go to the festival web site at www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk or call 01271 883131 for a festival brochure.

For accommodation go to www.visit-exmoor.co.uk or www.northdevon.com.

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Moonraker entries open

Moonraker

HUNDREDS of walkers are expected to take part in the annual overnight Moonraker Challenge on Exmoor later this month.

Organisers from Taunton Vale Rotary Club are hoping to beat last year’s entry total of more than 400 participants at the event on Saturday, October 24.

It is part of the 2009 Exmoor National ParkDark Skies initiative, which encourages people to visit the area after dark as it is one of the few places in Southern England that is relatively free of artificial light pollution.

Teams of four to eight participants will walk a 15 to 18-mile course, with shorter challenges of six and 12 miles, raising sponsorship for nominated charities.

The main beneficiary will be Taunton Opportunity Group, a pre-school for young children with special needs.

Moonraker is based at Wheddon Cross this year, with the first walkers setting out at 5pm and expected to finish by midnight, while later starters will carry on into the early hours of Sunday.

Walkers will be provided with hot refreshments at the halfway stage by Taunton Vale Inner Wheel Club, with support from the British Red Cross and Raynet radio communications team at each checkpoint.

Application and sponsorship forms can be downloaded by clicking on the Moonraker related link on this page.

Further information is available from Jas Shorney on 01823-451532, with entries being taken up until Friday, October 23.

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