OUT AND ABOUT
CAUTION
COLERIDGE WAY
May 2007 will see the official launch of the Coleridge
Country Ride giving horse riders a promoted route
between Nether Stowey and Exford. The route will be
CYCLISTS!
developed further after May but a ‘working’ route will be
available from this date. A lot of hard work has gone into
producing the route this far due to ‘gaps’ in the bridleway
network. Due to the generosity of landowners, over 5km
of brand new permitted bridleways will be opened to
enable safer, more enjoyable riding. For more details
please visit www.coleridgeway.co.uk The existing walking
route opened in April 2005 and has been a great success
story. Most businesses along the route are receiving an
increase in trade as a result and the positive feedback
from walkers has been exceptional. It is hoped that the
riding route will build on this success.
EXMOOR WALKING FOR ALL WIMBLEBALL LAKE
Exmoor is great walking country and some of it can be
Where
quite challenging. If you enjoy getting out, but need an
easy, short walk on flat terrain, then the National Trust has
there’s
created two easy going marked trails on its Holnicote
something
Estate, which is part of Exmoor. They are ideal for visitors
with limited mobility and offer access and views over some
for everyone
of the most beautiful parts of Exmoor. The Bossington Hill
at Exmoor’s
trail, which is laid out over 830 metres on a compacted
surface (there is a shorter version as well), goes through
largest lake
heathland and woodland with great coastal views. Follow
Managed by South
signs to North Hill from Minehead. It starts at the
West Lakes Trust,
Bossington Hill car park.
Wimbleball Lake,
There are breathtaking views of Dunkery Hill and Horner
near Dulverton,
Wood on the Webber’s Post trail. On compacted paths, it
offers a whole host
is 720 metres long and is lined with wood sculptures
of activities for all to
carved during the Wood 2004 festival.
enjoy, plus a refurbished tea-room for refreshments.
The Exmoor National Park Authority have also created
The Angling and Watersports Centre offers first class
the Weir Water Easy Access Trail which is just 150 metres
premier trout fishing from either bank or boat in a tranquil
long on a boardwalk near the popular beauty spot of
setting with acres of water. In addition to fishing, the
Robber’s Bridge. It’s also a great picnic spot. All three
centre offers watersports, for all to learn and enjoy. With a
trails are featured in a free leaflet, which is available from
choice of dinghy sailing, canoeing, windsurfing, rowing
the Holnicote Estate Office, 01643 862452 and Porlock
and surf skis there’s certainly something to suit everyone’s
Visitor Centre, 01643 863150.
tastes. The Centre runs a Junior Club on Saturday
mornings from 9.30 – 12 noon for kids aged 8 -16 and
LAUNCH OF NEW RIDING
welcomes new members. Those who haven’t been on the
water needn’t worry as the South West Lakes Trust
ROUTES FOR EXMOOR AND
instructors offer a variety of tuition including taster
courses.
The more experienced can enjoy the benefits of
This year’s Exmoor Explorer Mountain Bike Marathon
THE QUANTOCKS
equipment hire and self launch facilities. For further details
organised by Team Zoyland will once again start in the on all watersports activities and fishing call 01398 371460.
grounds of the National Trust’s historic Dunster Castle in
With peaceful forest tracks offering excellent going, wide
Somerset on Sunday 5 August 2007.
open spaces for exhilarating gallops, meandering riverside
The Exmoor Explorer Mountain Bike Marathon is not a
trails, wooded valleys for strengthening hill work and
COUNTRYSIDE FAIR
race, but an event that provides challenge and enjoyment
rolling pastureland for relaxing hacking, Exmoor and the
The South West Countryside Fair returns to Wimbleball
on routes (25 miles or 35 miles) using permitted rights of
Quantock Hills are renowned as a rider’s paradise, blessed
Lake thanks to a continuing partnership between charity
way across the beautiful countryside of Exmoor National
with a rich and diverse landscape of deep valleys, ancient
South West Lakes Trust and Exmoor Events.
Park. The organisers make a donation from entrance fees
oak woodland, dramatic sea cliffs, beautiful heather
This year the Fair is on Friday 11 and Saturday 12 May
collected to CareMoor for Exmoor, the National Park
moorland, waterfalls and picturesque towns, villages and
2007 and will offer a range of exciting activities,
Authority’s environment fund,
harbours. Together with an extensive range of quality
entertainment, demonstrations and exhibitors.
in addition to other local
accommodation, riding stables,
With the focus being life on Exmoor, visitors will have
causes.
tea-rooms, pubs, restaurants, and
the chance to enjoy watersports on the lake, dog shows,
The event goes from
local shops, the area is able to offer
angling tuition, falconry and music along with the
strength to strength and last
riders of all abilities the perfect riding
opportunity to see rural craft demonstrations such as
year 400 riders, the maximum
experience.
weaving and woodturning and enjoy locally produced
number allowed, left the Old
food. There will be plenty of entertainment for the children
Park at Dunster Castle in
Summer 2006 saw the launch of 11
including clowns and magicians so there is fun to be had
Somerset for a full day of
promoted horse-riding routes across
by all.
mountain biking that took
some of the most breathtakingly
Advance tickets and further information are available
them over the hardest tracks
beautiful countryside in the UK,
from the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster (01643 821425) at a
that the organisers could find
Exmoor and the Quantock Hills.
cost of £3 per person (under 16’s are free). Tickets on the
before reaching the tea stop
The new ‘Exmoor & Quantock Hills
day will be £5 per adult and £4 per senior citizen.
at the beautiful village of
on Horseback’ publication, which
For those not wanting to go on the water there are
Luccombe.
includes 12 individual laminated pull
plenty of footpaths around the lake including around lake
Local riders mixed with visitors from all over the
out maps, plus essential riding information, provides local
walk of approximately 9 miles – of course there are shorter
country, and as one seasoned rider put it “The Exmoor
riders and visitors with a great way to explore and fully
walks too, along with a childrens play area near the camp
Explorer seems to be a best kept secret between many a
appreciate the area’s finest qualities. The guide has been
site which also overlooks the lake. There is an extensive
rider so put it in your diary; it goes in mine as one of the
produced by the British Horse Society, Exmoor National
guided walks programme covering a variety of topics and
top 3 events I have ever done.”
Park Authority and the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding
areas of the lake, for further details call 01398 371516 or
For more information and a downloadable entry form visit:
Natural Beauty Service. Copies can be bought at National
visit our website www.swlakestrust.org.uk
www.exmoorexplorer.com
Park Centres.
4 Exmoor Visitor 2007
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