NEWS
Exmoor National Park
Park Centre and Exmoor House Hotel,
Authority's environmental
Wheddon Cross.
support fund is now into its
Over 50 Exmoor National Park
Authority guided walks, events & talks that
second year of fundraising
took place during CareMoor for Exmoor's
following a hugely successful
first year added nearly £2000 to the total.
first twelve months, so please
Community groups and organisations
keep your eyes open for the
including the Rotary Club of Exmoor,
collection boxes if you’d like
Minehead Running Club, and the
to help.
organisers of the Exmoor Explorer event
donated over £1500, whilst five
Just over £5330 has been generated
businesses (Sparkhayes Campsite,
and two projects completed (dormouse
Lynmouth Harbour Boat Trips, Jupiter
nesting boxes constructed and
Asset Management, Porlock Vale House
archaeological tools purchased) with
and Brian Atkin) contributed almost £1270
money in the bank ready for another two
either by making a donation, setting up an
projects (stepping stones over a stream to
annual sponsorship, or contributing
Conservation & biodiversity
aid access and a bat survey) to
proceeds from sales of certain products or
commence very soon.
services.
Money has been raised in a variety of
Sally said "When we launched
wins national gold for
ways across Exmoor and beyond.
CareMoor for Exmoor I hoped to raise
Collection boxes located at Denes Guest
about £4000 in the first year so this is
House, Lynton; Halse Farm, Winsford;
fantastic. Even more impressive is that
West Hollowcombe, Hawkridge; Withypool
Lynton & Lynmouth
since July 2006 we have raised over
Post Office and Stores; and Porlock Visitor
£3000 already so obviously other people
Centre raised £560 last year. More boxes
believe in the project as much as we do."
can be found at Porlock Vale Hotel; the
If you would like to help raise more
Lynton and Lynmouth have done well for many years in the ‘South West in Bloom’
Exmoor Pony Centre; Primrose Hill
money for CareMoor for Exmoor please
regional competition and have been National Finalists twice before achieving a silver gilt
Holidays, Blue Anchor; Blackmoor Gate
contact Sally via sparish@exmoor-
award each time.
National Park Centre; Dunster National
nationalpark.gov.uk or on 01398 322293.
In 2006 they were nominated by the regional judges to the Coastal Resort category in
the National RHS Britain in Bloom competition which meant they were competing against
resorts which had populations of up to 35,000 against an electorate of 1,350. According
to local Mayor Mrs Suzette Hibbert “Not deterred and knowing we had the help of
Exmoor National Park Authority and our very gifted council workforce we accepted the
nomination.”
Better by Bus
She continued: “With the help of our National Park ranger Ione Willcock, volunteers
and our council workforce we have endeavoured to manage the land owned by Lynton
Reduce your holiday hassle and car parking pressures by using the bus! You will
and Lynmouth Town Council within the guidelines for areas which are sites of special
probably enjoy Exmoor’s stunning scenery all the more and be doing your bit to
scientific interest. This management, which is ongoing, has over the last few years started
reduce congestion and pollution on Exmoor.
to regenerate the heather and wild flowers, the butterflies and wild life which were being
kept away by the thick canopies of trees, gorse, bracken and brambles. To our great
There are a number of services that operate in, to and through the National Park
and give access to many interesting places. Transport guides will be
delight the judges were so impressed with everything they saw they awarded a gold
available in National Park Centres and Tourist Information Centres
certificate and out of the 11 nominations only Scarborough and Lynton Lynmouth were
and some of the bus routes are marked on the map in the
given this accolade.”
centre of this publication.
COME BACK FOR MORE OF EXMOOR!
Take the pain out of planning by popping in
to one of the Centres where the staff will be
able to work out a superb walk or tour that
There is a wide range of accommodation available (see page 2 for details).
suits your individual needs, and link it to a
on Exmoor from smart hotels to an array of places Larger groups of people can be catered for at a
bus route – nothing could be simpler!
offering excellent bed and breakfast, so if you are couple of places on Exmoor, these include the
here on holiday, why not check out what’s Residential Centre at Dulverton which offers
available and come back at another time of year centrally heated, self catering accommodation for
for a long weekend? 35 people – a favourite with rowers and walking
clubs. Contact details: 01398 371112 or phone/fax
01398 371108. Or the National Trust’s Exmoor base
camp at Countisbury - a converted barn offers high
standard bunkhouse accommodation in 2
dormitories sleeping 8 in each, plus a 2 bedded
leaders’ room. Contact Karen on 01598 741101 for
details or booking.
Historic sawmill
CAMPING
back in action
There are some good official camp sites on Exmoor.
The restoration of the Exmoor National Park Authority’s historic, water-powered sawmill
Camping on open moorland or parking motor-
at Simonsbath is now complete and the mill is once again in regular use. The project,
Northcombe Camping Barn, Dulverton
homes and caravans in lay-bys along the side of the
which was led by local architect Louise Crossman, was a brief that required repairs to
If your budget doesn’t run to a hotel or b&b, road is prohibited, as is lighting of fires or
the building itself and to the one hundred year old system of sluices and leats that
there are three Youth Hostels in the area offering barbecues. A fire or barbecue can leave a scorch
supplied the mill with water.
fantastic value for money in convenient locations. mark which takes years to heal. Any litter left lying
On Saturday 3rd March 2007 there is a Water-Powered Open Day at the sawmill from
They are at Exford, Lynton and Minehead – more about can be attractive to wildlife and cause harm.
10am to 3pm, check with a National Park Centre for more details.
details on www.yha.org.uk There is also a couple of For information about camp sites, just ask at a
If you miss that, once a month there’s a guided tour of the sawmill, dates and times
camping barns offering basic accommodation on a National Park Centre (see page 2 for details), the
are in the diary pages or visit:
budget, details available from National Park Centres map in the centre of this paper has locations marked.
www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/index/visiting/what_to_do/events.htm
Exmoor Visitor 2007 7
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40