NEWS
New signs for Dunster
OUT AND ABOUT
Visitors to Dunster will be able to find their way around the village and seek out the lesser known parts thanks to new
ON EXMOOR
signs, interpretation panels and a village trail leaflet recently produced by the Dunster Working Group. The Group
was set up to develop and implement a vision for the environmental quality, economic viability and social well-being
During your visit to Exmoor keep an eye open for the
National Park Authority’s field services team - the people
for Dunster Village and the surrounding area.
that keep the paths clear, manage the woodlands and
These improvements are the latest phase in the Dunster Action Plan and have been funded by the Exmoor Trust
make the wooden finger posts and gates that you will
with help from Defra’s Rural Development Service. Earlier in the year the Dunster Working Group opened a new
see all over the National Park. Rangers too have an
permitted path between Gallox Bridge and Dunster Steep which has been well used and enables people to enjoy important role in helping to look after the National Park
seeing another area of the village. as well as acting as a point of contact between
Edwin Beckett, chairman of the Exmoor Trust said: “The Exmoor Trust backs all plans to enhance the visitor's
residents, visitors and the Authority.
experience of Exmoor and was happy to join in a partnership to produce this enhanced signage. The new signage
should facilitate exploration and persuade visitors to linger longer.'
Cute cottages: Start at Porlock Visitor
Centre for a short circuit of the Vale of
Porlock. Visit Porlock Marsh, a great place
to watch migrant birds, then the villages of
Bossington, Allerford and West Luccombe.
Cross medieval packhorse bridges and see
cottages with tall chimneys, bulging bread
ovens and thatched roofs. In Porlock there
are even thatched birds on the roofs.
Long but level: Do a tour of
Wimbleball, one of the West Country’s
largest lakes. A ten mile walk around the
Between them, the rangers and the field services team
edge takes in old oak woodland, farmland,
look after Exmoor’s more than 1,000 km of paths. Next
a ruined church and heath with wild ponies.
time you come upon a small wooden sign which points
There is a different view at every turn,
towards your destination along a path, spare a though
each with a backdrop of the lake.
POSSIBLY
for the story that lies behind that reassuring fingerpost.
Every year tons of timber is produced from the National
Babbling Barle: Follow the deeply
Park Authority’s woodlands as a bi-product of
wooded valley of the Barle upstream from
conservation management work undertaken by the
…EXMOOR’S BEST
Dulverton and back over Anstey Commons:
woodland team at the field services depot based at
a quiet corner of the National Park teeming
Exford.
with wildlife – ponies, deer and buzzards
WALKING
abound. Within the meanders of the river
Some of the wood is left on the ground to form dead
are prehistoric forts.
wood habitats to encourage invertebrates and the
remainder is then either sold as firewood or the better
EXPERIENCES
Baywatch: Start at Selworthy Beacon
quality timber is carefully seasoned and stored. It then
for magnificent views over Porlock Bay and
goes to the workshop where the team turns it into the
along the Exmoor coast. Courting couples
distinctive signposts, bridges and gates that you see
often just sit and watch the ever-changing
throughout the National Park. A routing machine, guided
light and sunsets. See the vivid colours of
freehand, is used to write the lettering on the wooden
There is such a variety of scenery and wildlife on Exmoor
the heather and gorse in August. Walk
signposts (pictured).
that it’s hard to know where to start – here are some
through woods of Mediterranean oaks, visit
suggestions from those in the know. If you’d like to try
holy wells and the chocolate box village of
The finished articles are then taken out and put into
one of them out, pop into a National Park Centre for
Selworthy.
place where needed. The field services team is also
some expert advice and while you are there buy yourself
responsible for cutting back and clearing the vegetation
a detailed map if you don’t have one.
Snowdrop Valley: Walk from
along the paths, many of which would be impenetrable
without this vital service.
Wooded coast: Take the Coast Path from Porlock
Wheddon Cross in February to see the
beautiful wooded valley of the River Avill
Weir to County Gate, following in the footsteps of the
with banks lined with snowdrops and
poets Coleridge, Wordsworth and Southey along
along the edge of Dunkery Hill. Part of
England’s longest stretch of coastal woods. Visit
National Park Local Information
the journey can be made by minibus.
England’s smallest parish church at Culbone. Take the
Points are located in many
bus back.
villages throughout Exmoor.
Four National Parks at once: Take the Coast
Path from Combe Martin to Little Hangman and back –
Exmoor National Park Authority has an agreement with a
little hill but huge views to Dartmoor, Brecon Beacons
number of proprietors of village shops and tourism outlets
and Pembrokeshire Coast.
to provide basic information about their immediate
location and services offered by the Authority.
Larking about: Walk from Alderman’s Barrow to
This means that you can obtain basic National Park
Larkbarrow and the head of Badgworthy Water. Hear
information and literature while purchasing provisions or
nothing but skylarks and see nothing but moorland
using post office facilities during your stay. These shops
grazed by wild ponies for miles and miles.
and outlets are located in hamlets and villages throughout
Exmoor where other services are limited and are often the
Wildlife bonanza: Take trails laid out by the Acland
centre of village life and a lifeline to many.
family in the 19th Century from Horner along the lower
slopes of Dunkery Beacon and back through Horner
Using the village shops will help to keep them viable.
Woods. All is a National Nature Reserve with a large
Proprietors will do all they can to assist, however, should
percentage of Britain’s bat and lichen species and a
you require more detailed information about the National
good chance of seeing wild red deer.
Park please contact one of the Centres, details on page 2.
Exmoor Visitor 2007 9
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