Explore Exmoor - Guided Walking Holiday - 2 Night's B&B Included
A guided walking holiday on glorious Exmoor with 2 night's B&B, the perfect escape!
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With so much to offer, it’s extraordinary that Exmoor is one of the lesser visited National Parks and with more and more people opting to stay in the UK, it’s a great time to discover this place on one of our guided walking holidays.
It boasts a unique landscape of wild moorland, ancient woodlands, hidden river valleys, rugged sea cliffs, plus 35 miles of the South West Coast Path.
Wildlife thrives here, birds of prey soar high above the dramatic landscape whilst down below the infamous wild ponies gather on the moorland and majestic native deer secretly graze in the hidden valleys.
Night time brings with it another natural phenomenon….the sky. Exmoor was Europe’s first Dark Sky Reserve and is one of the best places in the world for stargazing.
Seriously, Exmoor really is a hidden gem.
Here are some example walks that your Mountain Leader will accompany you on:
Walk 1 – THE DOONE VALLEY – 7 Miles
The National Trust has recently acquired the Doone Valley, made famous by RD Blackmore in his infamous novel ‘Lorna Doone’. The family are described as a band of Scottish outlaws, robbing and pillaging locals!
Walkers track the Badgeworthy River upstream past the remains of a remote 12th century farming community, following the valley up onto higher open moorland with dramatic views across Exmoor, the Bristol Channel and South Wales.
This landscape is wild, unspoilt and truly inspiring for anyone wanting to get away from it all.
Walk 2 – DUNKERY BEACON QUICKY – 3 Miles
An ideal opportunity to get your bearings at the top of Exmoor!
At 519m, Dunkery Beacon is the highest point in the National Park and also in Somerset.
On a clear day, there a far reaching views to Dartmoor, the Quantock Hills and Wales.
Walk 3 – TARR STEPS – 7 Miles
Tarr Steps is a 55m clapper bridge across the River Barle dating back to medieval times. Local legend says the five-tonne slabs were placed there by the Devil to win a bet with a local giant.
This gentle ramble meanders alongside the river before looping through Withypool, an un-spoilt village in the heart of Exmoor. Walkers then gain some height and views before finishing back at Tarr Steps and a beverage at the Tarr Farm Inn.
Walk 4 - WOODY BAY COASTAL LOOP – 6 Miles
Start at the National Trust carpark at Heddon Valley where the centre piece is the ‘Arts and Crafts’ styled Hunters Inn, fashionable in the local area due to its landscape known as ‘Little Switzerland’ being so reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.
Follow the old postal route along the higher coastal path taking in breathtaking views of the Exmoor coast, passing the remains of a Roman fortlet and the impressive Wringapeak rock formation.
If brave enough, take a dip at Woody Bay’s secret sea pool before returning via the lower coastal path back to Hunters Inn.
ACCOMMODATION
Exmoor is a large area and host to many different types of accommodation in a variety of settings. Please specify if coastal or rural is preferred along with any specific requirements.
TRANSPORT
There are several A roads into Exmoor National Park and then the area is served by smaller B roads and narrow unclassified roads that are only suitable for cars or smaller vans.
Each start / finish point will be from a carpark and it is the responsibility of walkers to drive there.
The nearest train stations are at Barnstaple, Tiverton and Minehead.