tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42583042360815403332024-02-19T05:17:57.951+00:00Exmoor House Wheddon CrossNews and updates from our small hotel/guesthouse on ExmoorRosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.comBlogger138125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-14296177905736369502017-02-02T11:55:00.002+00:002017-02-02T11:55:49.325+00:00Snowdrop Valley: railway excursions to see the snowdrops
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Over the coming half
term holiday, 11<sup>th</sup> - 19<sup>th</sup> February 2017, the
West Somerset Railway is running a diesel service which includes a
trip to Snowdrop Valley.</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The train leaves
Bishops Lydeard at 10.30, arriving in Williton at about 11.00.
Included in the ticket price is a bus service to Wheddon Cross. You
can then either catch the park and ride bus (the cost of this is not
included in your West Somerset Railway ticket) down to the valley or
make your way on foot. Your bus will collect you from Wheddon Cross
at 14.00 to meet the return train from Williton back to Bishops
Lydeard.</div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
Find more
information and make your train booking on the <a href="http://www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/" target="_blank">West Somerset Railway website</a><br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
While you are
in Wheddon Cross, you can enjoy lunch (or maybe just coffee and cake, tea
and scones or our lovely home-made <a href="http://exmoorhousewx.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/teacakes-at-wheddon-cross.html" target="_blank">teacakes</a>) at Exmoor House – we run a pop-up Snowdrop Valley
tearoom. Our food is something special: <a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/specialevents.htm" target="_blank">more details here.</a> And if you'd like to spend a few days on beautiful Exmoor and enjoy some of the other sights too, why not book a <a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">short break</a> with us? We offer bed and breakfast, and dinner too.</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
More information about Snowdrop Valley, with regular updates, can be found on the <a href="http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm" target="_blank">Wheddon Cross website.</a></div>
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-2115707451618479102017-01-26T14:07:00.002+00:002017-01-26T14:07:26.420+00:00Snowdrop Valley 2017, Wheddon Cross, Exmoor, Somerset Snowdrop Valley is exactly that: a valley with lots of snowdrops. Tucked away on Exmoor in Somerset, just a mile or so from our guest house in Wheddon Cross, it's special because you can see the snowdrops flowering in natural woodland (many snowdrops walks are in a more formal setting such as parkland).<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaVTsCuhBkCxTCLQIev7SXfYlQF88IHRKBkozm4R8p0Z9vfvUi-MMjw4T-Ci_bli4kcz1-DrnNacczn0HxBj2EWc21opoxlSPLOYypMY0U6VgHiTE_PNAOdCzh89zDqgXpsHWsxK8wbo/s1600/SV+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQaVTsCuhBkCxTCLQIev7SXfYlQF88IHRKBkozm4R8p0Z9vfvUi-MMjw4T-Ci_bli4kcz1-DrnNacczn0HxBj2EWc21opoxlSPLOYypMY0U6VgHiTE_PNAOdCzh89zDqgXpsHWsxK8wbo/s1600/SV+3.JPG" /></a></div>
February is generally peak snowdrop season, although of course it depends mainly on the weather as to when the blooms will be at their best. Access to Snowdrop Valley is by walking, or by minibus. The walk, which takes you down to the valley and back up again, is very pretty. As you might imagine, it can be very muddy, so you need to wear wellies or walking boots.<br />
<br />
The minibuses are organised by our local parish council. They run from the village car park (across the road from our place and next to the pub). You'll also find an information point where you can get directions and advice and buy snowdrop-related souvenirs. If the village car park is full, there is generally overflow parking available at the cattle market just down the road (except on market days).<br />
<br />
In 2017 the road to Snowdrop Valley is closed from 28th January to 26th February inclusive, hence the park & ride minibuses. The park & ride service runs from 4th to 19th February, so on the other dates you can only get to the valley if you walk.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm" target="_blank">Wheddon Cross village website</a> has regular updates. You can also download a bus timetable and an information leaflet.<br />
<br />
If you fancy a few nights' break on Exmoor to see the snowdrops, you can enjoy a relaxing stay at Exmoor House and enjoy our great food.Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-907739461896549872016-11-16T16:49:00.002+00:002016-11-16T16:49:45.732+00:00An Exmoor mystery: the wishing trees of Tarr Steps
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
If you've
walked from Tarr Steps along the banks of the Barle river, you will
no doubt have spotted a number of tree trunks with coins hammered
into them. You might even have added a coin or two yourself. </div>
Seen
from a distance, you could almost imagine the trees to be scaly
dinosaurs. I guessed that they must be 'wishing trees', but nobody I
asked could confirm that, or tell me anything else about them.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvFJSl8wDiBzCBKNhnmGzOuijrpUUPdNHsgxDH2YJthhW99TnlHrBxzA6uJuDEwhlo3n4Gb3U-4wRaIDFrL6j_I2GFcz8o3qUMDrB1JUzmEU18zHIwyzpnYdOfokC7CKHGTZ-n1CaSss/s1600/Wishing+Tree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvFJSl8wDiBzCBKNhnmGzOuijrpUUPdNHsgxDH2YJthhW99TnlHrBxzA6uJuDEwhlo3n4Gb3U-4wRaIDFrL6j_I2GFcz8o3qUMDrB1JUzmEU18zHIwyzpnYdOfokC7CKHGTZ-n1CaSss/s320/Wishing+Tree.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Exmoor's wishing trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then
the other week I spotted a blog post by Elke Koessling-Winzer at
<a href="https://exmoor4all.com/" target="_blank">Exmoor4All</a> .<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
She says: <i> 'For centuries
and across cultures, people have attributed trees with special
powers. In some countries, trees are covered in red ribbons or notes,
and throughout the UK, coins play a special role. One of the
money trees can be found near Tarr Steps on Exmoor.</i></div>
<i>
</i><div class="western">
<i>The wishing tree is studded with coins, hammered
in by villagers and tourists with the help of stones. People used to
believe that sticking a coin into a wishing tree would pass an
illness to the tree – and onto the person who pulled the coin out
again. The custom goes back to the beginning of the 18th
century; one of them, an oak wish tree in the Scottish Highlands,
gained fame when Queen Victoria visited it in 1877.</i></div>
<div class="western">
<br /></div>
<i>
</i><div class="western">
<i>So far we have been unable to find out how old the
wishing tree is at Tarr Steps...'</i></div>
<div class="western">
<br /></div>
<div class="western">
Some of the coins do look as if they've been there
for a very long time. If anybody knows more about this rather
intriguing mystery, please tell.
</div>
<div class="western">
<br /><br />
</div>
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-30783940780611961532016-08-05T16:26:00.000+01:002016-08-05T16:26:02.537+01:00Fun and games at an Exmoor village fête
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czdag06E_qU/V6SsXWUetiI/AAAAAAAAAQU/Uz8Tsm3yaUATBt93BgIkUXJ0G9HY8NBWwCEw/s1600/Cutcombe%2Bscarecrows%2BDebi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-czdag06E_qU/V6SsXWUetiI/AAAAAAAAAQU/Uz8Tsm3yaUATBt93BgIkUXJ0G9HY8NBWwCEw/s1600/Cutcombe%2Bscarecrows%2BDebi.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarecrows guarding the signpost (photo by Debi Jones)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
Every village
on Exmoor does something to celebrate summer, the season of fairs and
festivals. On the first Saturday in August – this weekend, in fact
- is the Wheddon Cross and Cutcombe f<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">ê</span>te
and dog show, which takes place on the village playing fields just a
short walk from Exmoor House.
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh_Ck-8D468/V6SsOEOBaFI/AAAAAAAAAQU/UBy_w1l2beMfxRV4kWUs2DpfJtQckmfWwCEw/s1600/Cutcombe%2Bscarecrows%2BDebi%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nh_Ck-8D468/V6SsOEOBaFI/AAAAAAAAAQU/UBy_w1l2beMfxRV4kWUs2DpfJtQckmfWwCEw/s320/Cutcombe%2Bscarecrows%2BDebi%2B1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A 'Mrs Mopp' scarecrow takes a break (photo by Debi Jones)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the good old
English tradition, a f<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">ê</span>te
wouldn't be a f<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">ê</span>te
without at least some of the following: china smashing, splat the
rat, barbeque, tombola, Pimm's tent, fortune-telling and stalls
selling books, plants and bric <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">à</span>
brac. Most, if not all, of these are generally here, often with a few
extra surprises too. Buy a ticket for the grand draw and you could
win any of a wonderful array of prizes – one of which is dinner for
two at Exmoor House. <br /><br />We really enjoy
looking at all the competition entries: there is always some fab
baking (Frank won the best-in-show cup one year; the judges loved his
goat's cheese flan), as well as great photos, very inventive crafts
and of course luscious home-grown produce. Sometimes the competitions
include a prize for the best scarecrow. No scarecrows this year, but I couldn't resist including a couple of pictures of some from a year or so ago.<br />
<br />
<br />
Afternoon teas (not to be
missed) are served at the village hall. After prizes
have been presented, the fruit, vegetables, cakes – and so on –
from the competitions are auctioned to raise money for village good
causes. The auctioneer from the sheep and cattle market down the road
does the honours and the pace is fast and furious. Snooze and you
lose, as they say. Bidding is often fiercest, and prices highest,
when it's time for the whortleberries to be sold (you may know these
by one of their other names: bilberries, whinberries,
blaeberries...).<br /><br />
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
If you're in
the area, do come along and join in. You'll be made very welcome.</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
<br /><br />
</div>
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-83095297608707034502016-04-20T17:33:00.001+01:002016-04-20T17:37:10.029+01:00Exmoor's variety, part 2: Plantlife<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
Because Exmoor
has such a range of terrains (more in a later blog!) it has a big
range of plantlife too. I'm going to concentrate here on some of my
favourites, and haven't included trees because I'm also going to
focus on them another time.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjdXoEWvwj0E3DPrLIFj7xL0QgngjHsqEbwqOBGhdyj9YwEEuKs98ChagSd15JUuATtKizgWGt2XrRfXAdDZaTUzC_yDFBitoQIPednrSMoFvyYsFau8L5g4Wnm1jtRDx0OwTmi-s3Ao/s1600/Daffodils+in+Stowey+Wood+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjdXoEWvwj0E3DPrLIFj7xL0QgngjHsqEbwqOBGhdyj9YwEEuKs98ChagSd15JUuATtKizgWGt2XrRfXAdDZaTUzC_yDFBitoQIPednrSMoFvyYsFau8L5g4Wnm1jtRDx0OwTmi-s3Ao/s320/Daffodils+in+Stowey+Wood+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Daffodils in Stowey Wood near Wheddon Cross</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
Early in the
year the snowdrops in <a href="http://exmoorhousewx.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/snowdrop-valley-2016-and-our-pop-up-tea.html" target="_blank">Snowdrop Valley</a> -
where else? - show that the land is starting to wake up after winter.
Slightly later signs of spring are daffodils, primroses, alexanders,
wild garlic, bluebells. </div>
Gorse, with its
sunny flowers and coconutty scent, can be in bloom at any time of year ('whenever kissing's in season' as the old saying goes) but is
often at its best in late spring. Exmoor ponies love to nibble the
flowers and stems.<br />
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm; text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtQwqCAFeJNGm67l3zzUvig8dmAzIXZPjMYauA92z5P0KYXfezs3Nmq_rXjCaBr-zB-IsGfItaf804LoIZ6P9cKwKyIqGjum0KGJNaxfaW3ZIs_cjtceQkyvsRhThdJKkvpKB2hYvFGk/s1600/Dunkery+heather+Aug+2011+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtQwqCAFeJNGm67l3zzUvig8dmAzIXZPjMYauA92z5P0KYXfezs3Nmq_rXjCaBr-zB-IsGfItaf804LoIZ6P9cKwKyIqGjum0KGJNaxfaW3ZIs_cjtceQkyvsRhThdJKkvpKB2hYvFGk/s320/Dunkery+heather+Aug+2011+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Heather on Dunkery Hill</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm; text-align: left;">
Summer brings
out the bell heather and ling on the high moors, which are home to
luscious whortleberries as well; also known as bilberries, if you're
a northerner like me. And, following on from the foxgloves, rosebay
willowherb is everywhere. On riverbanks I love to see meadowsweet,
also – an invasive import, but so pretty – monbretia.</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5d6kqcjsPdbdR3YdDojur_HnNqILiR7vyIH1x646EiTE3hlbxVjsFMiaJPNkEY4dLk9TWPghJAm5azkW04hdcW8m8uw1k0X2j6WY41W46Z5iDPHXdQp04tf1A46-zisMEjQtulnO5iQ/s1600/Toll+road+fb+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5d6kqcjsPdbdR3YdDojur_HnNqILiR7vyIH1x646EiTE3hlbxVjsFMiaJPNkEY4dLk9TWPghJAm5azkW04hdcW8m8uw1k0X2j6WY41W46Z5iDPHXdQp04tf1A46-zisMEjQtulnO5iQ/s320/Toll+road+fb+cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gorse in bloom by the Porlock toll road</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
By
the coast you'll see, at various times of the year, sea purslane,
wild fennel, teasels, evening primroses, mallows...</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
And
I'll just briefly mention marsh plants, grasses and sedges, ferns,
lichens – the latter a telltale sign of Exmoor's unpolluted air –
and fungi including brightly coloured waxcaps.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
All
in all, Exmoor is a botanist's paradise!</div>
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-89896197493978445362016-02-26T15:38:00.000+00:002016-02-26T15:38:51.530+00:00Teacakes at Wheddon Cross
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
Johnny Kingdom
and David Parker visited our February pop-up tearoom the other year,
and tried one of our most popular menu items: our home-made teacakes.</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
They had just visited Snowdrop Valley, while filming the TV series Johnny Kingdom's Wild Exmoor. The book of the
same name, by David Parker and with reflections on Exmoor from Johnny
Kingdom, was published in 2015 by Halsgrove.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
On page 49,
David says of our tearoom: '...the food, all home-baked... is
fantastic. I'm partial to a toasted teacake in the morning, Frank's
home-made ones put the bought variety into some sort of perspective'.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
For an
affectionate and individual perspective on Exmoor through the
seasons, take a look at the book. You will also find our special
teacakes recipe in there, but here it is now for you.</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
Ingredients
(makes approximately 12 teacakes)<br />200g mixed dried fruit<br />1kg
strong white flour<br />1 tsp salt<br />100g butter<br />100g sugar<br />500
ml milk<br />5g yeast<br />1 tsp sweet mixed spices<br /><br />Rub the butter
and flour together in a large mixing bowl until they resemble fine
breadcrumbs. Warm the milk to blood temperature and add the yeast,
then add the milk and yeast, as well as the mixed spice, sugar and
salt, to the flour and butter mix. Stir it all together and knead,
then add the mixed fruit and work it into the dough. Cover the bowl
lightly with clingfilm, set it in a warm place and allow the dough to
rise for about an hour or until it has doubled in size. Then divide
into 150g pieces and roll each piece into a ball. Put these on a
baking tray which you have greased and lined with baking parchment or
silicon sheet. Let the doughballs rise for approximately another
hour, then bake at 200C for fifteen to twenty minutes.</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
Enjoy the
teacakes the traditional way: toasted, with plenty of butter. Or for
something different and also rather delicious, try them untoasted,
with clotted cream and jam.</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
If you'd rather
have teacakes made for you, then do come and visit!</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.64cm; margin-bottom: 0.53cm;">
<br /><br />
</div>
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-39038664199057411012016-02-08T11:48:00.000+00:002016-02-08T11:48:49.104+00:00Snowdrops, steam trains and snacks<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
Combining a ride on a steam train with a visit to Exmoor’s beautiful
Snowdrop Valley sounds like just the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>ticket! This year’s Snowdrops and Steam days out on the West Somerset Railway
are on February 16<sup>th</sup>, 17<sup>th</sup>, 18<sup>th</sup>, 19<sup>th</sup>
and 20<sup>th</sup>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDPWDawwrvcs60jNJGNHOn3to3RzJnq2_Nu-FcuIlPB4xssM-FoceBcswz2OK4HG2S6UoQDClJaOPun8zkzSbJ-IXFScixbLEgbajW2JQCmnYJReKhhDBrpX1r446nuiaNqr2uipoVCs/s1600/WSR-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDPWDawwrvcs60jNJGNHOn3to3RzJnq2_Nu-FcuIlPB4xssM-FoceBcswz2OK4HG2S6UoQDClJaOPun8zkzSbJ-IXFScixbLEgbajW2JQCmnYJReKhhDBrpX1r446nuiaNqr2uipoVCs/s200/WSR-logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
The steam trains depart from Bishops Lydeard at 10.25 or Minehead at 10.15.
You get off at Williton Station to join the special coach service to Wheddon
Cross, arriving there around midday. To get to the valley itself, you can
either walk (allow about 1 ½ to 2 hours; the paths are steep and can be very
muddy) or travel on the snowdrop bus.<br />
<br />
Your coach back to Williton leaves Wheddon Cross about 15.00, to catch the
16.45 trains to Bishops Lydeard and Minehead. Visit <a href="http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/product.php/33/snowdrops-steam" target="_blank">WSR</a> for more information,
prices and booking details (as I write this, some of the Snowdrops and Steam
dates are selling very fast).<br />
<br />
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<br />
While you’re in Wheddon Cross, do call in to <a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/specialevents.htm" target="_blank">Exmoor House</a> for some hot soup,
home-made teacakes, a cream tea or a ploughman’s lunch…<br />
<br />
And to see just why Snowdrop Valley is so special, take a look at these <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.224561347555559.66267.221803897831304&type=3" target="_blank">photos</a> <br />
<br />
On the Wheddon Cross village website you’ll find details of various walks to
Snowdrop Valley; here are some <a href="http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdrop%20valley%20short%20walks%20map.htm" target="_blank">examples</a>.<br />
<br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-21426537736833494222016-01-27T15:20:00.001+00:002016-01-27T15:27:23.077+00:00Snowdrop Valley 2016 and our pop-up tea room<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The official dates for Exmoor’s famous
Snowdrop Valley this year are 30<sup>th</sup> January to 28<sup>th</sup>
February. During this time the road to the valley is closed, but you can walk
down to see the snowdrops via various routes from Wheddon Cross (the public
footpaths are of course open all year round and it is always a nice walk,
though you need to be reasonably fit as the way is steep). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsFk9hq2dkiBY4hZ0VdtSC8n9fIeHxVk_3dr4U6RyL624f_1glxBmdrHBAZ0nCCXT2oBA89bf5oF9VfYVTYe2R4i0lbauC5kZIQSIENzyZpBVnZv0snUN6zknNDG8uQZMLG0JLed352U/s1600/12651167_819974241458369_3817239105260469259_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsFk9hq2dkiBY4hZ0VdtSC8n9fIeHxVk_3dr4U6RyL624f_1glxBmdrHBAZ0nCCXT2oBA89bf5oF9VfYVTYe2R4i0lbauC5kZIQSIENzyZpBVnZv0snUN6zknNDG8uQZMLG0JLed352U/s320/12651167_819974241458369_3817239105260469259_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The snowdrops on 24th January - photo by Michael Edwards</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> If you don’t want to walk, a park and ride
bus service runs between Wheddon Cross and Snowdrop valley each day from 6<sup>th</sup>
to 21<sup>st</sup> February. For more details, including the bus timetable, walking route maps, the Snowdrop Valley brochure and information about
special arrangements for people who have disabilities, visit the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"><a href="http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm" target="_blank">Wheddon Cross village website</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">At Exmoor House guest house we are opening our annual
pop-up tea room from 30<sup>th</sup> January until 28<sup>th</sup> February
inclusive. Opening hours are generally from 11am until 3pm, although if we
don’t have many dinners to do for our staying guests (our bed and breakfast breaks with dinner are very popular) then we may stay open a
little longer in the afternoon.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Everything is made here by Frank the chef, for
example bread, teacakes, cakes, scones, jams & pickles….Some of our tearoom
specialities are soup, sandwiches, ploughman’s lunches - and not forgetting Somerset cream teas
(including savoury cream teas for those who don’t have a sweet tooth).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Our dining room only holds about 14 people,
so if you have a particular date in mind when you’d like to come for lunch,
we’d advise you to book. Call Rosi & Frank on 01643 841432.</span>Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-83184994902945258042015-08-24T15:47:00.000+01:002015-08-24T15:47:50.971+01:00Exmoor's variety, part 1: Water<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
Exmoor National Park is not only incredibly beautiful, but incredibly
varied. Some people hear the word ‘moor’ and think ‘bleak’ – but I want to show
you that on Exmoor this is very far from the full story.<br />
<br />
<br />
I’d intended to make this post about scenery and landscape in general, but
this is such a huge subject that it needs breaking down into several episodes. So this time I’m going to concentrate on one theme – water. Who doesn’t love
picnicking by a river, or relaxing by the sea?<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/3075_472590619419296_630248251_n.jpg?oh=35f39f90ce1c4f0a2fc69509cbb741f9&oe=566A1053" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xta1/v/t1.0-9/3075_472590619419296_630248251_n.jpg?oh=35f39f90ce1c4f0a2fc69509cbb741f9&oe=566A1053" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The river Barle at Withypool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The moorland is criss-crossed by many small rivers, e.g. the Barle...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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...and there are areas of marshland, rich in wildlife. <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11048264_1053127844698901_3758244807312382473_n.jpg?oh=2c4e938b21c907cacbf0983754a0da99&oe=567AB94C" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/11048264_1053127844698901_3758244807312382473_n.jpg?oh=2c4e938b21c907cacbf0983754a0da99&oe=567AB94C" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porlock Marsh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/479939_472592689419089_1713719373_n.jpg?oh=b494421fd5c53305ea6c0187e38e7b34&oe=563B2571" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/479939_472592689419089_1713719373_n.jpg?oh=b494421fd5c53305ea6c0187e38e7b34&oe=563B2571" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wimbleball Lake at dusk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<br />
We’ve a lake (a man-made reservoir but none the less attractive for that) at
Wimbleball.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
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And Exmoor National Park has an amazing coastline, from Minehead<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/428511_454788924532799_1054561219_n.jpg?oh=ae854a2f98565a055c07b86bd836fa46&oe=56776B16" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/428511_454788924532799_1054561219_n.jpg?oh=ae854a2f98565a055c07b86bd836fa46&oe=56776B16" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Valley of Rocks, Lynton</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
to Porlock, from Lynmouth
to Heddon’s Mouth and many places in between. Beaches, high and rugged cliffs,
dramatic ravines, charming harbour towns… <br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/270528_239893582689002_7309102_n.jpg?oh=b06f0bb1347180d79e55ed6c02f68bb7&oe=56836E59" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/270528_239893582689002_7309102_n.jpg?oh=b06f0bb1347180d79e55ed6c02f68bb7&oe=56836E59" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking to Heddon's Mouth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are plenty of water-based activities to choose from on Exmoor, including coasteering, kayaking, fishing - and of course coastal walking or cycling.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Find some ideas at <a href="http://www.visit-exmoor.co.uk/types/activities/map" target="_blank">Visit Exmoor </a><br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-72975452431736454322015-08-05T13:00:00.001+01:002015-08-05T13:01:44.578+01:00The mysterious Culbone Stone<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last Saturday the owners of an area of wild
woodland high on Exmoor opened up part of their land so that people could visit
the Culbone Stone, a mysterious remnant of the moor’s ancient past. </span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SUlAiC3ZOpqYBUYyr3AOH_wYBQr4dhwzyAZenqIjtG0tfY7ywAUXWBIzuucWQaNG8ztX4micX4FEFsK0uBIc8j9fxNgEVM3_NLgqYMYWMVCu247nMKF8UjhlzCC3UOw6N49JVvzZ8tw/s1600/Culbone+Stone+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SUlAiC3ZOpqYBUYyr3AOH_wYBQr4dhwzyAZenqIjtG0tfY7ywAUXWBIzuucWQaNG8ztX4micX4FEFsK0uBIc8j9fxNgEVM3_NLgqYMYWMVCu247nMKF8UjhlzCC3UOw6N49JVvzZ8tw/s320/Culbone+Stone+fb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Culbone Stone with its inscription</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Once the Culbone Stone may have formed part
of an ancient line of standing stones dating from about 3,000 years ago; some
of these are still in place in the surrounding woods. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A cross within a wheel or circle has been
cut into the stone. Who carved it, and when? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Although a ‘wheeled cross’ is a
well-known Christian symbol, crosses within circles have been used as symbols
since well before Jesus’ time. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Also, one arm of the cross, which extends
outside the wheel, seems to have been added after the rest of the carving
(possibly as a parish boundary marker). So, who knows…?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZhX1nQVMBVH71PSqafBZNXqzO6iOwbqBmXFIEr1oNFZYzVFRHDKEX36GaDN3ZZ8qN07B7hD6tJc7Z29KfZbLcFno2LJKUgHvB7yS7vAcn7Q3Ljys9n0I4PnP5VSNsQv-1BNEU3-5VXM/s1600/Woods+by+Culbone+Stone+12+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZhX1nQVMBVH71PSqafBZNXqzO6iOwbqBmXFIEr1oNFZYzVFRHDKEX36GaDN3ZZ8qN07B7hD6tJc7Z29KfZbLcFno2LJKUgHvB7yS7vAcn7Q3Ljys9n0I4PnP5VSNsQv-1BNEU3-5VXM/s320/Woods+by+Culbone+Stone+12+fb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twisty trees in the woods surrounding the Culbone Stone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Gnarled and twisted trees, dense undergrowth
and winding paths lend an atmosphere of mystery to the woods themselves. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
land was once owned by Ada Lovelace (check her out on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace#Biography" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>
and her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some of the trees
that they planted there as part of a grand vision for the estate did not do
well in our moorland climate, but they linger on, like ghosts, adding to the
slight spookiness of the place.</span>Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-22780366203457890822015-07-22T11:29:00.000+01:002015-07-23T14:49:34.839+01:00Exmoor walks... and cake<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEBvEP6sOcltD1sKsW4xTeWzT3eirb5fkYbm4zlpVkQGO4aWkM2mIS3KAoXeFLnzoaDp1bc8w9xSMXuaCCFfOtSlnH00L7I0JjGgfu53qbSUPRoSin_BEd1ahvUNC4FBoFhJiPGSkIes/s1600/Porlock+Marsh+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEBvEP6sOcltD1sKsW4xTeWzT3eirb5fkYbm4zlpVkQGO4aWkM2mIS3KAoXeFLnzoaDp1bc8w9xSMXuaCCFfOtSlnH00L7I0JjGgfu53qbSUPRoSin_BEd1ahvUNC4FBoFhJiPGSkIes/s200/Porlock+Marsh+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Porlock Marsh</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is so much great walking on Exmoor that one is spoilt for choice, and
we have an ever-growing list of walks that we want to do. Over the last few
months we’ve managed to tick a few off that list.<br />
<br />
<b>Bossington Beach and Porlock Marsh (approx 2 miles)</b><br />
A short circular walk from Bossington down to the beach and along behind the
shingle ridge, turning inland to<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvz_hmhK7mZHOc5u3ultySB3Si_WQ3lq3pBaH51KBvX5dm8w2aRc0FGJsi4q1kAPzZnbXaXIGl8bRPThmgcjePpvnprMAudBMRApEWqMIlaIPJGw-pzITJAUeys-WE8OBFKqbOO606Qg/s1600/path+towards+Bossington+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvz_hmhK7mZHOc5u3ultySB3Si_WQ3lq3pBaH51KBvX5dm8w2aRc0FGJsi4q1kAPzZnbXaXIGl8bRPThmgcjePpvnprMAudBMRApEWqMIlaIPJGw-pzITJAUeys-WE8OBFKqbOO606Qg/s200/path+towards+Bossington+Hill.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Walking towards Bossington Hill</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
return to Bossington. We finished by having
lunch (including cake) at Kitnors in the village. The walk we did takes you
through some fascinating saltmarsh scenery, but is not recommended at high tide or after heavy rain. For a longer route you could take in, for example,
Bossington Hill, Selworthy Beacon, Porlock Weir…<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eKSDEiY9ix70BlgNfGzrKAwfaLTthD95Zjq3vtVoWsFM73c_UMCzU9IO1_jyLNOl3CGgtcKd38tzwGeUtV2E_CxXnDFk-XZXs00rJR6ysUq1htFgd6fJ95MjowHBrn_VBQDUAQ9dOJE/s1600/Culbone+Church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eKSDEiY9ix70BlgNfGzrKAwfaLTthD95Zjq3vtVoWsFM73c_UMCzU9IO1_jyLNOl3CGgtcKd38tzwGeUtV2E_CxXnDFk-XZXs00rJR6ysUq1htFgd6fJ95MjowHBrn_VBQDUAQ9dOJE/s200/Culbone+Church.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The church at Culbone</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Culbone Church (approx 5 miles)</b><br />
Quite a bit of uphill and downhill on this walk, but definitely worth it for
the views. Culbone Church is a little gem and I also found the churchyard very
interesting. We walked<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_PKLI6xwjtzdZ23O0B3gpnziuMBchvTs7elt9iL6vGHXDkz9HYaHkKpnetnbkYITzFofUC1xYiaA2i2Sk4xN9aSzimUR3veVqgCsC_jZfB0pKVIj4GpgnzLWx8Jdze7XozM9JuZLWXA/s1600/View+on+way+back+to+Worthy+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_PKLI6xwjtzdZ23O0B3gpnziuMBchvTs7elt9iL6vGHXDkz9HYaHkKpnetnbkYITzFofUC1xYiaA2i2Sk4xN9aSzimUR3veVqgCsC_jZfB0pKVIj4GpgnzLWx8Jdze7XozM9JuZLWXA/s200/View+on+way+back+to+Worthy+5.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>View from above Worthy Combe</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
up to Culbone through Yearnor Wood from Porlock Weir,
then from the church via Withy Combe to the trail that passes Parsonage Farm and
Ash Farm (wonderful coastal views). Then, via Worthy Combe back to Porlock
Weir, and a visit to the Harbour Gallery & Café - one of several very nice places to eat - for coffee and cake.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5a32iM-Y1pW0oDONEwpKffbvAhh_FrIY3P3w9yS2vhDuP_7iSoZBmSozNyHfUs8g9B6hIDjLQsm9wS1Q5Adn6GXjp61D9QIpst1qFGtiZmVcdMrxArcp6COxPjOplYXMk-1FudmLEHo/s1600/Watersmeet+walk+Jun+2015+4+fb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5a32iM-Y1pW0oDONEwpKffbvAhh_FrIY3P3w9yS2vhDuP_7iSoZBmSozNyHfUs8g9B6hIDjLQsm9wS1Q5Adn6GXjp61D9QIpst1qFGtiZmVcdMrxArcp6COxPjOplYXMk-1FudmLEHo/s200/Watersmeet+walk+Jun+2015+4+fb.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>On the way to Watersmeet</i></td></tr>
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<b>Watersmeet (approx 4 miles)</b><br />
We actually did this one for the first time last Autumn, but revisited it a few
weeks ago when some of the family came to stay. There are several variations on
the walk, but as we were combining it with a trip to Lynton and Lynmouth to
visit the craft shops – and of course ride the cliff railway – we walked
the shortest version: straight along the river to Watersmeet and back, crossing the river from time to time. Naturally we had to try some
of the cakes and scones at Watersmeet House before setting off back towards
Lynmouth.<br />
<br />
Do you detect a cake theme emerging here? No photos of any of the cakes, sorry - they all got eaten too fast for that.Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-50053327157911680892015-06-11T12:40:00.000+01:002015-06-11T12:40:37.165+01:00How about a wildlife safari on Exmoor?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A popular day (or half a day) out for our
guests is to book an Exmoor safari.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We are lucky enough to have not one but two safari
companies based in our village:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <a href="http://www.exmoorwildlifesafaris.com/" target="_blank"> </a></span><a href="http://www.exmoorwildlifesafaris.com/" target="_blank">BarleValley Safaris </a>and <a href="http://www.redstagsafari.co.uk/" target="_blank">Red Stag Safari</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">They are both run by local people who
really know the moor and can take you to places off the beaten track, where you have the best chance
of viewing animal, bird<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and plant life. It is always best to book your safari as far in advance as possible, to be sure that your preferred time and date are available.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you have booked a house party at Exmoor House, you could arrange an exclusive safari just for your group; there are various options for this.</span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3y1FQICODxz9g-JwV5cLKd1h58L72bczl9JCOSHjAxt6rKcPp4RBM7gZxOZ1XaQ3_552eY0ynam_gsbFpX1d1i6hvf-LJ665BCcPEG7mctUKvozAEmYlB_91piit24vVVJMKnjni7sE/s1600/1908136_10153312167991113_911260518028650596_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3y1FQICODxz9g-JwV5cLKd1h58L72bczl9JCOSHjAxt6rKcPp4RBM7gZxOZ1XaQ3_552eY0ynam_gsbFpX1d1i6hvf-LJ665BCcPEG7mctUKvozAEmYlB_91piit24vVVJMKnjni7sE/s320/1908136_10153312167991113_911260518028650596_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red deer hinds - photo by Liz Mitchell</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You might be lucky enough to see herds of red deer. At this time of year the hinds may have their young with them. In autumn the stags have fully-grown antlers, ready for the rut.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKY5HQALshfi0P_z8qXYpiYqEBFWuaIdffEmzba6IkiS2aOfgDZnIVUWLahLdjq6W2Mn5q3K23KxYegLLwa4eJjzfxBrv40-L9gJweQltfmos6ufBwXHf-fQEsdNKJW1dred6fya_Y5Yk/s1600/Ponies+on+Dunkery+Jan+10+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKY5HQALshfi0P_z8qXYpiYqEBFWuaIdffEmzba6IkiS2aOfgDZnIVUWLahLdjq6W2Mn5q3K23KxYegLLwa4eJjzfxBrv40-L9gJweQltfmos6ufBwXHf-fQEsdNKJW1dred6fya_Y5Yk/s1600/Ponies+on+Dunkery+Jan+10+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exmoor ponies wearing their winter coats</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Exmoor ponies roam free on the moor and are a beautiful sight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Deer and ponies are just a couple of well-known examples of the wildlife you could encounter on Exmoor... see our <a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/exmoornaturecalendar.htm" target="_blank">nature calendar</a> for more.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fancy a break in Exmoor National Park? Do get in touch. You can book with us by phone or via our website.</span><br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-27222248968166660932015-04-09T18:37:00.001+01:002015-04-09T18:39:33.567+01:00Exmoor House in the media...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">‘Cosy, welcoming guesthouse
in Exmoor’s highest village, with excellent food’ is how </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">BBC <b>Countryfile Magazine</b> describes Exmoor House</span>. The article, recently added to the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.countryfile.com/days-out/coleridge-way-exmoor" target="_blank">Countryfile website</a>, </span>is about walking the very scenic Coleridge Way section between Wheddon Cross and
Porlock.<br /></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Exmoor House also features as </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Paul’s Top
Pick</b> of places to stay in the</span> online travel guide <a href="http://www.greentraveller.co.uk/greatescapes" target="_blank">Somerset & Exmoor Great Escapes</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(you'll also find us in the 'Unique Places' and 'Walking' sections). </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">P</span></span>roduced by greentraveller with
Visit Somerset and Exmoor National Park, the guide is packed full of ideas for all sorts of things to
experience in our wonderful county, with something for everyone. The accompanying booklet and video - both of which you can view from the Great Escapes web page - will give you even more ideas and inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the new edition of Hilary Bradt’s book <b>'Slow Travel in North Devon &
Exmoor'</b> is a lovely review of our food. Here’s an extract: "The meals are
the essence of home cooking, with a small menu carefully created with truly
local ingredients, and good vegetarian options". </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hilary says of the book: "No other guidebook to
the region goes into anything like this level of detail and I think I have
achieved my aim of inspiring even local people to say 'I didn’t know that!'." Find more details at <a href="http://www.bradtguides.com/north-devon-exmoor-slow-travel-pb.html" target="_blank">Bradt Guides.</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Feeling inspired to visit Exmoor? Escape to Exmoor House Wheddon Cross! </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><br />
<br />Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-84869843217368246792015-03-25T15:37:00.000+00:002015-03-25T15:37:07.914+00:00Exmoor National Park Partnership<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You probably know that we’ve always tried to be as green as we can, and we
are really proud of the fact that Exmoor House is in the middle of the National
Park. </span><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3dQCeaY0MVqVZc9cyQmJtQeISr_Mgitsy1bPk18oCwZ8p980D5J3DP_pTzhwoXd6R-ajGXkCPzoMqtUBDpAkUTp2eBHj0A9TA0HUuwO4E05KuJ-QB97pFXTObMaPFaR8RBm94CdMjb0/s1600/Park+Partner+logo+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3dQCeaY0MVqVZc9cyQmJtQeISr_Mgitsy1bPk18oCwZ8p980D5J3DP_pTzhwoXd6R-ajGXkCPzoMqtUBDpAkUTp2eBHj0A9TA0HUuwO4E05KuJ-QB97pFXTObMaPFaR8RBm94CdMjb0/s1600/Park+Partner+logo+small.jpg" height="92" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When Dan James (the Exmoor Sustainable Economy
Officer) asked for businesses to be part of a pilot group to help develop a
scheme which would recognise those who work to help keep the area special, and who
act as ambassadors for Exmoor, we jumped at the opportunity. <br />
<br />
After several meetings, much research by Dan, and pilot group members trying out various application formats to see what would work
best for all the different types of organisations that might want to join, the new
scheme is now up and running. Exmoor House was among the five first businesses
to gain an Exmoor National Park Partner certificate, showing that we comply
with all the criteria. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is a link to all the details: <a href="http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/communities/national-park-partners" target="_blank">Park Partners</a></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The video makes an interesting watch and, for businesses thinking about applying, sets out some of the benefits of joining. </span></span>Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-85808237121008762015-03-12T15:16:00.001+00:002015-03-12T15:16:48.032+00:00Exmoor Walking Festival 2015<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM6fJJxH4WdOqbbvY3TzcgKCt8uGFuWmlYYLK5D5I_YYlXUyLCcInuLipuo6JtDCVfOQ6OgIhrIrKPGaNl1_BDongiIj3tOxZLQxtSrrgwWkW-PjONAsimY2rqg5RLNcZyyACfq-tW_k/s1600/The+Incline+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM6fJJxH4WdOqbbvY3TzcgKCt8uGFuWmlYYLK5D5I_YYlXUyLCcInuLipuo6JtDCVfOQ6OgIhrIrKPGaNl1_BDongiIj3tOxZLQxtSrrgwWkW-PjONAsimY2rqg5RLNcZyyACfq-tW_k/s1600/The+Incline+2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Incline, Old Mineral Line</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">In 2015 the Exmoor Walking Festival will run
(or should that be walk?) from Saturday 2<sup>nd</sup> to Saturday 9<sup>th</sup>
May. The popular format of the past few years is continuing: the initial
walks take place on the Devon side of Exmoor and the later ones on the
Somerset side. There are no walks on the Thursday, so if you’re visiting the
area for the festival, this could be a rest day or a chance to do a self-guided
walk.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As usual there is a great range of walks.
Some are themed around Exmoor wildlife: searching <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcIqk9bNFNobQ9fmFQah2XBWEzSGkPTa9U3BPS0pJFOZQwDikS-eADS21Cu71oWE-urJ4gkErSVaFnDWL3TihU5kWmn0xTZlLWHSC4xKQAPBtv9UDqUwPr8dG8MrXu8uym2WQK8aAH74/s1600/on+the+beach+near+Blue+Anchor.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqcIqk9bNFNobQ9fmFQah2XBWEzSGkPTa9U3BPS0pJFOZQwDikS-eADS21Cu71oWE-urJ4gkErSVaFnDWL3TihU5kWmn0xTZlLWHSC4xKQAPBtv9UDqUwPr8dG8MrXu8uym2WQK8aAH74/s1600/on+the+beach+near+Blue+Anchor.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach near Blue Anchor</td></tr>
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for red deer, listening for
birdsong, discovering rare lichens. You can also walk alongside the West
Somerset <a href="http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/" target="_blank">steam railway </a>(and one itinerary starts with a rail trip from Dunster
to Washford). There is the opportunity to learn about the area’s history, with
walks that take in, for example, part of the old Mineral Line, or places linked
to the work of the Knight family. Also you could visit Lundy Island; join a
literary discussion with the Walking Book Club; learn some more about
orienteering…<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For more information and to book places,
visit the website at <a href="http://www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk/">www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk</a>
or call </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">01271 883131.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Want a lovely place to stay while you’re
here for the Walking Festival? Book a dinner bed and breakfast break (with
picnic lunches too if you like) at Exmoor House. We are in a great location in the heart of the National Park and we have very good
facilities for walkers: <a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/">www.exmoorhotel.co.uk</a></span><br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-66126361577372175362015-01-30T12:38:00.000+00:002015-01-30T12:38:34.817+00:00Snowdrop Valley 2015: another update<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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In my last blog post you will have seen the dates for this year’s park and
ride buses between Wheddon Cross and Snowdrop Valley, along with some other
information.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwJ40R3ndo3KqDUdnqzGXWFEGjpAdYVWG4KhrHbkRKnP3yro8tLINKbP4hMuMa_C361TpdBWATpfqEQkP-vAFr6p7WQ5OycJ80ags6leevVbogp7Q2C0kPz2bNhFmglYNbV1SVoRx0pE/s1600/Train+arr+Stogumber.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwJ40R3ndo3KqDUdnqzGXWFEGjpAdYVWG4KhrHbkRKnP3yro8tLINKbP4hMuMa_C361TpdBWATpfqEQkP-vAFr6p7WQ5OycJ80ags6leevVbogp7Q2C0kPz2bNhFmglYNbV1SVoRx0pE/s1600/Train+arr+Stogumber.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steam train on the West Somerset Railway</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There is more to tell! West Somerset Railway are again running their popular
Snowdrops and Steam excursion (on various dates between 14<sup>th</sup> and 22<sup>nd</sup>
February). You travel by train from Bishop’s Lydeard to Williton, where there
will be a coach to take you to Wheddon Cross (with some lovely Exmoor scenery
on the way).<br />
<br />
Once you get here, you can choose whether to take the bus or walk to the
valley; then after your visit the coach will collect you for the trip back to
Williton to join the train once more. For further details, including the day’s
timetable and how to book, visit the <a href="http://westsomersetrailway.vticket.co.uk/product.php/33/snowdrops-steam" target="_blank">West Somerset Railway</a> website. <br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<br />
And while you are at Wheddon Cross, do pop into our pop-up tearoom for
lunch, or maybe just tea and cake…<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
Are you driving to our village for your Snowdrop Valley visit? Then you need
to be aware that the road through Dunster is closed, so if coming from the
Minehead or Bridgwater directions you will need to follow the diversion signs.<br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-25934712264355204802015-01-22T15:59:00.001+00:002015-01-22T15:59:32.204+00:00Snowdrop Valley on Exmoor in February 2015: update<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">This year the arrangements for Exmoor’s
Snowdrop Valley are a little different. Here’s what you need to know.</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCQHiSR6n1XNHdp8vTjVONxX3xKrwAVJaYK-Xy-Tkbsu12Uz6KA-7dYRdheZ13t9za-f4UrKwNz0-u8wSqpcOSxdFyoaGJlxTiN2oGTk1xY3-rxnBUIx-1MxNYu44lbEoEHDQLehvDqM/s1600/SV+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCQHiSR6n1XNHdp8vTjVONxX3xKrwAVJaYK-Xy-Tkbsu12Uz6KA-7dYRdheZ13t9za-f4UrKwNz0-u8wSqpcOSxdFyoaGJlxTiN2oGTk1xY3-rxnBUIx-1MxNYu44lbEoEHDQLehvDqM/s1600/SV+9.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowdrop Valley, Exmoor, Somerset</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />As usual the little road that leads to the
valley will be closed to traffic for the snowdrops season. In 2015 the road closes from Saturday 31<sup>st</sup> January to Sunday 1<sup>st</sup> March
inclusive. <br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The park and ride buses from Wheddon Cross
to Snowdrop Valley will be running from 7<sup>th</sup> – 22<sup>nd</sup>
February. The buses are accessible for people with limited mobility (and if you have a mobility issue and are
unable to visit while the buses are running, please see the Wheddon Cross
village website - link below - where you'll find details of what to do).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />From 31<sup>st</sup> January to 6th February
and from 23<sup>rd</sup> February until 1<sup>st</sup> March, walkers will be
able to get to the valley but there is no access by car and no buses will be
running. <br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">You can walk down and back up again the same
way, using the footpath that starts near the Exmoor Farmers Market at Wheddon
Cross (where there is also a car park); alternatively you could make it a
longer circular walk by taking other local paths. Whichever way you go, it is
very steep in places (Exmoor’s hills are part of its charm) and it is likely to
be muddy, so do remember your walking boots or wellies.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br />The Snowdrop Information Point, in the
village car park next to the pub, will be staffed during each day while the
park and ride is running and also on the weekends of 31<sup>st</sup> January
and 28<sup>th</sup> February. As well as getting help and advice there, you can
also buy various souvenirs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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walk routes, as well as details about places to eat and stay near Snowdrop
Valley (including our place) visit the Wheddon Cross website: </span> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm">http://www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm</a></span><br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-67390608222735291492015-01-08T16:32:00.000+00:002015-01-08T16:32:53.880+00:00Exmoor House cereal bars recipe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
We often get asked for the recipe for our cereal / granola bars, which are
very popular (particularly as part of a picnic lunch as they are excellent for
an energy boost if you are out walking or cycling on Exmoor). They were originally
inspired by one of Ina Garten’s recipes, but the mix has kept on evolving: this
is the latest version.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span><br />
<b>Put these ingredients into a pan and heat gently until the butter has
melted:</b><br />
Butter 250g <br />
Honey 150g <br />
Malt extract or soft brown sugar 50g <br />
Orange or apple juice 200ml <br />
Dried apricots finely chopped (or any other dried fruit) 350g <br />
<br />
<b>Then mix with the following ingredients: <br />
</b>Self-raising flour 150g <br />
Rolled oats or porridge oats 300g <br />
Wheatgerm 100g <br />
Ground almonds 75g <br />
Dried coconut 100g<br />
<br />Put the mixture into a deep baking tray / traybake tray, greased and lined
with baking parchment, size 12 x 9 inches, and bake at 180°c for 25 minutes
approx, until lightly browned on top. Cut into bars or squares when cold.<br /><br />
<b>Enjoy!<br /></b><br />
If you’d like to try them but would rather Frank made them for you, then
you’ll just have to come and stay with us at Exmoor House, or visit our Snowdrop Valley tearoom
in February.<br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-75281891095223233082014-08-30T14:12:00.002+01:002014-08-30T14:12:53.045+01:00Gluten free and dairy free lemon cake recipe<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The other day Chef Frank was out and we had
guests checking in who don’t eat wheat or dairy (you might already know that at
Exmoor House we specialise in catering for special dietary requirements). So I
adapted a recipe from the back of a packet of Dove’s Farm gluten &
wheat-free white self-raising flour blend, in order to offer our guests
something to eat with a cup of tea when they arrived. As an aside:
interestingly, many ‘free from’ recipes are either wheat free / gluten free or
dairy free, but not both. <br />
<br />
Here’s what I did.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ingredients:<br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;">125g gluten/wheat-free self raising
flour<br />
100g dairy-free margarine (we like the PURE sunflower one)<br />
125g caster sugar (granulated also works fine)<br />
2 eggs<br />
zest and juice of 1 lemon<br />
1 tbsp poppy seeds<br />
for the topping: juice of half a lemon; icing sugar<br />
<br />
<b>Method:<br />
</b>Put all the ingredients (except those for the topping) into a large bowl
and beat or whisk really well. Pour into an oiled/greased and lined 500g loaf
tin. <br />
Bake at 170-190°C (according to your oven) for 45 minutes, or until the cake is
springy to the touch and a skewer comes out clean. Leave the cake in the tin,
on a cooling rack.<br />
Now for the topping. Add some icing sugar, bit by bit, to the juice of half a
lemon, mixing all the time, until you get a light syrupy consistency and it
tastes sweetish but still nice and lemony. Make lots of little holes in the top
of the cake with a cocktail stick and pour the syrup over it; leave the cake to
cool completely before turning it out of the tin.<br />
<br />
Of course, for quality control purposes I had to try a piece, and then had to
resist the temptation to scoff the lot…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Read more about the <a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/food.htm" target="_blank">food at Exmoor House</a> </span><br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-67730214671082757892014-07-25T16:38:00.000+01:002014-07-25T16:47:48.229+01:00Music and ponies - two festivals coming soon to Exmoor<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Minehead & Exmoor Music Festival, Sunday
27 July – Saturday 2<sup> </sup>August</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The 51<sup>st</sup> Minehead Music Festival
includes (as ever) a good range of orchestral and chamber concerts. The
programmes feature not only internationally-known soloists but up and coming
stars including local young people. You can book tickets for all the concerts from the Regal Theatre Minehead. Here are the details:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.mineheadmusicfestival.org/programme/" target="_blank">http://www.mineheadmusicfestival.org/programme/</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" target="_blank"> </a></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Exmoor Pony Festival, Saturday 9 – Sunday 17
August</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">There’s something different happening every
day of this year’s Exmoor Pony Festival: for example rided, walks, special open
days, safaris and pony shows. It’s a must for anybody who’d like to see these
famous little horses in their native area – Exmoor’s wild moorland. Find all the information here:</span><br />
<a href="https://exmoorponyfestival.wordpress.com/whats-on/" target="_blank">https://exmoorponyfestival.wordpress.com/whats-on/</a>Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-2007131229076820742014-07-02T14:51:00.000+01:002014-07-02T14:51:31.181+01:00Lunches and meetings at Exmoor House Wheddon Cross<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do you like the sound of a private lunch
with friends or family, made especially for you? Do you need a local Exmoor
venue for a small meeting, with catering? You could reserve exclusive use of
the lovely dining room (or the comfy guest sitting room) at Exmoor House for
your group.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Prices would depend on what you would like
to eat and drink. We’ll cater for a minimum of four <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ziO6cZ03lo/U7QNSwt2V0I/AAAAAAAAALA/OW_UFEoPRC0/s1600/dining+room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ziO6cZ03lo/U7QNSwt2V0I/AAAAAAAAALA/OW_UFEoPRC0/s1600/dining+room.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining room at Exmoor House</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
people and a maximum of
about twelve and we will design a menu around your requirements. Tailor-made
food: quite appropriate, since Exmoor House was originally a tailor’s shop.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We take pride in our food, all properly
home-made using good local ingredients. There’s more information here:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/food.htm">http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/food.htm</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">and here:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/specialevents.htm">http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/specialevents.htm</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">And of course if you'd like to discuss your ideas, or come and have a look around, do get in touch. </span><br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-34982700161627277462014-06-03T17:44:00.001+01:002014-06-03T17:45:38.400+01:00On the Levels: visiting Somerset’s lowlands<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHzPdwWRDcn9iTgb-pUxJrTDbSUHMyW8ueLYRZEeDkTnwmq4ArpjqUE_svE_gF46Y31yQa5OodIzgTaImAFeyXoD08fBYHYdd3N4FWKeIxrlwcGx4wS-IhZo2I_MB-rAXxNHqYsNm_Uc/s1600/Dunkery+from+Harepath+12+Oct+01+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHzPdwWRDcn9iTgb-pUxJrTDbSUHMyW8ueLYRZEeDkTnwmq4ArpjqUE_svE_gF46Y31yQa5OodIzgTaImAFeyXoD08fBYHYdd3N4FWKeIxrlwcGx4wS-IhZo2I_MB-rAXxNHqYsNm_Uc/s1600/Dunkery+from+Harepath+12+Oct+01+1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dunkery Hill, near Exmoor House Wheddon Cross</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Somerset is – to use a very hackneyed phrase
– a county of contrasts. Our guest house on Exmoor is more or less in the
middle of the National Park and surrounded by rolling hills and moorland.
Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor’s highest point, makes a great walk from here. The coast
is less than ten miles away; to get there you go through farmland, ancient
woods and very pretty country villages (more contrasts). Wheddon Cross, our village, is
Exmoor’s highest – so we’re definitely in the highlands of Somerset.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If Wheddon Cross is part of the highlands
then the Somerset Levels, about an hour’s drive from Exmoor House, are the
lowlands. They have been in the news lately, although (sadly) for all the wrong
reasons.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">We decided it was about time we paid another
visit, heading first to Martock. This small town is full of honey-coloured
hamstone houses and is home to <a href="http://www.yandles.co.uk/" target="_blank">Yandles</a>, an excellent place to buy wood and
woodworking supplies. At Yandles you will also find a huge range of crafting
books and materials, a very good craft centre and a nice coffee shop / tea
room.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeTw2qLSwqIO4eGGLJT09QA0LHWRbuI-AmDTVee6-Lvb72ngDMxC40jckO9Y4W1b2DrhvcxaI1s3Nu26M_ADEqP7tYGWcXWHPJIg2Avt4NaIp_ZvVP9a_zqPaLHM4U5ylFwQ-DEmfuMk/s1600/Muchelney+Abbey+13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpeTw2qLSwqIO4eGGLJT09QA0LHWRbuI-AmDTVee6-Lvb72ngDMxC40jckO9Y4W1b2DrhvcxaI1s3Nu26M_ADEqP7tYGWcXWHPJIg2Avt4NaIp_ZvVP9a_zqPaLHM4U5ylFwQ-DEmfuMk/s1600/Muchelney+Abbey+13.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muchelney Abbey on the Somerset Levels</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Then on to Muchelney to visit the Abbey (a
very atmospheric English Heritage property).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The nearby Priest’s House, owned by the National Trust, is also well
worth a look but opening days are limited so do check before you go.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Muchelney
means ‘great island'; it unfortunately became an island again for a while
earlier this year. In the church we found a truly heartwarming display of cards
and letters from people and organisations all over the country, offering
practical and moral support to all the people who were affected by the floods.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On the village outskirts is John Leach’s
<a href="http://www.johnleachpottery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Muchelney Pottery</a>, with a showroom full of John’s unique pottery in lovely
earthy colours (some of his work is on display at the Abbey too). The adjoining
gallery features exhibitions by local and international artists and
craftspeople.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">That
was just a taste of part of this very interesting area in Somerset, which is well and truly
open for business again. You could easily explore the Levels during your stay
at Exmoor House, or maybe visit on the way here or on the way home. </span>Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-57382252116248572652014-05-27T12:22:00.001+01:002014-05-27T12:27:45.534+01:00The Coleridge Way: a walk through Exmoor in Somerset and North Devon<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuErNl-EdMPq0UB7JyrZQ0nxcjZxlf9tKFD4ASA6D9n7NSeM9DLBde6rgm06mpNNLcYeEQcTMaPYJpQ4dR6Xvw0sik2t5Gtua73OeUv6_eIQ8eAp5gpDB5YzlAj_BDadBM6IRqJVBB8zQ/s1600/River+at+Lynmouth+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuErNl-EdMPq0UB7JyrZQ0nxcjZxlf9tKFD4ASA6D9n7NSeM9DLBde6rgm06mpNNLcYeEQcTMaPYJpQ4dR6Xvw0sik2t5Gtua73OeUv6_eIQ8eAp5gpDB5YzlAj_BDadBM6IRqJVBB8zQ/s1600/River+at+Lynmouth+2.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The river at Lynmouth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black;">Exmoor’s
wonderful scenery has inspired many artists and poets, prominent among them
Samuel Taylor Coleridge. In recognition of this, the Coleridge Way walk,
starting at Nether Stowey in the Quantocks (where the poet lived for some time)
opened in 2005, attracting many walkers to discover the area. Previously a 36
mile walk, entirely in Somerset and finishing at Porlock, it now continues to
Lynmouth, taking in some of the North Devon part of Exmoor too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black;">The new
section of the walk was launched on 21<sup>st</sup> May, and I joined other
people from the tourism industry, local communities and organisations including
Exmoor National Park and local councils, to walk part of the route. The weather
was absolutely perfect, with the waters of the Bristol channel looking as blue
as I’ve ever seen them, and spring flowers blossoming along the route.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black;">Starting
at Broom Street, near Culbone, we walked down past Oare, taking a short detour
to join more people at the Lorna Doone Inn, Malmsmead (more literary
associations!) for a cream tea. There we met some very special guests: members
of the Coleridge family, including the poet’s great-great-great granddaughter,
who cut the ribbon to officially open the path.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black;">The route
notes now include the new section and they have been rewritten to make it easy
to follow the walk<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj-Wy3V5-pEvYnBCD73shULpweGiYV0LAfRcmyrP0wJ01R2lC0_9i7tTg1dgh_k8LTo0dvKxNvFNC7ascvZiwto2ZCjlw3zwWtBXk2xpIuj8tYOsVh58ac2zqlMPpkMZ5Na71pxOYzGs/s1600/Cutcombe+church+from+Coleridge+Way+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj-Wy3V5-pEvYnBCD73shULpweGiYV0LAfRcmyrP0wJ01R2lC0_9i7tTg1dgh_k8LTo0dvKxNvFNC7ascvZiwto2ZCjlw3zwWtBXk2xpIuj8tYOsVh58ac2zqlMPpkMZ5Na71pxOYzGs/s1600/Cutcombe+church+from+Coleridge+Way+1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glimpse of Cutcombe Church from the Coleridge Way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
in either direction, starting at any point along the way.
View and download all the details (with or without maps) from the <a href="http://www.coleridgeway.co.uk/the-route/the-route-guide" target="_blank">Coleridge Way website</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: black;">The
Coleridge Way passes through our village, Wheddon Cross & Cutcombe, making
<a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/coleridgeway.htm" target="_blank">Exmoor House</a> an ideal place to stay whether you are walking all or part of the
route.</span></div>
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-89784214352382209262014-05-15T15:00:00.002+01:002014-05-15T15:00:38.117+01:00Exmoor events: Simonsbath Festival<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">‘When the world comes to Simonsbath in the
heart of Exmoor’</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The third Simonsbath Festival started on 5<sup>th</sup>
May and continues until 20<sup>th</sup> June. Taken place already (to give you
some examples): the quintet Westcombe Brass in concert with children from local
schools; the film premiere of <i>How Many People see the Stars as I do?</i>
about remarkable Exmoor writer and artist Hope Bourne; a talk by Lord Douglas
Hurd.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Still to come (to mention but a few): gypsy
swing & jazz; traditional songs and stories about Exmoor; a Latin American
evening; drumming and poetry workshops; talks by local authors; guided walks by
the Exmoor Society.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Take a look at <a href="http://www.simonsbathfestival.co.uk/" target="_blank">Simonsbath Festival </a>for more information - and if you want a lovely place to stay during your
visit, check out <a href="http://www.exmoorhotel.co.uk/" target="_blank">Exmoor House</a>.
</span><br />
Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4258304236081540333.post-44146686081477254742014-03-28T15:22:00.000+00:002014-03-31T10:34:59.256+01:00Exmoor and Somerset are always open for business<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There has been much media coverage of the
very unfortunate flooding on the Somerset Levels, and you might be forgiven for
thinking that the whole county was under water. This, of course, is not the
case.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without
wishing to make light of the very real problems and hardships faced by people
who did get flooded out, the Levels form a small proportion of the county of
Somerset, and only part of the Levels has suffered from floods (which is
something to be thankful for). It has been heartwarming to see how local
communities, and the farming community nationwide, pulled together to help.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The latest initiative is headed up by the
<b>Porlock Visitor Centre</b> and <b>FLAG</b> (Flooding on the <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDihIJFgJ4sHiV_yOmQDC5RZvUzT0L7qk-137AJ8deWU4erj4FKdXWoUIV0vuarH9hvwX2vX3wBVs4_-T0HeC1XqHkXJDj5QmGgISpG7O0AhyLtYzPfEFyl4BEfmtJFQf3keZ68GbqE8/s1600/Porlock+Visitor+Centre+sml.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLDihIJFgJ4sHiV_yOmQDC5RZvUzT0L7qk-137AJ8deWU4erj4FKdXWoUIV0vuarH9hvwX2vX3wBVs4_-T0HeC1XqHkXJDj5QmGgISpG7O0AhyLtYzPfEFyl4BEfmtJFQf3keZ68GbqE8/s1600/Porlock+Visitor+Centre+sml.jpg" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Porlock Visitor Centre. Photo by Maureen Harvey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Levels Action Group). Fifty or
so tourism businesses on Exmoor – including us at <b>Exmoor House</b> - have got
together to offer free two-night breaks (and other goodies such as visits to
attractions) to some of the people directly affected by the floods. You can
hear more on <br /><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01tmwqy" target="_blank">Emma Britton’s BBC Somerset show </a>of 26<sup>th</sup> March (5 more
days from today to listen to it) and watch out for other media reports.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Meanwhile, the other 97% of Somerset
remained open for business throughout all the extreme weather. With motorways
and other main road networks unaffected, visitors have been able to travel to
and around the area as normal. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">But where were the visitors? Normally,
Snowdrop Valley, here at Wheddon Cross, is buzzing in February. This year, only
a fraction of the people we might expect came to see the snowdrops – which were
looking wonderful - very disheartening for the many people in the village who
work hard to make the event a success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-nWomYOpPf2iGsx4nROIJebKu-6EIL_DENTuLOM1I2jzrTz5hjOws7Nn52C37VEPZSMYktlZm0Su7EiJr7OPklxCfqAkJTd4m_wphddUvIw3m5UrAPOh1-iadcwzbcrvPQnod7-cSh8/s1600/open-for-business.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-nWomYOpPf2iGsx4nROIJebKu-6EIL_DENTuLOM1I2jzrTz5hjOws7Nn52C37VEPZSMYktlZm0Su7EiJr7OPklxCfqAkJTd4m_wphddUvIw3m5UrAPOh1-iadcwzbcrvPQnod7-cSh8/s1600/open-for-business.jpeg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Businesses throughout Somerset and the South
West have been spreading the word via social media that it’s business as usuaI.
If you take a look at the <b>@SouthWestUK</b> twitter stream or search for the hashtag
<b>#openforbusiness</b> then you’ll see what I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On the plus side, from a tourism point of
view, the whole sad affair has at least let people know that Somerset exists –
too often the county is unjustly ignored in favour of Devon and Cornwall.
Believe me when I say that Somerset has an incredible amount to offer, and that
Exmoor is always a wonderful place to visit – come and see for yourself! </span><br />
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Rosi Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02381761209934484845noreply@blogger.com0