Happy Christmas!

Exmoor is being moody and magnificent. Wonderful skies that change from wide open blue to heavy mauve, dramatic landscapes full of colour and crisp snow. The dogs just love it – chasing one another, rolling and pulling themselves along on their tummies to get the full benefit of a quick wash! We went up to Aldermans Barrow and the Enclosure to take some photos of the deer but unfortunately they were always just a little bit too far in front of us to get any really good shots.

I think we are almost ready for Christmas. I tend to be one of these people who won’t really know until afterwards when I realise that all the presents were bought and all the trimmings for the turkey were remembered! We have my mum and my sister Julie and her family coming for Christmas Day and then seeing an assortment of friends and family (weather permitting) over the Christmas holiday.

So from a beautiful Exmoor, we hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a peaceful, happy and healthy 2010.
Best wishes
Beccy and Derek

Its getting colder!

This morning it was lovely to look out over the gardens to the moors beyond when it first became light. It was a really hard frost followed by brilliant sunshine and I could pick out the shapes of deer grazing their way along the slopes of Robin Howe. Apart from the bird song and the clopping of horses’ hooves as it was being exercised, there wasn’t a sound to be heard – it was so still and quiet.

Later on we took the dogs up past Cloutsham to get some holly and they just love it being so cold and dry, running for miles. Derek did his ‘me Tarzan’ bit and climbed the tree while I did the pathetic Jane bit and got stuck! When some semblance of order was restored we walked on and there was a herd of about 30 deer on the opposite valley slopes all congregating around a wallow. We came across a small herd of Exmoor ponies whose coats are fantastically thick now – like big balls of fluff!

Now the weather has got colder we are so glad of all the wood collecting we did earlier in the year. When our B&B guests arrive we always invite them to have a cup of tea and some homemade cake in front of the woodburner. The sitting room is a lovely traditional room and has fantastic views looking right across to the moors. We can see our guests start to relax and be at home as soon as they smell the lovely wood smoke and feel cosy in front of the fire.

I am trying to get organised for Christmas but as this is the time of year when we catch up with many of our friends and family, it is proving a tad difficult. We went to Feniton on Sunday to see my dearest and oldest friend and her husband. I have known Aly for 38 years and although we don’t see as much of each other as we would like, we just carry on where we left off. My throat is just beginning to recover! They do so many different things – they have bought a wood and now a cottage in France that they are doing up – not your usual run of the mill hobbies and far more interesting than some.

Christmas shopping

Last weekend up here on Exmoor we were full up with bed and breakfast guests, family and friends – hectic but good fun. Most guests stayed to enjoy Dunster by Candlelight and everyone had a lovely time – all the shops were beautifully decorated and full of novel ideas for Christmas presents.

Exmoor is an ideal place to do any form of gift shopping. There are no crowds, easy parking and most of the shops are privately owned and have a wide range of different goods to choose from at very reasonable prices. Each year, I buy all of our presents from shops in Porlock, Dunster, Minehead and Wiviliscombe.

Paul, our neighbour down the road sells Christmas trees and we are off to choose ours today. I am leaving Derek in charge to put them up and decorate them this year (not sure whether this is such a good idea as he hasn’t quite cottoned on to the idea of ‘less is more’)!

I’ve managed to get out and have a couple of really good walks lately with the dogs. We went up to Dunkery Hill Gate and walked down through the woods towards Snowdrop Valley. Walking along, I had distinct impression that I was being watched and looked up to see a lovely herd of 6 red deer hinds and a stag quietly looking down on me. Three woodcock flew up along with lots of pheasants and several rabbits ran out from the gorse bushes in front of us. Soda was going mad chasing sticks while the spaniels did their own thing involving a lot of water and mud! Down in the valley, the herd of single suckler cows carried on eating as we walked past, more intent on their silage than what we were up to. All in all it was a very peaceful but busy walk!

A very talented young man!!

Wootton Courtenay has an exceptional number of interesting and versatile people within its community including a young and very talented musician called Alex. Last night Alex held a concert at St Swithins church where, accompanied by Marcus, he played a range of beautiful classical pieces on the flute and saxophone. Later, to showcase his wide range of musical prowess, Alex sang a well known ballad plus some Frank Sinatra. Not bad for a 20 year old!

The audience loved it and it was great to hear such a variety of musical scores in the church. After the encore, Alex invited the audience to sing along – (I have to say that the overall quality and standard of vocal harmony steadily declined as I opened my mouth and sang)!

Despite the wet weather, we have been taking the dogs out on some lovely walks. A waterproof jacket and leggings makes any walking weather possible to enjoy. Yesterday Derek and Lucy loaded the horses up and took them over to Webbers Post and the dogs and I hitched a lift with them. We walked home via the Horner Woods and the bottom carriage track to Wootton Courtenay. Along this route there are some grassy areas and a herd of Exmoor ponies were busy having a good old feed

Getting ready for Christmas

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I last put finger to keyboard to write on the blog. We have been so busy catching up with lots of jobs, having a couple of days away on the Isle of Wight and although it’s November, we still have guests staying with us for bed and breakfast and to enjoy Exmoor. At the moment we have Jo and Jackie staying who have been for exhilarating walks along the coast at Porlock, horse riding with David at Hunstcott Stables plus seeing allsorts of wildlife on an Exmoor safari.

Even at this time of year Exmoor retains a special magic – the wonderful light, quietness and wildlife. Despite the blustery winds, lots of trees have retained their autumn colour and the woods at Horner and Webbers Post are beautiful. Even though most of berries have been devoured by the fieldfare and blackbirds, there are still some beautiful holly trees fully laden (fingers crossed they are still here at Christmas)!We took the dogs up to Dunkery Hill Gate in the late afternoon which is my favourite time of day. In the dusk, several deer ran across our path and onto the moor beyond. 4 woodcock flew up, several pheasants were on their way to roost and there were loads of rabbits darting in and out of the gorse. On the way home the road drops down towards Webbers Post and view towards Horner Wood and Porlock is spectacular. Below us Cloutsham Farm was the only light in the valley and the only sound to be heard was a fox barking.

The run up to Christmas is always busy on Exmoor. In Porlock next week there is a 2 day Christmas Fair with stalls and exhibitions. The first weekend in December is Dunster by Candlelight and people come from all over the country to enjoy the evening. Shops stay open until the late evening, there are street entertainers, people dress up in medieval costumes and the whole town is full of a festive atmosphere On the 13th it is Dulverton by Starlight and the 15th and 16th is Porlock late night shopping. All these events provide ideal opportunities to buy Christmas presents.

A very active week!

The fantastic weather has prolonged the lovely autumn colours in our garden and across the moor.

We have just had a very busy week with bed and breakfast guests – half term combined with great weather and various activities on Exmoor. From ghost walks at Dunster Castle, master puppeteers at Tropicana and the famous Exmoor Beast cycle event across the moor.

Over 1700 people took part in the Exmoor Beast to cycle either 60 or 100 miles. The weather changed that night and we got up to gales and lashing rain. At 5.00 in the morning and peering out to such conditions would make most people go straight back to bed but not these hardened sportsmen! Not a lot of conversation was flowing (including from me) but 7 men, single focused (if a little doubtful), set off at 6.00 for the ride they wouldn’t forget. Ian's wife Heather, got up to take him to the start of the race (true dedication) but then very wisely returned home for a leisurely breakfast leaving Ian to it!

Making up our cycling guests were Tom and 2 friends from London, Al and his son from Dorset (never done an event like this - a baptism of fire methinks), Ian and Andy. Andy stayed with his family and he owns a cycling dynamics company which offers a specified range of bike fitting and analysis services plus a specified range of bikes to get maximum power, speed, efficiency and comfort – website is certainly worth a look We also had Phil staying who owns a photographic company specialising in bike, marathon and triathlon events and his photos of the riders in action are amazing. He was taking photos for a feature for Cycling Weekly and for his website.

Apparently it was one of the toughest rides ever with gusts of wind up to 70mph on Dunkery - Andy got blown off his bike twice! There were quite a few slips and collisions involving cattle grids, punctures 20 minutes into the race but it must have been a great sense of achievement for everyone who took part.

More and more activities are taking place on Exmoor and its great to see the area become such a focus for so many different events – cycling, Ironman, Wooden Spoon, running competitions, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales Trust and many more many of which raise a lot of money for charity.

Busy times!

We have had a very busy couple of weeks at our B and B. Last weekend we had a party of 14 walkers staying for 3 nights for bed, breakfast and evening meal. The weather was lovely and they were able to walk about 14 miles a day and really enjoy the moor under the guidance of Richard who has spent many walking holidays on Exmoor and knows all the best places to go.

On Sunday afternoon I nipped down to Porlock and spent a very happy couple of hours being kitted out in 3 beautiful outfits but unfortunately they weren’t for me to keep (as I pointed out a beautiful red and black check tailored jacket, black skirt, tights and high heels aren’t really suitable for changing beds and walking the dogs – but I can dream)! Jane owns a superb ladies wear shop in Porlock and every 2 years puts on a fashion show to raise money and this year it was for Save the Children and Porlock Visitor Centre. So for a couple hours on Thursday and Friday I got to ‘strut my stuff’ along with 10 other ladies and we had a ball!

Running along the front of the house there is a lovely old veranda and everyone loves to sit there and enjoy the views with a cup of tea. The garden is starting to loose some of its colour although the fuchsias are still going strong and the lawn still needs mowing! Derek has started tidying the garden and planting some wallflowers in the beds.


We walked over to Anicombe the other afternoon and there were hundreds of Fieldfares all eating the holly berries. Earlier in the week we went over to Ley Hill above Porlock. There are some fantastic views across the valley to North Hill and Wales and over to Stoke Pero church and Dunkery Beacon in the other direction – a real panoramic view!

Lovely walks and rides

Julie and Helen came last week and despite the weather not being brilliant every day, they had a great time and took loads of photos (well I think Julie takes the photos and Helen carries the gear)! Julie is sending them down so I should have some great ones to put on the blog. David and Carol stayed for the week and found plenty of different things to see and do.

We have a new addition to the family. He is called Sailor, is 16.1hh and is a flea bitten grey. So far, he seems to be very well mannered and has settled in very well. Derek and Lucy rode Paddy and Sailor up onto Robin Howe yesterday evening and had a lovely couple of hours watching the deer and enjoying the wonderful views.

Ron came up for the weekend and we went on the West Somerset Steam Railway. We took Soda and after her first encounter with a steam engine she settled down and spent a happy hour either on my lap or just sitting on the seat staring out of the window. All was OK until she saw a couple of pheasants out the window and she started to howl! Ron pretended he wasn't with us, Derek was getting more cross and embarrassed and telling me to stop her - the whole carriage was in disarray by the time we got to Bishops Lydeard! The journey home was a little more refined and funnily enough we had the carriage to ourselves (the moral of this tail(!) is if you want to get a carriage to yourselves - get a Jack Russell)!

A perfect walk

Yesterday was a beautiful day and the garden still looks lovely.

I went on what had to be the best walk of the year – the scenery, colours, sights and sounds seemed to be even more acute. The weather was unbelievable with hot sun tapered by a slight autumnal feel. Derek dropped the dogs and myself at the bottom of Aldermans Enclosure and we walked over Wilmersham Common to the foot of Dunkery and then along the path which hugs the side of the range of hills to Webbers Post and from there along the carriage path to Wootton Courtenay. Abby, Soda and I covered approximately 8 miles while the 2 young springers covered about 38 miles!

There were so many herds of stags and their harems of hinds that I almost became blasé about seeing them until looking over the valley, I saw and heard a stag roaring. With no other sound apart from the breeze in the bracken, it is the most evocative of sounds and sent a shiver down my back. The colours of the trees are staring to turn to a lovely yellow, golden and orange glow and the view from Webbers Post over Horner Woods is fantastic. Soda discovered her first adder sunbathing near the footpath and decided that this was worth investigating further. Not sure whether it was her mistress’s slightly panicking voice or the hissing that made her decide to come away!

Autumn is a busy time of the year for the farmers - fields being ploughed ready for planting, bracken being cut and baled for bedding and hedges being cut. Around our lanes, it looks as though a spirit level has been used to get the hedges so neat and square – it is really the work of a craftsman.

Walking at Hawkridge

The dry, warm weather has been beautiful and our B & B guests have taken full advantage of the wonderful walking. A couple of weekends ago, our son Tim came down from the big smoke to see his aged parents. We had a lovely walk from Hawkridge down the Danesbrooke to Castle Bridge where its meets the Barle River below Tarr Steps.

The dogs loved it – in and out of the river the whole time and Soda was in her element. In this photo you can almost see her determination to find her stick!

On the way back we passed a rowan tree (mountain ash) growing out of an ash tree stump. Derek can remember when this was just a very small seedling (he really doesn’t get out a lot)! This walk takes approximately 2 hours and covers some of the most beautiful countryside – river, valley, moor and fields. Julie and Helen (2 of our bed and breakfast guests) are planning to do this one tomorrow and hopefully get some great photos (which we maybe able to use on the blog for a small fee)!

Walking on Exmoor

At The Dunkery Beacon, we are ideally situated for walking and as a result we have quite a few walking parties come to stay for bed and breakfast. Last week we had Pauline and Mike and their friends come to stay for 4 nights. With wonderful weather and walking, they had great time exploring Exmoor and visiting many of the lovely towns and villages in the area.

I couldn’t resist the beautiful sunshine yesterday so with the dogs for company (Derek was visiting his mum) I went off to Cloutsham Ball.
The 2 photos below are taken from the Ball in the trees towards Stoke Pero and looking towards Porlock Bay.

It was so warm and the heather so inviting, that I had had 10 minutes dozing in the sun. My thoughts on the meaning of life and what I was to cook for tea that evening were rudely interrupted by Soda frantically digging right by my ear and covering me in soil. She clearly felt bored and it was time to move on! We meandered over the top and onto Stoke Pero farm and church and then followed the river down through Horner woods. The dogs divided their time running about the woods on different scents, getting too hot and then wallowing in the water. Soda spent her time chasing sticks – as you can see she really does love the water!

It was surprising how much water was in the river considering we haven’t had any rain for best part of a month. Then it was over the bridge and back up the valley to the truck. A lovely afternoon spent just enjoying the beautiful countryside.

Exmoor activities

Our b and b guests come and stay with us at the Dunkery Beacon for a variety of reasons. Dawn bought her husband Mike a day flying birds of prey at Exmoor Falconry Centre as a surprise birthday present. As you can see from the photo, Mike really entered into the spirit of the occasion wearing all the right gear but I'm not sure who was the more wary of the other - Mike or the bird!


Other guests and friends like Julie and Helen come for the opportunities to take fabulous photos of the wildlife and scenery. Armed with an amazing array of lenses and other equipment, they are able to take lovely pictures of Exmoor at its best. However, there does seem to be a little bit of rival between Julie and Derek as to who can take the best shot and I suspect that this will heat up even more when Julie and Helen arrive on Monday - a case of tripods at dawn! Below is one that Julie took on a trip down to Exmoor earlier in the year.

Derek went for an early morning walk yesterday in Snowdrop Valley which is just up the road from us. Rounding the bend, there was a group of 6 hinds on the track and on seeing Derek they quickly disappeared into the trees lining the valley - it was still a lovely sight in the early morning sun. There is always so much to see up here and often when you least expect it!

Exmoor illustrated

Our niece Katie and her partner Aaron have designed and constructed our smashing new website from their company Slurpy Studios . It contains many new photos taken by Derek and also Andy from A@B Photography in Minehead so you may like to take a browse around. The one important thing for us is that we can now share even more what goes on up here on Exmoor through updated photos on the blog. From Soda and me on the epic crossing of the Exe at Larcombe Foot, to the beauty of a deer calve above Exford.

The signs of Autumn are getting stronger. The swallows are starting to gather in preparation for their long journey to Africa, corn fields are being ploughed ready for the next crop to be planted, the hazelnuts are starting to drop and the berries on many of the trees at Blackford are vivid. Yesterday we went up to Aldermans Barrow and watched a large herd of hinds with their stag. Down from the slopes, 3 other stags approached the herd and started to contest the right to be in charge! The rutting season has begun!

Our garden is still very colourful and the Indian summer is giving a boost to the roses and geraniums and even the sweet peas are still blooming. Derek is off to Paul’s at Hunstcott to get the wallflowers ready to plant in the borders for early spring colour. Our B&B guests are enjoying the weather and making the most of the beautiful walking. At the moment we have a party of friends in who are spending 4 days exploring and walking their way over Exmoor. Last week saw the Tour of Britain come through Winsford and Dulverton. A couple of our visitors went over and enjoyed watching the sight!

Autumn on Exmoor

Autumn on Exmoor is a special time of year – the light on the moor is especially wonderful. The run of lovely weather we have this month has bought many visitors to our bed and breakfast home to enjoy the beauty of this area. Yesterday Derek and I took the dogs over to Cloutsham and saw a spectacular sight of a herd of about 70 hinds and calves lying in the evening sun on the slopes of Dunkery. It won’t be long before the stags start their autumn rut when they contest each other for the favours of the hinds. Behind us on Stoke Pero Common were a couple of herds of Exmoor ponies and their foals grazing, enjoying the last of the warmth of the day’s sun while the dogs pottered around sloshing about in the stream.

Today, I went over to Selworthy and walked towards Selworthy Beacon and Hurlestone Point. In just an hour, I walked through ancient woodlands, up onto open moorland on North Hill and looked over the coastline towards Wales and down over fields and the Vale of Porlock. There is always something different to see in such a short time – all of it beautiful and dramatic.

Most of the fields of corn have been harvested and some already ploughed and worked down for the next season’s crops. The tractor trimmers have been busy tidying up the hedges. I have been trying to beat them to pick the blackberries and get a few supplies in for the freezer! We popped down to Ashwick yesterday to get another load of wood for the wood burners. Its all lovely dry beech and ash – ideal for getting a good fire going. How my values have changed - I never thought I would be so contented to see 2 years seasoned wood ready and waiting (must be the squirreling instinct in me coming out)!!

Autumn is here

The seasons are turning once again and autumn is coming. I was out walking the other evening with the dogs and by 8.00 it was coming in dark – I always forget how quickly everything changes. But autumn does bring its benefits especially in the way of nature’s larder. The hedgerows are full of blackberries and my sister is providing us with plenty of apples from her garden – blackberry and apple pie with clotted cream for pud tonight – Derek will be pleased!

The berries on the mountain ash are stunning – vivid red that really stand out especially against a blue sky and this year there is an abundance of berries. There are also loads of hazelnuts ready for the picking. The ones that have already fallen onto the lanes and crushed are quickly scooped up by the chaffinches, sparrows and other small birds.

Looking out across the lawn, Derek noticed a small pile of soft grey feathers that once belonged to a dove that nested in the trees at the bottom of the garden. The culprit was a very swift and beautiful sparrow hawk who seems to have taken a liking to our garden as its hunting ground. We won’t be feeding the birds until he has found another venue!

Derek has been out exercising the horses over towards Allerford and has come back with news about the pair of merlins which have been nesting in a stone barn down at Blackford. They now seem to have moved and seem to be spending a lot of time in a couple of oak trees by the racecourse. The house martins have finished raising their second brood in the eaves at the front of the house but no signs yet that they or the swallows are grouping to migrate – sign of an Indian summer maybe?

September Already!

I can't believe its September already! Over the past few days we have been incredibly busy and have met a host of interesting and lovely people who have come and stayed with us for bed and breakfast. We ideally situated for walking or exploring this beautiful and undiscovered National Park being so near many interesting places. Feeling rested and relaxed, they come as guests and leave as friends and everyone (including us) had a great time.

There is always something going on in the area to suit all tastes. Selworthy village has just had its beautiful flower festival and this then coming weekend for the more active, the British Heart Foundation Bike Race is being held. There are 5 routes to choose from so for people just starting out there is the 12.5km route, followed by a 25, 50, 75 and a mega 100km for the really experienced rider all starting and finishing this year in the beautiful village of Porlock which is only 4 miles away from us.
Then on the 17th and 18th of September there are the 2 stages of the Tour of Britain. Last year 70,000 turned out on a gloriously sunny day to watch the 112 riders from around the world racing from sea level to cliff top in minutes, all chasing that coveted yellow jersey.

The two race routes will cover a total of 346kms and pass through a number of towns and villages in Somerset and Devon. 96 internationally elite cyclists, including a Great Britain team, will tackle six grueling climbs through the picturesque landscape of the two counties. Day 6 of this 8 day race starts in Frome passing Dulverton and Simonsbath on the way to Bideford with day 7 from Hatherleigh to Yeovil.
So from relaxing beauty to tough endurance, Exmoor has something to suite all tastes and all ages!

Nutcombe Chocolates

We had an incredibly busy week last week with our bed and breakfast guests but we were able to grab a couple of hours out and went to Exford Show. Although the weather wasn’t brilliant, we had a lovely time – lots of produce stalls selling beautiful foods and crafts.

One of my favourites is Nutcombe Chocolates. Richard and Lorna have been making and selling homemade chocolate for many years and have a faithful following. Their chocolates make great presents and I am already considering my order for Christmas especially as they now make chocolates in the shape of stags! They are now expanding their business and have just purchased a shop in Dunster (called The Chocolate Shop) where customers will be able to watch the chocolate being made as well – sounds like heaven to me!

After having a summer out on the grass, our 2 horses need quite a bit of exercising to get them fit so Derek and Lucy have been taking them out each evening when it is cooler. I just wish that I could ride a little bit more but I need to put some serious work into getting myself fit. When I do have a ride, I get off looking like John Wayne and feeling a tad stiff!

Over the road our neighbour Eddie is making hay. The wet and warm summer has meant an abundance of hay with some crops up by 50% on last year. Its lovely to smell fresh hay and this smell mingling with the scent of honey from the heather is quite heady! Further down in the next village, they are busy combining the corn. No huge combines here – the gateways are too narrow! It reminds me of when I can first remember my dad combining some 40 years ago and this is what so much of Exmoor is like – a step back in time.

The moors are looking spectacular at the moment – vivid purple with slashes of bright yellow from the gorse bushes. I took the dogs out yesterday and I think that nature must have been out in full force. I saw wonderful scenery, Exmoor ponies, 4 herds of red deer, some highland cattle (not sure where they came from), pippets, buzzards and a kestrel – not bad for an afternoon stroll!

Jo and Steve Colwill - quilting and textiles

One of the best things about running a bed and breakfast place is the smashing people you meet – interesting and with great senses of humour. People that arrive as guests leave as friends as in the case of Jo and Steve Colwill. Jo runs quilting and textile workshops near Launceston in North Cornwall (Cowslip Workshops). You may have seen her on the TV showing Kirsty (from Location, Location, Location) how to quilt. Her work is beautiful and she has teachers and students from all over the world to come to her classes. Next week she is having an exhibition with work from her students plus some from London and abroad.

We have had our nephew and his fiancé to stay this week. After spending a year travelling around the world, they both now teach PE in Thailand at the Harrow school. It’s fascinating hearing about their lives and how they spend their time coping with the heat and humidity at this time of year. We have had several bed and breakfast guests staying from different parts of the world especially northern Europe this year. Everyone falls in love with Exmoor and wants to return and we often get photos sent to us.

As we have been so busy lately, I haven’t been able to get out for many walks. But last night it was such a lovely evening, I rebelled and cast the ironing aside and instead we took the dogs over to Withypool Hill. It was perfect and so warm. All the cattle and their young calves that were grazing on the moor looked fit and well and their coats were gleaming. One calf decided that he wanted to play with Soda but Soda decided that 10 stone of calf chasing towards her was not what she considered to be playing and spent the remaining part of the walk very close to me!

At the end of the walk we went into Withypool and had a delicious supper at The Royal Oak and bumped into a couple of friends – a perfect way to end a perfect evening. On the 25 minute journey home we saw 3 cars, 1 tractor and several pheasants – it was a busy night on the roads!

Aldermans Barrow

We have had another very busy week with our bed and breakfast guests who have made the most of the weather and either walked/cycled or driven over the moor to see the wonderful countryside.

Derek and I went over to Aldermans Barrow on Thursday and walked over part of the moor called The Forest (so called because it used to be a Royal hunting forest). This is a high area of the moor above Porlock and because it is very open it can appear quite wild and windswept. It is actually very beautiful and you can walk for miles over to the Doone Valley and into Badgeworthy Water without seeing a soul. We walked into little valleys with streams and then up over the top of hills where we could see for miles. The air was really heavy with the smell of honey from the heather – we could almost taste it. I always try to have a jar of Exmoor honey for our bed and breakfast guests to try with their breakfast – it’s absolutely delicious!

On the way over, we passed an area called the Enclosure and on the horizon were 5 magnificent stags all with full sets of antlers. One of them was as big as a moose! He had enormous antlers and will be a spectacular sight come October when the rut begins

We have a very good restaurant in the village called Ranscombe Farm which is run by husband and wife team Andy and Clare. Andy does front of house and Clare all the cooking. They provide an excellent menu using locally sourced produce wherever possible at a very reasonable price. Its only ¾ mile down the road and with a torch in hand, it’s a very pleasant stroll back to the Dunkery Beacon. We often recommend our guests to eat there and last night 8 of our guests enjoyed a lovely evening. Although they all went separately, they walked back together and found many interests and people in common – it is a very small world!

The Secret Cave by Margaret O’Hara

We have been very busy the past week with all of our bed and breakfast guests. Coming down for a whole variety of reasons – birthdays celebrations, wedding anniversary, a break from work, cycling and walking holidays or re-visiting old haunts – everyone has made the most of their stay with us!

In Wootton Courtenay, we have a host of very talented people. A very dear friend of ours has just had her first book published. The Secret Cave by Margaret O’Hara is set on Exmoor and the original stories were told by Margaret’s husband Brian to their six grandsons who spend many happy hours playing on the moor in their holidays.

It tells the adventures of 3 young friends and their vegetarian Welsh dragon called Llewellyn and how they capture a gang or armed bank robbers! It has been beautifully illustrated by Margaret and Brian’s daughter who is a trained artist and published by Rare Books and Berry who deal mainly with books about Exmoor. The Secret Cave is a delight to read and makes the perfect present. Nick Smith, Literary Editor of Bookdealer magazine writes of The Secret Cave,

‘Part Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and part Arthur Ransome’s Swallows and Amazons, Margaret O’Hara’s The Secret Cave is rooted deeply in the simple tradition of kids enjoying a good old-fashioned adventure’


At this time of year there is always something to see and do. Next Saturday the 25th of July is the Mid Devon Show at Hartnoll Farm Tiverton. This is a lovely country agricultural show and the forecast for the weekend is set to be fine and sunny. There will be rural crafts, flowers and produce stands, vintage tractors, top quality livestock and working heavy horses.

On Wednesday 29th July Dunster Country Fair takes place. Held in the beautiful grounds of Dunster castle, the Fair started out as a Donkey Derby. It aims to promote country sports and the country way of life by bringing together horses, hounds and dogs of every description, a fine range of country pursuits and activities and amusements for young and old alike. There will be an Exmoor Pony Show, aFell Pony Show, Hound Show, Terrier and Lurcher Shows, Minehead and District Canine Society Show, Ferret Racing, Team events for Riding Clubs and Pony Clubs, Trade Stands, Craft Tent, Falconry Display, Parade of Hounds, Licensed Bar, Refreshments.

Next Sunday - Porlock Country Fair and Show

We have had a busy week with our bed and breakfast guests and working in the garden. Derek has finished landscaping the steps and the wall and so we spent a day at Otter Nurseries selecting plants to fill the new bed, a couple of chairs for the veranda plus a very handsome stone toad that my sister had previously taken a fancy to. However, I have to confess he looks so at home on our wall, I think he is going to have to stay with us, so another trip to the nurseries is on the cards!

The other new beds look as if they have always been there and the plants have taken really well. We have a lot of roses in the garden and they have been fantastic this year so we are always dead heading. The warm weather has meant that Derek is always cutting or about to cut the lawn but it really looks lovely.

We had friends from East Devon come up for the day yesterday. We met Sue and Ray at The Royal Oak in Winsford where we had a excellent lunch and then walked along by the river at Larcombe Foot. Later on we drove back to The Dunkery Beacon for tea - it was a lovely day – impromptu and relaxed, just catching up with news of families and friends.

Derek was out walking on Monday evening over by Codsend Moor where he found a one week old deer calf. He was nestled right into the grass and could hardly be seen and for once, Derek had his camera so he has got some great photos to put into the album. Derek has just this minute come back from near Hindon Farm where he has been watching 8 big stags grazing in a field of roots (don’t expect that the farmer is too happy)!

We had a couple of very keen cyclists staying with us this week for bed and breakfast. Most of the time, they cycled from The Dunkery Beacon and covered a lot of miles. Some new cycle routes have been opened up in the Crown Estate forests behind Dunster castle. Sonja and Tristan explored these together with a trip over to Porlock and back over the moor via the Doone Valley plus an excursion over to Exford, Winsford and beyond coming home each day tired but very happy!

Another couple are revisiting their childhood memories and catching up on relations they haven’t seen for many years. So many people we have met have associations with this beautiful area and look forward to coming back time and again.

Next Sunday is Porlock Country Fair and Show. This is a lovely day out in a beautiful setting and it includes crafts, local produce, a variety of demonstrations including archery and falconry (hopefully the falconry will be positioned a little way from the archery)! Here is a dog show, family fun, games plus a beer tent and cream teas – something for everyone!

Nutscale

The heavy rain we had yesterday cleared the humid atmosphere and left us with a beautiful day of brilliant sunshine. I took the dogs up onto Nutscale and it seems as if all of nature was out enjoying the fantastic weather - the air warm and soft. The skylarks were in abundance and seemed to be vying with the stonechats as to who sing the loudest! We took a break down by the river where I watched the vivid dragon flies dancing and the fish darting amongst the stones – so visible in the clear water.

The dogs spent a great time sloshing about and then digging in the banks. Soda was kept happy by a continuous supply of sticks being thrown into the deep pools where she swam to her hearts content. Further on, a herd of hinds kept an eye on us from the brow of a hill. Across the valley, one barked at us in rapid succession to warn the others of our impending arrival in their space.

The moor is looking so lush after the warm rain and the heather is starting to turn purple. Amongst the bracken, the purple foxgloves stand tall, waving in the breeze and playing host to bees busy in their pursuit of nectar. On the way back, something caught my eye on the road and on investigation it was a slow worm basking in the heat. I carefully picked him up out of the way of the vehicles so he could enjoy another day!

The scent of the moor is beautiful and in the 2 hours I was walking, I didn’t meet another soul – it was so quiet and peaceful and on reflection, it was a most perfect walk.

Sun Set Over Porlock

The light summer evenings are an ideal time for Derek and myself to take the dogs out as it so much cooler and the air is heavy with the heavenly scent of honeysuckle. There are more deer to be seen at this time of day as they come out of the shade and graze in the fields. Derek has seen some calves but was too far away to get any decent pictures so I think he is planning to go out on the horse as he can get so much closer. We were driving over towards North Hill the other evening and the setting sun over Porlock bay was breathtaking – a ball of red with a perfect reflection. Needless to say Derek didn’t have his camera!

We had thunderstorms on Thursday with two storms meeting overhead. The dark skies over the moor just seemed to be so heavy and brooding and it was a spectacular sight with both fork and sheet lighting. The warm, heavy rain was just what Derek wanted for the plants in the new beds (the downside is that the grass needs to be cut every other day)!

As the week went on we got busier and busier with people taking advantage of the lovely weather. Ron came up for the weekend and we went to Dunster for the afternoon. There is so much to see - castle and grounds, beautifully restored tithe barn, dovecotes and yarn market. The shops are interesting as well selling a whole range of things including pictures, clothing, jewellery, goods made in New Zealand, second hand books, gifts and even one that sells chandeliers! Dunster makes for a good afternoon just pottering!

We have been so busy that today is the first day that Derek has had to start paving up the steps with natural stone – I can’t wait to see them complete. The garden is really coming into its own with all the plants and flowers looking so colourful and with Dunkery Beacon in the background, it is the most perfect setting.

Summer is on its way...

As we move into summer, Exmoor is looking more beautiful with the heather just beginning to turn purple and come August, the moor will absolutely vivid. The foxgloves are magnificent this year with whole hills being covered in a pink haze. Already some of the fields of winter corn is beginning to ripen and starting to turn a golden colour – all the crops look healthy and it looks like being a good harvest.

The birdlife is getting more frenetic with parents constantly on the hunt for food for their growing broods. This year we have 2 pairs of house martins nesting under the eaves of the house. By quietly looking out of the bedroom window, our bed and breakfast guests can peer up and watch them flying in and out of the nests and catch glimpses of the young as they look out.

There are always a large flock of sand martins nesting in the banks down at Cloud Farm in the Doone Valley. This is one of our favourite places to go for a walk or a swim – the river is beautiful with lots of deep pools. ½ mile up a track you come to the farm where they provide pony trekking and camping. We like to follow the river into Badgeworthy Water and then walk back over the moor to the farm and enjoy a cup of tea in the tea garden. It is a wonderful spot just to sit and relax in the heart of Exmoor.

Although we have been busy this week with bed and breakfast guests, we managed to grab half a day and meet my mum and sister down at Tiverton and The National Trust house of Knightshayes. It’s great to have so many lovely places to visit within such a short drive away.

Some of our guests decided to walk from Porlock Weir up to Culbone Church, nestled in the woodland setting above the cliffs. This is a remote but very beautiful area having the atmosphere of a time gone by and was featured on Sunday evening on the BBC programme Countryfile. The programme also included an article on the wild Exmoor ponies at Ashwick near Dulverton, their history and near demise during the war. Now under careful management and a breeding programme, a beautiful thriving herd can be seen on various parts of Exmoor. It’s a wonderful sight to see this years crop of foals already becoming adventurous and curious!

Ironman Event, Exmoor

We have had another busy week with our bed and breakfast guests. The weather wasn’t as hot as the previously but it didn’t rain and everyone was able to get out and explore Exmoor. It is now absolutely gorgeous with fantastic sunshine.

We went down to Sidmouth in Devon for a friend’s birthday last Sunday. Aubery was 80 and his daughter and son-in-law had organised a lovely afternoon for everyone including a farm walk followed by a barb-b-cue. The weather was beautiful and everyone had a super time and it was great to catch up with friends we hadn’t seen in a while.

Last week we decided to build a couple of raised flower beds either side of the front steps using local stone. Before we moved up to Exmoor, Derek ran his own landscape gardening business so he knew his stuff and within 2 days, had totally transformed the front of our home. We then spent a happy couple of hours at the local garden centre deciding what to plant them up with. I have to say that he has made a super job and they look as they have always been there – its amazing what he can do when I set my mind to it!

Yesterday, friends of ours (Ruth and Chris) who ring bells at Payhembury in East Devon, organised a ‘ring around Exmoor’ at Dulverton, Bampton and Winsford churches and ended up coming to us for tea. Everyone had a great time and Derek met one of his relations that he hadn’t seen in many years. They were a smashing lot and hopefully they all got home safely (bit of a problem with the bus they had hired and the Exmoor hills)!

This weekend the Ironman event has taken place and we had several of the competitors staying with us. A swim of 1.5 miles, cycle ride of 57 miles and run of 13 miles - all starting at 6.00am at Wimbleball Reservoir. It is a fantastic spectacle to see and must be great to be that fit to take part. Derek said he was going to serve breakfasts and then go and catch them up but unfortunately he had too much gardening to do – what a pity!

Our New Camera!

On Thursday, Derek took the camera with him when he went out for a ride on Paddy. The deer were unaffected by the close proximity of the horse and without me or the dogs, he managed to get smashing shots of some stags. The stags loose their antlers in April but by now they started to re-grow and are covered in velvet. This will start to peel off during the summer months ready for the rut in October. The rut is a sight and sound worth seeing and hearing, in fact you can hear them roaring from the veranda. As ever with us, things of a technical nature take a little while to process but hopefully we will be able to put some of the photos onto the blog fairly soon.

My sister brought my mum and my niece and her partner (Katie and Aaron) up for lunch on Tuesday. It was mum’s birthday and for 85 she is pretty fantastic – only problem is her lack of hearing. But mum is still pretty mobile and has taken charge of Julie’s kitchen (much to Julies delight)! Katie and Aaron both did animation at university and using their talents as designers, they have created their own website design studio (Slurpy Studios). Their work is brilliant and very reasonable as well - take a look at their website http://www.slurpystudios.com/

Julie is still having problems with her bees – I never knew there was so much work, pressure and worry involved with a hive. Apparently it’s all to do with queens, swarming and angry bees. Not only that, rabbits have discovered Julies vegetable patch and do they love it. As fast as Julie plants out and things start to grow, there they are, waiting in the hedge row – it must be like one giant picnic for them!!

The weather this week has been brilliant – so hot and sunny. The bees have been busy buzzing between the cotoneasters and the roses. The lupins are spectacular this year and the roses are really starting to come into their own. Derek has practically finished planting the annuals and the garden looks lovely.

In the next village (Huntscott) Paul has a market garden where he grows and sells at the gate new potatoes, broad beans, courgettes, sweet williams and a variety of bedding plants. It’s great to wander down and get such beautifully fresh veg straight from the garden – in fact he will dig it while you wait! He also has some South Devon cattle – its lovely to see them grazing with Dunkery Beacon as a backcloth. We went to get some marigolds on Friday and Paul told us he had just seen his first deer calf of the season on the bridle path just behind our place – Derek will be off to hopefully get some photos next week.

A Busy June in Exmoor...

We have had another busy weekend with our bed and breakfast guests. One party came to celebrate a special birthday while others came just to walk, explore the beauties of Exmoor and relax. The weather was stunning and Exmoor looks at its best.

Penny booked a return visit with us to show her father Exmoor and on the Saturday evening, I took them out on a brief ‘tour’ of moor. We went to Cloutsham, Exford and returned back over Dunkery Beacon. The views were unbelievable in the early evening sunlight and we saw deer and Exmoor ponies. On Sunday evening, it was so warm we took the dogs for ‘a cool off’ down at the river near Winsford and they loved it!

June is going to busy on Exmoor with different events taking place including:
A spectacle not to be missed - The 54th annual Dunster Archery Week 14th - 21st June. This is the biggest event in the UK, dating back to the 1930's and is an excellent opportunity to see top archers with a stunning backdrop of Dunster Castle.
On the 14th June, the UK Ironman 70.3 triathlon will be held at Wimbleball Lake. This consists of a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run. 1,500 athletes compete for an opportunity to qualify for one of the 100 qualifying slots for the inaugural Ford Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Clearwater, Florida.

Lynmouth Music Festival Friday 12th to Sunday 14th June. This is an open-air and free music festival for all ages and musical tastes set in the villages of Lynton and Lynmouth, on the coast.The beautiful surroundings of Lynmouth Manor Green and various pubs and venues in Lynton are the setting for this free music festival featuring Badly Drawn Boy, David Holmes and many more.

Summer Evening Paddles at Wimbleball Lake. All are welcome to come and join Exmoor Canoe Club at Wimbleball Lake. Have a go at Kayaking or canoeing where there will be coaches on hand to teach you the basics, or more advanced skills. As well as a fleet of different kayaks for children and adults there are plenty of paddlesport games to keep youngsters and big kids entertained!!!
No need to book, just turn up on the day to have a play! Wednesday evenings during June, July and August. 6:30 - 7:30pm - Juniors & Families and 7:30 - 9:00pm – Adults.

Oldenberg Cruise. See Exmoor from a different perspective – the sea. With the highest sea cliffs in the Britain, Exmoor is renowned for its fantastic coastal scenery and wildlife. This cruise aboard the Oldenburg will give you the opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Exmoor coast with commentary from National Trust Staff.

Exmoor Society Walks - Lorna Doone Country: 19th June
Following in the footsteps of Lorna Doone, visiting many of the locations in the famous novel. Approx. 9 miles. Later walks include Heather on the Rugged Coast: 2nd September and Reach the Highest Point on Exmoor: 25th September

I rather fancy having a go at kayaking and I will try to persuade Derek to come as well – this could be brilliant or a disaster waiting to happen as Derek and any form of boating are best kept apart. On holiday once, Derek had to disembark from a pedaloe as he felt seasick! I will keep you informed of our progress.

May Bank Holiday Monday

We have had a superb weekend here on Exmoor with lovely guests and weather We were full and
all our bed and breakfast guest made the most of the fantastic weather with long walks and
horse riding. Leaving Derek in charge (a brave decision), Ron and I took the dogs to
Larcombe Foot near Winsford and followed the river, through the bluebell woods to the log
bridge. Here we bumped into Robin and Claire, 2 of our b&b guests, relaxing by the river.
Ron and I went on up to Room Hill - quite a climb but I assured Ron it was worth it, and it
was. The clear air, blue skies and the views were fantastic. Taking a breather, we watched a
herd of deer grazing contently on the next hill over. On our way back we looked up to see a
small herd of deer on the bank above us standing in a patch of bluebells just quietly
watching us - and you can't wish for a more 'Exmoor' scene than that!

The farmers are busy cutting grass and making silage/haylage while the sun shines and by the
looks of it, most fields are yielding a good crop. The smell of newly mown grass is quite
heady. I listened to a programme about the declining state of our migratory birds today and
was amazed that the experts are forecasting that in 15 years, the cuckoo will no longer be
heard anywhere in this country and already it is becoming very rare in some parts (luckily
not the case up here on Exmoor). I know that it isn't the most socially acceptable bird, but
the thought of never hearing its call is very sad.

We took the dogs over to Hawkridge on Sunday. Driving through the village of Withypool, it
was great to see it so busy with people enjoying the Bank Holiday weather down by the river.
We drove on and then walked down to The Danesbrook River. It was so hot and the dogs loved
being in the water - Soda could swim for England I'm sure!

Today, it's blustery with clouds but loads of sunshine. Derek has gone to see his mum and after a busy day spent cleaning and ironing I’m going to try and get the photos onto the computer - it maybe a long evening!

Walking in Hawkridge, Ley Hill and Dunkery

Julie and Helen from Stroud have been to stay with us for the week for bed and breakfast. They are really good fun and always ready for a laugh. Julie is a very good photographer and both are keen birdwatchers. They have had a great time with plenty of walks including Hawkridge, Ley Hill, Dunkery, Cloutsham and Horner and seeing many different birds (unfortunately the Pied Flycathcher eluded them this time)!

It was fortunate that they came when they did as Derek has bought a rather nice camera. Needless to say, Julie spent allot of time showing Derek how to use it and how to get the best shots - hence the instructions are still in the box (we are waiting for our 3 year old niece to arrive so that she can show us how to download the pictures onto the blog)!I feel that there was a little bit of competition between the 2 of them especially when it came to who took the best photo of the Pipit!

Ron has also been up and he has gone for long walks each day on the hills just behind us - walking nearly to Dunster. Today he came across 3 deer which were almost black so he isn't sure what type they were unless they were a cross breed. The views from up the top are stunning as you can look over Minehead and right across the Channel to Wales and on the other side, the scene stretches across to Putham, Cutcombe and Croyden Hill and beyond.

I spent a very happy afternoon in Wiviliscombe this week - wandering around The Court House with its collection of furniture, fabrics and gifts. The contents are unusual and its a wonderful place to pick up something for the house or for a present. My next stop was Yew Tree Antiques - 3 floors of beautiful restored furniture and all very reasonably priced. I don't think I have ever visited there without bringing something home (this time it was 2 tables, a mirror and a lovely china bowl)!Nigel and Shelia are very friendly so its usually an opportunity for a chat and a mug of tea as well. Next onto Carousel Pig - lovely gift shop that again sells unusual things and the most beautiful pot pouri. 2 pictures, 2 pot pouri and a vase later - I felt it was time to return home before any more money was spent.

Blackford Woods and Bees!

After a busy week with bed and breakfast, we went with the dogs over to Winsford Hill. The roadside banks and woods are covered with bluebells and the scent is delicious. The beech trees are now fully out and are a lovely fresh green – such a wonderful contrast to the winter colours. The saying goes ‘oak before ash, in for a splash. Ash before oak, in for a soak’. This spring, the oak is well ahead of the ash – so good signs for summer sunshine!

The warm showers we have had over the past week have brought on a lot of growth. The fields have been rolled and shut up ready for hay and silage and the ewes and lambs have also benefited from the rush of spring grass.

When we walked at Blackford earlier in the week, we met Patrick who has lived here all his life and is very well known for his beekeeping and honey (Exmoor Honey). We were chatting just as he was about to round up a swarm which were hanging from a branch in the hedge. Talking to him, we had a good insight into his beekeeping activities on Exmoor and all the different places he keeps them. As Patrick made to collect the swarm, we beat a hasty retreat and walked over to Blackford Woods on the Holnicote Estate.

This is a newly created wood owned and managed by the National Trust and is planted with a variety of indigenous trees including oak, hazel, ash, maple and rowan. A stream runs through the wood into a large pond surrounded by bull rushes and marsh marigolds and is teaming with tadpoles. On our way back to the truck, Derek’s day was made complete when he found 2 single antlers (little things please little minds)!

Brompton Regis

We have Ron staying with us. Ron and Derek have grown up with each other and share many of the same interests in farming, wildlife and the countryside. We all went down to Bury near Brompton Regis last evening and walked up the Haddeo river towards Wimbleball Reservoir. On our side of the river, we walked along Hartford Bottom and Storridge Wood which is mainly oak, beech and ash trees. Tracks have been created so there are lovely walks up through the wood itself.

We passed Brompton Regis Fish Farm were they hatch and breed trout for fishing lakes. We watched hundreds of trout at various stages of growth in the lakes. Aeration 'buggies' on the lakes keep the water moving and these are interconnected via locks. The whole area is very interesting.

We carried on to the hamlet of Hartford where a car had got stuck. What is about men and getting cars out of difficult situations? Ron and Derek’s eyes positively lit up at the thought of solving this particular problem! After alot of discussion, scrabbling in the dirt, the creation of a towrope out of baler twine, the vehicle was successfully extricated and the grateful driver (yes it was a woman) drove off.

Time was getting on so we walked over the bridge and followed the path through some fields and then up a steep hill to the top of Wimbleball reservoir. It was almost uncanny to see such a huge concrete building in such a beautiful area of countryside but the views across the reservoir and up to hills in the distance were amazing.

By now it was beginning to drizzle slightly and I wasn't sure whether the sound of rumbling was distant thunder or mine and Ron’s tummy - we were all very hungry. We walked back via Haddon Hill and through the woods dropping back down to Bury. The bluebells were vivid and the damp air made the scent even more intense. The birds love this type of warm damp weather and the blackbirds and thrushes were almost competing against one another!

The walk was about 2 .5 hours in beautiful countryside with ‘unbelievable’ company! We arrived back at The George Pub in Bromton Regis a little soggy and very hungry but its amazing what some good food and a couple of glasses of beer can do!

The Falconry Centre, Allerford

Last night I went for the most beautiful early evening walk. I took the dogs over to Cloutsham ball and from there walked up to Stoke Pero church and then down to Stoke Pero Combe. From there, I followed the river towards Horner through the ancient woodland and back to the car.

The bird song was amazing and I was lucky enough to see a Mistle thrush feeding one of its young.Something caught my eye and I looked up on the banks to see a couple of deer gracefully walking through the grass watching me watching them. The woods have changed a little because of the number of trees that have come down through the snow. It was hard to believe that one such a warm evening that only a couple of months ago we had such heavy snowfalls. The warm Spring rain we had on Monday has given everything a well needed boost and you could almost hear all the vegetation growing! The violets are everywhere and in some places the bluebells are starting to show their heads. A little later on I shall be walking from Winsford up the valley towards Exford where I know the smell and sight of the mass of bluebells will almost take my breath away.

North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival

The North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival takes place from April 30th to May 8th with over 70 guided walks to enjoy in the company of friendly and knowledgeable guides. The Dunkery Beacon provides the perfect bed and breakfast accommodation from which to enjoy the festival.

Several introductory walks are free but most walks range from £5-£6 for adults, £4-5 for children. The walks are not repeated during the festival and 65% of the walks are new, to give the regulars something fresh. There are 73 walks to choose from, giving a good range of lengths and difficulty each day.

This year the festival includes half-day walks, some with special interest such as looking out for red deer and Exmoor ponies. Others will suit children such as the rock pool ramble on Croyde beach or the narrow-gauge train ride at Parracombe.

There are plenty of midrange walks and some longer walks are included providing a challenge for those who want to get their heart pumping. Please remember that a 9 or 10 mile walk with our hills is enough for the best of us, assuming you want to be fit enough to walk the next day!

There are several 'special' walks this year, including flying a Harris hawk, tracking with a local expert, 'gourmet' walks, photography walks, red deer and pony hunt walks, map-reading and the ever-popular Lundy Island. Some of the well-known landowners are guiding on their patch to give you that extra insight. This includes welcoming back the Hon. John Rous, owner of Clovelly Estates with a walk taking in the village, coast, woods and farmland.

Comfortable beds, log fire, hearty breakfasts and beautiful countryside to walk in - the perfect combination for a relaxing break.

Porlock Weir and Minehead

On Sunday, Alyson and Martyn came for lunch. I have known Ally since we were at school togther so we go back a very long way! They have 3 boys and the eldest has just announced his engagement so its great excitement all round.

We have had 3 archaeologists staying for bed and breakfast. They are invloved in an English Hertitage project which is concerned with the detailed recording of the archaeology, history and the natural enviroment of the Bristish coastline. It sounds fasinating and there is just so much information just about Porlock Weir and Minehead which is such a beautiful part of the coastline. Our other bed and breakfast guest have been enjoying the weather which has been beautiful and they have made the most with visits to Woolacombe, walking the moors and visiting the National Trust properties in the area. One of our bed and breakfast couples walked straight from our houseup to Dunkery Beacon, down to Cloutsham, around to Webbers Post and then home. 4 relaxing hours without taking the car out!

Last night we walked the dogs at Dunkery Hill Gate. It was a lovely evening and we saw a couple of pairs of curlews which are nesting in the rushy areas. As we strolled on, a herd of about 30 deer trotted on down the hill towardes Snowdrop Valley and then suddenly a lovely stag jumped the hedge in front of us and cantered down to join his herd. He was looking a little perculier as he had just cast an antler leaving him looking a little lop sided!

The swallows have certainly increased in number since last week and we have heard the cuckoo. The gorse is vibrant with the lovely smell of coconut and the blossom on the blackthorn is now out in full bloom contratsing with the yellow of the gorse. Each morning, we enjoy an early cup of tea with the bedroom windows wide open listening to the wonderful dawn chourus - a lovely way to start the day.

Spring Harvest celebrations in Minehead

We have had a very busy week with our bed and breakfast guests and also Derek's aunt and uncle came to stay for a couple of days so it was lovely to catch up on all their news. It has been the Spring Harvest celebrations in Minehead for the past 3 weeks and we have had some delightful people staying with us - Ted and Pat and also Rod and Una who have stayed before. We have also had guests with their children who tackled Dunkery Beacon and a 8 mile walk and the coastal footpath. Jean and Steven had 3 great days just relaxing and walking in the immediate area - Porlock being the furthest they went.

We have had some lovely sunny days and the young animals have certainly been enjoying having some warmth on their backs and many of the fields around us have flocks of ewes with their lambs. In the evenings especially, the lambs go around collecting one another up into gangs and then start having races against one another. They gallop over hedges and round trees and at the end they literally jump with all four hooves in the air. Sometimes if the ewes are lying down, lambs will clamber onto their mums back and fall asleep - talk about taking advantage of your mother!

We were walking in Snowdrop valley and a herd of single suckler cows with their calves had just been turned out into a field after spending the winter months housed indoors. Although Derek and I come from farming families, we have never seen calves run so fast or for so long - up and down the side of the bank with their tails in the air - they were so happy to be out in the sun and on the grass.

Yesterday we went over to Dulvertonto get a load of wood for the woodburner so we parked up on Winsford Hill for a walk beforehand. It was a gorgeous afternoon - the dogs were pottering about in the
gorse and having a soak in the stream. It was bliss just to sit with the sun on my face and hear nothing apart from the babbling stream and the occasional snort from Abby as she was digging. The air was so soft without any trace of a chill. Peace couldn't last for too long so it was back to work and loading up the trailer with wood which Derek has just spent a happy afternoon unloading and storing ready for the winter!

Happy Easter!

We hope that you have had a very Happy Easter. Our accommodation was fully booked and all
our bed and breakfast guests enjoyed the 3 wonderful days of sunshine. We had a group of 12
staying for the break and they really made the most of the Exmoor experience! Armed with
picnics each day, they went sailing on Wimbleball Reservoir, visited Lynton and Lynmouth,
went on a Barle Valley Safari, walked from Bossington up to Hurlesdown Point, up onto North
Hill and down to Selworthy, pony trekking from Burrowhayes campsite at Horner and relaxed
each night in a local pub or restaurant. Our other bed and breakfast guests walked from here
to Dunkery Beacon, over to Webbers Post and down to Horner for a cream tea - after an 8 mile
walk, they deserved it!

Derek and I did 3 shorter walks including Dunkery Hill Gate, Ley Hill (where we saw a fox
enjoying the sun) and also Snowdrop Valley. On all 3 walks we saw herds of deer quietly
observing us observing them! The primroses this year have been truly fantastic in numbers,
colour and scent. The wood anemonies are so pretty and delicate - a sea of white bells
growing on the green mossy bark of the fallen trees - it’s a beautiful contrast.

We write about the many beautiful things we see on Exmoor but of course pictures say far
more than we can. Derek has decided that it was about time we bought a camera and put our
scenes onto the blog for you to enjoy. Its a question of which camera,how to use it and how
to get it onto the website (plus its Derek trying to work it all out so this could take a
little while)!

Cloud Farm and Badgworthy Water

We had a lovely weekend - very busy with bed and breakfast guests, family and friends. The weather was so warm that we went down to Cloud Farm in the Doone valley near Brendon. When they were young, this used to be one of our children’s favorite places to visit and nothing much has changed in 25 years! There were children paddling and exploring the beautiful Badgworthy Water. This is such an interesting river with deep pools for swimming or just to sit and watch the trout. We also saw lots of frogs in the river and dippers flying up and down together with a pair of Grey Wagtails. Most importantly, we saw our first Swallows of the summer. Later on there will be House Martins and Sand Swifts nesting in the old quarry banks nearby. After the walk we sat in the sun in the gardens of Cloud and enjoyed a cup of tea. On the way back we stopped in the car park at the top of Porlock Hill to enjoy the fantastic view of the moors and right across the Channel to Wales. Tim however, was more interested in a rather large double cornet from Styles Ice Cream van!

Sunday was another beautiful Spring day. Some of our bed and breakfast guests went to Tarr Steps and then over to Lynton and Lynmouth to visit The Valley of the Rocks and to have a trip on the famous cog railway. Others went off to explore Dunster and Dunster Castle. After lunch, we went over to Winsford Hill and walked through The Allotments to Gypsy Corner and then on down to Broford and then around back over Winsford Hill where we saw a couple of hares boxing - another sign of Spring! Once again, a perfect end to a very happy weekend - relaxing and lots of laughs with everyone staying at our bed and breakfast home.

Bristish Summertime Arrived...

We had a really busy weekend, with lots of guests arriving at our bed and breakfast accommodation - luckily we all remembered to put our clocks forward (even Derek)! Although it was quite hard getting up an hour earlier, the benefit was an extended walk into the evening as Bristish summertime arrived with warm sunshine and clear blue skies.

We drove across Exmoor, through the lovely villages of Exford and Withypool and onto the hamlet of Hawkridge. We parked next to the church with its views across West Anstey Common and started walking along Row Lane dropping down into West Hollowcombe Wood to follow the Danesbrook River to Castle Bridge where the Danesbrook meets the River Barle. The rivers were beautiful with the sunshining through the oak woods and the water was crystal clear. We saw a herd of 17 stags relaxing in the sunshine, 12 of which had already cast their antlers. The birdsong we heard ranged from Skylarks out on the moor to Blackbirds, Thrush, Robin and Woodpeckers. We also saw a pair of Treecreepers running up and down the trees - Spring really is in the air!

The dogs made full use of the river especially Soda who loves to swim for a stick. Wist experienced her first swim and as a true Springer Spaniel - just loved it! Just up from Castle Bridge beside the track that leads back up to Hawkridge, we sat in a lovely spot where we could look down and watch a river either side of us - a wonderful place for a picnic.

We meandered back to the truck along Hawkridge ridge where the views down towards Dulverton were stunning - a 360 degree vantage point. Then back to Withypool for Styles icecream and to sit in the sun by the river before driving back over Exmoor to The Dunkery Beacon and our bed and breakfast guests. It was the perfect end to a lovely weekend.

West Somerset Railway's Spring Steam Gala

This weekend, Exmoor is busy hosting 2 major events. Firstly there is the West Somerset Railway's Spring Steam Gala with a major line-up of loccomotives, many hired espeically for the weekend. Musems along the line will be open together with headquarters of the Taunton Model Railway group. There will be a launch of a new book and DVD about West Somerset in the 'Past and Present' series and a display of photgraphs by Don Bishop. Even if you aren't a steam railway enthusiast, a trip along The Steam Railway line from Minehead to Bishops Lydeard is a great way to spend to see some beautiful countryside through a different way of transport.

Exmoor is also hosting the annual off-road 4x4 event in aid of the rugby charity Wooden Spoon. Now in its 12th year, the Exmmor 4x4 Jaunt and Challenge is non-competitive and involves participants taking part in teams of 3 vehicles. The Jaunt features a range of off -road sections and is suitable for all skills and most types of 4x4. The Challenge is more demanding and requires reasonable skills and a suitable vehicle. All money will go to the Wooden Spoon which helps physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged shildren. For more information visit http://www.4x4onexmoor.co.uk/

Whatever reason brings you to Exmoor - walking,riding, sight seeing or to visit local events, our lovely bed and breakfast accommodation will provide the perfect location for your stay.