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.