Busy times

Each season on Exmoor is heralded by its own different sights and sounds and autumn has its own special beauty. The trees are now turning yellow and golden and some are laden with berries. The air is cooler which means the dogs are more active than ever with them demanding longer and longer walks (such a pity)! There is the ever present smell of wood smoke drifting across the valleys from log burners, the sound of stags roaring during the rut and the sight of tractors hedge cutting.

The rut this year has been fantastic. We took the dogs over to Nutscale for a walk and in the 2 hours we were out we saw 7 stags with hinds. At one stage we were standing in a bowl surrounded by gentle hills on all sides and saw 3 stags – one was magnificent with looked like a royal head (rites and fore) with long white points.

We are having a very busy week this week with our bed and breakfast guests coming down to make the most of the half term break. Most have been going out and walking and exploring while other hardy souls are girding their loins and preparing for the (infamous) Exmoor Beast. This is either a 60 or 100mile bike race across Exmoor and on some of the steepest hills in the country (definitely NOT for the faint hearted)! Unfortunately once again Derek will be too busy washing up to participate. He is also concerned that his bike really isn’t up to it and he also informs me that his lycra shorts are getting a little on the tight side (too many cooked breakfasts)?!

Some of our visitors have taken advantage of the beautiful weather and have travelled from Porlock to Lynmouth in the open topped bus via Porlock Hill. Today was so lovely that I took mum on a short tour of Exmoor for the afternoon. The scenery was breathtaking and the sky so clear that we could see as far as Dartmoor. The photo is taken from the top of Porlock Hill looking down onto Porlock Bay.