Exmoor National Park — Attraction in Exford

Exmoor is a beautiful, rugged and peaceful National Park in south west England. Walks can be easy strolls or challenging hikes climbing and descending several hundred feet, several times in a few miles. Within the park are a number of small villages. The notable towns are Minehead, at the eastern edge of the park, Porlock about halfway across the northern side and Lynton & Lynmouth towards the western side. Some of the smaller villages are very picturesque. Driving can be a little challenging in some of the tiny country roads, go slow and watch out for animals (and have good maps or a satnav). On the open moor you'll see the famous Exmoor Ponies - don't approach them, they can be very unpredictable. You'll also see sheep, highland cattle, deer, various birds of prey and numerous small mammals. In the streams and rivers you'll see trout and other fish and may even catch a glimpse of dolphins in the Bristol Channel. Food wise there are some excellent pubs selling superb food sourced locally - along with some great local beers. It's a time to wean yourself off the Carling and Guiness and try an Exmoor Ale, Otter Valley IPA, or whatever they have on tap. There are numerous quaint tea rooms selling the ubiquitous cream teas and you'll find many restaurants and cafes in the towns. To answer questions - there's no entry ticket, no fence around it (lots of fences within it, but it's farmed land), there are swing parks in some of the villages and towns. There is no direct rail link to Exmoor, the closest place is Taunton and get a cab to Bishop's Lydeard where you can get the West Somerset Railway to Minehead. I don't know of any car hire firms in Minehead, but there are some in Taunton. Disabled access? Well anyone can get here, but some areas and premises would be challenging or impossible for disabled persons - some of the buildings are centuries old. Things to do? Hiking is very popular here - the South West Coast Path starts (or ends) in Minehead. You can buy any number of books with excellent routes or circular walks from car parks, etc. Mountain biking is popular, plenty of fishing (coarse or sea), rock climbing and so on - most outdoor pursuits are catered for. Accommodation ranges from static caravans to yurts and shepherd's huts, to manor houses to AirBnB. Plenty of campsites and places to park a campervan. Dogs - welcome almost everywhere, but keep them on a lead where livestock are. Even the most well behaved dog can lose control confronted with sheep and lambs. Be very, very cautious of cows with calves, they can be extremely protective - ideally find another route. All in all it's a beautiful place to visit. But always be prepared for the great British weather and have appropriate waterproofs. If you're planning a walk, a reasonably good pair of boots will...

Exmoor, beautiful scenery with chocolate box villages and hamlets, always something new to see in nature on our frequant days out in this area. Usually enter from motorway side and drive across, stopping off at Dulverton and arriving eventually at Minehead. Over the years Minehead has become very busy, proberly due to Butlins holiday camp,, now seems to have an, unlike only a few years ago an all year round season now. The flower beds and displays are a credit to Minehead council and the streets are kept clean and tidy. Just a shame for the town of Minehead on a Saturdays especially, ( Butlins change over day) throughout the summer months, to see people having to try and dodge certain types of people with beer cans in hand, cigarettes permanently in mouth, a mothers screening at a brood of unruly ill-mannered children walking and running through on coming padestrians, some more mature in years, having to step on road to save been knocked over. Sadly this has started to put a different tone to the town which, has tried very hard to make itself look nice, Minehead has expanded in recent times at quite a pace with new housing and supermarkets, also new works to improve to seafront with new lighting and flower beds, which, sadly was vandalised before completion, a sign of current times. The Winter months can be a more pleasurable and peaceful time to enjoy this fantastic Exmoor area and also Minehead town...

I've always enjoyed walking coastal paths but until I visited Exmoor, the part where it meets the sea, I didn't realise just how strong a pull they would have on me.

From Porlock Weir out to Culbone and beyond, and from Bossington via Hurlestone Point through Selworthy and on to Minehead; I could walk - and sometimes do! - the whole day.

The flora and fauna on the moors is fantastic and if you take your full size camera and mobile phone, you can capture birds, butterflies and insects galore!

There's always someone to chat with, from locals out walking their dogs to the ENP rangers extending a boardwalk on Porlock Marshes.

I've been fortunate to visit in all four seasons now and have always enjoyed my time on Exmoor immensely.

There's something about the area, whether it be in the villages and small towns or on the moors, beach or woods, that gives you a sense of peace and well-being.

I hope to make it my...