Exmoor, Devon

Exmoor devon

The dark green is Devon, the light green Somerset, and the Exmoor National Park is within the grey line. The National Park covers 265 square miles, and has three different types of countryside - coastal, pastoral moorland and heathland

cottages exmoor devon moorland view

The coast strip from Combe Martin in the west to Minehead in the east contains only a few small towns. The coast here is very rocky and there are few harbours. There is rich grazing on the pastoral moorland. The open heath has sheep, red deer and grouse, and was the setting for Lorna Doone, Exmoor, Devon.

Exmoor is smaller than Dartmoor, and the moor has been protected both by the National Park and its own geography. Little has disturbed the moor in the way of modern life.

pony signpost thatch

Below is the suggest for a drive round the moor, and a brief guide to the towns and villages of Exmoor

A drive round Exmoor, Devon A 50 mile car drive round Exmoor, taking in both the coast and the moorland areas
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Brendon This is the gateway to "Doone Country". Brendon itself is a lovely whitewashed and thatched village, surrounded by trees. Close by is Hoccombe Coombe which is called Doone Valley on account of its resemblance to the Doone's hideout in the novel. And beside Badgewrothy Water, there is a memorial to R D Blackmore, the writer of Lorna Doone
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Dulverton Set among wonderful scenery, Dulverton is a small market town. The river Barle flows through it, and it has a 13th cent church tower and a market square
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Dunster A very pretty small town, dominated by the mainly 19th century red sandstone castle. Dunster was a port in the 16th century, but now the sea has receded about two miles. It has a wide main street, old world houses and  a 17th century Yarn Market. The town tends to become very crowded in summer, and has probably more tea shops than anywhere else in Devon
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Exford Originally where the road forded the River Exe. Now there is a stone bridge. There is a path north from the village to Exford Common and on to Dunkerry Beacon - about a five mile trek. Dunkerry Beacon can be got to by car, it is the highest point on   Exmoor, with  outstanding views over, it is said, 17 counties. Michelin rates the view as "worth a journey"
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Lynmouth Pretty cottages cluster along the East Lyn River as it runs along a promenade and a small harbour to the sea. There was a terrible flood here in 1952 when a flash flood on Exmoor caused the river to burst its banks, and 31 people were killed

A cliff railway joins Lynmouth to Lynton, 500 feet above. The railway was opened in 1890 and ascends a 1 in 2 incline. Two cars one going up and one going down are "powered" by water ballast being taken aboard at the top and empties at the bottom

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Lynton Perched on top of a 500 dome shaped cliff, overlooking Lynmouth. The town is mainly Victorian, and perhaps not as pretty as Lynmouth, it does enjoy spectacular views out to sea.
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Minehead Once a medieval port, Minehead is now a large traditional seaside resort. There is a wide sweeping bay that offers good bathing
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Porlock An attractive little village, perhaps best known for its steep 1 in 4 hill on the main road. There is a small harbour at Porlock Weir.

About 2 miles beyond Porlock Weir is Culbone Village, consisting only of a house, a cottage and the smallest church in England ( it is only 12 feet wide)

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Simonsbath A pretty little village on the River Barle, in the middle of Exmoor.   John Knight, the first farmer to tame Exmoor lived here in the 19th century
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Stoke Pero A small hamlet with Exmoor's highest church. A footpath from here will take you in two miles to Dunkerry Beacon
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Tarr Steps This is a particularly fine "clapper bridge". It is probably thousands of years old, and consists of  15 spans of "stepping stones", each weighing  around 2 tons and are not local in origin.
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Winsford A lovely little village on the River Exe, with a thatched  pub and seven bridges, including a pack horse bridge Tarr Steps are only 3 miles away.
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