Situated right the heart of the beautiful Exmoor National Park, the area is perfect for walkers and ramblers as it sits within 693 kilometers of the mainly open countryside; there is a myriad of footpaths, bridleways, and country lanes right on the doorstep. This is an ideal base from which to explore the local area whether your preference is walking, rambling, cycling, or meandering!

The Exmoor area benefits from a wide selection of good country pubs, cafes, tea rooms, and restaurants. If you're hankering after a lunchtime break in a pub, cafe, or tea room whilst out on a country walk, or a special evening dining experience, you're covered and we would be delighted to make recommendations to guests.  

Horses play a major part in the area and whilst hacking is not normally available in the village, there are a few riding stables within a close distance where this can be arranged. See the Horse Riding Section further down for details. 

If you would like to bring your own horse down stabling can be arranged at the White Horse Yard, situated at the rear of the Exmoor White Horse Inn just across the village green from the apartment. Contact Rebecca on 07791 677050 for details. 

We maintain a folder in the apartment full of local information along with a large selection of walk and cycle routes along with local area leaflets and again we would be delighted to make recommendations to guests.  

Exmoor is officially recognised as an International Dark Sky Reserve, one of only eight in the UK, which means we have the most fantastic starry skies at night! The night sky on a clear crisp night is amazing - it's almost as if you can just reach out and touch them!

Dunster

This famous medieval village is well worth a visit, not only for its beautiful Castle, owned by the National Trust, set on a wooded hill offering breathtaking views over the Bristol Channel and Dunster Beach along with wonderful gardens and a working Water Mill where it is possible to see, and buy, fresh flour being milled. Nearby on the opposite hill is Conygar Tower, this Grade 2 listed building is a 3 storey folly tower built of red sandstone in 1775 and it is often mistaken for the castle as it stands higher. The famous Grade 1 listed Yarn Market built in the 17th century for the local wool trade is located in the high street, The Dunster Dovecote is a Grade 2 listed building from the late 16th century and is well worth a visit along with the Grade 2 listed building Tithe Barn from the 14th century now renovated and used amongst other things as a wedding venue. Altogether there are over 200 listed buildings in the village along with some very interesting shops, a range of tearooms, and pubs including the excellent Luttrell Arms are to be found here (12 Miles).  

Just outside Dunster at Nutcombe Bottom is supposedly the tallest tree in England, planted in 1876 it was measured at 60.05 metres in 2009, and was estimated to weigh 50 tonnes. Owned by Forestry England this popular walking and picnic area is set amongst the Tall Tree Trail which is lovely to wander around and admire the surrounding trees. 

Tarr Steps

This is a 17-span clapper bridge which is 59yds (54m) in length (the term is derived from the Latin 'claperius', meaning 'pile of stones') and is constructed entirely from large stone slabs and boulders.), the longest of its kind in Britain.  This is one of the best-known monuments on Exmoor. Its age is unknown, several theories claim that Tarr Steps dates from the Bronze Age but others date them from around 1400 AD.  The river has silted up over the last century and recently the stones of up to two tonnes have been washed away up to 50 metres downstream by floodwater and they are now numbered for easy reassembly! There is a great pub/restaurant right next to the steps, well worth a visit! (7 miles).

Exmoor Pony Centre  

The Exmoor pony is the oldest native pony breed in Britain and is listed as an endangered rare breed. Only approximately 3,500 of these ponies survive worldwide, of which around 350 still live roaming freely on Exmoor. The Moorland Mousie Trust, based at the Exmoor Pony Centre, works to promote and conserve the rare-breed Exmoor pony and the centre is open daily to visitors from 10 am until 4 pm (closed on Tuesdays and Saturdays) until the 1st of November. Entrance to the Centre is free and visitors are encouraged to come and meet the ponies and learn more about them. (7 Miles).

Dunkery Beacon

The sandstone Dunkery Hill has a large stone cairn at the summit which at 519 metres (1,703 feet) is the second-highest point in the South West of England after High Willhays at 621 metres (2037 ft) on Dartmoor.   The beacon provides spectacular views on a clear day over the surrounding moorland with Dartmoor in the south, the Mendips and Quantock Hills to the east, Wales and the Bristol Channel to the north and the patchwork quilt of North Devon and Hartland Point to the east along with hills up to 86 miles away. It can be reached via a small road just past the small hamlet of Luckwell Bridge (near Wheddon Cross) signposted to Porlock, with parking at Dunkery Gate car park. From here a footpath of 0.6 miles will take you to the top. (6 Miles).

Porlock 

This very popular village has a range of shops, tea rooms, and pubs. It contains an art gallery, visitor centre and a museum. There is also an excellent small car museum for the car enthusiasts amongst you. All are well worth a visit. To get to the village from Exford you can either come in from the Minehead area or down the world-famous Porlock Hill which at 1 in 4 (25%) is the steepest A-road in the United Kingdom, although there is a Toll Road which is only 1 in 14 you can take it required. (8 Miles).

Porlock Weir

This small but interesting harbour is just down the hill from the village of Porlock and has a variety of small shops along with an excellent pub/restaurant. Some great views overlooking Porlock Marsh along with the newly re-established oyster beds. The South West Coastal Path passes through here if you feel like a walk along the coast whilst here. (10 Miles).

Caratacus Stone

This is an inscribed stone thought to date from the 6th Century with the inscription in Latin characters. It stands 1.2 metres high with a slight lean and since 1906 it has been contained within a stone shelter. An excavation carried out in 1937 found no evidence of any burial site. It is situated just off the B3223 where it crosses Winsford Hill (3 Miles).

Wimbleball Lake 

This water supply reservoir was constructed in the 1970s and completed in 1979. The 161 feet high dam is of concrete buttress construction and impounds the River Haddeo to provide a water storage capacity of some 21,000 megalitres over an area of 374 acres with an average depth of 50 metres (160 ft).  There is an Activity Centre based here where you can arrange to explore the lake by kayak or canoe, learn how to stand-up paddleboard, have a go at archery, try the high ropes course or learn how to turn in a sailboat. You can even relax and enjoy a spot of fishing. There is a network of footpaths and cycle tracks to suit visitors of all ages and abilities. You can bring the dog, although you would have to keep it on a lead and out of the water. Visit the Duck Café, set in the unspoilt countryside overlooking Wimbleball Lake, and enjoy a taste of Exmoor with fresh, homemade, seasonal food, locally sourced from suppliers on the doorstep. (12 Miles).

South Molton

This is a small market town with a large range of shops, tea rooms, and pubs and is located just off the North Devon link road. The country market is held every Thursday and Saturday in the Pannier Market behind the grade 1 listed Guildhall, which was built in the 1700s and which also contains the town museum. The livestock market is held every Thursday in the buildings located in the main car park. The High Street was the site of a three-hour street fight on the 14th March 1655 between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers during the English Civil War. South Molton can be reached from Exford across the moor via the famous Landacre Bridge and North Molton. (14 miles) 

Lynton & Lynmouth

The two towns stand on the rugged Exmoor coast with Lynmouth being the lower town situated in a gorge with a lovely range of shops, pubs, and restaurants. Here the confluence of the Rivers West Lyn and East Lyn flow into the sea via the harbour. 

Lynton is situated on the top of a gorge overlooking Lynmouth 700 feet below, again the upper town has an excellent range of shops, pubs, and restaurants along with breath-taking views across the lower town, sea, and cliffs. The two towns are linked by the world-famous water-operated funicular Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway which has a gradient of 1 in 1.75 and as one car descends the other is raised by a water-controlled counterbalance system. On the seafront of Lynmouth right alongside the cliff railway station is an excellent Exmoor National Park Information Centre that offers both information and advice to visitors along with a café. (15 miles)

Watersmeet

Situated about 2 miles from Lynmouth in a deep gorge here as the name implies is the point where the West and East Lyn rivers combine. Watersmeet House which is an old fishing lodge is owned by the National Trust and contains an excellent tearoom with gardens right on the river bank. There is car park on the road above with a path leading down but it is quite steep. (13 miles) 

Landacre Bridge

This ancient bridge carries the road towards South Molton over the River Barle and is a Grade 2 listed building, built in the medieval period there is evidence of a bridge that has been on this site since 1610. set in a combe with the hills all around this is a favourite picnic spot in the summer with the chance of a paddle in the river to cool off. (4 miles)

Horse Riding

The following stables offer hacking on the moor and the surrounding areas, either in a group or solo accompanied rides.

• Burrowhayes Farm Riding Stables, West Luccombe, Porlock, TA24 8HT 01643 862463  info@burrowhayes.co.uk
• Exmoor Riding, West Lynch Farm, Allerford, Minehead, TA24 8HJ 01643 862816  exmoorriding@gmail.com
• West Anstey Farm Stables, West Anstey, Dulverton. TA22 9RY  01398 341354