Exmoor

All About Exmoor

One of the best things about Smythen Farm Holiday Cottages is our proximity to Exmoor National Park, a 267 square mile area of stunning scenery, beautiful walking trails, views across the Bristol Channel, woods and moors, and quaint villages offering visitors a chance to stop for a pint in a cosy pub, or experience a delicious and indulgent Devonshire tea.

History of Exmoor:

The area that is now Exmoor National Park was once an ancient Royal forest and hunting ground. In 1818 it was sold off and in 1954 it became the park that it is today, named for the river Exe that runs through the area; the source being right in the middle of the park. Exmoor National Park is spread across two counties, with just over 70% in Somerset and the remaining portion sitting in our own lovely county of Devon.

Things to see and do in Exmoor:

As the 1.4 million annual visitors to Exmoor National Park can attest to, there is much to see and do in this beautiful natural area. There are 208 listed monuments and 16 conservation areas, as well as a myriad of sights which, although not officially listed, are just as worthwhile to see.

Exmoor National Park is home to many different landscapes, towns and hamlets, and things to see; the park encompasses East Lyn Valley, Brendon Hills, the Vale of Porlock and 55 kilometres of coastline along the Bristol Channel. Exmoor boasts some impressive records, such as the highest sea cliffs in England (at an impressive 314 metres, found at Culbone Hill), the single longest stretch of coastal woodland in England and Wales (between Porlock and The Foreland), and the longest National Trail in England and Wales (the South West Coast Path, which traverses 1,014 kilometres).
 
There are a few highlights for visitors to Exmoor National Park, so if you're planning a visit to the area, be sure to make your way to one or more of these:

Tarr Steps: a prehistoric clapper bridge across the River Barle, dated from around 1000 BC, which has been Grade I listed by English Heritage. Each of the stone slabs that make up the bridge weigh up to 2 tonnes, and legend has it that the devil laid them here to win a bet.
Lynmouth, Porlock Weir and Combe Martin: all of these harbours were once crucial to trade in the area, but are now quaint, picturesque harbours that are mostly home to private leisure boats.
Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway: sometimes referred to as 'Devon's Little Switzerland', the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth are connected via a steep funicular railway that transports visitors up and down the 500 foot cliff that separates the two towns.
Watchet: another historic harbour town with a marina, home to an annual carnival which takes place each July.
Snowdrop Valley: each February, the ground in this area is carpeted in white flowers called snowdrops, which makes for a magical sight.

The Beast of Exmoor:

If you're visiting Exmoor, be sure to look out for the legendary Beast of Exmoor, said to roam the National Park. There have been a number of eyewitnesses who have reported sightings of the beast since the 1970s, but the BBC calls it "the famous-yet-elusive beast of Exmoor. Allegedly."
The beast is rumoured to look like a puma or black leopard, and although a few photos have been taken of the creature, skeptics believe these pictures to be fakes. Still, it's worth keeping your eyes peeled when visiting Exmoor National Park. You never know what you might see.