N Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival
The twelfth North Devon and Exmoor walking festival has a good selection of guided walks on offer from Friday 27th April to Sunday 6th May. The festival starts around Ilfracombe for the first two days. It then moves along the coast to Lynton and Lynmouth with a selection of guided walks in that area over the next three days. It then moves to the Porlock area for three days with walks led around the marsh and up to Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor’s highest point. The festival finishes in the area around Dunster for two days, covering the eastern side of the moor and the foothills of the Quantocks.
The festival covers part of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from Braunton Burrows to Combe Martin. Some walks will be guided by a member of the AONB team whose specialist knowledge will help explain more about the area and the work they carry out.
The festival also covers the Exmoor National Park with Park, Crown Estate and National Trust Rangers guiding several of the walks. The walks range from a short half-day up to a full day’s hike, so there is something for most abilities.
New Walks for 2012
This year there are several new walks led by new local guides to the festival as well as by some of our regular guides. There is a bat discovery walk led by the South West Lakes Conservation Officer at Wimbleball Lake. This includes a BBQ supper and talk before going with torches alongside the lake to see the bats. There is a breakfast walk led by the Crown Estate Ranger. It starts with a farmhouse breakfast which you then walk off on a 7.5 mile walk through the Crown Estate. For the more intrepid there is an 11 mile walk taking in the River Barle valley. It passes some of the remains of mines in that area and includes passing the start of the River Exe.
Outings for non-walkers
The festival has included a walk organised by the Exmoor Society and led by the National Trust Ranger. This starts at Hunters Inn and goes alongside the Heddon River to Heddons Mouth using their Tramper all-terrain single-seater vehicles. This is a free outing on 3rd May at 10.30am.
Or you may prefer to try your hand at horse riding over Exmoor. There is a 1 hour ride on offer from Outovercott Stables near Lynton on 29th April at 11.00am. You can get a 20% discount if you show them a copy of the festival brochure.
Something slightly different!
There is a chance to discover the advantages of Pacer Poles, specially designed from first principles to apply biomechanics to whole body movement. These poles are different from the usual walking poles and are worth investigating. Or you could go on a walk that include a steam train ride from Dunster to Washford – the only snag is you have to walk back on a 7.5 mile walk. Several walks include food along the way, lunch at a delightful pub or a cream tea at a farm or guest house.
How to Book
Prices range from £6.00 up to £13 for breakfast and a walk. Most of the outings are family friendly and well behaved dogs are welcome on many of the walks.
To find out more and to book your walks for the spring walking festival, visit website www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk. A festival brochure is available by emailing bryan@activeexmoor.co.uk giving your name and address or call 01271 883131.
Festival Holidays walking the Exmoor section of the South West Coast Path from Minehead to Combe Martin can be booked direct with the Yarn Market Hotel, Dunster by calling 01643 821425.
Other accommodation suggestions can be found in the 2012 Exmoor guide; for a free copy call Porlock Tourist Information Centre on 01643 702624; information can also be found on www.visit-exmoor.co.uk.
The North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival is supported by the South West Coast Path National Trail, Farm and Cottage Holidays, Exmoor National Park Partnership Fund and The Heart of Exmoor Project. It is organised by West Country Walks with help from the Exmoor Tourist Association.
For press enquiries, photographs and a possible facility visit please contact:
Jennette Baxter
Starfish PR
starfish@baxter1.clara.net
Published: 16 February 2012