From Watercolours, acrylics and, her favourite medium Oils, Ann captures the atmosphere of the day with her artworks. Preferring to paint 'en plein air’ Ann admits there is no better way to capture the scene than being there in person. Her art shows this with atmosphere and light, saying even on an overcast day there can be contrasts.

Ann can often be seen setting up her easel at various locations around Exmoor National Park. Exmoor itself offers so many different challenges with landscapes, seascapes and wildlife.

Parracombe is hosting its first arts and literary festival, including workshops, walks, talks, theatre, music and film, all taking place between the two bank holidays in May. Highlights include Daily Telegraph writer Eleanor Steafel talking about her ABC of cookery, author Luke Aylen is part of our writer's workshop, unpacking the three big components for fiction writing: setting, characters, and plot-types while Annie Garthwaite discusses her novel 'Cecily', focussing on one of England's greatest medieval women. There's plenty more on the schedule, too. Don't miss it. Tickets range from £15 to free

Simonsbath Festival is a non profit making community festival which celebrates all things Exmoor in the six weeks between May Day and Midsummer. In the spirit of diversity the festival offers a variety of events and activities including talks, classical, folk and jazz music. The festival also collaborates with partners The Exmoor Society and the Exmoor Running and Walking Festival whose events showcase properties and locations on Exmoor that are not easily viewed from public roads. You can find more details of these collaborative activities in the events section of this website. They give an unrivaled insight into Exmoor countryside, its heritage, life and people.

Using the purpose built observatory telescopes under expert astronomer guidance. This event also has the option of a pub meal as well as an overnight/weekend stay in one of the beautifully appointed observatory lodges.

The Golden Horseshoe ride, held annually in Exford, Somerset, in the very heart of the Exmoor National Park, is the UK’s oldest competitive endurance ride.  The first Golden Horseshoe Ride, sponsored by the Telegraph, was organised on Exmoor in 1965 and then in subsequent years at different venues throughout the country, before returning permanently to Exford in 1974.  Over the years the 'Golden Horseshoe' has increased in stature to become one of the ultimate ‘bucket-list’ endurance rides (as listed by Horse and Hound Magazine) and it gives a welcome pre-season boost to inhabitants of the National Park who earn their living from tourism.

​Historically the ride has been the preserve of the top echelon of competitive endurance riding, requiring a very fit horse and an experienced rider to cope with a ride often made more challenging by the weather.  Over the last 10 years, Ride Organisers Barbara Wigley and then more recently Jo and Andrew Chisholm have worked hard to broaden the ride’s appeal, particularly to non-endurance riders and grass-roots endurance riders. This has been done with the introduction of a non-competitive pleasure ride which, in recent years, has been a sell-out and the Exmoor Experience two-day event which gives riders at lower levels the chance to participate and sample “Horseshoe country”.  Shelley and Maggie hope to continue that legacy whilst rebuilding the appeal of the challenge of the top classes to our high level riders and those that want to aspire to achieve the very pinnacle of the sport.

As well as the ultimate in endurance riding, the annual fun dog show has proved to be a big success and will be held once again in 2024.

Spectators are welcome.

Join us for a series of events celebrating the wildlife of the local area around Lynton and Lynmouth. The day’s events include a rockpool safari, Butterflies and Flowers of the Lyn Valley – an illustrated talk, Build a Picture of Exmoor’s wildlife – how to use Seek and iNaturalist, followed by an afternoon Wildlife Walk along the River Lyn.

For more information see our Lyn Nature Watch events on Eventbrite. Free events. Booking recommended.

We will be meeting at Porlock Weir Car Park (TA24 8PD) ready for a 10am start.

Collecting bags and litter pickers will be provided but please bring along old gardening gloves. Much of this beach clean will be along the pebble and shingle ridge. This can be challenging to walk on, so stout shoes are advised.

This event is a Surfers Against Sewage Million Mile Clean event and is supported by Porlock Manor Estate, Exmoor Adventures and Litter Free Coast and Sea Somerset.
To register for this event or if you require any additional information please contact plasticfreeexmoor@gmail.com

Further details can be found on the Plastic Free Communities in West Somerset Facebook page.

Join author Fiona Williams for a walk & talk in the woods of Exmoor.

The House of Broken Bricks is Faber’s lead debut title for 2024 and set on the Somerset Levels where Fiona lives with her family having moved from south-east London.

‘Ain’t nothing wrong with being broken. Nothing at all. You’re like these houses, not a whole brick in em and look how strong they are.

As Tess traces the sunrise over the floodplains, light that paints the house a startling crimson, she yearns for the comforting chaos of life as it once was. Instead of Max and Sonny tracking dirt through the kitchen – Tess and Richard’s ‘rainbow twins’ – Tess absorbs the quiet. The nights draw in, the soil cools and Richard fights to get his winter crops planted rather than deal with the discussion he cannot bear to have.’

“Shocking and powerful. . . This is the best kind of storytelling.” Victoria Hislop

Fiona holds a BSc (Hons) in biological sciences from the University of Westminster and an MA with distinction in creative writing from Bath Spa University. Winner of the 2021 Bridport Prize, Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award she is currently completing a PhD in creative writing at the University of Exeter.

“I wanted to tell the story of a Black Londoner who moves to a farming village with her husband and attempts to raise their ten-year-old fraternal twins of different colours – is it possible for her to find belonging and love in a rural landscape?”

A level of walking fitness is required, please dress appropriately and do bring a blanket or cushion to sit on - we walk in all weathers. SORRY NO DOGS ON THIS SPECIAL AUTHOR EVENT.

Walk, Talk + Book £22 (rrp £14.99 HB) or Walk & Talk £12.00