Where to go
The general location of the cottage with the whole of Exmoor `on the doorstep' is, of course, an area of outstanding natural beauty, ideal for walking and touring by car, either inland or along the magnificent coast. On the living room bookshelf, there are both general and detailed maps (2 1/2 inch to mile) of most of the Exmoor area, together with some guide books. There are wonderful walking opportunities all over the moor and Simonsbath is a centre for some particularly beautiful walks and for all day refreshments at Bouveys Tea Room & Restaurant.
Watersmeet and `Lorna Doone' country are not far away, while for those who enjoy trout fishing, the beautiful Whistlandpound Reservoir is not far away by car. There is also a picnic area in a prominent position overlooking the reservoir. There is a riding school at one of the local farms for those interested in riding/trekking (at Arlington).
Further away into Exmoor are Withypool and Winsford Hill, with the famous Landacre Bridge and Tarr Steps. Clatworthy Reservoir and Wimbleball Lake offer nature trails. The countryside above Minehead is popular, with Selworthy Village and Dunster Castle both being well worth visiting. In the immediate vicinity there are marked footpaths with excellent views.
In the cottage, there is a book of tourism adverts which has a host of places of interest to visit.
There is the Station Inn very near at Blackmoor Gate (see
their excellent take-away pizza menu on the dresser!), the Black Venus pub at
Challacombe and the White Heart at Bratton - all of which do meals in pleasant
atmospheres. The Poltimome Arms at Yard Down above Brayford, is harder to find
but the location and local atmosphere are really special.
You might want to ring the Tourist Board in Barnstaple 01271 to get the latest
information.
What's around
There is a wealth of nature all around the cottage. Most common English birds visit the garden, with robins, blue-tits, wrens, blackbirds, hedge-sparrows, swallows, chaffinches, jackdaws, goldfinches and crows. In the banks in springtime, there are snow-drops, primroses, daffodils and bluebells. Later, wild strawberries come along. These banks get broken down very easily, so please discourage children from climbing up them!