Beautiful Exmoor on our Doorstep
Middle Stone Farm is just 3 miles from Exmoor National Park, a beautiful wilderness with open moorland, ancient wooded valleys and stunning Heritage Coast. Exmoor is the least visited National Park in the country which makes it rather special - you won't see many tourists here, it's really unspoilt and beautiful. The coast is breathtaking with dramatic cliffs and beautiful views and if you like to walk we highly recommend the South West Coast Path.
Definitely check out Tarr Steps about 35 minutes from us and a lovely easy circular walk in a beautiful location with traditional pub above the river edge. Lynton & Lynmouth, also known as Little Switzerland are nice, about an hour from here, Valley of the Rocks is 5 minutes further - definitely leave time for look. Dulverton is a pretty village near Tarr Steps. Dunster Castle is brilliant for families about 2 minutes from us. Horner Woods is beautiful if you like walking. Porlock Weir is our favourite place - you'll see lots of photos on our Instagram page! Withypool is gorgeous on a warm day with safe paddling and grassy banks for a picnic. Bossington beach is next to Porlock, we love this place, it's not suitable for swimming but a stunning stone beach to walk on with National Trust owned headland walks above. There are lots of traditional pubs in the Exmoor villages serving hearty food, and cafes with cream teas. We like eating at Porlock Weir where there's lots of choice and outdoor seating, you'll see more recommendations on our pub page. Dunkery Beacon is the highest point in Somerset, there are lots of places to park up there so you can walk as much or little as you like to reach the summit where the views are incredible.
For river swimming Withypool (photo below with bridge) is perfect for children, it's very shallow and safe, there's a good cafe here as well, or you can picnic on the riverbank. . Landacre Bridge is similar (there's a deeper part just beyond Landacre, ask us when you're here and we'll explain where if you want to go. You can also access the river at Simonsbath (photo below with foxgloves) - it's stunning here if you like to walk, or you can just relax in the field at the start of the walk where there's a big grassy bank close to the river (ask me when you're here for the location). There's also a river running through Horner woods and a river at the back of Bossington. If you're lucky to stay during a heat wave, ask us when you're here for wild swimming locations! There's alpaca walking at Alpacas of Hall Farm, the West Somerset Railway runs close to us too.
If you'd like to see photos of all these places, click here to follow us on Instagram - I post pictures of beaches, rivers and lovely places pretty much daily on our stories, I tag our photos too so you can see exactly where they are. You can always unfollow if you've seen enough!
If you don't have much time to see Exmoor, maybe consider a guided Safari Tour with Exmoor Wildlife Safaris, there are several safari companies on Exmoor which you can find on the net. You'll find an Exmoor magazine in your accommodation when you arrive with a calendar of events, maps and lots of ideas.
Definitely check out Tarr Steps about 35 minutes from us and a lovely easy circular walk in a beautiful location with traditional pub above the river edge. Lynton & Lynmouth, also known as Little Switzerland are nice, about an hour from here, Valley of the Rocks is 5 minutes further - definitely leave time for look. Dulverton is a pretty village near Tarr Steps. Dunster Castle is brilliant for families about 2 minutes from us. Horner Woods is beautiful if you like walking. Porlock Weir is our favourite place - you'll see lots of photos on our Instagram page! Withypool is gorgeous on a warm day with safe paddling and grassy banks for a picnic. Bossington beach is next to Porlock, we love this place, it's not suitable for swimming but a stunning stone beach to walk on with National Trust owned headland walks above. There are lots of traditional pubs in the Exmoor villages serving hearty food, and cafes with cream teas. We like eating at Porlock Weir where there's lots of choice and outdoor seating, you'll see more recommendations on our pub page. Dunkery Beacon is the highest point in Somerset, there are lots of places to park up there so you can walk as much or little as you like to reach the summit where the views are incredible.
For river swimming Withypool (photo below with bridge) is perfect for children, it's very shallow and safe, there's a good cafe here as well, or you can picnic on the riverbank. . Landacre Bridge is similar (there's a deeper part just beyond Landacre, ask us when you're here and we'll explain where if you want to go. You can also access the river at Simonsbath (photo below with foxgloves) - it's stunning here if you like to walk, or you can just relax in the field at the start of the walk where there's a big grassy bank close to the river (ask me when you're here for the location). There's also a river running through Horner woods and a river at the back of Bossington. If you're lucky to stay during a heat wave, ask us when you're here for wild swimming locations! There's alpaca walking at Alpacas of Hall Farm, the West Somerset Railway runs close to us too.
If you'd like to see photos of all these places, click here to follow us on Instagram - I post pictures of beaches, rivers and lovely places pretty much daily on our stories, I tag our photos too so you can see exactly where they are. You can always unfollow if you've seen enough!
If you don't have much time to see Exmoor, maybe consider a guided Safari Tour with Exmoor Wildlife Safaris, there are several safari companies on Exmoor which you can find on the net. You'll find an Exmoor magazine in your accommodation when you arrive with a calendar of events, maps and lots of ideas.
Family Days Out on Exmoor
If you're visiting with children, do ask us about our favourite places, we love sharing local knowledge and we have three children ourselves! You'll find us in the shop every day and you'll see us around the farm and we're always at the end of the phone or email, so do please ask Catherine for advice if you have any questions, We have ideas up our selves for wet and dry days.
For Pony Riding try The Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre (30 mins drive) -they have ponies and Shetlands too. There's the Exmoor Pony Centre in Dulverton too (25 mins drive), Recent guests have also told us Pine Lodge Riding near Dulverton is also good for young children. Please note you need to book ahead with these places, please don't just turn up for a ride. It's quite sleepy in these parts and not everyone has online booking, so do pick up the phone before your stay and see what they can offer.
For Pony Riding try The Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre (30 mins drive) -they have ponies and Shetlands too. There's the Exmoor Pony Centre in Dulverton too (25 mins drive), Recent guests have also told us Pine Lodge Riding near Dulverton is also good for young children. Please note you need to book ahead with these places, please don't just turn up for a ride. It's quite sleepy in these parts and not everyone has online booking, so do pick up the phone before your stay and see what they can offer.