We’ve just returned after a week in Exmoor ( Somerset / Devon). We stopped at the Linhay near Simonsbath (http://www.myfavouriteholidaycottages.co.uk/emmetts-linhay.html ). This is located on the highest farm on Exmoor.
On the way down we stopped at Lytes Cary (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lytes-cary-manor/) , parts of which go back over 650 years, and Cleeve Abbey (http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/cleeve-abbey/).
Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning we spent with Reigate Ramblers and Bath and West Country Walks (www.bathwestwalks.com). The Saturday walk was in Lorna Doone Valley and Sunday was on Dunkery Beacon. We were very fortunate that it stayed dry. However on Monday the bad weather started to set in and added to the wet and marshy ground. We were quite happy to settle for 4.5 miles around Simonsbath.
Tuesday was still wet. We first went to Arlington Court (and the National Trust Carriage Museum) (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/arlington-court/) , a Regency house plus a museum of horse drawn carriages. Shopping in Barnstaple followed – probably the best local town for shopping.
The weather was still bad on Wednesday but the rain did stop at times. A visit to Ilfracombe was on but apart from a couple of shops was not worth the journey. We did visit Chambercombe Manor (http://www.chambercombemanor.org.uk/) before leaving Ilfracombe – this 11th century house has plenty of tales about (deliberate) ship wrecking and ghosts. The gardens were disappointing and obviously it was not the right time of year.
The weather was worse on Thursday. At times the windscreen wipers couldn’t work fast enough. We visited an old friend in Torquay and had a very enjoyable lunch in a local pub.
The weather was very changeable on the way home with extremes of rain and sunshine. We had one stop at Barrington Court (http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court/) and the rain stayed away for this short period. We were surprised to see so many flowers out in the garden.
I’ll post some photos over the next week.