Links to Exmoor Villages:- Brendon Ilfracombe Guide

Challacombe Church Village post Office The River Bray at Challacombe Back	Challacombe set in an Exmoor valley about six miles south of the coast, with the upper Bray winding its way through the centre, consists of about twenty spread out houses and as many farms. The sun bleached stag horns over the little white washed village shop/Post Office with a petrol pump, are a reminder of Exmoor's rich variety of wildlife. The village pub The Black Venus has provided a welcome watering hole for many a weary traveller who has ventured onto the moor. The pub now offers cream teas in the summer and a selection of snacks which is available all day. The village church at Barton Town (shown opposite) is a pleasant stroll from the village through a few fields. The village lies on two good footpaths which lead straight up onto Exmoor. The ancient Longstone marking the source of the River Bray, several Barrows and the remains of a mediaeval village lie within its boundaries. To see a Large scale map of the village The Long stone
Sunset over Combe Martin harbour Elsie and Bob's Looking across Combe Martin bay towards Wild Pear Naturist Beach
Combe Martin is our nearest Sea by road, only six miles away it boasts the longest high street in England. Its the nearest place for Sunday papers and has two local convenience stores that are open most hours for emergency provisions when the village shop is shut. The famous Pack of Cards pub lies half way down the high street, so named because it was built from the winnings of a card game. We think the best fish and chips in North Devon can be found at ELSIE AND BOBS CHIPPY opposite the village church, the speciality being the "Cod Almighty", a huge fish and chip dinner enough for all the family. The Fo'c'sl Inn situated on the front overlooking the bay, where the photograph opposite was taken, is a great place to sit and enjoy a pint of real ale watching the sun set over the harbour. The hunting of the Earl of Rone takes place at Whitsun and is worth a look, the re-enactment hunts a man through the village, he is eventually caught, put on a donkey and paraded down the high street and shot outside every pub in the village. This is followed by the villagers all in fancy dress and with a band, who enjoy a drink at every pub (all nine of them!) and eventully throw the poor soul into the sea. The pageant is based on a rogue Irish lord who reputedly visited the town in the 17th centry and ran up unpaid debts and seduced all the village girls and was eventually run out of town. Combe Martin is on the SW Coast Path and there is a very strenuous walk from the town to Great Hangman. The view from the top is well worth the climb. The path leads you to hidden beaches one of which is Wild Pear Naturist Beach, often deserted and much quieter and prettier than the main family beaches of the village, you quite often see people camping over on the beach (although this is not officially allowed) after an enjoyable evening Barbeque on the beach and a bit of skinny dipping.
	Local Beaches Home Place is approximately six miles South of Combe Martin (where I look forward to a Sunday drive to fetch the papers). Combe Martin has two main beaches and two hideaway coves which are about a 1/2hr walk from the car park, one of which is a naturist beach. Heddons Mouth (6 miles) has a pebbly cove. Lee Bay has several sandy coves, you will need to walk along around the beach a little way to access them. Woolacombe has long stretches of sand, its a "blue flag beach" with excellent surfing. Its busy at one end but as you walk away from the town it gets quieter. Saunton Sands has miles of open sand and plenty of good surf, the Royal Marines can occasionally be seen practising amphibious landings. Again the further you walk from the car park the quieter the beach becomes. Saunton has the advantage of backing onto Braunton Burrows, a large nature reserve. There are many more well known beaches within a 15 mile radius for example: Croyde, The Black Sands at Ilfracombe, Sillery Sands at Lynmouth, as well as many sandy hideaways, if you know where to go you can almost guarantee a beach to yourself.
	Local Markets & Shopping: The nearest shopping town is Barnstaple (10.5 Miles) with large out of town supermarkets that compliment town centre shopping. Barnstaple has a thriving pannier market, local farmers sell their produce there and you can purchase homemade pies, pasties and a wonderful selection of cheeses etc. Barnstaple is renowned for "Butchers Row" a street full of butchers shops each specializing in different cuts of meat, fishmongers and delicatessens. Along with the traditional shops are all the usual chain stores, Marks and Spencer and Green Lanes shopping arcade. South Molton boasts a small, but excellent, chocolate factory, Quince Honey Farm and also the award winning "Heal Farm produce shop" nearby at George Nympton. The town has many antique & curio shops, several tearooms and a massive farmer's hypermarket selling everthing from green wellies and pot & pans to nails and I dare say a tractor, its worth a visit .
Tarr Steps Enjoying a cream tea at Tarr Farm	Tarr Steps A mediaeval stone clapper bridge across the river Barle. Popular beauty spot with a pub and cream tea shop at Tarr Farm where you can sit outside in the summer overlooking the Steps. (shown opposite) Legend has it that the devil built the bridge and owns the sunbathing rights on the stones, so beware! Situated on the junction of two good walks.
	Clovelly a uniquely preserved coastal village, not a museum but a living community with two pubs and food shops etc. unspoilt by the 20th century the village has steep cobbled streets where the provisions for the whole village are to this day pulled up and down the hill on sledges with the help of donkeys. No cars are allowed in the village and access is only by foot. There are several specially preseved 19th century cottages for tourists to look around including a fisherman's cottage and the cottage where Charles Kingsley lived with an exhibition of the author's life. The village boasts the usual craft shops, a pottery and a visitor centre as well as boat trips from the quay.
	Dunkery Beacon is the highest point on Exmoor at 1705ft. Its owned by the National Trust and managed as a nature reserve. A footpath leads to the top with spectacular views. (picture opposite looking towards Wales).
	Rosemoor is the RHS national rose garden at Torrington. Its well known for its roses boasting some 2,000 bushes with some 200 varieties. It has extensive water gardens and a very impressive fruit and vegetable garden, along with examples of themed colour and cottage gardens. It is easy to spend a day here wandering through its beautiful 40 acres. Rosemoor has a restaurant and tea shop as well as a plant shop which sells high quality cuttings and specimens from the gardens.
	Robber's Bridge is a Local beauty spot and a good starting point for some excellent walks. Named after the villainous exploits of the Doone family.
	Arlington Court regency country house, home of the Chichester family until 1949 is owned by the National Trust. The house has collections of model ships, shells and snuff boxes, amongst other interesting things. Arlington is home to one of the best horse-drawn carriage collections in the country. There is a good restaurant and tea shop, horse-drawn carriage rides are available.
	Valley of The Rocks is a local beauty spot with extensive coastal walks. The valley with its unusual turrets of rock is home to a herd of native British goats. The valley, legend says, was the location of the devil's castle and while he was away his wives took part in a naked drunken orgy with a neighbour. On finding out what had happened on his return he turned the women into the turrets of rock and destroyed the castle.
	Watersmeet is a picturesque wooded valley where the East Lyn meets Farley Water. There are a number of waterfalls and a series of rapids. The old 19th century hunting lodge built on the site has been converted into a very good tea shop. From Watersmeet there are well made up footpaths up stream to Brendon or down to Lynmouth both footpaths follow the river along the spectacular valley.
	Dunster Castle Dunster Castle: The castle, owned by the National Trust, perches on top of a hill over-looking Dunster village. Dating back from 1070 and modified in the 17th and 19th centuries it has been the home of the Luttrell family since 1376. Set in wonderful gardens with walks around the castle and to the top of the hill and the original keep with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. Inside the castle there is a bedroom which was occupied by Charles 1st, a fine carved staircase and a banqueting hall with hanging leather panels showing the story of Anthony and Cleopatra. Well worth a visit
lokking down from the Cliff Railway	Lynmouth is one of the prettiest fishing villages in Devon. Set at the mouth of the river Lyn at the bottom of wooded cliffs, much of which are owned by the National Trust. Several good walks lead from the village, along the East Lyn and the SW coast path. Linked by the Cliff Railway to Lynton, a small town on top of the cliffs. The Victorian railway is still in use and a must for any visitor. It is powered by water and has a gradient of 1:14 revealing spectacular views over the sea towards Wales as it climbs to the top. Other attractions include the Exmoor Brass Rubbing Centre and Craft Times incorporating a pottery. There are several shops and an art gallery to visit. Two events have made the village famous, firstly the heroic Lifeboat launch in 1899 when Lifeboat men from Lynmouth answered a distress call from the "Forest Hall". Being unable to launch due to bad weather they pushed the boat up Countisbury Hill and across the moor to Porlock negotiating numerous hazards before being able to launch at Porlock. Secondly the notorious flood of 1952 when the village was devastated by flood waters. Lynton is the small town at the top of the cliff and has several good pubs, shops and even an Indian restaurant.
Harbour Fisherman,s Cottages	Porlock Weir A pretty harbour at the foot of Dunkery Beacon. Some of the old harbour buildings have been converted into craft workshops, including Exmoor Glass and an art gallery. There is also a small Cream Tea shop and the Ship Inn for refreshments. The village of Porlock is best known for it's hill which is claimed to be the steepest in England. The village also has an unusual octagonal truncated C13th Church dedicated to ST Dubricius who is said to have officiated at the marriage of King Arthur as well as the renowned Ship Inn, an old thatched village pub packed with atmosphere.