Exmoor Day Trips from Mid-Devon

Gogwell House is 17 miles from Exmoor National Park, the nearer of the two moors, which makes it an easy day out from a base in Mid-Devon.

Exmoor

Exmoor became a National Park in 1954 and covers about 267 square miles across Somerset and Devon. It is a mix of open heather moorland, wooded valleys, fast rivers and a dramatic coast. The highest point, Dunkery Beacon, stands at 519 metres.

Exmoor and Dartmoor are incredibly beautiful and wild, perfect for long walks and wild swimming, and they have great pubs.

Dulverton and Tarr Steps

Dulverton is 17 miles from Gogwell and is the gateway to the moor, with its own National Park centre, shops and places to eat. For a pub, try Woods in Dulverton or the Tarr Farm Inn.

The Tarr Farm Inn stands beside Tarr Steps, an ancient clapper bridge of huge stone slabs across the River Barle and one of the best-known walks on the moor.

Wimbleball Lake

Wimbleball Lake is also 17 miles from the house. A 7-mile cycling and walking trail runs around the lake, with a riverside walk along the River Haddeo, and there are lots of water sports in a fabulous setting.

Wimbleball Sailing Club provides dinghy sailing, racing and RYA sail training, as well as kayaking and paddle boarding. Wimbleball Reservoir also offers fly fishing for stocked rainbow and wild brown trout.

Wild Exmoor

Exmoor is home to its own native ponies and to red deer. In 2011 it became the first International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe, so clear nights are well worth staying up for.

The coast is dramatic too. Exmoor's cliffs are among the highest sea cliffs in England, and the South West Coast Path runs along them. Lynton and Lynmouth are linked by a water-powered cliff railway, and the nearby Valley of Rocks is home to wild goats.

Staying Safe

The weather can change quickly and mist comes down fast, so take waterproofs, a map and a charged phone. Ponies, sheep and deer wander onto the roads, so drive slowly, and the ponies should not be fed.

Coming Home

Dogs are welcome at Gogwell, and the moors are heavenly for dogs. Back at the house there is a heated pool, open between April and October, as well as a hot tub, a gym and a yoga barn.