Lorna Doone Valley

Distance: 9 miles / 14 km (plus 2.5 miles / 4km to take in the loop to Oare Church)
Start/End: Rosemary Lane, Dulverton / Church Hill, Exford

A varied walk, starting at the National Trust campsite at Malmsmead and taking in the pretty river valley of Badgeworthy (pronounced” badgery”) with a great National Trust campsite at Cloud farm on the riverbank.

R.D. Blackmore wrote the story of Lorna Doone with inspiration from this area, drawing on the history and scenery that surrounded him. It is therefore possible to visit the waterslide up which the brave (or foolhardy) John Ridd clambered to find and fall in love with the beautiful Lorna, ‘Queen’ of the lawless ‘Doone’ Clan, and to soak in the atmosphere of the delightful 16^th century church where the honest and steadfast John finally stood next to his bride-to-be.

In all, this is a brisk, medium ability circular walk with a few uphill sections, and an opportunity to picnic at the medieval village that may have been the original hangout of the evil Doone Clan. The route goes over the moorland that John Ridd and Carver Doone knew so well and conjures up the steamy atmosphere of the book, especially on a louring, rainy day.

Room Hill Circuit

Distance: 5 miles / 8 km
Start/End: Exford Carpark

The main carpark in Exford can be tricky to find, so for convenience-

Map reference: SS 854383
Satnav postcode: TA24 7PP

Anyway, here’s a great circular walk that gives you spectacular views out to Dunkery Beacon, the highest point in Somerset, with an easy detour to the iron age Hillfort of Roadcastle. A mixture of pasture and moorland with ancient farmsteads and a walk along the upper reaches of the Exe river, where the bridge provides a good picnic spot.

Facilities in Exford include 2 pubs and a tearooms plus village stores. Spindrift Barn is ideally placed to spend a couple of nights exploring this area.

Dark Skies Trail

Distance: 1 mile up and back
Start/End: Larkbarrow Corner

The Dark Skies Trail is an interesting one, it’s a super short there-and-back night walk newly created by the National Park. It is waymarked in luminescent paint, an easy to follow track accessed from a small layby near Larkbarrow Corner on Wellshead lane (‘what 3 words’: notices.reworked.rebel.).

This trail does not exist to challenge travellers, but to inspire those who walk it with stunning views. The sky blazes with flickering stars and stubbornly bright planets here at Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve. The trail leads to a ruined farmhouse, Larkbarrow, which is marked on the Komoot map and a great place to stargaze and/or picnic. Unfortunately wild camping is not allowed on Exmoor, but the nearby “Westermill” is a handy and very unspoilt campsite, and there is a wealth of accommodation in Exford.

Maybe join an event at the Exford Bridge Tearooms Dark Skies Discovery Hub to learn all about the night skies before you head off on this trail.

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