Exmoor
Exmoor is one of England’s best kept secrets. Straddling parts of north Devon and west Somerset, Exmoor is actually a patchwork of different landscapes, encompassing wild uplands, thickly wooded combes (valleys), ancient farms, sheltered villages and a stretch of coastline, with its dizzying hog’s-back cliffs, that is unsurpassed.
Exmoor ’s special qualities were officially recognised in 1954 when it was given National Park status to help conserve the area’s natural beauty and wildlife. The National Park Authority, with its team of rangers, keeps a close eye on the environment to help ensure that the delicate balance of nature, tourism and agriculture is maintained – it is important to remember that Exmoor is a real working community, not just a pretty place. There are rights of way all over Exmoor: across tracts of open moorland, beside fast-flowing rivers, through ancient woodland and along the dramatic coastline. There is probably nowhere in Britain that offers such a variety of walking within such a compact area during every season.
Though one of the smallest national parks, Exmoor never feels too busy. Even in the height of summer it is possible to walk for hours amid glorious scenery without seeing a soul – a welcome change from some British beauty spots.
