Exford, Exmoor, Somerset
Whether you find Exford by design or by luck, you can’t help thinking what a fetching little village it is. In the heart of Exmoor National Park, Exford stands on the River Exe, 7 miles from Dulverton and 10 miles from Minehead on the Somerset Coast.
It’s a very pleasing sight as you come down the hill from the ‘main road’ - before you is the village green with centuries old houses at its edge, and if you need provisions, The Exmoor Stores. Stop for a wander round and you’ll notice how everyday life goes on around here; there are two or three small shops, two pubs and a garage. Come in the summer and you might find quite a crowd here, because it’s a good stopping point for anyone exploring Exmoor, and it tends to draw visitors because there’s so much of that quintessential charm. It’s like a gentle turn back to yesteryear, and that’s nice; time slows down here, it all feels so much more laid back.
Sit for a while on one of the benches on the green, let the young ‘uns let off steam in the playground, just soak up that peaceful vibe. If you fancy stretching your legs set off on the Exe Valley Way to Withypool and go on to Tarr Steps, or wander up over the moors to Dunkery Beacon, the highest point in the national park. For a guided tour of the parts of Exmoor that not everyone gets to see, book with Exmoor Wildlife Safaris; they’ll pick you up from The Exmoor White Horse Inn and take you off the beaten track where you’ll get to see the most beautiful scenery and if you’re lucky, a bit of wildlife, like majestic red deer stags feeding in the wild, and Exmoor ponies contentedly grazing on the heaths.
All information correct at the time of writing