Thursday Supper Club at The Dark Skies Discovery Hub!
Every Thursday throughout 2023
An evening out with a difference!
Join us for a convivial evening at The Exford Bridge Tearooms where you can learn all about the Exmoor skies with a delicious three course meal (barbecue in good weather) and finish with an optional walk out into the dark skies reserve.
We will use our telescopes and lasers to starhop around the sky, identifying the main constellations and asterisms, then soak up the atmosphere of a dark, exmoor night.
£40 per adult, £20 aged 6 – 15 years, with an optional walk out into the dark skies area to use our telescopes, weather permitting (£5.00 charge)
Please bring torches, warm clothing and stout, waterproof footwear if planning to join the walk.
All Hub events include a donation to “caremoor for Exmoor”, supporting the Exmoor National Park.
Booking essential as numbers are limited, on info@wildaboutexmoor.com or phone 01643 831759
Exmoor walking and stargazing events:
Don’t Forget, All of our events can also be booked just for your group, or we can put an extra date on if you can’t make one of our planned events, just give us a ring or email.
Exmoor Walks, Families and small groups
We love to show off our beautiful National Park in all of its glory.
Every week we will be guiding one of our very popular walks in the Exmoor National Park.
The length will be 3-5 miles, duration 2 – 3 hours.
Each venue will be one of our favourite walks, depending on the weather or on request on booking, a magical mystery tour if you would rather surprise yourself!
Every walk will include some foraging and wildlife spotting, hopefully Red Deer, Exmoor ponies and fabulous countryside, well off the beaten track.
There is usually a story or two about the local history or legend that we can recount, and some walks have significant literature or historic connections.
Some examples….
- Simonsbath and the tale of Wheal Eliza
- Lynton /Lynmouth and the Valley of the Rocks
- The Poet Coleridge and Culbone Church
- The tale of Lorna Doone and the Doone Valley
- Room Hill and the River Exe
- Webbers post and Dunkery Beacon walking Safari.
£ 35.00 per person,with a hot drink and homemade cake
Numbers will be limited to a maximum of 8 people, plus one of us, or to one group of a higher number.
Dogs on leads welcome.
Group discounts available.
Booking essential on 01643 831759
The Lorna Doone Walks
We meet at Lorna Doone Farm, with its ancient packhorse bridge and crossing ford, and walk up the Doone valley through pastures alongside the beautiful Badgeworthy water. You can visit the R.D.Blackmore memorial stone and try climbing up the infamous waterslide that John Ridd scaled to meet Lorna Doone. Then continue through the pages of the novel, enjoying the spectacular scenery of this remote stretch of moorland. We will likely see Exmoor ponies, now an endangered rare breed,and may even spot Red deer, particularly in the Autumn.
Follow an ancient packhorse way to Oare Church and see where poor Lorna was shot by the dastardly Carver Doone.
Oare church is at least 800 years old, and mentioned in the Domesday book. There is a wealth of history within its ancient walls, which we will happily explain to you.
We know the places that inspired the story of Lorna Doone, and will safely guide you over some pretty remote country, so that you can confidently enjoy this beautiful landscape.
Meet at Malmsmead Gift Shop, 10.30am
£ 35 per person, £20 under 16 years, minimum charge applies.
Dogs on leads welcome.
Booking essential on 01643 831759
The Lorna Doone Experience
We meet at Lorna Doone Farm, with its ancient packhorse bridge and crossing ford, and walk up the Doone valley through pastures alongside the beautiful Badgeworthy water. You can visit the R.D.Blackmore memorial stone and try climbing up the infamous waterslide that John Ridd scaled to meet Lorna Doone. We then continue with excerpts from the pages of the novel, finding the ruined medieval village where the Doones lived, and enjoying the spectacular scenery of this remote stretch of moorland. Look out for Exmoor ponies, now an endangered rare breed,and we will have a good chance of spotting Red deer, particularly splendid with full antlers, in the Autumn.
We will stop for lunch as John Ridd himself would have, in a sheltered combe, with homemade pasties just as he describes….”to hear (very wealthy boys and men) talk of it made my lips smack, and my ribs come inwards.” A warming homemade soup and focaccia baked that morning, with all produce from our farm and garden, will perk us up for the walk to Oare church along an ancient packhorse way.
We explore the church and see where poor Lorna was shot by the dastardly Carver Doone, then a short stroll back to the car.
We know the places that inspired the story of Lorna Doone, and will safely guide you over some pretty remote country, so that you can confidently enjoy this beautiful landscape.
Oare church is at least 800 years old, and mentioned in the Domesday book.There is a wealth of history within its ancient walls, which we will happily explain to you. We finish our experience with a convivial pint at The Staghunters inn, another great Exmoor tradition.
Book on request, group discounts apply, 01643 831759
Explore the forest at night, seeking out nightjars and other creatures of the night, plus see the tallest tree in England
Walk the tall trees trail and then out onto the common to see Exmoor’s wildlife come out at dusk….a magical experience!
Meet at Nutcombe Bottom, near Dunster, for welcome drinks and an introduction to this fascinating migrant bird and the folklore around it.
June and July only for nightjars.
£ 20 per person, or minimum charge of £105 for a bespoke evening.
Sorry, no Dogs on this one!
Booking essential on 01643 831759
Stargazing and Night Hikes in Exmoor’s Dark Sky Reserve
Dunkery Beacon moonrise with Sundowners
Come celebrate the full moon rising with us!
Or just come at another time for the sunset and some stargazing!
We meet at dusk and climb Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor.
Enjoy your sundowners as we watch the sunset over the moor ,then ramble down as we see the full moon rising over the sea.
We return to look at the moon’s craters and detail through our telescopes.
Hot drinks and snacks to warm you up as we stargaze, with lots of information about deepest, darkest space.
Grade: moderate….1 climb, walk approx. 3 – 4 miles up and back.
Location: Dunkery Gate, Between Porlock and Exford, Somerset
Please wear warm, waterproof clothing and comfortable walking shoes or boots. Bring a torch and walking poles if you like to use them.
Charge: £40 per person, £20 under 16 years, Minimum charge of £ 150.
Contact: wildaboutexmoor on 01643 831759 for the next available dates.
Exmoor Dark skies and Farmhouse Supper
Join us for an evening of walking under the stars.
Enjoy a delicious home cooked roast dinner, made with local produce at our traditional Exmoor farm cottage.
We talk about the stars and planets and explain the use of apps on phone and ipad.
Learn how to use our 2 telescopes and binoculars to delve into deeper space.
£45 per head with complimentary drinks and starry information.
Please bring torches, warm clothing and stout footwear
Booking essential on 01643 831 759
We can run this event for groups of 6 – 10 people.
Pub Supper and Exmoor stargazing
Meet up in Exford for a night walk with stargazing after supper at The Crown or at the White Horse, both traditional country pubs, serving great local food.
We walk up onto the moor as the stars come out, then back to our farmhouse for some exploration of deepest, darkest space with our telescopes and binoculars. Lots of starry information and refreshments, you will leave with a good grasp of finding your way around the night sky.
Stargazing and refreshments £40 per person, £20 for under 16 years. Booking essential on 01643 831759
Arrange a date just for your group, £105 minimum charge.
