Exmoor Dark Skies Festival 2023

 Our Events!

Dark Skies Discovery Hub evenings

October 13th with Jo Richardson of Space Detectives (no walk, but extended astronomy session)     October 19th, 26th, 27th and 29th at 6.00pm

Farmhouse Supper and stargazing night hike

Sunday October 22nd and Tuesday October 24th.

Booking essential as numbers are limited, on info@wildaboutexmoor.com or phone 01643 831759

All details below…..

 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 dark skies event
viewing telescope at our farmhouse

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.

contact us
Dunkery walk
Exmoor ponies Black hill
Badger dog at Badgery water Doone Valley

 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

Exmoor events ford at malmsmead
Exmoor pony, Doone Valley

  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

Exmoor pony, Doone Valley
Exmoor events ford at malmsmead

 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

Exmoor events nightjars and rainbows
Andrew Bentley nightjar

 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

what is a nightjar?!

                              Stargazing and Night Hikes in Exmoor’s Dark Sky Reserve

Steve's moon photo!
group nightwalk at dunkery Beacon

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.

  

The Crown, Exford
The White Horse, Exford
Exmoor dark skies event
viewing telescope at our farmhouse
The Crown, Exford
Wild About Exmoor dark sky event
wild about exmoor farmhouse supper event
night walk event