Welcome to Exmoor
We have put together some local attractions to Exmoor-If you have any issues or require any changes to the content please contact us.
Walks in The Country
Success stories
Exmoor Attractions
Arlington Court
The current house at Arlington was built in 1822, before this the house was in a different location and had a different layout. Historic maps and plans help to identify how the estate has evolved.
Butlins Minehead
Minehead is a place where guests can enjoy rides and attractions including a helter skelter and chair-o-plane, and the best bit is that's it's all included in the price too!
Find a Splash Waterworld at each resorts. You'll step into an amazing world filled with tropical plants and unexpected delights, where you can paddle in perfectly heated pools, zoom down high-octane flumes, float gently along the lazy river or just relax and unwind on a comfy lounger.
Castle Hill Gardens
Castle Hill Gardens surround the magnificent Palladian house, seat of the Fortescues since 1454. The house was built in 1730 as the Earl Fortescue’s family home in North Devon. Today, Castle Hill is home to his descendants, the Earl and Countess of Arran. It is set in a spectacular 18th century parkland landscape punctuated with statues, follies and temples built by each generation of the Fortescues.
Cleeve Abbey
Whatever the weather, there is plenty to explore at the Abbey and if sunny, there is lots of space for a picnic in the peaceful grounds with a stream running through them.
Coleridge Cottage
Coleridge Cottage has a rich and fascinating history, from a humble Georgian home to its transformation into ‘Moore’s Coleridge Cottage Inn’ during the Victorian era. As a result of a major redevelopment project in 2011, you can now explore parts of the cottage never previously open to the public, and explore atmospheric cottage rooms which have been recreated as though the Coleridge family had just walked out.
Coombe Martin Wildlife
The Park is an independently family run business that relies solely on the income from its customers to look after its animals, maintain the beauty of the park and make improvements every year.
Our aim is to give our customers a wonderful experience, surrounded by natural beauty, gorgeous animals, dinosaurs and lots of fun and enjoyment.
The park which aims for ‘more animals less cages’ has a genuine passion for encouraging a respect for the natural world. As well as lions, wolves, sea lions, otters, monkeys, wallabies, exotic birds and more, we are well known for our impressive life sized animatronic dinosaurs!
With a daily schedule of Free Shows, talks, encounters and a number of ‘Animal Experiences’ to enjoy, we encourage close interaction with our knowledgeable keepers and some truly magnificent animals.
In addition, we offer an exhilarating Dino Express Train Ride, a tropical house, Bug World and Tomb of the Pharaohs.
Dark Sky Telescope Hire
Dark Sky Telescope Hire rent out high-performance telescopes for back garden stargazing in England and Wales. Our range of hire telescopes include small, medium and large aperture Skywatcher and Orion Optics instruments suitable for individuals, families and groups in the UK.
Dulverton Heritage
The Guildhall Heritage and Arts Centre is situated behind the Exmoor National Park Centre/ Dulverton Library. Open seven days a week from Early April to the end of October, with free admission, it gives visitors a taste of old Dulverton, a main exhibition which changes either annually or every 2 years plus a varied programme of short term exhibitions. The shop has a variety of souvenirs and local crafts.
Dunter Working Watermill
Visit this impressive restored 18th-century watermill built on the site of a mill mentioned in the Domesday Survey of 1086. The mill currently produces stoneground wholemeal flour from organic wheat. The team also pack porridge oats and jumbo oats, and mix and pack their own museli. All are available to buy onsite or at Dunster Castle stables shop.
The mill is set in peaceful surroundings alongside the River Avill and at the entrance to Dunster Castle River Gardens. The Watermill tea-room is situated 50 yards from the watermill and serves a tasty range of seasonal treats.
Currently, the watermill is only operated on selected days. Please call 01643 821759 to check when the mill is operating.
Exmoor Ponies
Situated in the heart of the beautiful Exmoor National Park, the Exmoor Pony Centre is a small charity run business, owned by the Moorland Mousie Trust, working to promote and protect the endangered rare-breed Exmoor pony.
Fyne Court
The estate was the home of the Crosse family who lived here until the house was destroyed by fire in 1894. Discover how the fire started and find out where the house used to stand on one of our eye opener tours.
Learn more about Andrew Crosse, Fyne Court's most famous resident, known as 'The Thunder and Lightning Man' by the locals.
There's plenty for the children to do including building a den, climbing a tree or playing giant jenga in the courtyard.
Relax in our newly refurbished courtyard tea-room with a cream tea or a hot chocolate after a walk around one of the three waymarked trails.
Hestercombe Gardens
All of our gardens have undergone acclaimed restoration works and today provide important examples of gardens in contrasting styles that continue to grow and develop. The award-winning visitor facilities include the warm and welcoming Stables Kitchen Cafe with a bright, airy courtyard. Plus find the Column Room Restaurant inside Hestercombe House serving quintissentially British afternoon teas and delicious light lunches.
The Gardens Shop is full of beautiful things for the home and garden and the Plant Centre is well stocked with a wide variety of plants. These facilities and the well-appointed picnic area and under 7s playground have free entry. The restored 17th century watermill complex showcases the historic uses of renewable energy alongside the original working mill machinery and is set in the heart of the gardens.
There are so many things to do! The Somerset Gardens at Hestercombe are open all year round (except Christmas Day), has lots of exciting events and loves your dogs!
Ilfracombe Aquarium
Ilfracombe Aquarium is an award-winning, all-weather, educational, family attraction located in the Old Lifeboat House alongside Ilfracombe's picturesque and historic harbour. The town is found on the dramatic North Devon coast 20 minutes drive from Barnstaple, 10 minutes from Woolacombe, set amongst the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
Knighshayes Court
With acres of glorious gardens and parkland, surrounding a spectacular Gothic Revival house, Knightshayes is the complete country gentleman's dream.
The house is a rare example of the work of William Burges, whose richly decorated interiors have always inspired extremes in opinion. Full of quirks and curiosities, you can see gargoyles, corbels and a medieval inspired great hall.
The garden is one of the finest in Devon and its collection represents one of the most varied in the Trust; with over 1200 plant species unique to Knightshayes and riotous seasonal colour, it’s always worth a visit.
Covering an area of just over four acres, the walled kitchen garden is another great highlight, brimming with seasonal produce for the Stables Café.
Lundy Island and Marine
Lundy’s clear waters are a magnet for marine wildlife. Where warm southern currents meet cooler northern waters, this creates the ideal conditions for a diverse and thriving marine environment. The variety of different marine habitats is unusual for such a small area and attracts a wealth of marine creatures to take advantage of every available space.
Lynton & Lymouth Railway
complete without a ride on the famous funicular cliff lift.
The area situated in the centre of the "Exmoor National Park" and nicknamed "Englands Little
Switzerland" a "Day out in Devon" would not be complete without visiting one of the
southwests top attractions.
It’s the best and most exciting way to travel between these two historic towns and will be
one of the highlights of the day - for Mums, Dads and all the family.
Enjoy stunning views of Exmoor and the North Devon Coastline as you glide up and down the
862 foot length of track; from Lynmouth nestling at the foot of the cliffs to Lynton perched
500 feet above.
Visit Lynton & Lynmouth and The Cliff Railway for a great day out in Devon go to
our links page to find Hotels, B&Bs and Guest houses in Lynton, Lynmouth, Brendon,
and the whole of the Lyn Valley area.
RHS Garden Rosemoor
Rosemoor became home to Lady Anne Palmer and her mother following the death of her father, Robert Horace Walpole, the fifth and last Earl of Orford, in 1931. At that time the garden was, as she describes it, ‘dull and labour intensive, typically Victorian with a great use of annuals in beds around the house.’ The Stone Garden, designed by Lady Anne’s mother, was the first area of hard landscaping.
South West Water
South West Lakes Trust is the region's largest combined environmental and recreational charity. Its 50 inland water sites, spread across Devon, Cornwall and West Somerset, attract in the region of 2m visits annually. It is listed as being in the top 3,000 of the country's 150,000 charities. In 2010 and 2014 the Trust won The Queen's Award for Enterprise, in Sustainable Development category.
Tropiquaria Wild Life Park
The main Tropiquaria building is situated in 5.5 acres of grounds which contain two main play areas and a number of outdoor animal enclosures. As well as a number of outdoor aviaries we also have animals such as Tapir, Rheas, Wallabies, Meerkats, four species of Lemur, Gibbons, Tamarins, Emus, Squirrels, Scottish Wildcats and a Serval
Watermouth Castle
One of the West Country’s premier Family Tourist Attractions where you can enjoy, a Victorian Castle full of eclectic treasures, nostalgic displays and curios, a theme park including rides and play areas, and beautiful landscaped gardens.
West Somerset Railway
About the Railway, a true country branch line of the old Great Western Railway is full of fascination whether you are looking for a nostalgic ride back in time through lovely countryside or to study the railway and industrial heritage which our line preserves. The historic steam locomotives, coaches and wagons, and the buildings of our ten unique stations linked by a twenty mile scenic journey will repay hours of exploration. The surrounding countryside is as varied as it is beautiful. The gently rolling Quantock hills and distant Exmoor, unspoilt villages and farms nestling in leafy lanes, the cliffs and coast of the Bristol Channel with views of distant South-Wales, confident Church Towers, Dunster's imposing Castle and Minehead's seaside charm are all waiting to be discovered.
