Exmoor trip
Staying at http://www.blindwellbunkhouse.co.uk/
Attendees: Maggie, Alan, Claire, Sue, Joanne, Steve, Belinda, Trudy, Mark, David PJ, Andy M, Keyna, James, Marion and welcome to new members Ade, Andreea
We had a full house at this two year old bunkhouse at the southern end of Exmoor national park. Friday night was eat in night when everyone cooked their own meals (instead of eating on their journey or getting a takeaway). We had a great time catching up as this was the first trip of the year for a few people, lovely to see them. Of course, we had a few games of red-handed which raised the noise level quite a bit!
Saturday started with blue skies and sunshine, a lovely autumnal day.
A very pleasant day was spent walking a circular route across Exmoor to the north to Withypool where we couldn’t pass a tea room with spectacular cakes. Well it was 11.00am, time for coffee break and we just had a hard climb up Withypool hill at 398m!
On we travelled following the Barle river valley and we stopped at the ancient stepping stones known as Tarr steps for lunch.
We had a wet few hours after lunch as we headed uphill away from the river onto Exmoor again as it rain heavily on us. Fortunately, we were able to dry off a bit when the rain belt moved east and we had sunshine again for the final hour back to the bunkhouse. Thanks to Mark for arranging the 15 mile walk which had us all nicely tired and hungry that evening.
Saturday night was cosy in the kitchen/dinning/sitting room. We all enjoyed a home cooked meal of Shepherd’s pie, fish pie or lentil pie so all tastes were catered for. Finishing off with lovely apple and blackberry pie and/or apple crumble cooked by Sue and Maggie. All very much appreciated.
Sunday was another lovely day with sunshine and two rutting stags giving us a show in the valley beyond the farm.
We split into different groups to do various coastal walks, cycling or another walk in Exmoor. In all a great weekend in an area of Exmoor we haven’t been to before.
