Walk 16/2009 – Exford, Exmoor

Friday 12th June 2009

Everybody had made the trip down to Devon at different times on Thursday, some arriving later than others. Alan had trouble convincing everybody, including those in the same car, that he had seen a camel by the side of the M5. However his credibility recovered to some extent when David supported the view that there was a camel beside the M5 – a stuffed one!

Those in Geoff’s car started to worry when the Satnav took us on a route which passed Exford and appeared to be continuing through Devon towards Cornwall. We eventually reached where the Satnav was taking us which was Simonsbath, some 4 miles past Exford. We then discovered that Geoff’s Satnav technique is to set it for somewhere near where you want to go, not actually to the place itself.

Today we split into two groups doing similar routes, but one longer then the other. Both routes included some walking in the wooded areas on the fringes of Exmoor before incorporating some of the coast path. Alan’s group slightly extended their route to have coffee at the delightful tea shop at Watersmeet. The two groups met up on the final leg of the route and finished together.

There was much discussion about ticks, since Exmoor is apparently a hot spot for them, and whether or not you should try and remove them yourself. We concluded that you need to have a pair of tweezers to make sure you got them all out and that Geoff would be chief tick remover, on the basis that if he dealt with them on dogs, he’d probably do a reasnoably job on humans.

At one point we came across a continuous knocking sound coming from an old water butt type arrangment. Alan explained that it was an hydraulic ram and was an energy free way of pumping water. Click here to learn more.

Moira had planned to take on Nigel in the photography competition but had to drop out when she discovered she had no film in her camera!

Whilst the food in general was good, there was a notable exception on Friday evening with the vegetable crumble experience. Not only was this made from crumble containg sugar, but the vegetable part seemed to comprise just black potatoes. Never have so many eaten so little.

Friday’s entertainment down the pub included Chris demonstrating her back knobber. You have to hold it with two hands and sling it over your shoulder. Then you gently move your hands up and down until you’re hitting the right spot and you get a sense of relief somewhere you can’t normally reach. Chris explained that it is a totally manual operation and it does not come with batteries!

Report – Alan

Pictures – Alan

Walk rating – Excellent

The youth hostel at Exford.

A rather nice pub was 50m away overlooking the river.

View on our first walk.

Our route takes us along the river valley for quite a while.

Alan knows of a nice little coffee stop at Watersmeet.

The views open out as we get onto the coast path.

We walk around the headland to reach the light house. The slope really was as steep as it looks.

Rhododendrons adorn the coastal path.

We came across this dragon fly on top of something we did not recognise. Whether it was mating with it or eating it, we do not know.

More Rhododendrons.

What’s that continual knocking sound? It’s a hydraulic ram, Alan explains.

Both groups had joined up by this point.