Exmoor “Walking and Sightseeing” I

The start of July saw me heading for Exmoor. A slow drive on the Friday with lots of traffic queues. I was based at Holnicote House, near Selworthy. This is now a National Trust Property used by hf holidays, but it used to be the holiday residence of the owners of the Holnicote Estate. Cream Tea, unpacking, a briefing and dinner on the first evening.

Views we would have had if it wasn’t so misty!

The second day it took a while to find my packed lunch and when it was located it didn’t have the sandwiches! A lovely waitress called Ellie sorted it out. The walks that day were all on the Holnicote Estate and on good paths. We set out from the house and would have had good views, but it was misty and damp.

We passed a sort of shelter where people could have rested.

Shelter, rebuilt or repaired from the original

The walk continued towards Hurlstone Point getting more good views on the way. The weather had dried up and was much clearer by then.

Views on the way to Hurlstone Point

On the point there is an old coastguard station, from where we had views across the Bristol Channel.

Old Coastguard Station with some of our party

We walked down from the point to the village of Bossington, where there were picnic tables so we could have our lunches in comparative comfort. After lunch was completed, we went to look at a Mediaeval Chapel of Ease a the village of Lynch, nearby.

The chapel
Our party approaching the Owl and wildlife sanctuary

Our next stop was at the Exmoor Owl and Wildlife Sanctuary where we were to have a flying display but we were early so had time to walk down to the “beach”, a shingle (well, quite big stones, actually) bank. From there we could see back up to the old coastguard station on Hurlstone point.

Hurlstone point from the shingle bank

It was then time to go back to the Sanctuary and we had time to look round and see the owls in their aviaries before going to the field for the flying display.

Barn owl
Think this was an Indian owl

The first to fly was a barn owl and it flew from perches to the man and was given a reward until it was tired of the tiny pieces it was given and couldn’t really be bothered! We were told quite a lot of information, including about their amazing hearing and how their ears are at different heights so they are able to pinpoint their prey in 3D. It was taken back to its aviary for a proper dinner and was replaced by other birds in turn.

Harrier hawk
Another Indian owl (I think)

The harrier hawk got so bored that it flew back to its aviary by itself, as did the final bird, which I think was the little Indian one we saw at the start in it’s aviary.

Buzzard

The display took about 2 hours and did include one of the birds – the hawk I think, but could have been buzzard – catching its food in mid-air.

From the sanctuary we walked on to Allerford to see the packhorse bridge. We also saw a taxi going through the ford next to the bridge while we were there.

Packhorse bridge with ford beyond it

It was then time to walk back to Holnicote House, which wasn’t far away , in time to get ready for dinner.

So? Really quite a good day, but I was quite tired afterwards.

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