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Exmoor Walking Festival
Friday October 1st to Monday October 4th 2010
Download Autumn Walking
Festival Brochure
The North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival is now in it's 10th year and has
grown to become one of the larger walking festivals in the UK. The walking
festival has a wide choice of guided walks throughout North Devon, Exmoor and
even some in the Quantocks and its foothills. The knowledgeable, friendly guides
include enthusiastic local people, wardens and rangers and they look forward to
meeting you and showing you the countryside and coast they love. Just click the
link above to see the brochure of events planned.
Below is a short extract from my summer walk around the grounds of Love North
Devon - If you would like to stay for a weekend break prices start from £395 -
more details available at
www.lovenorthdevon.com
Morning Summers Walk
Sunday 10.30hrs August 22nd 2010
On a morning such as today I couldn't help but think to myself, "this is
what it's all about, this is why I chose to live here". The sun is bright and
warm and the birds are singing, what a great day (and I hadn't even had
breakfast yet). After an evening of heavy rain and the odd rumble of thunder, it
wasn't surprising that the ground was a little mushy underfoot so I'd opted to
wear my new wellingtons and give them a try. Just after joining the woodland
track I noticed a few tell tale deer tracks, perhaps I would see one today?
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Looks like the tracks and I were heading in the
same direction towards the lake. Looking around
I was amazed how vibrant the countryside looks.
Every tree was glistening with dew and
shimmering in the sunlight. I love the oak
trees, aren't they beautiful?
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The waterfall down
by the lake was quite a sight, normally just a
picturesque splash, after the evening downpour
it had burst into life. see below for the before
and after shots. It's funny to think that
the water disappearing down the valley and into
the distance is also the same water we drink and
have a shower in every day (filtered of
course!). That is the joy of living on an
organic farm, everything is untainted by
chemicals - especially the water!
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Looking through the trees I could see towards
Exmoor , during the spring when I first walked
around these woods I could see Exmoor from any
part of this track. Now, with the trees in full
leaf it is almost impossible unless you are on
the edge of the wood. Such a good hiding
place for any animals, no wonder the deer like
it in here.
"Hey what was that? A noise! A crack - something
in the wood ...... it's a stag!!! Where's my
camera? Oh no it's not switched on, .... it's on"
(it is so noisy!) "did I get the shot? Oh no it's
seen me and he's off".....
Did I get the shot? Well sorry not really - I
only had a pocket camera but if
you look really carefully he is here in the
centre, but he's seen me and is making his way
down the valley. I may not have got the shot but
I certainly had the experience.... what a buzz,
seeing Englands largest animal in the wild - no
cages no zoo - wild animals as nature
intended in an organic , ancient wood.
Next time I'm sure I'll get a little closer -
If
you'd like to see how close you can get, see our
website for short breaks and holidays at
Love North Devon
best wishes Adrian |
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