Simonsbath Summer Strolls

Special, free guided tours offering a chance to look inside the historic, water powered sawmill and enjoy a stroll around the village of Simonsbath are on offer from Exmoor National Park Authority in August.

The free guided tours around the village are on:

Sunday 15 August

Wednesday 18 August

Tuesday 24 August

Sunday 29 August

The tours start from outside the Exmoor Forest Hotel at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm on each of these days.

Parking is available at the public Ashcombe Car Park and, for those joining these tours, at the Exmoor Forest Hotel.

Ruth Hyett, who will be running the tours, says: “We are hoping that some people might like to make a day of it and come by bus. For the Sunday and Wednesday tours they can catch the 9.30 bus (Ridlers 401) from Dulverton (Exmoor House car park) which reaches Simonsbath at 10.29. The bus back leaves Simonsbath at 17.59 (arrives Dulverton at 19.00) giving you time to join either tour that day and to go for a walk.

“Or catch the 11.05 from Lynmouth (Lyndale car park) which arrives at Simonsbath at 11.29 offering the opportunity for a short walk and lunch before joining a tour at 2.00. The return bus leaves at 16.29 getting you back to Lynmouth at 16.55.”

Simonsbath is a fascinating village set in beautiful countryside at the heart of Exmoor National Park where, before the 19th Century, there was just one house, built more than three hundred and fifty years ago and standing alone in thousands of acres of wild moorland owned by the Crown.

In 1818 George III sold the land to wealthy Midlands industrialist John Knight who founded the village and had grand plans to build a mansion and create a great country estate. The landscape and buildings of Simonsbath today owe much to the vision of John Knight and his son Frederic.

For full details see the Public Transport Timetable for Exmoor National Park available at National Park Centres and at www.exploremoor.co.uk

Refreshments and toilet facilities are available in the village.