Exmoor Discover More Tour 2025 - DHTour

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From$3,250 pp

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8 Days / 7 Nights

Availability : May 30 and August 22

Start: Holnicote House, Selworthy, Somerset, England

End: Holnicote House, Selworthy, Somerset, England

Exmoor Discover More Tour: 7 nights based at Holnicote House, Selworthy, Somerset

Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca to book.

From willow weaving to cider making, this small group tour introduces you to a side of Exmoor only the locals know. Find out about the conservation efforts underway at Higher Barn Farm and the Holnicote Estate’s resident population of beavers. Follow in the footsteps of literary greats in the Valley of Rocks, dive into Porlock Bay’s maritime past at an oyster farm and get facts on Exmoor’s endangered ponies – the oldest native pony breed in Britain – from a national park guide. It’s all capped with a scenic journey on the West Somerset Railway, ideal for taking in the region’s natural beauty.

Tour Details

Highlights:

Small group sizes
A talk about the Holnicote beaver population with a National Trust Volunteer
Visiting Poets Corner and exploring Doone Valley, the setting for R.D. Blackmore’s Lorna Doone
Riding the Lynton funicular railway
A trip to Porlock Bay Oysters to learn about oyster farming
Sampling local cider on a visit to Torre Cider Farm

Pick Up Location & TIme

Holnicote House, Selworthy, Minehead, Somerset TA24 8TJ (Google Map)
4:00pm – You’re welcome to check into the country house hotel from 4pm onwards.

Drop off Location & Time

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way onward.

Price Includes

High quality en-suite upgraded accommodation at Holnicote House
Excellent food in our country house, full board (B,L,D daily)
The services of our knowledgeable leader, ensuring you get the most from your holiday
Full-day excursions with all transport on touring days in a good-quality, comfortable mini-coach
All entrance fees

Meals

All meals from afternoon Cream tea on arrival day, to breakfast on departure day

7 breakfasts
6 lunches
7 dinners
1 tea

Price Excludes

Airfare
Transfers
Pre / Post hotel nights
Travel to/from the Country Hotel (The nearest railway stations is Taunton)
Driver / Tour Leader gratuity is at your discretion
Travel Insurance

What to Expect

Unpack Once!

Explore places of interest, beauty, heritage and wonder. Enjoy active guided sightseeing on relaxed-pace trips to revel in the history, landscapes, architecture and culture of your chosen destination. Our knowledgeable leaders will provide fascinating detail to bring it all to life. Travel between locations by mini-coach or public transport following a carefully planned itinerary.

Accommodation at a country house hotel
Full Board Meals – from dinner on arrival day to breakfast on departure day
Knowledgeable leader
Transport between locations

Itinerary

Day 1Arrival Day

You’re welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival. (D)

Accommodation: Holnicote House

Day 2Conservation & Regeneration

We start our trip with a visit to Higher Barn Farm, a small farm in the eastern foothills of Exmoor. With the Wild CIC are a community benefit organisation with a passion for protecting nature and own the farm. They have a vision to transform the parcel of land to become a diverse and thriving ecosystem, full of wildlife and wonderful food that they can share with the local community.

After lunch back at the house, we’ll have a chance to visit the habitat of Holnicote’s recently reintroduced beaver population with a National Trust Volunteer. After a short talk about the beavers, there’s free time to explore the village of Selworthy with its famous Periwinkle tearoom and All Saints Church. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Holnicote House

Day 3Poets & Literary Great

Starting the day with a journey to the Valley of Rocks, we’ll visit Poets Corner, a shelter built in the 1920s which has been inscribed with poetry by local people. From here, we’ll head to Lynton, enjoying a ride on the funicular railway. It’s then on to the Doone valley, the inspiration for R D Blackmores Lorna Doone novel. There’s time for a coffee before our visit to Watchet via Ash Farm where Coleridge penned Kubla Khan. Watchet inspired Coleridge to pen the hauntingly beautiful poem, the Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner and you can find a statue of the mariner looking over the Bristol Channel on Watchet Harbour. Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore this lovely fishing village. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Holnicote House

Day 4Free day

A free day for you to explore the local area or to relax in the Country House. Our Discovery Points help you make the most out of your free day. There’s plenty of maps and a selection of the best local walking routes, as well as weather forecasts and public transport options – plus details about other places to visit. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Holnicote House

Day 5Coastal Life

We’ll start the day with a visit to Greencombe Gardens, which is a small garden but one which is an inspiration to many. Overlooking Porlock bay it boasts an outstanding collection of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas.

Following on from the gardens, we’ll descend to the coastline visiting Porlock Bay Oysters, where we’ll learn about Exmoor’s oyster farming heritage and the lifecycle of this prized mollusc. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Holnicote House

Day 6Wildlife on the Moors

Today we’ll take a trip to the Exmoor Pony Centre to learn about the welfare and conservation work underway by the staff here and more about the ponies themselves.

We’ll then journey back towards the coast via Withypool Tarr Steps, a typical clapper bridge construction dating from medieval times. In the afternoon, we’ll meet with one of the Exmoor National Park Volunteers for a talk on the wildlife and wildflowers on Exmoor. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Holnicote House

Day 7Produce & Steam

Our final day begins at Willow and Wetland Visitor Centre where we can learn about the different aspects of willow growing, processing and basket making.

We’ll travel by bus to Bishops Lydeard before a scenic ride on the West Somerset Railway to Washford. The bus will meet us there and take us to Torre Cider Farm where we’ll be given a tour of the orchard to find out how its famous cider is made. (B, L, D)

Accommodation: Holnicote House

Day 8Departure Day

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home. (B)

Dates and Prices

Departure Dates	Per person (single or twin)	Single in a double room
2025: May 30	$3,250	$3,530
2025: August 22	$3,250	$3,530

Pricing

Pricing is per person (pp) based on single/twin/double occupancy.

Supplement applied for single in a double room.

Rates are in $ CAD. Rates include room upgrade (better) and membership fees.

Contact DHTour at 1-888-597-3519 or 905-639-9954 or dhtour@dhtour.ca to book.

Ask us for the best available pricing for your dates & choice of airline. We can assist in your travel to/from the Country House.

During your Discovery Tour you’ll have the opportunity to visit many fascinating places. The following is our provisional programme, and your leader may adjust it at their discretion, taking into account factors such as weather, local opening times, or other events. This holiday includes active sightseeing and you should expect to spend lots of time on your feet.

Most admissions to places of interest are not included. Please allow up to £10 per day for admissions to all the places of interest we will be visiting. The full adult price is given but there are usually good reductions for parties and seniors. If you are a member of the National Trust, English Heritage or similar, remember to bring your card for free admission to their properties. Please bring cash as card machines are not always available at all venues.

Sometimes things happen beyond our control – the weather, traffic jams or changes at the places we visit. If we need to adjust your holiday programme, for whatever reason, your leader will help smooth the way.

Travel Details:
Address is: Holnicote House, Selworthy, Minehead, Somerset TA24 8TJ

By Rail:
The nearest railway station is at Taunton.

By Taxi:
The 30-mile journey from Taunton railway station takes approximately 55 minutes. You can pre-book a taxi from our recommended taxi company, Bossington Private Hire. As a guide price, it costs £56 per 4-seat taxi in 2020. 8-seat taxis are also available at a higher rate. A shared taxi will be arranged wherever possible. Please prebook your taxi at least 7 days in advance by contacting:

Bossington Private Hire*
Tel: +44 (0) 7971 044871
Email: inbossington@gmail.com
The return taxi journey can be arranged on your behalf by the Holnicote House Manager.
*Bossington Private Hire is not owned or managed by us.

By Bus:
The number 28 bus operates between Taunton station and Minehead. At Minehead change for the number 10 bus that will take you to the Selworthy turn (which is at the end of Holnicote House drive). A 2 minute walk along the drive will bring you to the house. Alternatively pre-book a taxi from Minehead; the 6 mile journey will cost you approx £10 for a 4-seat taxi from our recommended taxi provider.

By Car:
From Bridgewater take the A39 though the southern outskirts of Minehead towards Porlock. Holnicote House is on the left about 4½ miles out of Minehead, and about ¾ mile after the signpost to Luccombe (do not follow the signs to Selworthy). After the Selworthy Village sign look out for our sign 500 yards further on, on the left. Free car parking is available in the grounds.

Hotel Descriptions

4

Holnicote House

Lying near the attractive village of Selworthy, in the heart of the Exmoor National Park, historic Holnicote House stands within a series of peaceful gardens with spreading lawns. Once the centrepiece of an extensive 12,500 acre estate, the charming and characterful house was gifted to the National Trust in 1944. Since then it has been reimagined as a walkers’ retreat, with wonderful access to the countryside. As well as 32 delightful bedrooms, there are two comfortable lounges and a sociable bar. The landscaped gardens are still part of the wider Holnicote Estate and provide a wonderful area to wander. Outside the house, explore wild Exmoor, walk in the Quantocks, climb Dunkery Beacon and stroll on the Somerset Coast Path with the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, drop in Dunster Castle, ride a Victorian cliff railway and watch for wildlife including the majestic red stags.

Address: Holnicote House, Selworthy, Minehead, Somerset TA24 8TJ

Room Amenities: Tea & coffee-making facilities, TV, Hairdryer, Toiletries, Wi-Fi

Stay in one of the main building’s bright, beautifully presented rooms or in the thatched cottages in the grounds, called Butlers and Guns respectively. With 32 bedrooms, Holnicote House has plenty of space and there’s a range of Good, Better and Best Rooms to choose from: best rooms are on the first floor and decorated in keeping with the National Trust estate, with plenty of space and great views over the back garden, reaching out across Crawter Hill and Dunkery Hill, Somerset and Exmoor’s highest point. Ask for numbers 1, 4 or 9 to feel suitably special.

All ‘Good’ rooms are ensuite and furnished to a high standard. There are also several ‘Better’ and ‘Best’ Rooms that are either larger or have a desirable view, a more luxurious mattress, larger television, enhanced toiletries and a fluffy bathrobe & slippers.

Hotel Amenities: Free Wi-Fi, boot room and drying room, attractive garden, outdoor swimming pool, multi-purpose activity room, lounge, library and board games to borrow

After a day walking on Exmoor or exploring the heath and moorland, come back to the house and its specially tailored walkers’ facilities. Relax by sitting in the pretty gardens or challenge a fellow guest to a game of croquet. Take a dip in the large heated outdoor pool. For something less strenuous, snag a comfy chair in one of the cosy lounges, borrow a book, join a game of cards or scour the countryside through the large telescope. Head to the bar before dinner for a drink and a chance to catch up with your companions, best enjoyed by the windows overlooking the estate.

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