Collection 02 of 06
Moorland
Open hill, red deer at dusk and a properly dark sky.
Cottages and farms in the villages of the high moor, from Simonsbath and Exford to Hawkridge, Molland and Brayford.
How we chose these: In the high-moor villages: Exford, Withypool, Simonsbath, Winsford, Hawkridge, West Anstey, Molland, Challacombe and Brayford. The ones we'd pick first are at the top.
This collection is drawn by place, not by feature. If a house is in one of the villages we count as the high moor, it is here: Exford, Withypool, Simonsbath, Winsford, Hawkridge, West Anstey, Molland, Challacombe and Brayford. At the time of writing that is 33 houses, from The Linhay at Simonsbath, which sleeps two, to The Farmhouse at West Anstey, which sleeps 27.
Exford and Withypool have the most, followed by Simonsbath and Hawkridge. Between them are cottages for two, farmhouses for ten or more, and a tower at Birch Cleave.
The National Park Authority lists large areas of open moorland among the reasons Exmoor is a National Park, with a sense of remoteness rare in southern Britain. It calls Exmoor one of the best places in England to see wild red deer. In 2011 Exmoor became Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve, and on a cloudless night the Milky Way can be seen with the naked eye. Paths here are often rugged and narrow, so take a map.
The houses
Check dates and pricesSources
Other collections
- 01CoastHarbour walls, sea views and chips on the slipway.
- 03Big gatheringsLong tables and enough bedrooms to go round. Sleeps 12 to 27.
- 04Just the two of youOne bedroom, one good bed, nobody else's noise.
- 05With the dogMuddy paws expected, and a garden the owner lists as enclosed.
- 06Hot tubsFor after the walk. The walk is not optional.