Campsites
Please contact us for the full list of available campsites for both Exmoor and The Quantocks.
Busy Times and Areas to Avoid
Certain areas of the Quantocks need to be avoided during the bird breeding season. Please contact the Quantock Rangers on: (01278) 733642 or by email
quantockhills@somerset.gov.uk Please note the end of June and the beginning of July are popular assessment times, therefore by avoiding these times will mean an assessor will be easier to find.
General Description and History
Exmoor: The history of Exmoor is one long story of how people from Mesolithic times to the present day have tried in different ways to live on and around the moor and exploit the area for their own purposes. For example, they hunted and fished, cut down trees, built houses, cleared and cultivated land, grazed animals. They also traded, travelled, worshipped, and buried their dead. In doing these things they left behind traces of their activities such as flint arrowheads and standing stones, deserted mine-shafts and derelict buildings. At the same time their actions helped form the Exmoor landscape as we know it. Trees were gradually cleared from the hills and later vegetation was controlled so that sheep could find the best grazing.
The whole Exmoor landscape is therefore a record of how people lived there in the past. It is a particularly important landscape historically because there are so many undisturbed archaeological sites and monuments and probably more to be discovered. Research will of course contribute greatly to our understanding of the past in Devon and Somerset, and nationally.
To find out more go to the Exmoor National Park website www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/index.htm
Quantocks: The Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covers 99 square kilometres running north west from the vale of Taunton Deane to the Bristol Channel Coast. The Quantock Hills was England’s first AONB being designated in 1956 (confirmed in 1957) and consists of large amounts of heathland, oak woodlands, ancient parklands and agricultural land.
We are able to assess Bronze, Silver and Gold expeditions whether the expeditions are on foot, horseriding or mountain biking.
All expeditions, including practice journeys, are to be supervised by an experienced adult who must accept responsibility for the safety of the group. He or she must be satisfied that the participants are fully trained and properly equipped to undertake the expedition planned.
Please send your notification forms and route tracings, 2 copies of each, to us as early as possible.
Assessors are all volunteers who give up their free time to assess groups, therefore it is not possible to guarantee an assessor for your group. However it is more likely that an assessor will be available if:
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notification forms and tracings are submitted at least 6 weeks prior to the expedition (please feel free to send them in as early as possible, some groups send them in 5 or 6 months in advance!)
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the group arrives early in the area allowing time for acclimatisation, familiarisation and the pre-expedition check
We require 2 copies of the route on acetate paper or a photocopy with the route highlighted and this is to be sent in the first instance to us with 2 copies of the notification form (and an SAE), or sent by email using Memory Map Version 5. No other information is necessary at this stage.
Once the assessor has been allocated and has approved your route then the route cards, equipment lists, menus etc should be forwarded direct to the assessor.
Notification Only Groups
Groups who are coming to Exmoor or the Quantocks for practice expeditions or are bringing their own assessors should submit 2 copies of their route and 2 copies of their notification form at least 4 weeks prior to the expedition.
Groups will receive an expedition number from us.
Horseriding Expeditions
The Exmoor and Quantock Hills Area provides wonderful opportunities for horse expeditions, right up to Gold Level. The area is so extensive that the considerable distances which can be involved in a horse expedition can be easily accommodated. In addition, the terrain is an exciting mix of quiet, traffic-free minor roads and many bridleways. Equestrians are able to mount challenging expeditions, far removed from simple rides.
The facilities are ideal in this horse friendly area and offers support by way of stabling and blacksmiths. In all cases routes are undulating and strenuous, demanding physical fitness and plenty of riding preparation.
It is also essential that riders in such lonely areas should be practically experienced and capable of coping with any problems using their own knowledge and must carry necessary equipment for most incidents.
Cycling Expeditions
The Exmoor and Quantock Hills Area provides wonderful opportunities for cycle expeditions, right up to Gold Level. The area is so extensive that the considerable distances which can be involved in a cycle expedition can be easily accommodated. In addition, the terrain is an exciting mix of quiet, traffic-free minor roads and many "off-road" tracks. Cyclists are able to mount challenging expeditions, far removed from simple "touring".
The facilities are ready made for modern mountain bikes, but routes are negotiable on well maintained road - bikes with experienced riders. In all cases routes are undulating and strenuous, demanding physical fitness and plenty of riding preparation.
It is also essential that riders in such lonely areas should be practically experienced and capable of tackling most mechanical problems from their own skill and stock of spares and tools. There are, of course, very occasional garages/workshops in the area.
Cross-country cycling requires careful adherence to the "Mountain Bike Code of Conduct" and a useful publication is "Cycling Off Road and the Law" by Neil Horton, which is available from C.T.C. Shop, 89 Meadrow, Godalming, GUY 3H8.
This is a list of possible aims, which may be considerably extended:
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Antiquities
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Ancient Sites
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Art
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Bridges
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Churches
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Conservation
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Craft
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Dry Stone Walling
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Equipment
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Flora and Fauna
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Gates and Stiles
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Geology
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Habitats
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Height & Vegetation
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Impact of Expeditioning on the Body
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Industrial Archaeology
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Land Formation
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Land Utilisation
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Leats
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Leisure & Tourism
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Literature
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Medieval Crosses
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Mines
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Moorland Life
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Music
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Photographic Record
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Psychology of members of the Group
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River Studies
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Sketches & drawings of the area
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Traces of Social & Economic History
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Reactions made under stress & not under stress
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Reservoirs
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Rivers
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Settlements
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Villages
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Waymarks
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Weather
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Weather forecasts & their accuracy
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Wild Life
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Woodland
General
The journey and subsequent investigations must be essential to the gathering of information. If the information could be obtained from a tourist guide or the local library then the Journey is irrelevant and the participant would be advised to concentrate on the ‘successful completion of a demanding Journey’.