Exford and Withypool, Somerset

This was out last day in Somerset and the sun was shining. We weighed up various options and in the end decided to go on a short drive to visit a couple of villages we had never been to before. The reason was, I didn't fancy doing too much s the next day I had a long journey back up to Yorkshire. I'd previously read good reports of a cafe in Withypool so we combined that with a round trip which took in Exford and Simonsbath as well.

All three villages fell within Exmoor National Park so I hid it in my mind that it would be a good day to go in search of some Exmoor Ponies as well.

Our first post of call was Exford. The centre of the village surrounds a traditional village green, and is home to a post office, general store, car repair shop and youth hostel and is obviously the hub of the area. Signposts led off here, there and everywhere so it was clearly, in the past, an important commercial centre. Add to that there was a couple of old coaching inns that accommodated both past and present travellers.

We enjoyed a quick coffee and an explore before setting off in search of Withypool. I think it was only half a dozen miles down the road and was a smaller version of Exford. It had a village store, cafe and pub so what more could anyone wish for. The cafe certainly lived up to expectations. I had a goats cheese and butternut quiche served with a side salad and crisps and it had obviously been made by the owner of the cafe. It was absolutely gorgeous. Sal wasn't too hungry so just had a toasted teacake and a pot of tea.

After refreshments we had a walk down to the river and it was only there we realised that we were just a couple of miles away from another Somerset favourite, Tarr Steps.

We then carried on our journey to Simonsbath but first made a detour on to Exmoor itself in search of some pony action. Just past the turn off to Tarr Steps and conveniently near to a parking spot, we saw a group of ponies. I gingerly got out of the car with the camera so as not to disturb then but needn't have worried as they were very accommodating and let me take photos of them. My holiday was now complete!

Simonsbath was a bit of a let down after Exford and Withypool so we didn't bother stopping. I don't know how I managed it but we ended up returning to our base via Watersmeet and Lynmouth on a back road I had never been on before. We could really have done without that as it added a fair few miles on to our journey and left us feeling pretty jaded by the end of it.

In the evening I had a walk down to Watchet Harbour for the final time whilst Sal stayed in our holiday home. It was tinged with a bit of sadness of our leaving and also with a bit of apprehension of what was in store for me when I got back home and the start my radiotherapy.

It had been a great holiday though, full of fun, and with good memories to carry with me on my fight against my cancer. Already looking forward to next years visit.