Holidays
7 Night Discover More of Exmoor

7 Night Discover More of Exmoor

Small group holidays in Exmoor

7 nights

Jun, Sep - Oct

135kg CO2

7 nights from

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Members

From

£1,469

Non-members

From

£1,499

Groups of 10+

or call

020 3974 8865

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.

What You’ll Love

Small group sizes
A talk about the Holnicote beaver population
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 Burrow Hill Cider Farm
A more personalised experience thanks to small group sizes (maximum 15 people)

What's Included

Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
Cream tea on arrival day
Cooked and continental breakfast every morning
Daily packed lunches
Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
Guided sightseeing with an experienced HF Holidays leader
All transport included in the itinerary
All entrance fees
Easy-to-follow routes, maps and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently

Trip Suitability

This holiday is active and busy with visits throughout the day. You will need to be able to get on and off minibuses with ease, and be able to walk up to 2 miles, across uneven, grassy terrain where the ground can be slippery underfoot. It is important for your own and your fellow guests’ enjoyment that you can maintain the pace. We’ve provided a simple fitness test below, which will help you assess whether this holiday is for you:

You should be able to do the following:

Walk for one hour at a reasonable pace (2 miles per hour) without needing to take a break to rest
Climb two flights of stairs at a reasonable pace
Stand unaided for an hour
Stand up and sit down ten times in one minute
Please ensure you able to fulfil these fitness requirements, to ensure you get the very best from your holiday.

Itinerary

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You're welcome to check in at Holnicote House from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.

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.

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.

Discover more about Holnicote House and the local area for ideas on how to fill your free day.

Spend a day exploring the coastal beauty and maritime heritage of Porlock. We’ll begin at Porlock Marsh, home to a diverse array of birdlife and unique coastal plants. It’s then on to Porlock Bay to learn about Exmoor’s historic oyster farming industry and the opportunity to sample a freshly shucked Porlock Bay Oysters. In the afternoon, we’ll visit either Greencombe Gardens, with its camellias, rhododendrons, and woodland blooms overlooking the bay, or Brendon Gardens, a rural haven of wildflowers, apple and olive trees, and peaceful lakeside views.

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.

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.

From here we'll travel to Burrow Hill Cider Farm to learn about the cider making process, before finishing the holiday with a scenic ride on the West Somerset Railway.

Departure after breakfast.

Download trip notes

Accommodation

Holnicote House

There’s plenty to look forward to at this beacon of Somerset hospitality near the impossibly pretty village of Selworthy. The location couldn’t be more perfect; within rolling-out-of-bed distance from Exmoor National Park and an easy drive from Dunster Castle, Coleridge Cottage, the twin villages of Lynton and Lynmouth, and the sandy delights at Porlock and Minehead. The walking opportunities here are standout, too, not least for the trails around the Quantock Hills, Dunkery Beacon, Bossington, and a section of the England Coast Path that takes you on a glorious journey along the county’s coastline.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.

• 32 well-appointed guest rooms • Exclusive occupancy: 40 guests minimum • Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm • Free Wi-Fi • Free on-site parking • Boot room and drying room • Travel cot & high chair • Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks • Books and games to borrow • Licensed bar • Two lounges • Garden with croquet lawn • Well-behaved dogs welcome on self-guided holidays • Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point

Check in & check out

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a 40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home. A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Designed with your comfort in mind, Holnicote House has 32 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior.

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: The rooms in the main building or the thatched grounds, especially Rooms 1 and 4. The first floor rooms have fabulous views across Crawter Hill and Dunkery Hill.

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.

Room supplements

Superior	Premium single	Premium double/twin	Choose your room
£25 pppn	£20 pppn	£20 pppn	£30 per room

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Holnicote House

View more details View holidays here

More Information

Carbon Footprint - 135kg CO2

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

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Reviews

Code: SEL07-HCH05

2026

Back to dates

Fri 19 Jun – Fri 26 Jun 2026

Trip Note Download

Land Only

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Single Price - Land Only

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Single Supplement

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Itinerary: 7 Nights - Itinerary

Trip Type: Small group holidays

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.

Fri 25 Sep – Fri 2 Oct 2026

Trip Note Download

Land Only

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Single Price - Land Only

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Single Supplement

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Itinerary: 7 Nights - Itinerary

Trip Type: Small group holidays

All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.

7 Night Discover More of Exmoor

What You’ll Love

What's Included

Trip Suitability

Itinerary