EZTrip.com International Destination Guide and Hotel Listings

At the centre of the National Park stands Exmoor Forest , the barest part of the moor, scarcely populated except by roaming sheep and a few red deer - the word "forest" denotes simply that it was a hunting reserve. In the middle of it stands the village of SIMONSBATH , at a crossroads between Lynton, Barnstaple and Minehead on the River Barle. The village was home to the Knight family, who bought the forest in 1818 and, by introducing tenant farmers, building roads and importing sheep, brought systematic agriculture to an area that had never before produced any income. The Knights also built a wall round their land - parts of which can still be seen - as well as the intriguing Pinkworthy (pronounced "Pinkery") Pond, four miles to the northwest, whose exact function remains unexplained. Simonsbath would make a great base for hikes in the heart of the moor, but there are only two accommodation possibilities: the Exmoor Forest Hotel (tel 01643/831341; £50-60), which also has space for free camping , and the Simonsbath House Hotel (tel 01643/831259; £70-90), former home of the Knights and now holding a good but expensive restaurant . In a converted barn next to the hotel, Boevey's offers coffees and snacks , while a couple of miles outside the village on the Brayford Road, is the Poltimore Arms at Yarde Down , a classic country pub serving excellent food, including vegetarian dishes.