7 night Exmoor Discover More Tour
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 with a National Trust Volunteer
- 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 Torre Cider Farm
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 Notes
Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.
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.
We’ll start the day with a visit to Greencombe Gardens, which is a small garden but one which is an inspiration to many. Overlooking Porlock bay it boasts an outstanding collection of camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas.
Following on from the gardens, we’ll descend to the coastline visiting Porlock Bay Oysters, where we’ll learn about Exmoor’s oyster farming heritage and the lifecycle of this prized mollusc.
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.
We’ll travel by bus to Bishops Lydeard before a scenic ride on the West Somerset Railway to Washford. The bus will meet us there and take us to Torre Cider Farm where we’ll be given a tour of the orchard to find out how its famous cider is made.
Departure after breakfast.
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.
Rooms
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, and comfortable mattresses.
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, and comfortable mattresses.
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.
Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. 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.
On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.
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
About your stay
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, the HF Holidays Big Pub Quiz held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays Leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided walking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays Leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s walking delights (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on 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.
Food & drink
Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.
HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.
Accessibility
For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Holnicote House
Getting to Holnicote House
Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.
More InformationAddress
Holnicote House
Selworthy
Minehead
Somerset TA24 8TJ
Tel: +44 (0)1643 862013
By train
The nearest station is Taunton.
Check National Rail for train times and routes.
By taxi
From Taunton train station it’s a 27-mile journey taking 1 hour.
For pricing, please contact Minehead Taxis directly.
Minehead Taxis
You can pre-book a taxi from our recommended company, Minehead Taxis*. We recommend booking your taxi at least seven days in advance by contacting:
Tel: +44 (0)1643 704123
A return journey can be arranged on your behalf by the HF Holidays House Manager at Holnicote House.
*Minehead Taxis is not owned or managed by HF Holidays.
By bus
The number 28 bus runs between Taunton station and Minehead, taking around one and a half hours. At Minehead, change to the number 10 bus to the Selworthy turn (at the end of Holnicote House drive). A two-minute walk along the drive will bring you to the house.
For bus times, check Traveline.
By car
There’s free car parking at Holnicote House if you decide to drive.
From Bridgwater take the A39 though the southern outskirts of Minehead towards Porlock. You’ll find Holnicote House on the left about four and a half miles out of Minehead.
By air
The nearest airport is London Heathrow.
Take the train to London Paddington station where there are direct trains to Taunton. It’s a relatively straightforward journey that’ll should take around 2.5 hours.
Bristol Airport is also an option. From here, you can take the bus and train to Taunton.
Check National Rail for routes and train times.
The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.
Essentials
- Suitable, sturdy footwear with a good grip. You’ll be on your feet for much of the day
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Sunhat
- Rucksack
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- Sunscreen
- Mobile phone
- UV sunglasses
Recommended
- First aid kit, including plasters
- Sit mat
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
Optional extras
- Walking poles,
- Flask for hot drinks
- Durable lunch box
- Waterproof rucksack liner
Holnicote House Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
Guest reviews
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Non-member fee: £30 per person.
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.
Holiday prices
| Date (Start - End) | Itinerary | Double / Twin Room | Single Room | Notes / Offers | Trip Notes | Book | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ||||||||
|
30 May - 06 Jun 2025 7 nights |
Itinerary Single from £1,429 £1,339 Double from £1,429 £1,339 pp |
from £1,429 £1,339 pp |
from £1,429 £1,339 |
Save £90 Per Person |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | ||
|
22 Aug - 29 Aug 2025 7 nights |
Itinerary Single from £1,429 £1,339 Double from £1,429 £1,339 pp |
from £1,429 £1,339 pp |
from £1,429 £1,339 |
Save £90 Per Person |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | ||
7 nights
from
£1,429pp
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135Kg of CO₂e
Average carbon footprint per person Learn More
