Driving Across Exmoor
We may live in a world of traffic bulletins, delays, jams, and roadworks. But not on Exmoor! If you are visiting this fabulously scenic National Park for a holiday, just drive at a nice leisurely place - but if you're planning on pulling over to soak up every stunning rural view and vista as you go, be prepared for plenty of stops! Here, a stately drive along moorland roads is still a pleasure, as this photo of the morning rush hour outside Oldways End reveals.
In all honesty, your biggest travel problem will come not from road vehicles but from animals and river crossings.
Fords
There are plenty of these on Exmoor, including this one at Challacombe. You'll encounter this if you drive the back road from Bratton Fleming to Challacombe, presumably to visit the excellent Black Venus pub. The rules for safe ford crossings are:
1. Check the depth - there's usually a depth indicator, but if the river is in spate and you're not driving a 4WD vehicle, it might be best to reset the Sat Nav and go the long war around. (it'll be a nice drive).
2. Cross very slowly. Apart from the fact that your bow waves will annoy the ducks, you don't have to go very fast before the build-up of water on your radiator grid eventually penetrates your engine. 5. mph should suffice.
3. After every successful crossing - check your breaks. They should be OK but don't wait until you need them before finding out that you have a problem.
Moorland Animals: Exmoor Ponies
It's a common excuse in these parts when late, to blame deer, sheep, ponies, or pheasants blocking the road. Pheasants are irritatingly stupid and will try to sell you a dummy, going one way and then the other as you approach. If you do run one down, you can't even stop and pick it up for the oven - that's illegal. However, the following vehicle on the scene can collect and take it home. It's just one of those country rules.
Sheep and ponies rarely get hit by vehicles as they usually have time to stop. Just don't assume they will get out of your way. They think they own the road, and you can only drive it with their permission. So, slow down and stop - use it as a chance for a quick photo shoot - until they slowly stroll off the road. The animal that tends to cause the most damage is a deer. They are big and heavy, as well as being surprisingly resilient, and in the event of a collision, the car usually comes off worse - running away, leaving you with an expensive dent to mend.
So, driving on Exmoor is a pleasure - there is no need to rush. Take your time and savour the drive.
Probably the most popular choice for holiday accommodation on Exmoor is holiday cottages. There is a wide choice of properties, from romantic moorland boltholes for couples to large country houses for celebrations or dual family holidays.
Click here to view our collection of Exmoor holiday cottages.
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