National Parks Week 2018

It seems fitting to get involved with National Parks Week as the Brend Hotel family has two amazing National Parks right on the doorstep here in Devon - Exmoor and Dartmoor!

Taking place between the 22nd and 29th of July 2018, National Parks Week is an opportunity to promote what a wonderful place the moors are. They play a critical role in Devon, providing homes to wildlife and farm animals and boosting tourism in the area.

National Parks Week 2018

This is an annual National Park family festival championing all that is unique and special about National Parks. It is a planned week of opportunities to get outside and discover all Exmoor and Dartmoor have to offer.

If you’ve always been meaning to visit either Dartmoor or Exmoor, take this opportunity to discover why they’re an amazing place to visit.

Events in Dartmoor and Exmoor during National Park Weeks

Whether you live locally or will be visiting the area between 22nd and 29th of July 2018, why not get involved in some of these unique and special events?

Highlights include:

• Becoming a volunteer with the Roborough Rock Volunteers - performing a variety of activities to assist with the maintenance of Dartmoor around Roborough

• An Evening Deer Search from Simonsbath on Exmoor - an evening with the Rangers searching for deer

• A Step Back in Time walk - travel through the valley along the water to the famous Tarr Steps before heading out to open moorland to see the local history

• Buckfastleigh Farmers Market - an opportunity to buy Dartmoor produce, presents and mix with the locals

See the full list of Dartmoor activities.

Here’s the full list of Exmoor activities.

Follow your feet on the Moors

Alternatively, one of the best ways to enjoy Dartmoor and Exmoor is to simply go and spend time there.

Take the car for a slow drive around the moor, or park up at any spot and walk away the day.

Whether you're walking on Dartmoor or walking on Exmoor, hikers will appreciate the miles of open ground to wander and hidden delights to find, sightseers and photographers will love the views, little ones will enjoy driving past sheep and ponies, food lovers will adore finding the thatched pubs and quaint restaurants for a bite to eat.

Whatever your perfect day, sometimes good walking boots and a sense of adventure is all you need.

So why not visit either Dartmoor or Exmoor this National Parks Week to support these natural wonders?

What are National Parks?

They are protected areas of land that highlight the special qualities of their area. In the case of Snowdonia in Wales that special quality would be the mountains, The Lake District’s quality is the lakes and so on. For Devon, the key features are the two moors.

Special qualities the parks showcase are; landscape and views, geology and geography, biodiversity and rare species, archaeology and history.

There are 15 National Parks in the UK altogether. Each one is looked after by their own authorities, working together under the umbrella name National Parks UK.

The Parks are designated land and natural formations with a range of uses, and it’s in the interest of everyone involved - from the landowners to National Parks UK, to the daily visitors - to look after them.

National Parks Week is a reminder that we should be doing our very best to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the parks, especially the ones we specifically hold dear, Exmoor and Dartmoor.

Dartmoor National Park

Found right in the heart of Devon, Dartmoor National Park is less than an hours drive from the bustling busy cities of Plymouth and Exeter. It’s a Heather-covered moorland with rocky granite tors, stone circles and medieval villages. The land is filled with iconic Dartmoor ponies, stunning views and vibrant villages with their own traditional events.

Key features and traits include:

• A variety of walking and cycling routes

• It’s the only National Park in England to allow wild camping

• It has the longest stone row in the world

• The highest point in southern UK (south of Brecon Beacons in Wales) is found in Dartmoor. High Willhays is 621 meters above sea level.

• And is a constant inspirational location for films, books and music

From the high barren hilltops to the bottom of the wild valleys, there’s a real remoteness in Dartmoor that attracts many people looking to escape the rush of everyday life.

Exmoor

Meanwhile, Exmoor National Park is shared between North Devon and Somerset - touching the Bristol Channel with high cliffs overlooking the sea. The smaller of the two, it still holds the sense of remoteness and adventure that Dartmoor does.

Expect hidden beaches, more moorland, woodland, valleys, farmland and cosy villages forgotten in time. Plus, did you know…?

• You can find swathes of bluebells on Exmoor

• Wild red deer and Exmoor ponies thrive on the moors

• Burial mounds, standing stones, Roman forts and medieval villages are all present

• It’s an International Dark Sky reserve due to the sky quality and natural darkness

• It’s less than an hour from Exeter and a short drive away from our North Devon hotels

Brend Hotels in Devon - National Parks Week accommodation

If you’d like some accommodation to explore Dartmoor and Exmoor any time of the year, we have a selection of hotels around Devon to suit any tastes.

• In Sidmouth, we have The Victoria and The Belmont - less than an hour from most of Dartmoor

• Just outside Exeter, we have The Devon Hotel - a short drive to Dartmoor and an hour to Exmoor

• In Bideford, North Devon, there’s The Royal Hotel

• Saunton Sands Hotel lies on the North Devon coast overlooking the beach and sea

• And in Barnstaple, North Devon, there's The Barnstaple Hotel, The Royal and Fortescue Hotel, The Imperial Hotel and The Park Hotel

• All six hotels in North Devon are a short drive away from the edge of Dartmoor and it’s about an hours drive to the centre of the moors on the Devon/Somerset border

Visit the website for any of our hotels to book a room for a wonderful National Parks Week break on Exmoor or Dartmoor!