The daffodils are out, the sheep are lambing and the ponies are foaling. There’s plenty going on in and around Exmoor at this time of the year.

Olympic Torch Relay Route

On what must be one of the most beautiful sections of the Olympic Torch Route, the historic flame will travel through the Exmoor area on 21 May 2012. Heading up from the traditional seaside towns of Ilfracombe and Combe Martin, the relay route passes through the scenic, almost alpine, villages of Lynton and Lynmouth in North Devon and the high heather moorlands of Exmoor National Park before crossing into Somerset via the charming village of Porlock. Meandering through family-friendly Minehead, the flaming torch will go on to the medieval town of Dunster and carry on out past the peaceful natural beauty of the Quantocks to Taunton. Locals and visitors alike will be lining the streets, lanes, hills and moors to witness this once-in-a-lifetime spectacle.

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee

Another once-in-a-lifetime event is the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the British throne. The spring bank holiday has been moved to Monday 4 June and there will be an extra day off on Tues 5 June, giving an extended weekend and a great opportunity for a celebration.

On the West Somerset coast, Porlock is hosting a Golden Jubilee 1950’s style street party with traditional games & entertainment on June 3 and a music festival on the 4th. Following a Diamond Jubilee Celebration Family Picnic Watchet will be lighting its official Jubilee Beacon at 2200 on June 4th. And Minehead is planning a whole weekend of events for their Diamond Jubilee Festival.

Combe Martin’s unique annual festival, the Hunting of the Earl of Rone has been moved to 1 – 4 June to coincide with the Jubilee weekend. Villagers start hunting the ‘Earl’ on Friday evening and then daily until Monday when he is captured in Lady's Wood at the top of the village and escorted down and thrown into the sea. The origins of this colourful festival are open to speculation but it is a real village celebration and visitors are very welcome to join in the fun.

The 6th Dulverton Folk Festival will be running an extended special over the Jubilee weekend 1 – 5 June 2012. This is an impressive free music and dance festival set in the very pretty town of Dulverton; gateway to Exmoor National Park. A basic campsite is provided by the local school playing field at the cost of £5 per adult per night and £1 per child per night.

Spring Festivals

West Somerset Railway’s Spring Gala on 17 & 18 and 22 – 25 March 2012 is a celebration of travel in a bygone era. Great for railway enthusiasts and those who appreciate the drama of the steam train, the weekend events offer turntable demonstrations and shunts and the opportunity to ride behind many of the visiting and home fleet locomotives. An hourly train shuttle between Minehead and the historic town of Dunster combines the chance to see some of Somerset’s glorious countryside with a visit to this remarkably preserved historic village. (A one day family rover tickets costs from £66.60). During 23–25 March, there will also be a literary gathering of leading book publishers and authors at Minehead Station. Displays, sales and book signings will celebrate the railway genre.

The very popular North Devon and Exmoor Walking Festival will take place from 27th April to 6th May this year. There is always a great selection of guided walks led by local rangers and enthusiasts who are happy to impart their vast knowledge of the history, geography and folk lore of the area. New this spring, the organisers have included some extra outdoor interests such as horse riding and viewing bats to the walks. For the less mobile, there will be the chance to take a Tramper ride around the Heddon Valley, and some walks will have breakfast and lunch included to add extra power to the legs. Keep an eye on www.exmoorwalkingfestival.co.uk for the latest updates.

Great Things to Do on Exmoor this Spring

Whilst Exmoor might not be known for its raucous nightlife, there is still plenty to see when the sun goes down. Wimbleball Lake has been nominated as the first Dark Sky Discovery Site on Exmoor and is a fantastic location for stargazing across Exmoor’s dark skies, especially at this time of year. Far from any light pollution, the South West Lakes Trust will be hosting a Star Camp on the nights of 23rd and 24th March 2012 and there will be lots of other starry activities held throughout the year.

Medieval Dunster Castle has a long tradition of Archery and visitors can try their hand at the ‘Have-a-Go’ Archery days happening during the Easter weekend. Costing £3 for 6 arrows, the local archery club will help to hone skills – or at least demonstrate how to hold a bow correctly! The 151st annual Grand Western Archery Championship is held in the parkland at Dunster Castle, and this year this takes place 10th – 17th June 2012.

Bang up-to-date, Coasteering is the latest adrenaline-fuelled sport to reach Exmoor and the scenic and rocky coastline around North Devon is the perfect place to grab some of the action. Exmoor Adventures coasteering guides are qualified NARS Beach Lifeguards with extensive knowledge and experience of the locations used. They will take private groups (£35pp including all the gear for groups of 8) for an exhilarating day to remember.

The new Quantock Cycling Hub at Mill Meadows (established in partnership with AONB) sits on the Taunton Deane Cycle Trail, and offers secure cycle storage, cycle hire, cycle wash down point, information centre with trail guides, cycle cam hire, and guided rides. Uplift transport to/from the hills and local train station makes car free holidays a simple reality.

Interesting Places to Visit

Woody Bay Station hosts a weekend of family fun and home made cakes this Easter (6 – 9 April). Originally opened in 1898 and closed in 1935, this picturesque narrow gauge track currently runs for two miles through the lovely North Devon countryside, and has big plans to rebuild the legendary Lynton to Barnstaple Railway. A family ticket costs £18.

The small but fascinating Porlock Weir Marine Aquarium re-opens on 6 April, offering visitors the chance to spend an hour getting up close and personal with the diverse creatures that populate the local waters. Knowledgeable guides make the whole experience interesting and – uniquely - they also release all the inhabitants back into the sea at the end of the season and collect new ones each year. (Adults £3 Children over 5 £2, under 5’s free).

Porlock’s Open Gardens event on 19 & 20 May 2012, is the chance to discover some charming horticultural secrets. There are over 20 gardens to explore, including some which have never been open to the public before. Art exhibitions, cream teas, plants and book stalls will link the gardens (tickets costs £5 per person). Gardens are also the focus of the picturesque village of Stogumber in the Quantocks, during the weekend of 16 – 17 June. Around 15 gardens ranging from small cottage plots to large country acres open their gates to visitors (£6 per adult, children under 14 free).

For information on places to stay, see, eat & drink see www.visit-Exmoor.co.uk For a free visitor guide (Exmoor, the Coast and Quantock Hills) call 01643 702624.