The Anchor Inn is located in one the most outstanding areas of natural beauty in the country. Exmoor is one of only 15 areas in the United Kingdom to be designated as a National Park, safeguarding it for current and future generations with the highest possible level of landscape protection. The park encompasses 267 square miles of Devon and Somerset including 34 miles of the most unspoilt coastline anywhere in the country. It has been estimated that if you were to walk these 34 miles, waiting as necessary for tides low enough to cross access points, it would take you approximately 5 years! In addition to its National Park status, it is also designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area and contains several Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Needless to say, there is a huge amount to see and do in the Exmoor area and we encourage visitors to begin finding out more about it from the official Exmoor National Park website. However, below are just a few places in close proximity to The Anchor Inn that we highly recommend.
Exe Valley Fishery - Just a few hundred yards up the road from The Anchor Inn, Exe Valley Fishery offers a wealth of delicious freshly smoked fish and is a fine spot for some angling if you'd rather catch your own. They hold a block rod license from the Environment Agency so don't worry if you're not a regular angler, you can just turn up and fish. Tuition is available and their tackle shop provides everything you could possibly need. Every now and then you'll find some of their fine smoked fish on the menu at The Anchor Inn, so be sure to check out our fish board!
Barle Valley Safaris - There are many ways to explore the vast beauty of Exmoor. Hikers will often spend days walking the moors, driving slowly but steadily through the rugged terrain, perhaps hoping to catch a glimpse of the elusive Exmoor deer or the endangered yet enduring Exmoor pony. But there are some who would much rather drive through the rugged terrain in a nice sturdy 4x4, searching out the local wildlife no matter how steep a hill it manages to dash up. If you're of the latter persuasion then Barle Valley Safaris will expertly guide you through the moorland in the manner customary to rural England - a Land Rover Defender. Very little will perturb the 2.5 litre turbo-diesel or its enthusiastic drivers and the three hour tour will take you on routes that you're unlikely to see any other way. Tours leave from Dulverton, just two miles north of The Anchor Inn.
Bampton Town - This is one of our nearest towns and well worth stopping by if you have the opportunity. Bampton has a rich Saxon history and is thought to have been established even earlier than this as a Roman fort. It still bears some of the features of this history, such as the 12th century church and the remnants of an 11th century Norman castle. Despite its modest size, the town centre contains almost 100 listed buildings; based on its population that's the equivalent of one listed building for every 15 residents!
Wimbleball Lake - A few miles north of The Anchor Inn, this 374 acre lake is a magnet for watersports lovers and an equally popular destination for walkers, cyclists, campers, anglers and anyone who enjoys a beautiful landscape. The watersports activity centre is approved by the Royal Yachting Association and the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority and offers a range of activities and tuition spanning sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and more.
Tarr Steps - In an area as stunning as Exmoor it's very difficult to single out any one beauty spot; however, if we had to it would probably be Tarr Steps. This prehistoric clapper bridge was built some time around 1000 BC and each stone slab weighs up to 5 tons. Located in Tarr Steps Woodland National Nature Reserve, the whole area is breathtakingly beautiful and offers some of the finest walking trails in Exmoor. Beware, legend has it that the bridge was built by the devil himself and that he retains exclusive sunbathing rights. Honestly, we're not making this up. Let's just say that if you see a demon sunbathing on the stones, you're best off finding another way around.
