Discover Exmoor’s enchanting diversity of self-catering holidays in cottages embedded in the National Park’s quaint thatched villages, steep, wooded valleys and wild, cloud-swept open moorland. From strolling along rough cart tracks high on the Moor to wandering through lush green woodlands or buttercup-spattered fields surrounded by Exmoor ponies, the experience is genuinely distinctive. Keep a keen eye; you might spot red deer freely roaming in the National Park. Quaint villages adorned with tea rooms and craft shops dot the Moor, creating charming stopovers in your exploration.
At the heart of the National Park lies Dulverton, the unofficial capital of The Moor, nestled in a steeply wooded valley along the River Barle—a perfect blend of picturesque town, shops for souvenir hunting, and tea room delights. Explore Dunster further on the east side, with its historic National Trust-managed castle and ancient yarn market, or head to Minehead, the ‘Gateway to Exmoor,’ a delightful seaside resort offering the perfect combination of coastal bliss and Moor adventures.
Literary and poetic legacy is woven into its moorland landscape, inspiring great works such as Lorna Doone and captivating poets like Samuel Coleridge. Follow in Coleridge’s footsteps along the Coleridge Trail or embrace the popularity of cycling and walking holidays with ancient footpaths, green lanes, and long-distance trails like the Tarka Trail and Two Moors Way.
For those seeking properties for group accommodation in panoramic moorland locations, Exmoor offers a range of large holiday cottages that are ideal for special occasions, reunions, or large family gatherings. Experience the Moor's appeal in every season, where the landscape echoes the footsteps of literary giants and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
For further information and suggestions for ways to fill a holiday on Exmoor, read the following articles:
Follow The Exmoor Cream Tea Trail
What to Do On Exmoor Self-Catering Holidays in Allerford
Driving Across Exmoor
30+ Memorable Ways To Fill Self-Catering Holidays on Exmoor
The Eight Tastiest Organic Food Shops and Suppliers on Exmoor
2 Exmoor Holiday Ideas
Exmoor Christmas Holidays
Make Dunster Village Your Base When Holidaying on Exmoor
View Exmoor holiday properties in these locations:
Allerford: Charming Exmoor village with picturesque packhorse bridge and historic working watermill.
Bratton Fleming: A hillside village with beautiful woodland walks.
Challacombe: An Exmoor village with an excellent pub, village stores, a packhorse bridge and moorland views.
Cutcombe: Charming Exmoor village with a 15th-century church, stargazing, and scenic trails in Somerset’s hills.
Dulverton: Exmoor’s secret gem, where ancient woods meet charming riverside walks, quaint shops and enticing tea rooms.
Dunster: Medieval charm meets moorland beauty in this enchanting village of castles and cobbles.
Exford: Charming village on the River Exe with a green at its heart, riverside pubs and tea rooms.
Liscombe: Liscombe: A hidden moorland hamlet with ancient woodlands, tranquil streams, and charming thatched cottages.
Luxborough: A picturesque hamlet where timeless tranquillity meets unspoilt wilderness.
Lynmouth: Where the Moor’s rugged cliffs embrace the sea, offering a picturesque harbour and dramatic coastal walks.
Lynton: Ride the Cliff Railway and explore the dramatic Valley of the Rocks in this captivating coastal village.
Minehead: Charms with its bustling harbour, golden beaches, and nostalgic steam trains chugging along the coast.
Malmsmead: A riverside village with tearooms, an ancient bridge and stepping stones across Badgworthy Water.
Oare: Explore Oare’s charming church, riverside walks, and literary connections to Lorna Doone.
Parracombe: A Moorland gem with a Norman church and the Fox and Goose gastro-pub for culinary delights.
Porlock: Where art, history, and scenic beauty converge in a charming Exmoor coast village
Porlock Weir: Discover a photogenic harbour, coastal walks, and maritime history on Exmoor’s rugged shores.
Simonsbath: Enjoy riverside strolls, red deer sightings, and a welcoming pub for weary walkers.
Stoke Pero: Home of Somerset’s ‘most solitary church’ and popular with walkers, wildlife lovers and off-road cyclists.
Timberscombe: Explore Timberscombe’s scenic walks, historic church, and cosy pub amidst in Exmoor’s rolling hills.
Wheddon Cross: Below Dunkery Beacon, the village offers a pub with a shop and walks through Snowdrop Valley in early spring.
Winsford: Charming moorland village with a thatched pub and waterside tearooms.
Withypool: For riverside charm, the Royal Oak pub, tearooms, and scenic walks to Tarr Steps
Waterrow: Somerset’s hidden jewel in the picturesque Tone Valley, for rural retreats with a lovely pub.
West Anstey:12th-century church, thatched cottages, scenic walks through lush meadows and woods.
Woodcombe: On the fringes of Minehead close to the South West Coastpath.
Wootton Courtenay: Walkers love Wootton Courtney; it’s on the crossroads between the MacMillan Way and Celtic Way trails.
