As thoughts turn to Christmas shopping, we don’t tend to face it with the normal dread here on Exmoor. Forget the crowds, lack of parking, sharp elbows and overheated malls; here we have independent gift shops and galleries, craft fairs and Christmas markets all decked out in their seasonal best.

You can choose from original artwork and hand-crafted gifts in wood or wool, fabric or flowers. Pick out pots of locally made pickles, oak-smoked meats, craft cider, and addictive local gin. We’ve got grown-up marshmallows and melt in the mouth fudge, beautiful hand-made candles, glassware and pottery all from skilled craftsmen.

Hop over to our ‘Events’ page to see what’s on where. You could enjoy a friendly and productive saunter around a local Christmas craft fair in Allerford, Porlock or Arlington, or stop for some ‘Exmoor-style’ late night shopping, your purchasing made more atmospheric with carol singers and mulled wine in Lynton. Porlock even has a night-time ‘Santa Dash’.

There are bigger events too; Dunster By Candlelight and Dulverton By Starlight offer the perfect opportunity to combine gift-buying with a memorable day/night out.

And if you want to combine a few days away with your seasonal shopping this year, your hosts will recommend some great local shops to visit. If you enjoyed your stay, you can always buy a Gift Voucher and let someone else enjoy it too!