Local Events

Opening on Saturday, 20^th of January at East Quay, Watchet is People Came For Tea and Stayed Forever, an exhibition of new and existing works by Bristol-based artist Sam Francis. This exhibition, a response to the Nettlecombe estate in Exmoor National Park, Somerset, draws inspiration from the artistic legacy of this rural haven and explores its rich history and mythologies.

Nettlecombe, meaning ‘valley of nettles’, is famously shown in Alexander Hollweg’s iconic woodcut print, Country Dance, depicting its idyllic rural setting in West Somerset. In this exhibition, Francis delves into the creative culture and mythologies of Nettlecombe, revealing layers of community, history, and the intersection of art, labour, and the working of the land.

Come along to the opening party, taking place on Saturday, 20^th of January from 6pm at East Quay. Drinks and nibbles will be available from the East Quay Kitchen. The exhibition runs until the 6^th  of May 2024, and the Galleries are open between 10am – 5pm, Monday – Sunday.

You can find more information on our website, here: https://www.eastquaywatchet.co.uk/articles/coming-soon-people-came-for-tea-and-stayed-forever

This 3 day course will provide you with all the knowledge and skills that you need to take your painting outside with confidence. The course includes a thorough explanation of the equipment needed to paint outside ‘en plein air’, including how to adapt your indoor painting practice to the challenges of the great outdoors. You will learn how to select a scene, set up your equipment in a suitable painting spot and then simplify the image. Your tutor will demonstrate techniques to suggest the complexities of nature, allowing you to work quickly and expressively to overcome the challenge of changing light and weather. Painting outside can be a daunting and exhilarating experience. Once you’ve shared this experience with like minded people under the guidance of an experienced tutor you won’t look back!

​

Course Dates

May 3rd-5th 2024

September 27th – 29th 2024

​

Course Price 

£300

All materials, lunch each day and refreshments are included

Accommodation at Moor and Sea Holidays

20% discount for guests on the course

​

Guided Walk #2

Name
Westermill Farm

Date
Friday 3 May 2024

Time
2:00 pm

Start point
Westermill Farm Holidays, The Tunnel, Exford, Minehead TA24 7NJ
What 3 Words: ///combines.grumbles.handbags

Brief details

Join walk leaders Jill and Oliver Edwards walking along the Exe Valley beside the river Exe climbing to a viewpoint with views of moorland and Exe Cleeve. Walk to the top of the farm including an ancient standing stone. Walking back to farmhouse takes in silage fields or ewes with lambs, cows with calves depending on the time of the year, plus the top sheds for housing cattle. Finish at the sheep shed and holiday cottages and ending with tea and cake in the garden. Great for families!

Distance: 2 miles

Difficulty: Moderate walk

Dogs: Welcome on a lead

Booking info

Please note that all of our walks are free but you can opt to purchase tickets for £5 or £10 to support the organisation and delivery of the walk.
Book online at Westermill Farm Guided Walk – Exmoor Walks (exmoorsociety.com) Or visit our office at 23 Fore Street Dulverton Somerset TA22 9EX, or call us on 01398 323335

During opening hours; Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm

Spend the weekend learning the ancient art of batik and create your own unique batik paintings.

Jo has over 20 years experience of working as a batik artist alongside teaching batik to adults & children.

This weekend course is suitable for both complete beginners and those with some experience.

Batik is both an art and a craft, which is becoming ever more popular and well known among contemporary artists all over the world, as a wonderfully creative medium. The art of decorating cloth using wax and dye, has been practised for centuries in many parts of the world including China, Japan, India, South America and Europe.

In Java, an island in Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there. The word batik originates from the Javanese word “tik” which means to dot. Batik is both a verb (to batik) and a noun (a batik – an object made by batiking!). Batik is usually made on a fabric surface (such as cotton, silk, linen, rayon or hemp), but batik techniques can also be used on paper, wood, leather and even a ceramic surface.

To make a batik, selected areas of the design are blocked out by applying hot wax over them, a dye is applied on top and the parts covered in wax resist the dye and remain the original colour. A simple batik may be just one layer of wax and one dye, but this process of waxing and dyeing can be repeated many times if necessary to create more elaborate and colourful designs. After the final dyeing the wax is removed (usually in hot water) and the cloth is ready for wearing or displaying.

Course Dates

October 13th – 15th 2023

March 22nd – 24th 2024

May 17th-19th 2024

October 11th -13th 2024

​

Course Price 

£180   All materials, lunch each day and refreshments are included

Accommodation at Moor and Sea Holidays

20% discount for guests on the course

Dulverton Farmers Markets

Visit Dulverton’s Farmers Market on the last Saturday of the month – April to September – from 10am to 2.30pm in the Lion Stables Car Park in the heart of the town.

Showcasing the best produce and crafts from Exmoor, Devon and Somerset – including home-reared meat, local cheese, Exmoor-brewed ales, delicious jams and chutneys, and even Dulverton-distilled spirits!  You’ll find local craftspeople here too, selling belts, bags, baskets, books, photographs and more. Refreshments and live entertainment too. Treat yourself to a great day out and discover Dulverton Farmers Market!

Saturday 27 April

Saturday 25 May

Saturday 29 June

Saturday 27 July

Saturday 31 August

Saturday 28 September

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-farmers-market/

‘Dulverton Sounds’ Music Festival – Saturday 25 May – 3.00 – 10.00pm

A BRAND NEW EVENT FOR 2024!

The ‘Dulverton Sounds’ Music Festival. Come to Dulverton to enjoy a fun filled day of music of all genres, to be held in marquees on the beautiful Exmoor Lawns in the heart of the town, beside the River Barle.

Enjoy a brass band, swing, jazz and a shanty band; sing along to tunes from the pop divas, country & western; and choose from a great mixture of refreshment stalls too.

There’ll even be a chill out tent where you can play your own folk music with friends.

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-sounds-music-festival/

Guided Walk #3

Name
Culbone Church Summer Service

Date
Sunday 2^nd June

Time
9.30am

Start point
Porlock Weir pay-and-display car park TA24 8PB ///atlas.snipped.jacuzzi

Brief details

Culbone Church can only be reached on foot and is the smallest parish church in England – it seats just 30. Tucked away in a small combe, the church is candle-lit as there is no electricity.

We will walk to Culbone Church from Porlock Weir, first passing through the grounds and tunnels of Ada Lovelace’s Ashley Combe house. We will then continue along the coast through Yearnor and Worthy Woods with views across to Wales. Above us are the farms where Coleridge stayed while writing Kubla Khan.

After the service, we will return on the same paths before dropping to Porlock Weir quayside where there are good cafes and interesting art studios. This walk is part of the Porlock Pilgrim’s Trail.

Distance: 4 miles

Difficulty: Easy but a few short steep slopes

Dogs: Dogs welcome on a lead

Booking info

Please note that all of our walks are free but you can opt to purchase tickets for £5 or £10 to support the organisation and delivery of the walk.

Book online at Culbone Church Summer Service – Exmoor Walks (exmoorsociety.com) or visit our office at 23 Fore Street Dulverton Somerset TA22 9EX, or call us on 01398 323335

During office opening hours; Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm

Guided Walk #4

Name
Ley Hill Medieval Settlement and Horner Wood

Date
Wednesday 12 June 2024

Time
10:30 am

Start point
Horner Village National Trust car park, TA24 8HY
///signal.belief.affair

Brief details
Please join knowledgeable walk leader Nigel Hester to the deserted medieval settlement on Ley Hill, excavated during archaeological evaluation work for the National Trust. There are the remains of a hamlet of seven buildings, surviving as low stony banks, though no documented history survives.

Other parts of Horner Wood will be explored, with the opportunity to hear and see breeding birds that migrate here each year from Africa.

• Tea room in Horner Village

Distance: 3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate walk with some steep climbs

Dogs: No dogs

Booking info

Please note that all of our walks are free but you can opt to purchase tickets for £5 or £10 to support the organisation and delivery of the walk.
Book online at: Ley Hill Medieval Settlement and Horner Wood – Exmoor Walks (exmoorsociety.com) or visit our office at 23 Fore Street Dulverton Somerset TA22 9EX, or call us on 01398 323335 during office opening hours; Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm

Guided Walk #5

Name
Hawkcombe Nature Reserve Butterfly Walk – Suitable for Active Families

Date
14 June 2024

Time
1:00 pm

Start point
Car-park on south of A39, 400m west of cattle grid at top of Porlock Hill, TA24 8LT
///sniff.upon.frightens

Brief details
Join ENPA’s Woodland Officer Graham McVittie to look at some of the coppice management work in this National Nature Reserve to help the recovery of the heath fritillary butterfly (aka the Woodman’s Follower), though sight of the butterfly is entirely weather dependent.

We will also follow a circular route through the woods to see other butterflies including the silver washed fritillary (hopefully).

• Suitable for active families
• Please bring a picnic

Distance: 3 miles

Difficulty: Moderate

Dogs: Dogs welcome on a lead

Booking info

Please note that all of our walks are free but you can opt to purchase tickets for £5 or £10 to support the organisation and delivery of the walk.
Book online at: Hawkcombe Nature Reserve Butterfly Walk – Suitable for Active Families – Exmoor Walks (exmoorsociety.com) or visit our office at 23 Fore Street Dulverton Somerset TA22 9EX, or call us on 01398 323335 during office opening hours; Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm

Secret Gardens of Dulverton – Sunday 23 June – 10am – 4.30pm

Come to the beautiful Exmoor town of Dulverton in the summer and discover some of its secret gardens open to the public for just one day.

Tickets are £5 per person in advance (or £7 on the day) to include a map and brief details of each garden.  Children under 16 go free. Tickets in advance will be available from Dulverton Post Office and the Tantivy in Dulverton.

On the day, tickets will be available in Dulverton Town Hall – where you’ll also be able to enjoy tea, coffee, beer, wine, cake, filled baguettes and ploughman’s lunches.

https://visitdulverton.com/events/secret-gardens-of-dulverton

Dulverton Farmers Markets

Visit Dulverton’s Farmers Market on the last Saturday of the month – April to September – from 10am to 2.30pm in the Lion Stables Car Park in the heart of the town.

Showcasing the best produce and crafts from Exmoor, Devon and Somerset – including home-reared meat, local cheese, Exmoor-brewed ales, delicious jams and chutneys, and even Dulverton-distilled spirits!  You’ll find local craftspeople here too, selling belts, bags, baskets, books, photographs and more. Refreshments and live entertainment too. Treat yourself to a great day out and discover Dulverton Farmers Market!

Saturday 27 April

Saturday 25 May

Saturday 29 June

Saturday 27 July

Saturday 31 August

Saturday 28 September

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-farmers-market/

Dulverton Artisan Food, Drink & Crafts Festival – Saturday 6 July – 10am – 4.30pm

Back by popular demand in 2024, this lovely summer event celebrates the many artisan producers located across Exmoor, the Quantocks and Devon and is held on the Exmoor Lawns, Dulverton alongside the River Barle.

You’ll discover over 30 stalls from local producers – a selection of gifts, clothing, homeware, leather goods and of course home-produced meat, beer, spirits, puddings, jams, pickles… to name just a few!

Free admission.

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-artisan-food-drink-crafts-festival/

Dulverton Farmers Markets

Visit Dulverton’s Farmers Market on the last Saturday of the month – April to September – from 10am to 2.30pm in the Lion Stables Car Park in the heart of the town.

Showcasing the best produce and crafts from Exmoor, Devon and Somerset – including home-reared meat, local cheese, Exmoor-brewed ales, delicious jams and chutneys, and even Dulverton-distilled spirits!  You’ll find local craftspeople here too, selling belts, bags, baskets, books, photographs and more. Refreshments and live entertainment too. Treat yourself to a great day out and discover Dulverton Farmers Market!

Saturday 27 April

Saturday 25 May

Saturday 29 June

Saturday 27 July

Saturday 31 August

Saturday 28 September

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-farmers-market/

Dulverton Farmers Markets

Visit Dulverton’s Farmers Market on the last Saturday of the month – April to September – from 10am to 2.30pm in the Lion Stables Car Park in the heart of the town.

Showcasing the best produce and crafts from Exmoor, Devon and Somerset – including home-reared meat, local cheese, Exmoor-brewed ales, delicious jams and chutneys, and even Dulverton-distilled spirits!  You’ll find local craftspeople here too, selling belts, bags, baskets, books, photographs and more. Refreshments and live entertainment too. Treat yourself to a great day out and discover Dulverton Farmers Market!

Saturday 27 April

Saturday 25 May

Saturday 29 June

Saturday 27 July

Saturday 31 August

Saturday 28 September

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-farmers-market/

These 3 day inspirational workshops, based in the idyllic location of Moor and Sea Holidays on Exmoor, will introduce students to the beautiful technique of Indian miniature painting.

Taking inspiration from the surrounding landscape and the Mughal art of capturing nature, students will have the opportunity to create their own unique painting.

Course Dates

September 13th – 15th 2024

​Course Price 

£220   All materials, lunch each day and refreshments are included

Accommodation at Moor and Sea Holidays

20% discount for guests on the course

Dulverton Trail Fun Run & Canicross – Sunday 15 September – 9am – 2pm

Now in its fourth year, join us for popular the Dulverton Fun Run & Canicross – cross country running along 5km or 10km routes through the beautiful countryside around Dulverton, Exmoor – with or without your dog of course!  The start and finish are located at the Exmoor Lawns, Dulverton beside the River Barle – with refreshments available.  Are you brave enough to tackle the Dulverton Demon – a steep, wooded hill leading from Marsh Bridge up towards Court Down?! Beautiful but challenging!

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-trail-fun-run/

The Somerset & Exmoor Coast Festival brings together events taking place between Brean and Porlock Weir to celebrate this unique stretch of coastline with walking, trail running, music, performance comedy, and food and drink.

The Somerset & Exmoor Coast Festival brings together events taking place between Brean and Porlock Weir and up to five miles inland from the coast. At its heart the Festival celebrates the Somerset and Exmoor Coast and this year we’ve been working with Channel Events, who will be running an Ultra 100k from Minehead to Brean and a Marathon from Bridgwater to Brean on the 21st September. In Bridgwater there will also be day time celebrations and an evening Fire & Light event on the 21st.

The following day we’ll begin the 80 Miles in Eight Days Challenge starting at Brean Down and ending with a walk from County Gate to Porlock, where we’ll close the Festival with more celebrations on the 29th September. In between, businesses along the coast will be organising walks, open days, performances, arts events and much more so keep checking our website to find out all the latest events taking place during the Festival.

This 3 day course will provide you with all the knowledge and skills that you need to take your painting outside with confidence. The course includes a thorough explanation of the equipment needed to paint outside ‘en plein air’, including how to adapt your indoor painting practice to the challenges of the great outdoors. You will learn how to select a scene, set up your equipment in a suitable painting spot and then simplify the image. Your tutor will demonstrate techniques to suggest the complexities of nature, allowing you to work quickly and expressively to overcome the challenge of changing light and weather. Painting outside can be a daunting and exhilarating experience. Once you’ve shared this experience with like minded people under the guidance of an experienced tutor you won’t look back!

​

Course Dates

May 3rd-5th 2024

September 27th – 29th 2024

​

Course Price 

£300

All materials, lunch each day and refreshments are included

Accommodation at Moor and Sea Holidays

20% discount for guests on the course

​

Dulverton Farmers Markets

Visit Dulverton’s Farmers Market on the last Saturday of the month – April to September – from 10am to 2.30pm in the Lion Stables Car Park in the heart of the town.

Showcasing the best produce and crafts from Exmoor, Devon and Somerset – including home-reared meat, local cheese, Exmoor-brewed ales, delicious jams and chutneys, and even Dulverton-distilled spirits!  You’ll find local craftspeople here too, selling belts, bags, baskets, books, photographs and more. Refreshments and live entertainment too. Treat yourself to a great day out and discover Dulverton Farmers Market!

Saturday 27 April

Saturday 25 May

Saturday 29 June

Saturday 27 July

Saturday 31 August

Saturday 28 September

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-farmers-market/

Charcoal Sketchbooks: Landscape

A three day workshop with Kate Boucher

​

All materials, cake, refreshments and lunch are included

20% off accommodation for course participants

Contact us directly for availability and to book.

Across these three days you be learning how to use sketchbooks to explore and record landscape with the versatile medium of charcoal.

We’ll gather natural forms and take simple and quick photographs of the beautiful surrounding landscape, bringing these back to the studio to work from.

You’ll experiment with the different forms of charcoal, erasers, drawing cloths and brushes and learn about how to develop your ideas in a sequence.

A wonderful three day workshop with Kate Boucher

Set at Moor and Sea Holidays surrounded by inspirational landscape

March 15th-17th 2024

October 4th-6th

£280

Spend the weekend learning the ancient art of batik and create your own unique batik paintings.

Jo has over 20 years experience of working as a batik artist alongside teaching batik to adults & children.

This weekend course is suitable for both complete beginners and those with some experience.

Batik is both an art and a craft, which is becoming ever more popular and well known among contemporary artists all over the world, as a wonderfully creative medium. The art of decorating cloth using wax and dye, has been practised for centuries in many parts of the world including China, Japan, India, South America and Europe.

In Java, an island in Indonesia, batik is part of an ancient tradition, and some of the finest batik cloth in the world is still made there. The word batik originates from the Javanese word “tik” which means to dot. Batik is both a verb (to batik) and a noun (a batik – an object made by batiking!). Batik is usually made on a fabric surface (such as cotton, silk, linen, rayon or hemp), but batik techniques can also be used on paper, wood, leather and even a ceramic surface.

To make a batik, selected areas of the design are blocked out by applying hot wax over them, a dye is applied on top and the parts covered in wax resist the dye and remain the original colour. A simple batik may be just one layer of wax and one dye, but this process of waxing and dyeing can be repeated many times if necessary to create more elaborate and colourful designs. After the final dyeing the wax is removed (usually in hot water) and the cloth is ready for wearing or displaying.

Course Dates

October 13th – 15th 2023

March 22nd – 24th 2024

May 17th-19th 2024

October 11th -13th 2024

​

Course Price 

£180   All materials, lunch each day and refreshments are included

Accommodation at Moor and Sea Holidays

20% discount for guests on the course

There will be a host of events for families, amateur astronomers and everyone who feels inspired by the outdoors and the night. Events are spread all over the National Park and are run by the Exmoor National Park Authority and many other businesses and organisations.  Details of all events and booking links will be added to www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/exmoor-for-everyone/stargazing-and-dark-skies/exmoor-dark-skies-festival in due course

There will be a host of events for families, amateur astronomers and everyone who feels inspired by the outdoors and the night. Events are spread all over the National Park and are run by the Exmoor National Park Authority and many other businesses and organisations.  Details of all events and booking links will be added to www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/exmoor-for-everyone/stargazing-and-dark-skies/exmoor-dark-skies-festival in due course

The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival – Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 November 

The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival is back for a third year!  The 2024 festival will again feature a great lineup of author talks across both days of the weekend of 16/17 November in Dulverton Town Hall, with additional workshops taking place in venues across the town.

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-exmoor-literary-festival/

A three day workshop with Richard Suckling

November 24th – 26th 2023

March 1st – 3rd  2024

November 22nd -24th 2024

Course Price 

£220

​

Lunch each day and refreshments are included

What you need to bring…

A set of soft pastels (Richard will advise what to buy if you don’t already have some)

and a sketch book.

Everything else will be provided.

Accommodation at Moor and Sea Holidays

20% discount for guests on the course

Dulverton by Starlight – Sunday 1 December – 2 – 7pm

Dulverton by Starlight is a magical event held every year, open to all free of charge. Every December the pretty Exmoor town of Dulverton is decorated with Christmas trees festooned with lights, and for one Sunday many of the shops are open for people to do some local Christmas shopping. Festivities take place all afternoon and into the evening, including street entertainers, live music, festive stalls and a fabulous fireworks display to conclude the evening! Don’t miss this traditional, festive occasion – marking the beginning of Christmas every year in Dulverton, Exmoor.

https://visitdulverton.com/dulverton-by-starlight/