Welcome to the Luckyard Farm Activities page
Luckyard Farm has a wide range of activities for the guests. Exmoor National Park itself has a multitude of interesting activities and places to visit, some of which will be mentioned later on this page, but first let's see what you can do whilst enjoying your holiday on Luckyard Farm............
Pony Riding
Luckyard Farm has pony riding available for children staying on the farm. They must be led due to insurance purposes. We have everything you need to enjoy riding our ponies and it costs nothing extra. The children love feeding the ponies, and quickly come to love the animals on Luckyard Farm and helping looking after them during their stay adds so much extra enjoyment for them, at the same time offering education and understanding about keeping animals and the countryside.
~ We are often asked about riding for adults ~
West Anstey Farm Stables in Dulverton ride straight onto Exmoor, all ages, all abilities and all weights. They have a large selection of horses and ponies. Hard hats are provided and you can ride by the hour or day, escorted or un escorted. Approx 20 minutes from Luckyard Farm, tel 01398 - 341354 for more details.
Fishing
A natural spring feeds Luckyard Farm's large pond. We keep it well stocked with trout that weigh on average between one and two pounds. The pond is located in a very quiet and secluded part of the farm, so it's quite easy to fall asleep there on a summers afternoon, if it were not for the fish biting ! Guests can fish all year round and if you use barbless hooks and return the fish, there is no extra cost ! if you wish to keep your fish, there is a small charge for each one that you do. Barbecued trout is very popular !
Luckyard Farm allows shooting all year round to the guests. Like all of our activities here on the farm, we do not charge you extra for shooting. The only charge is for the consumables that you use like the clay targets and cartridges . We have an electric clay trap along with a number of manual traps, this means that it is easy to set up an interesting and challenging clay shoot that is suitable for all levels of experience. We have boxes of clay targets and 12 bore cartridges in stock. Each of the holiday homes has an approved gun safe to store your guns. Vermin and rough shooting is available all year round and game shooting is available in season. Luckyard Wood is the home of deer, wood pigeon, rooks, magpies, jays, crows, rabbits and many game birds. We have many birds of prey on Exmoor, the most common are buzzards and kestrels, so whilst shooting, quarry recognition is of upmost importance.
Visitors to Luckyard Farm are welcome to join in with the daily running of the farm, children particularly like this as it involves exercising the ponies, collecting eggs from the chicken run, feeding lambs and calves along with feeding and taking care of many other animals that live on the farm. Enjoyment and education both at the same time. You can participate as much or as little as you want.
The Exmoor Ale is just fantastic, the food and service here cannot be beaten, Luckyard Farm recommend the Rest 100%
The Rest is a quintessentially English country pub and hotel serving first class food and drink. It is located on the crossroads at Wheddon Cross inside Exmoor's national park. Steeped in history, the building was a coaching inn during the 19th century as you can see from the period photograph below.
The Rest has landed in the capable hands of Eric, a well known and highly respected member of the Exmoor community. The Rest has ample parking, great beer, excellent food and the welcome you will receive here from Eric and his lovely staff will make you wonder why you ever went elsewhere !
The bar, restaurant and hotel have all been excellently refitted.
All within a few minutes drive from Luckyard Farm, please mention you are staying at Luckyard Farm when you visit the Rest and say hello to Eric.
Winsford
Winsford is a quiet little village within a few minutes drive drive of Luckyard Farm. Thatched cottages line the stream that runs through the village. Quaint little foot bridges cross the stream and you can climb Winsford hill to see more of beautiful Exmoor.
Whilst in Winsford, you might like to visit The Royal Oak
~ The Royal Oak offers excellent food and drink ~
Ian Empire has been visiting Luckyard Farm and The Royal Oak for almost two decades. He is quite a knowledgeable chap on most subjects, but if he went on Mastermind, his specialist subject would surely be the village of Winsford.
Any information you require about The Royal Oak can be obtained from Ian or The Royal Oak web site.
Dulverton
Dulverton is the nearest sizable town to Luckyard Farm. It has a pharmacy, vets, bank with cash points, tea rooms, supermarket, pet shop, and a great butchers shop. Dulverton is probably best known for R.D.Blackmore's novel "Lorna Doone" and if you walk along the river from the arched bridge, you will come across the Lorna Doone statue.
I have taken my dogs to the Vets in Dulverton a few times whilst staying at Luckyard Farm, I find them to be pleasant, professional, and about a third of the price I am used to paying !
Dulverton Veterinary Practice
Bridge Street, Duckpaddle, Dulverton, Somerset TA22 9HJ
Tel: (01398) 323285
Directions: Pass the pharmacy, turn left by the Subaru garage just before crossing the bridge, and the Vets is just on the left.
Minehead
Minehead is a typical seaside town and is approximately 11 miles away from Luckyard Farm. It has all the trimmings that you would expect from a busy seaside town. There are sandy and stoned beaches, many shops and amusements. The Minehead carnival is always good fun for everyone.
Wiveliscombe & Bampton
"Wive" as the locals call it, is a lovely small town that has pubs, a garage, Post Office and a supermarket that has a cash point, along with a Chinese take away ! ......But the real reason for mentioning "Wive" is the gun shop......and you will find no better gun shop in England than this one, Quality Guns, Clothing & Accessories along with 1st class advice....
West Country Guns is run by Haggis and Sue Hartman. I am very fortunate to know some very good shots, but I know of only one person who has represented his Country many times and returned home with no fewer than FOUR GOLD MEDALS, and this is Haggis !
~ This gun shop is highly recommended, easy to get to from Luckyard Farm, a must visit ~
West Country Guns, 9 The Square, Wiveliscombe, Somerset, TA24 2JT
Telephone Number 01984-623829
West Country Guns Special Offer .......
Deben stereo electronic ear defenders, only £49-99
Just come into stock, FOB shotgun cases, very good quality, modern design, only £20 each
Please visit their Web Site, simply click on the link below
Once you are in Wive it is well worth visiting Bampton, here you will find a mini supermarket, a few shops, car park, toilets, a beautiful church and you can even feed the ducks on the river !
Ralegh's Cross Inn is situated on the junction of the B3224 Bishops Lydeard to Wheddon Cross and the B3190 Watchet Road.
Open 7 days a week, this is an ideal Inn to visit for an evening out. The food is good as is the warm welcome you will receive upon arrival. Full a la carte Restaurant menu with freshly prepared starters, homemade desserts and over 30 main courses. Outside there is ample parking and a children's play area.
Bridgetown, Dulverton, Exmoor, Somerset TA22 9JL
Telephone 01643 - 851204 Facimile 08701 - 698912
Badgers Holt Inn, Bridgetown, Somerset TA22 9JL
Telephone 01643-851204
Fax 0870-1698912
Dunkery Beacon
To get to the foot of Dunkery Beacon takes 20 minutes by car from Luckyard Farm. It takes about 45 minutes to climb the path to the top where the view is well worth the effort. Dunkery Beacon can be seen quite easily from Luckyard Farm, if you walk up the path out of the farmyard and glance to your left, you really can't miss it.
Dunster
Dunster is steeped in history and is most famous for its Castle and Yarn Market. If you stand in the Yarn Market and look up into the rafters, you can spot a cannon ball hole which was made when the soldiers inside the castle fired upon Sir Oliver Cromwell and his advancing army.
The Post Office at Wheddon Cross
Everything you would expect from a local sub Post Office. Not open as often as we would like, but it does open sometimes.
The Garage at Wheddon Cross
The Garage sells all fuels, inc auto gas ! has a garage workshop and a mini bus and coach hire service.
Connected to the Garage is the Londis Store, and their opening hours are
Mon to Fri 7-30 to 7-30, Sat 9 to 7-30 & Sun 9 to 6
The Londis Store has the following ; Off Licence, News Papers, Cigarettes, LOTTERY MACHINE, Car necessities and the General store has Milk, Bread etc, inc all types of food and everything else you would expect to find in a mini supermarket.
Withypool
Withypool in just past Winsford and takes no time at all to get to once you are in Winsford. It has a shop, a garage and a beautiful arched bridge over the river. You can sit on the banks of the river, paddle or even take a small boat onto the river.
Tarr Steps
Tarr steps is quite close to Dulverton. Once you are in Dulverton, turn left at the Post Office, follow the road and climb up onto the moor. Take a left turn and descend down the hill to the car park. From there you can choose to either walk down the road or take the scenic foot path to Tarr Steps. The large rocks are placed as giant stepping stones across the river. Children can fish with their nets, and parents can enjoy a cream tea at the Tarr Steps Hotel.
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Doone Valley
No visit to Exmoor could ever be complete without seeing the Doone Valley. Richard Dodderidge Blackmore's novel comes alive as you trace the footsteps of the book's hero "Jan Ridd"
Visit Malmsmead, Badgworthy Water and the church at Oare, where Carver Doone shot his sister Lorna on her wedding day..... they don't write 'em like that any more !
Visit the other pages of the Luckyard Farm web site by clicking in the boxes below
Helping on the Farm 