Exmoor National Park

Exmoor National Park

Exmoor Holiday Guide

Whats on Exmoor Public Transport Guide

Exmoor Villages - Interactive Map

Exmoor Map of Bus Routes

West Somerset Railway

Getting to and around Exmoor National Park

Exmoor National Park covers parts of West Somerset and North Devon. It's landscapes are increadibly varied, ranging from areas of open moorland to intimate deep valleys and ancient oak woodlands, to coastal areas with some of the highest and most spectacular cliffs. As well as the National Park, these incredible landscapes and features are protected by the National Trust, Nature Reserves or Heritage Coast.

There are a number of places to visit, including five National Park Visitor Centres at Combe Martin, County Gate, Dulverton, Dunster and Lynmouth. Attractive woodland walks are possible in Glen Lyn Gorge near Lynmouth and in Watersmeet. The area has also got its fair share of historic houses and gardens, including Arlington Court to the south of Combe Martin, Knightshayes Court south of Dulverton and Dunster Castle. The smallest and most compact of the UK National Parks, Exmoor has no standard gauge railway lines within its boundaries, but has the Great Western main line to the south, the Exeter-Barnstaple "Tarka" line to the west and the preserved West Somerset Railway (Bishops Lydeard - Minehead) to the east.

This makes access to at least the edge of Exmoor relatively easy, with the Barnstaple-Lynton bus services 309/310 providing good quality all-the year round access to the West and North Exmoor including Lynton, Lynmouth and South Molton - though there is a 10 minute walk from Barnstaple Railway Station to the Bus station for most connections.

From Taunton Station, there are buses enabling access to Eastern and Norther Exmoor, including Minehead, Dulverton, Dunster, Lynton and Lynmouth.

Visitors arriving at Tiverton Parkway are able to travel on by bus to Southern Exmoor, including Dulverton and South Molton

North Devon Area Bus Routes Map

An unusual way to travel to and through the National Park is on the West Somerset Railway, a preserved single track line linking Minehead, Dunster, Watchet, Blue Anchor, Williton and Bishops Lydeard near Taunton. Steam hauled trains operate throughout the summer and during school holidays.

There are a number of other bus services which would benefit visitors to the National Park. Many services are improved for the summer season with extra Sunday buses from Barnstaple to Croyde, Woolacombe, Clovelly, Bude and South Molton.

300 Exmoor Coastlink during the summer months offers a scenic journey along the coast with stunning views of Exmoor. The service runs between Ilfracombe, Lynton, Lynmouth and Minehead. The first journey in the morning departs from Barnstaple Bus Station at 0920, offering a great day out.
398 Dunster Shuttle operates frequent services between Tiverton and Minehaead, also serving Dunster, Exford, Winsword, Dulverton and Bampton.
285 North Exmoor Circular runs on Monday to Friday between May and October, enabling access to Minehead, Dunster, Wheddon Cross, Winsford, Wittypool, Exford and Porlock.
28 Service from Minehead to Dunster, Watchet, Williton, Crowcombe and Taunton

307 service from Taunton to South Malton and Barnstaple, serving Dulverton on the edge of the Park.

In addition, there are also short distance, often circular routes operating frequent services to the following:

38 Shuttle from Minehead, via Selworthy, Allerfordand Bossington (Monday to Saturday)
600 Circular from Minehead via Selworthy, Bossington, Allerford (Friday to Saturday)

... and a couple of one day a week services including the L1 service along the coast, operating on Tuesdays from Lynton/ Lynmouth via Barbrook, Brendon, County Gate, Porlock and Minehead.

Fares and Tickets :

The Three Day Exmoor ticket gives unlimited travel on most services within Exmoor National Park and through to Exeter, Minehead, Dunster, Barnstaple and Infracombe

Useful Contacts:

Exmoor National Park Visitor Centres:

Dulverton Visitor Centre: 01398 323841
Dunster Visitor Centre: 01643 821835
Combe Martin Visitor Centre: 01271 883319
County Gate Visitor Centre: 01598 741321
Lynmouth Visitor Centre: 01598 752509

Public Transport Information::01823-356700 (Somerset)- ask for Exmoor and West Sommerset Connections booklet for complete timetables and suggested walks.

Traveline 0870 608 2 608

Timetables: North Devon Area Bus Guides are available to order online, or by calling 01392 382 800

Best Places to stay without a car: Lynton and Lynmouth (twin villages connected by the unique Lynmouth cliff railway); Dunster and Porlock or Minehead or Infracombe , which are on the edge of the Park but are well served by bus (summer monthly) into the Park.