One of my favourite places to spend a day out is Exmoor National Park. Even though it is right on our doorstep here at Newberry Valley I don't get out there often enough, but I really wouldn't want you to miss out on a great day trip, so I thought it was worth creating a Touring Route for you. Approximate driving time: 4–5 hours (allow a full day with stops) Distance: Around 65 miles While many visitors head straight for the famous beauty spots, this route takes you through some of Exmoor's quieter corners, where you'll discover hidden valleys, tiny villages, ancient woodlands and spectacular views. Pack a picnic, bring your camera and don't forget the binoculars as you never know when you might spot red deer soaring buzzards or even Exmoor ponies. Stop 1: Landacre Bridge Leave Newberry Valley and make your way towards Withypool. Just before the village, you'll find Landacre Bridge, one of Exmoor's prettiest medieval bridges spanning the River Barle. It's wonderfully peaceful here. Children love paddling in the shallow water during summer (when conditions are safe), while adults can simply enjoy the silence and the beautiful riverside setting. Perfect for morning coffee, family photos and wildlife spotting Stop 2: Withypool A traditional Exmoor village that feels wonderfully untouched. Pop into the village shop for ice creams or enjoy a drink at the Royal Oak if you fancy an early lunch. If you have younger children, there's plenty of space beside the river to explore. Stop 3: Tarr Steps Follow the quiet roads through the valley to one of Exmoor's oldest treasures. Tarr Steps is believed to be over 3,000 years old and is the longest clapper bridge in Britain. The woodland walk beside the River Barle is beautiful in summer, offering plenty of shade on warmer days. Children love crossing the huge stone slabs and searching for fish in the river below. Picnic Stop: Tarr Steps Woodland This is the perfect place to unpack a picnic. There are grassy areas beside the river, lots of butterflies in summer and plenty of places for children to explore safely while parents relax. Stop 4: Winsford Hill Leave the valley behind and climb onto the open moor. This is where Exmoor begins to feel truly wild. Keep your eyes open for Exmoor ponies and also for: Red deer, Buzzards, Kestrels. The views stretch for miles and, even in summer, it's often wonderfully quiet. Stop 5: Exford One of Exmoor's prettiest villages. The green is perfect for children to burn off a little energy in the play area while parents enjoy an ice cream or afternoon tea. The white cottages, old bridge and peaceful atmosphere make this one of those places that feels unchanged for generations. Stop 6: Simonsbath Right in the heart of Exmoor. This tiny village is often missed by visitors but makes an ideal stop for refreshments. The surrounding countryside is breathtaking and there are several gentle riverside walks if you fancy stretching your legs. Scenic Drive Home Enjoy the fabulous drive back to Newberry Valley following the B3358 through the rolling Exmoor countryside before joining the A399 back to the village. Or head over the top of the moors again to drop down towards Barbrook and the A39. Either way it's a lovely end to a spectacular day. Newberry Valley Top Tips ✔ Leave early to enjoy the quieter roads. ✔ Bring a picnic blanket. ✔ Mobile signal can be limited on Exmoor - that's all part of its charm! ✔ Take binoculars if you have them. ✔ Please leave gates as you find them and take your litter home. ✔ Drive slowly - you'll be sharing the roads with sheep, ponies, cyclists and sometimes red deer. A little challenge... See if your family can spot: □ An Exmoor pony □ A buzzard □ A red deer □ A stone bridge □ A river with stepping stones □ A butterfly □ A sheep with black faces Have a wonderful day exploring one of England's most beautiful national parks and do take some photos to send to us... Sometimes the best memories are made on the roads less travelled. Join us at Newberry Valley Park, perfectly nestled on the edge of the lovely seaside village of Combe Martin. Book now to secure your spot and immerse yourself in the delights North Devon & Exmoor has to offer you!

When I wrote a previous blog post about the canine capers at Newberry Valley, our lovely German Shepherd Luna was still with us. Some of you may remember her sitting proudly in the farmhouse window, quietly watching campers wander past, picnic packed, and dogs in tow, or sandy feet and paddleboards after a morning on the beach. She considered it her daily duty to supervise park life, although we suspect she was mostly hoping someone might stop for a fuss. These days, the role has been enthusiastically taken over by our one-year-old adolescent, Remy, who prefers to keep watch from the garden gate. Unlike Luna’s calm and dignified approach, Remy’s style is rather more energetic and involves far more excitement whenever anyone so much as walks past with a potential new playmate. Since we arrived here 20 years ago now, we have had a plethora of gorgeous mutts as family pets. Here are just a few piccies of some of them... Luna & Diesel (top row L to R), Remy, Teyha and Taz (bottom row L to R). Each one holds a special place in our hearts. Our lovely pooches But this post isn’t just about our dogs. We want to celebrate all the four-legged visitors who’ve holidayed here over the years. The excitable explorers, the scent sniffers, the expert treat negotiators and, of course, the lazy loungers, champions of afternoon naps outside caravans, campervans and tents. Looking back through some of the photos guests have kindly shared with us over the seasons, it struck us just how much dogs become an integral part of the park. Whether they’re padding along the woodland paths, stretched out in the sunshine beside a touring pitch, or peering curiously from a shepherd’s hut doorway, they somehow make camping life feel even more relaxed, joyful, and connected to nature. Your lovely pooches If your own four-legged camping companion is a happy dog when they have stayed with us, we always love seeing your photos and adventures around the park. Do email them to us or pop them on our social media pages. And if you’re planning your next North Devon escape, dogs are very welcome here. So don’t leave them whining in the kennels… plan your relaxing break with your pooch today.

At Newberry Valley, we aim to help you as much as possible, so we've taken the guesswork out of your family trip with this useful itinerary to keep the whole family happy. Day One Arrive at Newberry Valley Park and set up camp for the week. If the kids are more of a hindrance than a help during the setup process, send them off to the play park to make new friends, and then later walk to Combe Martin for an afternoon of beach fun.   Day Two Head to Hele Beach or Ilfracombe Watersports Hub for pre-booked coasteering / SUP / kayaking activities, and then spend the late afternoon in Ilfracombe Town, browsing the shops, arcades, and enjoying crazy golf, bouncy castles and play areas.   Day Three Get up and out for a full theme park day. Choose The Milky Way, enjoying shows, rides, play and indoor & outdoor activities (collect a return voucher for your next visit.) For a closer alternative option, visit the Wildlife and Dinosaur Park for animals galore and soft play too.   Day Four Explore the Valley of the Rocks for a while, then park up in Lynton and take the coast path down to Lynmouth for a wander, then catch the Cliff Railway back up again. Make the most of the scenic route home and stop off for a cream tea at the National Trust cafe at Watersmeet.   Day Five Today is a beach day at Woolacombe for sun, sand and sea, with options for surf hire or lessons, or horse riding. On a Wednesday evening, you can even stop for the sheepdog & falconry show on the way home   Day Six Get your adrenaline fix at Keypitts Off Road Adventures in the morning. Recover your energies with an afternoon boat trip departing from Ilfracombe - there's a variety of options available from the harbour. Then finish the day with fun at the slip 'n' slide   Day Seven Get your animal fix today at The Big Sheep with plenty to entertain, then go for some retail therapy at Affinity shopping centre close by, or choose to finish your holiday with water fun at the Ultimate Adventure Centre.   Day Eight Pack up after an action-packed week, and if time allows, take the scenic route home with a drive or even a walk over Exmoor. To make the most of your holidays, it's a good idea to book at least a couple of days in advance for each activity. Before you do, many of these activity providers offer discounts to Newberry Valley Park customers! Once you've booked your pitch or hut, we'll send you the access details to our site app, where you will find the discount details. Happy memories are what our business is all about at Newberry Valley. And the most important part of our day is creating the ideal environment for you and your family to enjoy those special holiday moments together. And if you made use of this itinerary on your holiday, let us know how you got on! We’d love to hear about what worked for you, as well as what you’d include next time!

Recently, I was talking with our receptionist, Lisa, who, as it turns out, is a very keen gardener. Like many of our guests, Lisa loves spending time tending to flowers and pots bursting with colour. But she also knows that one of the biggest worries before heading off on holiday is leaving the garden behind. "Will everything survive while I'm away?" The good news is that with just a little preparation, your garden should be ready to look after itself while you're enjoying a relaxing break here in North Devon. Lisa shared some of her favourite tips, and they were simply too good not to pass on. 1. Give Houseplants a Mini Holiday Too Place houseplants in the bath or shower on top of a plastic sheet lined with a couple of layers of cardboard. Water thoroughly until the cardboard is completely soaked, then close the shower curtain to trap the moisture. A feed before you leave will give them an extra boost. 2. Check for Unwanted Visitors Before you pack your suitcase, inspect your plants for pests such as aphids or slugs. Treat any problems before you leave so they don't have a chance to spread while you're away. 3. Mulch is Your Best Friend A layer of grass clippings or leaf mulch helps lock moisture into the soil and slowly feeds your plants too. It's one of the simplest jobs that can make a real difference during warm weather. 4. Water Well Before You Leave Rather than giving plants a quick sprinkle, soak them deeply for around 20 minutes each evening for two or three days before your holiday. Deep watering encourages stronger roots and helps plants cope better if the weather turns hot. 5. Try Some Eco Watering Tricks If you don't have someone popping in to water, homemade watering systems work surprisingly well. Fill an empty lemonade bottle and use an old T-shirt as a wick. Or fill a wine bottle with water and push it upside down into the soil. Both methods release water slowly while you're away. 6. Move Pots into the Shade Containers dry out much faster than garden borders. Grouping pots together in a shaded spot creates a more humid little microclimate and helps them retain moisture for longer. 7. Weed and Deadhead Remove weeds before you leave so they aren't competing for precious water. Deadheading flowers also encourages many plants to keep blooming once you're home again. 8. Hold Off on New Planting As tempting as it is to pop a few new plants into the garden before your holiday, it's better to wait. Newly planted flowers and shrubs need extra attention during their first week or two. 9. Pick Your Fruit and Vegetables Harvest anything that's ripe, or even nearly ripe. Tomatoes and strawberries will continue to ripen indoors, so you'll have something delicious waiting for you when you return. 10. Support Climbers and Mow the Lawn Climbing plants can put on an impressive growth spurt while you're away, so tie them in before you leave. And if the lawn needs cutting, give it a mow as close to your departure date as possible. With a little planning, you can head off knowing your garden is in good shape and your plants are happy... then fully relax while you're away. After all, holidays should be about unwinding, not worrying about what's happening back home. Thinking about your next escape to North Devon? We'd love to welcome you to Newberry Valley Park. Whether you're staying on one of our spacious pitches or treating yourself to one of our cosy shepherd's huts, you can enjoy your break knowing your garden is ready to greet you when you get home.

Over the past few weeks, as we’ve been planning how to mark 20 years here at Newberry Valley, we’ve found ourselves looking back at old photos, remembering how things once were, and realising just how much has changed over time. When we first arrived, the park had a very different feel. The bones of it were here, of course. The same beautiful valley, the same sense of space, the same quiet that settles in as evening draws across the fields. But it was a much more basic place than the campsite we know today. Back then, just over a third of the pitches had electric hook-up. In the first few years, it became evident that we would need to grow with the needs of our guests, and so now, every pitch has its own 16-amp electric hook-up, making things just that little bit easier and more comfortable for everyone who stays. The pitches themselves have evolved, too. Originally, they were all grass - and while that connection to nature has always been important to us, we recognised the need to offer something a little more practical to allow for the ups and downs of the great British weather, especially for the many touring caravans and motorhomes that love to visit the region. Now, alongside our grass pitches, we have 28 beautifully block-paved, hard-standing pitches. Each one has been designed to offer the best of both worlds — a solid, reliable surface for your caravan, car or motorhome, with a stretch of grass alongside for sitting out, stretching your legs, and enjoying that fresh North Devon air. And then there are the facilities… which, if we’re being honest, have seen one of the biggest transformations of all. In the early days, the toilets and showers were… functional. Partitioned cubicles, simple and practical, with a rather memorable system where the water from all the showers drained along the back of each cubicle. It did the job, but it’s fair to say it wasn’t quite the experience we wanted for our guests. Over time, that too has been thoughtfully reimagined. Today, those same spaces have become something entirely different. Spacious, private rooms that many guests have kindly compared to a rather posh hotel bathroom. Clean, warm, with all that you need in one pleasant environment. It’s one of the many changes we’re very proud of, because it reflects something deeper than just improvement - it reflects our desire to care, and the attention to detail that we aim to offer at every juncture. And perhaps that’s what ties all these “then and now” moments together. Yes, the park has evolved. Yes, things are more comfortable, more refined, and more in tune with what people need today. They are all small details, perhaps, but they make a real difference to how people experience their stay. These changes have never been about becoming something different - only about becoming the best version of who and what we are. If you’re discovering us for the first time, you’ll find a place that has been gently shaped over many years, with care, thought, and a deep respect for its surroundings. And as always, we’ll look forward to welcoming you, whether it’s your first visit or one of many.

Newberry Valley ticks all the boxes for your family camping holiday! Here's our family guide to enjoying the best of North Devon while you're here. 1. Brilliant Beach Days No North Devon trip would be complete without 1, 2 or 3 trips to the beach, whether you spend the whole day or just an hour or two there, here are three of our top picks: Combe Martin & Newberry Beach These 2 beaches combine together when the tide is out, and have a big array of offerings in a relatively small space! Partly sandy & partly stoney Rockpools & caves Swimming & paddling Kayak tours (prebook) Kayaking (hire available) Paddleboarding (hire available) Dogs allowed on certain parts Food & ice cream very close 10-minute walk from site Hele Bay This regularly overlooked beach extends surprisingly far round the coast and feels like you're tucked away from the rest of the world for a while! Partly sandy & partly stoney Rockpools Swimming & paddling Coasteering (prebook) Kayaking (prebook hire) Paddleboarding (prebook hire) Cheap car parking very close to beach Dogs allowed 10-minute drive from site Woolacombe Beach The golden sands of glorious Woolacombe Beach are world renowned for good reason, and no North Devon holiday would be complete without a visit here! Beautiful golden sand Surfing hire & lessons Lots of shops in the village Bodyboarding Swimming & paddling Perfect for sandcastles Dogs allowed on certain parts Lots of food & drink options 30-minute drive from site 2. Lovely Local Towns These picturesque towns each offer something unique to entertain families, and have plenty of options for grabbing traditional cream teas, fish & chips or handmade ice creams: Lynmouth & Lynton Cliff railway Artisan shops Beautiful beach & gorge Valley of rocks Coast path walk 30-minute drive from site Ilfracombe Harbour & beach Arcades & shops Seafront play area Statue of Verity Crazy golf & bouncy castles 15-minute drive from site Braunton Paint-a-pot Burrows walks Surf & artisan shops Play areas & rec field Pump track 30-minute drive from site 3. Terrific Tourist Attractions We're lucky to have a big range of fun days out in this area, and they all offer discounts to Newberry Valley Park customers. It's hard to narrow it down, but here are three of our favourites: The Milky Way This small theme park will entertain all ages and leave you with exhausted children at the end of the day. 2 soft play areas Rollercoasters & rides Various daily shows Great for all weathers Birds of prey Big range of activities Age range 0-100 1 hour drive from site Watermouth Castle This curious attraction is an eclectic mix of historic curiosities and outdoor rides and play areas. New outdoor playground Toboggan Spooky dungeon Ride on attractions Curiosity museum Sand pit play area Age range 2-12 5-minute drive from site The Big Sheep This is a classic Devon attraction like no other, and there’s lots of fun farm activities packed in. Sheep racing Animal feeding Indoor soft play Live shows Family rides Outdoor fun Age range 0-100 1 hour drive from site 4. Fabulous Family Walks No family holiday is complete without some time wandering around a new area, and we have so many stunning choices in this area. Here are the easiest options for little legs: Chapel Woods 1 mile circular walk Stream & ruins to play in Woodland to explore Shaded by trees On road parking 25-minute drive from site Heddon Valley 2 mile circular walk Path follows river to sea Stony beach to explore Mainly shaded National trust car park 25-minute drive from site Simonsbath Up to 5 mile point to point Walk through valley & moor Open without shade Varied terrain to explore Public car park 30-minute drive from site 5. Unique Activities It’s experiences like these which make a trip special. Here are some out-of-the-ordinary adventures, where you’ll make family memories to last a lifetime: Keypitts Off Road Centre Mini landrovers, age 3-10 4x4 experience, age 6+ Quadbiking, age 6+ Motorbiking, age 10+ Axe throwing, age 10 + 15-minute drive from site Ilfracombe Princess Boat Tours Coast & wildlife tours Sunset cruises 3 trips daily Monthly music sessions Suitable for all ages 15-minute drive from site Woolacombe Riding Stables Riding lessons Countryside rides Beach rides Beginner options, age 4+ Aay at the stables, age7+ 25-minute drive from site The Family Guide Round-Up So whatever it is that takes your fancy, we’ve got you covered with lots of options to keep you busy and entertained. At the end of the day, when you’re all happily exhausted, the best bit is that you get to return to your spacious pitch at Newberry Valley. Any remaining energy the kids have can be run off with friends at the playpark, whilst you sit back and enjoy the stunning views of a campsite: secluded and yet it's so close to the village. A place where you can appreciate the nature all around, but still connect to the wifi, where you can enjoy the woodland walks, but you don’t have to use a compost loo and an outdoor shower! Here at Newberry Valley Park, you’ve got the best of both worlds, to give you the best camping holiday – luxury camping in nature! Come, stay with us, and experience the joys of country and coastal living. Book your getaway now. We can't wait to welcome you!

Strong Signal. Peaceful Setting. No Compromises. Not the prettiest addition... but possibly the most useful 😉 No, they’re not modern sculptures. And no, we haven’t taken up abstract art installation over winter. They’re part of our brand-new upgraded WiFi system. Whether you need to join a Zoom call before heading out for a coastal walk, upload photos from the beach, watch your favourite series after a long day exploring North Devon, or simply FaceTime family, you’ll have a reliable, upgraded connection across the park. Because in 2026, good internet isn’t a luxury. It’s part of feeling comfortable and at ease on holiday. Why We’ve Invested in a New System This decision wasn’t theoretical. I recently stayed at a well-known national hotel chain for a few nights with promises of “ultimate WiFi.” It was anything but. In my room, I couldn’t get my laptop to function online at all. Emails wouldn’t load. Pages wouldn’t open. Work simply wasn’t possible. Even basic browsing became an exercise in frustration. And it struck me that it’s something we absolutely must get right. Because whether you’re: Catching up on a few emails from your awning Taking an important business call Letting the children stream a programme on a rainy afternoon Or keeping in touch with family back home You shouldn’t have to hunt for a signal or sit buffering. You should be able to relax, knowing it just works. Yes… There Are a Few More Poles If you visit this season, you’ll notice a few new poles standing quietly around the park. They may not win any beauty contests. They don’t quite blend in with the ancient oaks or rolling green fields. But they are there for a reason... to deliver consistent, reliable coverage across the site, wherever you’re pitched. And while we’ll always prioritise the natural beauty of Newberry Valley, the birdsong in the mornings, the soft light over the lake, the calm that settles in at dusk, we also recognise that modern comfort includes staying connected when you need to. Here, you don’t have to choose between woodland and bandwidth. You can have both. And as we step into this new season, we feel incredibly proud, not just of how far the park has come, but of the community of guests who have made it what it is. We can’t wait to welcome familiar faces back, and to greet new guests discovering Newberry Valley for the first time. Here’s to fresh air, peaceful evenings, and full signal bars.

Newberry Castle: Iron Age Hillfort. Credit Johnmoore.co.uk Long before this peaceful valley welcomed visitors, the land was known simply as Newberry Farm, a sheltered farmstead set in a valley running down to the sea on the rugged North Devon coast. But the story of Newberry Farm reaches back far beyond the more recent farming history of the valley. High on the ridge above sits Newberry Castle, an Iron Age hillfort dating from around 700 BC. From this commanding position, people could watch the coastline and the valley below. Although the site is clearly a defensive enclosure, few artefacts have ever been found there, leading historians to believe that the hillfort may have served mainly as a temporary place of refuge for the farming communities living in valleys like that of Newberry Farm. Smugglers on the North Coast For centuries the valley itself remained agricultural land centred on Newberry Farm, with fields and tracks leading down towards the small sheltered cove of Newberry Beach. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, that secluded beach became part of a very different chapter in the valley’s story — smuggling. Along this stretch of coastline, smugglers were often referred to locally as “The Gentlemen.” Under the cover of darkness, small boats would land goods such as French brandy, gin, tea, silk and tobacco in hidden coves like Newberry Beach, avoiding the heavy taxes imposed by the Crown. Smuggling here was rarely the work of a few rogue sailors. It often involved entire communities, from fishermen landing goods on the beach to farmers storing them inland. Valleys like the one surrounding Newberry Farm provided the perfect route to move contraband quietly away from the shore. Barrels and crates would be carried along cliff paths and hidden tracks up through the valley, where goods could be concealed in barns, outhouses or haystacks before being transported onward to markets such as Barnstaple. Boatbuilding on the Beach Newberry Beach also had a more legitimate maritime role. In the Victorian era, small boats were built and repaired on the beach, and wooden hobblers posts once stood there to moor coastal vessels. By around 1825, the golden age of smuggling began to fade. The establishment of the Coastguard service and the reduction of import taxes made the illegal trade far less profitable. A Landscape That Remembers View of the site from the meadow, looking down the valley to the sea Today, the valley around Newberry Farm is quiet again. But the landscape still carries memories of its long history - from the Iron Age hillfort watching over the valley, to the paths that once carried barrels of contraband inland. It’s a reminder that the peaceful valley we see today has been part of local life, trade and survival for thousands of years. Come, stay with us, and experience the joys of our fantastic 5-star campsite. Book your getaway now. We can't wait to welcome you!

A little polish, a lot of care, and the odd bucket of elbow grease With only a short while until we reopen, there's a steady flow of activity going on here at Newberry Valley. This is the part you don’t see, but hopefully feel when you arrive, kettle (or bottle of wine!) in hand, ready to relax. Preparing the park for a new season is a bit like waking a sleeping giant after a long hibernation. There’s cleaning, checking, testing… and plenty of grunting and groaning too, as well as the occasional moment of “will we be ready in time?” (Yes, we will.) A Deep Clean from Top to Toe Because sparkling loos don’t clean themselves Before the first caravan rolls in, every facility gets a thorough deep clean, and we mean thorough . From floors and tiles to doors, showers, and every hook and handle in between, it’s all scrubbed, polished, and made guest-ready. It’s not glamorous work, but it’s deeply satisfying. There’s something very comforting about standing back at the end of the day, admiring a spotless wash block and thinking, yes… that’s how it should be. Water Safety: The Not-So-Exciting but Very Important Bit Legionella testing and peace of mind Behind the scenes, we carry out full legionella testing. It’s one of those jobs you’ll (thankfully) never notice, but it’s vital for keeping everyone safe. Every tap, shower, and water system is checked, flushed, and monitored so that when you turn on the hot tap after a long journey, it’s just comfort that flows, not worries. Fire Safety Checks Prepared for everything… except burnt sausages All fire extinguishers are tested and serviced, ensuring they’re ready should they ever be needed. It’s another one of those jobs that sits firmly in the background, reassuring, responsible, and essential. Fire bells checked and fire drill practised. Thankfully, it's rarely called into action, and we wouldn't want it any other way. Electrical Safety Across the Park Because peace of mind should come as standard Our electrical safety checks cover hook-up points, systems, and infrastructure across the park. Everything is inspected and tested so you can plug in, put the kettle on, and settle into holiday mode without a second thought. It’s all part of making sure your stay feels effortless, even though a lot of effort goes into it beforehand. The Little Jobs That Add Up Fences fixed, paths checked, hedges tamed (mostly) Alongside the official checks and tests, winter is full of smaller tasks: repairing fences, tidying paths, checking signage, and keeping the grounds in good shape. Nature has a habit of doing its own thing over winter, and we gently nudge it back into balance come spring. All the while, the woodland ticks along quietly, the lake reflects the changing sky, and we’re reminded why we love this place so much. If you’re already dreaming of spring mornings and peaceful evenings by the lake, now’s the perfect time to start planning your next stay. We’ll be ready and waiting. Just so you know we re-open on 20th March 2026... save the date!

There’s a particular kind of hush that settles over Newberry Valley once the gates close for the season. It isn’t empty, far from it, but there's a sort of unhurried feel. The rush of summer voices gives way to birdsong and the gentle sound of the wind rolling through the valley. Reflections in the winter sunshine Winter light arrives gently here. On my morning walks with Remy, I occasionally spot a heron standing perfectly still at the water’s edge. On mornings like these, I wander in wonder at how amazingly resilient the resident birds and animals are, with temperatures dropping to zero and below. Remy loves to follow the scents and prints from the badgers and foxes, tracing their stories across the damp grass. Life continues, just at a different pace. Yet plenty to do... Nevertheless, this is the season of job lists and preparation. A repaired fence here, a cleared path there. Time to check the shepherd’s huts, to make plans, to imagine laughter returning to the fields when spring arrives. There’s a quiet satisfaction in these months. The kind that comes from caring for a place when no one is watching. The woodland feels especially alive. Without summer’s leafy canopy, the ancient oaks show their full character — twisted, strong, unapologetically themselves. Walking beneath them, it’s hard not to feel grounded, reminded that everything moves in cycles: busy and still, full and resting. For those who work here, winter is a pause and a promise. A gentle holding of space until the doors open again and the site fills with familiar faces, wagging tails, and the quiet joy of being outdoors together. Until then, the valley rests, perhaps invites us to do the same, reminding us that there’s beauty in slowing down, listening closely, and letting nature’s quiet moments stay with us a little longer. Just so you know, we re-open on 20th March 2026... save the date!