Are you ready for the Exmoor Perambulation? This year’s 31 mile “relaxed journey on foot for exercise or pleasure” (as the dictionary defines it!) around the original boundary of the Royal Hunting Forest of Exmoor will take place on Saturday 17th June 2017. You’ll be participating in a historic event that traces its origins back to the time of Edward I – and this year the Perambulation takes place on his birthday!
This year’s event is being organised and hosted by Channel Events (part of the Channel Group, which started in 2006 as a specialist provider of government-funded outdoor training and activities. A decade later, along with Channel Training and Channel Adventure, the organisation continues to spread the word about the benefits (and fun!) of being in the great outdoors on Exmoor.
You can book your place on this year’s Exmoor Perambulation by clicking the logo to the right. You can also book your overnight accommodation at our Pinkery Centre for Outdoor Education – we have 44 beds available in self-catering mixed dormitories (each with en-suite shower rooms). Come and spend the weekend with the Channel Events team and join in with the pre-event BBQ – it’s an early start on Saturday, so staying at Pinkery will give you the chance of some extra hours in bed!
Completing the full Perambulation is a major achievement, but you also have the half distance option, which starts with the main event but ends at Picked Stones Lane (where you’ll be greeted with hot refreshments while waiting for the free mini bus service back to Pinkery). Whichever version you choose (and you don’t have to make up your mind until the day of the event), training is highly recommended before you tackle the main event, but the reward is immersion in the natural environment, heritage and spectacular scenery of Exmoor National Park.
Plus your reward will include a specially-worded certificate, which provides a wonderful description of the walk! “Perambulation Of The Royal Forest Of Exmoor. Whereas in 1279 it was ordained by Edward, by the Grace of God, King of England, Lord of England, Lord of Ireland and Duke of Aquitaine, that the Sheriff of Somerset should firmly observe the perambulations of the Forest of Somerset, and whereas like perambulations of the whole circuit were made in years past, this witnesseth that on the 17th of June, in the year two thousand and seventeen, in the reign of Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, a like perambulation was made.
“The perambulators, being assembled at Pinkery Farm, went forward in this way. Beginning at Pinkery Farm, North West to Woodbarrow and thence Northwards in a straight line past Woodbarrow Hangings to Saddle Gate, which lies on the border of the counties of Somerset and Devon. Here they turned Eastwards through Ruckham Combe and over Thorn Hill, crossing Warcombe Water to arrive at Gammons Corner. After brief respite, they crossed Hoaroak Water, past the Hoar Oak Tree and, after crossing Farley Water, arrived at Brendon Two Gates, where they were counted lest any be lost.
“They continued Eastwards by Hoccombe Water to Badgworthy Hill, and crossed Badgworthy Water to arrive at Clanna Combe where they climbed through the plantation. They continued East across South Common, skirting Stowford Bottom to Kittuck.
The perambulators continued Eastwards in a straight line to Black Barrow, where they turned Southwards across the moor to Alderman’s Barrow, thence South West to Larkbarrow Corner, past the Standing Stone, following high above Sparcombe Water past the foot of Ramscombe to arrive at Orchard Bottom. Here they crossed the River Exe and climbed to the South over Penn Allotment. Turning West they struck out for Honeymead Two Gates where they crossed the high road between Exford and Simonsbath to arrive at Picked Stones Lane, where they rested.
And they say that all within the aforesaid bounds, in the whole circuit was the Forest of the Lady Queen. And this perambulation was made in divers ways and succoured at divers times by [YOU!] being one of many to complete the perambulation in one day in the time of ? hours ? minutes.”
Good luck to everyone who enters (you might even meet this author manning a gate or two!). You will be participating in a great piece of Exmoor history (don’t forget to wish Edward I a happy birthday whilst thanking him for this lovely route). You can find all the information you need by clicking this link and book your place on the Exmoor Perambulation here.
Exmoor Views 