Countryside
Sports and Leisure
Highbullen is the perfect base for a range of sporting and leisure pursuits. Its spectacular location and wide variety of fauna and flora naturally appeal to walking and horse riding enthusiasts.
Shooting and fishing are also available in the estate and local area. Highbullen will soon be opening luxurious lodges which are sure to be popular with shooting and fishing parties.
You could even try something completely new in our workshops. Beginner courses will be run on anything from shooting or fishing, to how to use a chainsaw safely!
Key features about the local area, Exmoor on our doorstep:
- Exmoor has the longest wooded coastline in Britain
- The Exmoor coast has the highest and lowest tides in Europe
- Exmoor is home to England's tallest tree, a Douglas fir near Dunster
- Exmoor has the highest sea cliffs on the British mainland
- Exmoor ponies are Britain's oldest native breed of horse
- The Exmoor Coast is the most remote in England
- Exmoor has plants that grow nowhere else in the world, including two species of Whitebeam tree
- Britain's longest footpath, The South West Coast Path, begins on the Exmoor coast
- Beech trees grow at greater altitudes on Exmoor than anywhere else in Britain
- Exmoor National Park has some of the darkest skies in the UK, and is a great location for stargazing
- The highest point on Exmoor is Dunkery Beacon at 519 m above sea level
Walks
Highbullen has lovely walks through its woodland and
along the riverside. Route cards are available at Reception so it's
easy to find your way around. These walks extend out into the
surrounding countryside, so if you'd like us to arrange a picnic or
pick you up from a local pub at the end of your walk just ask.
Further afield, we can take you up on to Exmoor and Dartmoor or along the Atlantic coastal paths on one of our Wilderness and Coastal Walks. You can also join one of our Early Morning Walks.
Dawn Chorus or Cuckoo Walks
Depart at 5am from Highbullen out onto Exmoor for four and a half hours guided walk and then back for a well earned breakfast!!!
For those wishing to cycle, we can arrange similar trips on mountain bike and for those who just want to sit back and enjoy the view, we can arrange trips by Land Rover.
For more information please contact Chris Taylor on 01769 540561 or email chris.taylor@highbullen.co.uk
Riding
Riding is really popular with youngsters and our
local stable caters for all abilities on quality, well schooled
horses. Riding is geared to the individual and you can learn to
ride or polish up existing skills in cross country, show jumping or
dressage.
The "Loan Pony" scheme offers the chance to learn to care for a
horse. With 2 hours per day riding instruction, structured stable
management sessions and hands on experience in grooming, tacking
up, horse care, and even mucking out!!
- BHS Intermediate Instructor
- All weather arena, cross country schooling fences and show jumps.
- 30 minutes or 1 hour group or private lesson.
- 1 hour and 2 hour hacks through quiet Devon lanes.
- Saturday morning Pony Club.
Bring your own horse on holiday and experience some truly
beautiful countryside - you could even join a local hunt during
your stay.
Riding on Exmoor is an exceptional experience and can be arranged
through the Countryside Office on 01769 540561.
For more information please contact Chris Taylor on 01769 540561 or email chris.taylor@highbullen.co.uk
Horse Racing
Enjoy a special
day at the races - spoil yourself with a picnic hamper for two and
a bottle of champagne. Don't forget to pack your Highbullen
groundsheet and umbrella just in case!
Find out about upcoming race meetings here:
www.newtonabbotracing.com
www.exeter-racecourse.co.uk
For more information please contact Chris Taylor on 01769 540561 or email chris.taylor@highbullen.co.uk
Hawk Walks
Join our falconer Nigel for an
exceptional experience just a short half hour drive from the
hotel.
You can enjoy a one hour Hawk Walk costing £35 per person based
upon a minimum group of three people.
We can also arrange a full day with the Falconer as well as a week
long course.
For more information please contact Chris Taylor on 01769 540561 or email chris.taylor@highbullen.co.uk
Shooting
North Devon has a worldwide reputation for quality game shooting and at Highbullen we have the contacts to provide you with whatever you require. Superb driven pheasant and partridge shooting, stalking red and roe deer; fallow and wild boar as well as pigeon and clay pigeon shooting. New for 2011 is clays in the form of a simulated driven shoot.
For several decades Highbullen has looked after guns and had close contact with most of the local shoots. There are seven major shoots within 30 minutes. Shooting groups are well catered for at the hotel with secure gun stores and kennels for working dogs. For the 2013 season there will also be two 6 bed lodges which can be let as one to cater for larger groups. A roaring log fire followed by dinner prepared by your own chef .
As all forms of shooting need to be tailored to the individual we suggest you contact chris.taylor@highbullen.co.uk or the countryside office. We presently have 8 days available for one or two guns on 6 different shoots.
Duck Flighting
Duck Flighting can be organised with a local shoot
over nearby lakes. Usual timings for this are one hour prior
to sunset and for one hour after sunset.
For more information please contact Chris Taylor on 01769 540561 or
email chris.taylor@highbullen.co.uk
Fishing
Highbullen is ideally placed for the enthusiastic
fisherman. We own several beats on the River Taw and its main
tributary, the River Mole. Our River Mole beat is located on
the Estate and the River Taw beats are within easy reach.
Highbullen is able to provide some tackle including leader line and
flies if needed. A must try is the "Highbullen Special".
For fishermen wishing to fish for stocked fish, then Westlandpound
Reservoir holds Brown and Rainbow Trout and, is approximately half
an hour from the hotel. Two other fisheries can also be found
close to Highbullen and offer excellent fishing for
beginners.
Tuition is offered through two ghillies who provide private tackle
as part of the instruction package. Please ask at hotel
reception for more details.
Should you wish to experience the most enjoyable day out Sea
Fishing we can arrange trips from nearby Clovelly. On a day
trip you will have the chance to catch a large variety of species,
see a breathtaking array of wildlife and even go to Lundy Island as
well.
At the end of the day, our chef will enjoy preparing your catch.
Alternatively, we can arrange for your catch to be frozen or even
stuffed!
For more information please contact Chris Taylor on 01769 540561 or email chris.taylor@highbullen.co.uk
Before and during your visit to Highbullen you can view our beat of the River Mole with our webcam here
Workshops
Watch out on the blog for our workshops that are
soon to be released.
Learn to shoot, fish, stalk, lay hedges, identify flora and fauna,
use a chainsaw, maintain gardens, safe use of garden machinery and
many others.
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info on the latest events.
For more information please contact Chris Taylor on 01769 540561 or email chris.taylor@highbullen.co.uk