Our Experiences

Bird of Prey and Owl Flying Experiences
Horse Riding over Exmoor

Gentle and Holistic Horsemanship Workshops
Bed and Breakfast in 15th Century Farmhouse

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Day visitors to Exmoor Owl & Hawk Centre

Step in the footsteps of time when you stay in our 15th century Open Hall Manor House .....

with its own Chapel of Ease for private worship and still open today......
imagine the stories this house can tell about real people over 600 years.....
imagine flying soft feathered owls gently landing on your gloved hand with broad outstretched wings, talons reaching for a safe landing; or the speed of the hawk to take its food - on your gloved hand! ......
imagine riding one of our professional fit barefoot horses up to the top of the moor and high summits of Exmoor, to be greeted with panoramic views for miles around with not a soul in sight........
stay with us for an unforgettable experience, .... unwind, relax, rejuvenate in peace and tranquility.

Fly with us....

Owl & Hawk Experiences

Imagine the beauty of owls and hawks flying to YOU and sitting on your gloved hand!  Imagine these predators talking to you, and asking you for permission to be with you. Look into their eyes.  Marvel at their amazing plumage and their individual personalities.

During your visit to Exmoor or your stay with us at our farmhouse you can fly some amazing owls and hawks for the morning throughout the year, or simply enjoy one of the afternoon flying displays during the summer season.  A great opportunity to experience these beautiful birds and discover their individual behavioural adaptations, and how they teach us how to work with them!  Amazing photographic opportunity.

Ride with us...

Barefoot Riding over Exmoor

As you ascend through the many woods and coombes of the National Trust Holnicote Estate, along gentle cantering tracks and some mountainous terrain to the summits of the hills you will be rewarded with amazing views to neighbouring peaks as far as Devon and Wales, the high cliffs of Exmoor and sea views, with not a soul in sight, on our well experienced barefoot horses, who can also be ridden bitless and treeless - they have been doing their job for many years, and are professionals!

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Individual rides and Riding Holidays are available for experienced teenagers and adults.

Stay with us....

Exmoor Farmhouse
Bed & Breakfast

Step in the footsteps of time.... as you approach our front door you can imagine walking into a 15th century manor house, creaking door, elegant cross-legged dogs, large keys and huge locks.  Even the large wooden door shaft is still here!

Our farmhouse, West Lynch Farm, offers a historic setting and spacious rooms and gardens for your really special short break - surrounded by hills, fields, rivers, woodlands, and sea, with fantastic photographic and painting opportunities, where you can stay on one of our Short Break Holidays to include your riding, bird of prey experiences, or any other outdoor activity of your choice.  Incidentally, we still use the original 'large key'!

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The house dates back to the 15th Century, but sited on the remains of the original Manor of Bossington from pre-Doomsday times!  We offer spacious, friendly ensuite B&B accommodation for country lovers - dogs and horses are also welcome.

.......in the heart of Porlock Vale

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We welcome you to our Centre.  We are Cathy Powell and Rod Smith..... and we run Exmoor Experience, the doorway to Exmoor Riding, Exmoor Owl and Hawk Centre and our lovely 15th century farmhouse B&B at West Lynch Farm. 

We have been running workshops and bespoke experiences for a combined total in excess of 50yrs following early careers in teaching and environmental work - we are passionate about environmental conservation and the beautiful Exmoor area that we live in - we love sharing it with you!

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We are also passionate about our connection with our birds and horses..... they show us how to work with them, and we allow them to be themselves, to explore their environment, and we learn through their experiences and expression.

Through the experiences that we offer, you can meet our 18 magnificent owls, 5 other birds of prey and 12 wonderful gentle horses; flying the birds as they wish to work, and learning how to understand their needs and individual adaptations and personalities; and working with the horses with a reciprocal connection in gentle partnership, offering outstanding rides bitless and barefoot over the moors as well as inhand gentle training workshops in our arena and horse agility paddock.

Stay Bed & Breakfast in our historic 'open hall manor' Farmhouse dating back some 600 years, and lovely gardens where you can enjoy peace, tranquility and relaxation amidst this modern world of chaos.

Situated in the Vale of Porlock a half mile walk from the sea and the Porlock Salt Marshes, surrounded by  North Hill with Selworthy Beacon, Porlock Hill, Dunkery Beacon, Ley Hill, Webbers Post and Grabbist, offering great views north across the Bristol Channel to South Wales and south to Devon and beyond.

West Lynch Farm is part of the National Trust Holnicote Estate comprising of 20 farms, 200 cottages and 12,500 acres of the Holnicote Estate, given to the Trust in 1946 by the late 15th Baronet Sir Richard Acland. 
It is the largest bequeathed estate to the National Trust in the country - a magical place, and their best kept secret!

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The delightful village of Porlock is just one mile from the farmhouse, offering some great little local arts and crafts shops, tea rooms, and several places for evening meal, within easy walking distance of our farmhouse.

Our Location

Situated within the National Trust Holnicote Estate, one mile east of Porlock between the hamlets of Bossington and Allerford, and 5 miles west of Minehead, just off the A39 at Allerford corner.

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We are 30 miles from Barnstaple, Taunton and Bridgwater, and not far from Bristol and Exeter airports.  Our closest station for bus and train is Taunton, and we can arrange taxi pick-up from any international airport.

Local Exmoor