If you're bringing children to Porlock, you might wonder what there is to do with them.  As a mother, I have tried and tested most of the local activities and attractions and, off the top of my head, I've come up with the following suggestions.  These are just my ideas, I'd gladly welcome additions from anyone with more ideas - if you'd like to recommend great things to do in the Porlock area do let us know at [email protected] and we'll add them to this page! 

• You could go for a ride on the West Somerset Railway, Britain's longest heritage line, either all the way from Minehead to the end at Bishops Lydeard (an hour each way) or, because there's not a lot to do at Bishops Lydeard, you could stop part way at Watchet and have a wander around the marina, lunch and a nosy in the shops before heading back or you could stop at Blue Anchor, there's a good cafe called the Driftwood Cafe close to the station if you fancy it, and then walk back from Blue Anchor to Minehead along the beach.
  
• You could spend the day at Dunster Castle, there's some great walks through the gardens, a woodland play area, picnic area, interesting mill, lovely tea room and various family-friendly events going on through the summer (check their website for specifics!).
  
• You could take a very scenic drive up the infamous Porlock Hill and across the moors to Lynmouth, only half an hour or so but a noted drive for the scenery, finishing in a pretty coastal village (stony beach I'm afraid) but there's the cliff railway to enjoy, visit the Exmoor National Park visitor's centre at the bottom of the cliff railway to play their free games (including the computer-generated bug hunt), they do good food in their pavilion cafe and there's toys, books, accessible toilets, etc. Have a wander round Lynton and Lynmouth and enjoy an ice cream or fish and chips on the seafront!
  
• If you'd like another drive over the moor, head for Dulverton where there is lots of lovely shops and tea rooms and once you've parked you can walk over the bridge to find a pretty good children's play area.  Good sandy beaches can be found in Minehead and Dunster (if you go to the latter, include a wander around the little beach chalets, there's a shop for ice creams in the middle of them and behind them a lake with ducks to feed if you have any left over bread..!).
  
• Closer to home, you could walk to Porlock beach from the camp site with a picnic and make a camp fire on the beach with the driftwood you find there. You could take a walk through the woods to Porlock Weir for a spot of crabbing and a pub lunch, or if you're feeling fitter go from Porlock Weir to Culbone, the smallest parish church in England, which has quite a history and the walk there is lovely (easier coming back again!). There's the Hawk and Owl centre at Bossington and if the children enjoy riding you could hire horses at Burrowhayes in Horner and go for a wander through the woods with them (£11 for half an hour, prices correct last summer!).
• If they need to blow off steam and are bored with the campsite and making dams in the stream here you can take a five minute wander through Porlock up Parsons Street (next to the church) to find the Recreation Ground, there's a good play area (the disabled toilet is usually left unlocked) and tennis courts for you to use.  
  
• Depending on the age of the children, there's also fun to be had with Exmoor Adventures, who do kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding in Porlock Bay and the marshes, as well as local mountain biking.  

If you're dining out in Porlock, I can recommend The Mandala Pizza and Salad Emporium (!) because they're very child-friendly, not that other places aren't they just seem to excel at it.  

I hope that's enough to keep you going for now, happy exploring everyone..!

Nom nom, I’m guiltily scoffing a large piece of warm-from-the-oven simnel cake, having just put my children to bed without any, naughty mummy.  Happy Easter everyone!  I meant to post an update sooner but the Easter holidays came around so fast and now they’ve gone again, time really does fly when you’re having fun and there’s so much of it to be had around here :)
 
The camp site has been wonderfully busy, we’ve welcomed friends old and new to enjoy what has been perfect Easter camping weather – remarkably warm and sunny last week and although slightly cooler and more breezy this week we’ve all appreciated the blue skies and brightness.  The lambs are skipping in the fields, the blossom is blooming, the Easter bunny has been diligent, it’s all quite idyllic.
 
Not least here at Sparkhayes camp site, where the shower block has received a make-over; the ladies showers now benefit from extra space and new doors so that one may wash and dress in comfort.  I’d like to mention another development that has been very long awaited; rumour has it that creation of a new attraction at Sparkhayes is at last underway but I might be told off for doing so, I’ll have to keep you in suspense a while longer ;)
 
The village has burst into life (and the roads that are so very quiet during the winter have begun to take on their seasonal burden).  There have been mountain-bikers out in droves and campers booking guided walks and adventures on the bay on stand-up paddle boards (I can’t wait to have a go at this, once my youngest can survive a little while without me!).  Contact Exmoor Adventures if you’re interested.
 
Anyone who has known the village will remember it’s hardware shop; this is now under new management and has been brilliantly stocked full of so many useful and tempting things, so we recommend a visit there.  Whether you need camping supplies, cooking equipment, a gift to take home or a treat for yourself, there’s loads to choose from with friendly service in Porlock’s new Home and Hardware.
 
I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned a delightful Porlock tradition that I witnessed again recently.  It’s one of the many things that makes Porlock a brilliant place to live.  Every Friday, when the working week is done, the staff from the Central Garage emerge with a large hand bell and proceed to ring it very noisily, denoting that 5pm has arrived and it’s time to down tools and relax.  They then engage in a game of football in the garage forecourt.  I am led to understand that this tradition has continued for many years and although my sleep-deprived brain is foggy, I seem to remember that it had started when the house over the road from the garage, which is now the Abbeyfield home, was owned privately and the gentleman living there had something to do with it; if anyone can shed some light on the history of this lovely tradition do let me know!  Anyway, when I happened to be walking through the High Street at 5pm a couple of Fridays ago, not only did the mechanics from the garage come out and ring their bell, the shop-keepers emerged from neighbouring Costcutter and Porlock Home and Hardware with their bells and hooters too..!  I love living in Porlock :)

Here in Porlock we are awash with daffodils!  Walkers are relishing the weather, even allowing bare arms to feel the sweetness of the sun as they tackle the South West Coast Path and other local paths and trails; which are all becoming more beautiful by the day with primroses and dog violets.  Spring seems to be tickling smiles out of everyone!

If you’re ready to unwind and are wondering how to spend your weekend, visit us for the West Somerset Railway’s annual Spring Steam Gala (26 – 29 March).  It’s a highlight of this wonderful heritage railway’s year, with six visiting engines pulling services alongside a further five resident engines – all letting off plenty of steam and allowing you to do the same!  A great weekend for the child in us to relish the sights, sounds and smells of a bygone era, to marvel at the machines that have been rescued from the scrapyard and restored to their full glory and, of course, to sit back and let them do the work while we contemplate a treat from the buffet car.  Retire to Sparkhayes in the evening to compare notes and have a nice hot shower.

If you’d prefer some quiet reflection and a chance to celebrate the season, the annual Porlock Spring Show happens to be this weekend (28 March) and provides a concentrated dose of spring.  Walking into the village hall on Saturday and witnessing the hundreds of spring flowers on show cannot fail to lift the spirits.  If it does there’s always the coffee, cake and a friendly chat to fall back on!  Local gardeners are grateful for this week’s sunshine as they prepare their exhibits – who will win a rosette or claim a trophy this year?!

For those who fancy being active, our friends at Exmoor Adventures are now taking bookings for white water kayaking, canoeing, climbing, mountain biking and more this Easter.  Available as one-day courses and at really good prices (for example £25 for a one-day guided mountain bike ride on Exmoor - all equipment included) – it’s the perfect opportunity to push the boundaries and learn something new perhaps?!

We would be delighted to welcome you to Sparkhayes.  The fields are fresh and inviting, ready to receive the enthusiastic groups, the families in need of family time, the worn-out workers, the adventure-seekers and those needing to retreat.  Speak to us for great local recommendations about where to visit for a memorable meal or an interesting day out.