Salutations from Sparkhayes!  The summer holidays are absolutely flying past and they’ve been a whirlwind of fun so far.  We’ve been so blessed with the weather, it very predictably started raining the minute the schools broke up but actually after the scorching heat I personally found the clouds quite welcome, it is easier to zoom about when a little cooler!  The grass has certainly enjoyed a drink and gone from the parched brown back to verdant green.  The usual host of summer activities have marched past in procession, including a very successful (and hot!) Porlock Country Fair.  We are now contemplating what is often the busiest weekend of the year, the August bank holiday. 

We have had numerous enquiries about camping at the end of August so our fields are likely to be full or nearly full, depending on the mood of the weather, so arriving as early as possible is recommended if you’re hoping to camp.  All our electric hook ups have been spoken for and there is a small group of campers waiting for cancellations.  All of this activity has kept Phil on his toes and it doesn’t look as though he’ll get a rest for the foreseeable future! 

As always, I’m promoting Porlock Carnival, which takes place on Saturday 1 September this year.  It’s a brilliant event for all the family and did you know, you’re very welcome to enter it and be a part of the procession, even if you’re visiting from elsewhere?  As well as the large floats there are opportunities for walking entries, individuals and groups, and prizes for the best in each class, so if you have any ideas or would like to join the hilarity in this great community celebration, please do join in.  Find out more, including an entry form, here: www.porlockcarnival.co.uk.  We’ll look forward to seeing you! 

Oh good grief – I knew I hadn’t done an update for a long time but I didn’t realise quite how long, huge apologies avid readers of the Sparkhayes blog…!  I think the summer holidays took their toll, having the children about the house and trying to keep up with them was a formidable task and it’s taken me until now to find all my marbles again..! 
 
It was a very pleasant summer in Porlock and we all enjoyed the annual Carnival, the walking festival, the events organised by our wonderful visitor’s centre and the host of additional activities organised by the National Trust and Exmoor National Park.  Even a visit from the Flying Scotsman.  We waved a sad goodbye to our wonderful road sweeper, Eric, who has always had a cheery word for us while doing an outstanding job at keeping the village tidy, but we’re assured he won’t be abandoning Porlock. 
 
In the immediate future, we’re looking forward to the Exmoor Dark Skies Festival, which runs from 19-29 October.  There are various events happening here in Porlock and many more across the moor, in celebration of our Dark Skies Reserve status, it really is a stunning place to see the stars (and everything else in the night sky!).  Find out more here http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/enjoying/stargazing/dark-skies-festival. 
 
As we move comfortably into Autumn, there is also the Apple Day events to look forward to, firstly the display of the apple press and rural crafts, which is held at Porlock Visitor’s Centre on Saturday 21st October and then Porlock Apple Day, which is organised by the custodians of the community orchard on Saturday 28 October.  At both events there will be pressing, merriment and delicious appley-refreshments.
 
I dare not mention Christmas at this stage (my brain is still somewhere in mid-June) but if you’re tempted to have an autumn break, do come and explore our glorious corner of Exmoor, where the woods are looking their very best in all their vibrant hues.  The camp site is open and the local hostelries ready to welcome the weary walker, so come and have a rest from the daily grind and refresh yourself before winter sets in.  We have some really glorious sunsets to enjoy.
 
Until next year… (only joking..!).

Well, if you watch the news, it would be easy to believe that 2017 has been a pretty crazy year already and we’re only a month into it.  If it’s all a bit too depressing for you, put down the paper, turn the TV off and start planning a holiday to pretty Porlock this Spring.  We are fortunate enough to be quite isolated from national and international affairs and have a wonderfully relaxed pace known locally as ‘Porlock Time’…!  Holiday-makers are already starting to fill their diaries and make bookings with us, so think ahead and let us welcome you for a relaxing break.  We have our usual booking of a large group arriving on 2 July and departing on 7 July, so maybe avoid those dates if you can, and for bank holidays the advice is to book early if you’d like an electric hook up! 
 
While you’re filling in the diary, you might like to note various Porlock events; there’s the Charity Duck Race here at Sparkhayes on Sunday 28 May, our annual Weirfest from Thursday 29 June until Sunday 2 July and of course Porlock Carnival on Saturday 2 September to name a few..!  We’re also anticipating the second Samphire Festival, held within sight of the camp site, on Friday 7 – Sunday 9 July.  Voted best small festival of 2016, take a look at the video on the right if you’re curious!  If camping at the festival itself is a bit too much for you (and the family) come down to the village and rest your heads at Sparkhayes instead.
 
We’re sure you’ll be delighted to know that our prices are being held AGAIN!  So the 2015 prices remain for 2016 and 2017.  Hopefully that’s a refreshingly positive piece of news, among so many worrying ones.  Have you been to stay at Sparkhayes in the past twelve months?  Would you like to share some photos on our blog?  Send them to us at [email protected] and we’ll be glad to put them here. 
 
Looking forward to welcoming you, campers old and new, for a fantastic 2017 season.  

Here’s a great video, two of our recent campers cycled up the indomitable Porlock Hill and proved it could be done, with enough grit and determination!  The route back down the Toll Road looked more fun!  Well done Neil and Shane and thanks for letting us share; good luck with The Wrong Way Back..!
 
We’re now anticipating Porlock Carnival and the streets are decked with colourful bunting.  The excitement starts at 6pm on Saturday 3 September; the carnival procession will leave the main car park, travel along the High Street and do a loop around Sparkhayes Lane before returning to the start, so those spectators who are watching from the High Street will see the floats pass twice.  If you haven’t witnessed this spectacle before, come along and support it, it’s great fun and funds are being raised for local charities.  Best of luck to those taking part!
 
Finally, please see the information to the right about a guided walk by the Exmoor Society, as mentioned before Culbone is a magical place to visit and we’re lucky to be adjacent to the fabulous Coleridge Way, find out more and follow Coleridge to Culbone!