If anyone had told me just a month ago what life was going to be like today, I would absolutely not have believed them.  We were busy taking bookings for a promising summer, the weather was improving, the days were drawing out and people were planning to pay a much yearned-for visit to Porlock Vale.  Fast forward to late March and all of the above are still true, but now we having to turn customers away in the name of virus control.  It is true that the idea of self-isolating in a beautiful grassy field amid the fresh sea air and tranquil scenery is attractive.  However it is important to keep travel to a minimum, relieve the potential impact on our already stretched local services and protect the unusually high proportion of elderly people in our community.  Did you know that Sparkhayes operates in an area identified as having the oldest population in the country?  You do now!    So we are forced to close and to share the concerns of other local businesses.  But we are really going to miss you!

We will be keeping in touch via this blog and also our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sparkhayes.  If you haven’t already liked our page please do so and keep us amused with news of your self-isolation activities.  At Sparkhayes, the main entertainment will be manning the ride-on mower (or keeping an eye on the sheep!).  Perhaps the Sparkhayes rail project will also gain new momentum, pictures will be available if there is news to report!  For those of you at home with small children, we offer particular sympathy.  If you’re missing out on a family camping trip, perhaps you can set up camp in the living room (or garden if you’re lucky enough to have one) and send us your photos. 

Bookings taken for the immediate future are regretfully cancelled, bookings taken for later in 2020 are under review and will only proceed if government advice is that it is safe to do so.  We will have to wait and see.  If you have any queries about bookings already made please email us at [email protected] and we will happily respond as soon as we are able.  Stay healthy and safe at home, keep looking forward to happy future holidays and take good care of yourselves.  With best wishes from the little Sparkhayes team.

Greetings and welcome to Spring...!  That's certainly how it feels here in Porlock.  We are lucky with our little micro-climate, the weather here does tend to be mild and this week we are blessed with snowdrops, daffodils and pink blossoms, as well as the first spring lambs.  They really enjoyed yesterday's blue skies and must have been relieved to find that the wind wasn't a permanent feature..!  Storm Doris did sweep through and knock a few things over but we escaped relatively unharmed, unlike much of the country.  

​One hardy camper pitched a tent the night before and it had disappeared by the next morning, we can only assume he didn't get blown away..!  A friend of mine wasn't lucky, her washing was 'stolen by Doris' and she believed it had disappeared into the stream, so she was setting off for the beach to have a look for it..!

I hope you made it through Valentines (don't worry, I didn't get a card either... *awww*).  However, I'm hoping you'll LOVE my latest idea, Sparkhayes on Facebook!  Some of the team are not entirely convinced by this foray into social media so I'm hoping that at the least you'll 'like' our page, share some reminiscences about Sparkhayes on it and help me to prove why having a Facebook page is a good idea.  Find us at www.facebook.com/sparkhayes.  

I can't believe we're nearly in March..!  It will soon be the time to see mad march hares - I have been lucky enough to spot breathtakingly beautiful hares here on Exmoor, not far from the camp site.  With such an abundance of wildlife, stunning views, friendly folk to chat to and a hundred and one things to do; if you're not in Porlock, why not?!  

Greetings friends and, almost, happy Easter!  We are nearly up to our necks in Easter egg hunts and numerous egg-related activities..!  The weather has certainly perked up and we’re surrounded by gloriously green fields filled to the brim, it seems, with exceedingly cute Spring lambs.  West Somerset really is a daffodil-laden sight to behold at this time of the year.  Here at Sparkhayes we have been undertaking some improvements and beginning to welcome the early season campers.  

Everyone’s thoughts seem to be turning to towards getting outdoors more.  We’re all emerging from winter hibernation and yearning for opportunities to stretch our legs (I personally have been dreaming of picnics and visits to the beach without having to wear so many layers!).  Someone else who must have been feeling the same was Chris Moss, Destination Expert no less for The Telegraph.  He recently visited West Quantoxhead and explored a newly-opened section of the South West Coast Path, exploring along the way the jurassic beach at Kilve before spending the night in Watchet.  You can read his article here.  I’ve been a ‘local’ for more than 16 years (so not actually classed as a local by the true locals..!) but I didn’t realise the local coastline was so interesting for fossils, I have always headed to Dorset for that sort of thing.  I am definitely planning a day out for some beach-wandering closer to home! 

If you enjoy walking, you ought to be inspired by the magical scenery of Exmoor.  Visitors to the area and local people alike are drawn to the Exmoor Walking Festival, now in it’s 20th year.  The Festival offers a multitude of guided walks in some really diverse places, there is something for every interest and ability in the brochure.  The festival takes place from Saturday 30 April to Saturday 7 May and physical copies of the brochure can be picked up at Tourist Information Centres and various ‘outdoor’ shops or check out the website here.  Don’t forget, after a fulfilling day’s walk, there’s nothing nicer than a hot shower here at Sparkhayes (and maybe a pint) before a peaceful night’s sleep and the prospect of waking to a glorious Exmoor view.

Anyone who knows Phil will know of his close association with the West Somerset Railway.  Rightly loved as a England’s longest heritage railway line, it represents a fun day out for everyone.  However another local railway has recently been featured on BBC Spotlight news, the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway.  This narrow-gauge railway has now piqued my interest and I’m rather ashamed that I haven’t visited it before.  The line used to travel the 19 scenic miles between the coastal resort of Lynton and the bustling market town of Barnstaple.  It was closed in 1935, but in recent years, two miles of the track have been reopened and the old carriages have been restored.  There are ambitious (but achievable) plans to reinstate the whole of the line and therefore I’m personally keen to visit, enjoy all there is to see and do and in some way contribute to the project.  It’s on my list of Easter holiday activities… and provides a much easier way to enjoy the landscape than having to walk through it..!).  

Whatever you’re doing this Easter, have a good time and don’t forget to schedule your visit to Sparkhayes soon!

Hello and goodness, have I experienced a time warp?!  We’re already half way through February half term..!  I’m not sure how that happened, though suspect it might have something to do with me being submerged in emulsion paint, masking tape and the heady satisfaction of getting the job done.  I have temporarily emerged, paint splattered, to wish you well and hope that you’re enjoying the start of Spring.  

There are all sorts of renovation works occurring here at Sparkhayes and regular visitors will notice (hopefully) some improvements to our facilities.  While we want to enhance what we offer, we still aim to provide traditional and some might say basic camping facilities, though our hot showers and various ‘extras’ continue to earn us brownie points in the wonderful reviews we receive.  

We are also planning improvements to the annual Duck Race, held here at Sparkhayes camp site, this year on Sunday 29 May.  As well as the usual hilarity (do I have to… the quacking good fun *groan*), the licensed bar and barbecue, this year we will also be offering the children donkey rides and a bouncy castle!  These latter ideas might help the parents among you to enjoy the bar and barbecue with a little more leisure.  There’s the added bonus of hopefully winning some money with your lucky duck!   Admission is free and proceeds go towards the fantastic Porlock Carnival (put that in your diary too, it’s on Saturday 3 September in 2016).

Returning to events that are closer at hand, Saturday 19 March will be a busy day in Porlock.  The keen horticulturalists among us will be up at dawn to put the finishing touches to our floral displays and deliver them to the village hall for the annual Porlock Vale Horticultural and Crafts Society Spring Show.  Then we can hop along to Porlock Visitor’s Centre where at 10am a group will head off to clean up the village and beach, equipped with bin bags and litter-pickers.  Finishing at 1pm, volunteers will at some point be aided with the welcome supply of coffee and cake.  

We have to be back at the village hall after that to witness the wonderful displays of Spring flowers and handicrafts, with prize-giving taking place between 4 and 4.30pm.  Having brought all our booty home, it will be time to collapse in front of the TV!  Entries for the Spring Show are open to all, not only locals, so check out the schedule to be found here and make sure you’re entries are in no later than Tuesday 15 March.  You’re equally welcome to join the volunteer group with our annual village clean-up, all help is most gratefully received.  

Right, where did I put that spirit level?!

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.