Well, happy heatwave campers!!!  Isn’t it scorching?!!  The blue skies here in Porlock are absolutely gorgeous, though it feels like yesterday that we were wading through snow!  The camp site has been very busy, indeed the local towns and villages have been buzzing with happy holiday-makers and sales of cream teas and ice cream are rapid.  The air is filled with the sound of tractors hard at work as the farmers make hay while the sun shines.  As I sit and type this, with a gentle breeze coming through the sunshine and a cockerel gently crowing at a sociable 9.30am, things couldn’t look or sound more idyllic in Porlock.
 
This weekend sees nearby Porlock Weir hosting top quality live music in the annual Weirfest event.  It’s a brilliant place to wander from Sparkhayes campsite (or take the free shuttle bus from the Top Ship) and you can spend a happy hour or two or many more listening to the music and sampling the real ales and ciders, while taking in the outstanding harbour-side scenery. 
 
Thoughts turn to the summer holidays and we’re now getting lots of enquiries.  Bank holiday weekends tend to be very busy so if you’re thinking of coming to camp please bear this in mind.  If you don’t need an electric hook up then there’s no need to book in advance, simply arrive and look for an appealing spot in our relaxed and friendly fields.  If you would like to book an electric hook up (and these are limited) please give Phil a call on 07721 045123.  He can check his diary and make a note of your requirements if a hook-up is available.  His phone has been absolutely inundated with calls recently, so if you have trouble getting through or there is a little delay in getting back to you, please bear with us.
 
Time to water the rather wilty flowers.  Enjoy the sun folks and stay safe!

​This weekend the camp site is busy with people attending Weirfest – a brilliant small music and real ale festival held at our little harbour of Porlock Weir.  There’s always a great line up of live music and it’s a very pleasant place to sit and while away an hour, or two, or three with refreshments and good company.  Phil has had a rare break from his mower and been down there himself, he was impressed with the Silverbacks (I don’t like to admit I haven’t heard of them).
 
If you happen to be on Facebook, you can now look up Sparkhayes Campsite and check out the photos that Phil has posted there, among other things.  I truly never thought I’d see him on Facebook but I’ve been proved wrong!  The official Sparkhayes Facebook page is still in its infancy and doesn’t have a lot of content, but please add your own photos, etc if you like. We’ve had lots of campers ‘checking in’ on Facebook, which is pleasing, though they must be using their own 3G / 4G because we have always stuck by our ‘no wifi’ rule at Sparkhayes and tried to encourage our guests to unplug and unwind.  It’s such a peaceful, relaxing place to be and free wifi is available in the local pubs and cafes.  Some say our site is too basic, others love it because it is basic and in an era of having every need met before you even know it’s a need, it seems refreshing to stick to traditional camping at its best.
 
Talking of traditional, we’ve had a rare phenomenon happening this week – traction engines steaming up Porlock Hill!  If I can find a photo for you I will add it here asap.  But I have no idea where they were heading or if there was any purpose to the excursion other than the fun of finding out if they could get up the longest, steepest A-road in the country.  And did they get back down?  Were there brakes sufficient?!  If anyone has any further information I’d be glad to know ([email protected]), otherwise I’ll keep my ear to the ground.
 
The ground is unseasonably damp and it’s very frustrating but we thank all the campers (and determined Weirfest attendees) for putting up with it and we’re all keeping our fingers crossed that the sun will soon put his hat on and come back out to play! 

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.  

​Hello, at the beginning of summer (ahem), from Sparkhayes!  Where to begin?!  Well firstly it was great to see Pauline Belloni on her South West Coast Path mission and she’s sent a link to her photo blog, which mentions Sparkhayes here.  She’s on her way to the Lizard next… good luck Pauline!
 
For those of us remaining in Porlock, there’s lots going on.  This coming weekend sees local gardeners flinging open their gates to welcome the curious in aid of the RNLI and Porlock Visitor’s Centre.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to see the usually private but impressive gardens of local people and find out more; they’ve all been very busy with their preparations.  The price of £6 per person allows entry to all of the gardens that are taking part and tickets last the whole weekend.  Parking facilities are provided by your friends at Sparkhayes!
 
Also this weekend, the residents of nearby Allerford are going back through time.  Allerford Museum is taking part in the Exmoor-wide Victorian Week and on Friday 24 June they open their Victorian school from 10.30am – 4pm.  Visitors can also visit historical but thriving Allerford Forge who have an illustrious client list, including the Queen! 
 
And from 30 June to 3 July, we’ll all be relaxing at Porlock Weir for the annual Weirfest celebrations.  A really lovely time to visit this pretty harbour, Weirfest incorporates a variety of excellent live music with 50 real ales and ciders (though if you’re not a fan don’t panic, there’s plenty of other choice as well as food!).  It’s all very relaxed and friendly and a great place to pass a few happy hours.  Include a visit to a walk itinerary or catch the free shuttle bus from Porlock.
 
I personally won’t be drinking, the arrival of my second child is imminent so things are likely to go a little quiet shortly – if you’ve emailed and the response is taking a little while I apologise!  The best way to get hold of us will be to give Phil a ring on 07721 045123, but non-urgent emails will be replied to as soon as possible (and probably at some un-Godly hour of the morning..!). 
 
Here’s to a happy, relaxing and hopefully dry summer campers! 

What a fantastic half term it’s been in Porlock Vale!  There has been SO. MUCH. TO. DO. We’ll all be needing a break during June, right?! Think again, there’s a lot to entice campers both active and restful during the coming month.  Thanks so much to all those who came along to our duck race, it was as usual a really fun day for all ages, with lots of friends meeting up to dream up pun-tastic names for the ducks..!  A great day, during which we raised funds for Porlock Carnival; a highlight of village life to look forward to in September!  We also enjoyed the World Crabbing Championship, held at our pretty harbor of Porlock Weir.  The winners scooped the trophy with around 180 crabs, what an incredible feat. These brilliant photos were taken by MnD Photography, thanks guys!

Looking ahead then we have great news for readers wherever they are in the UK; our beautiful moors, wildlife and customs are to be featured in a four-part series - Johnny Kingdom’s Wild Exmoor.  Starting on Monday, 1 June, at 8.00pm on ITV, these half hour programmes illustrate each of the four seasons.  By the time we reach winter (on 22 June!) Johnny will have reached Porlock and will be joining in with our annual wassail.  It’ll be interesting to see whether the cameras managed to film anything at all, since it was very dark while they were here!  If you don’t know what wassailing is, it’s time to find out… but we’ll save that for another update.

The Porlock Pantomime and Drama Society are planning to delight us on 4-6 June with ‘Are You Being Served’.  The standard of these performances is always second to none and if you’re staying in Porlock this week we urge you to come along, the show starts at 7.30pm on each of the above dates, with a 2.30pm matinee on Saturday.  From what we’ve heard about the rehearsals, it’s going to be a hilarious experience! The doors and bar open half an hour beforehand and tickets (available from Porlock Hardware) are £8 per adult and £5 per under 16.

If you’re staying with us during July, don’t forget Weirfest – the real ale festival at Porlock Weir that showcases extraordinary musical talent from 3-5 July.  A minibus service is available between Porlock village and the Weir, with no admission prices and an all-day barbeque, it’s an event that the locals are looking forward to as much as the visitors.  

Finally (for now) – check out our smart new sign..!