I am amused to find that the last time I wrote, we were having a scorching time in deepest summer.  We are now plunged into the season of frosts, road-gritters and annoying head colds.  The lanes are made slippery with fallen leaves and the apples are succumbing to the press, producing glorious sweet sticky apple juice that the children guzzle greedily, making sweet sticky cheeks. 

Mr Weaver, Sparkhayes’ proprietor, survived his sixtieth birthday celebration, with most of the village taking part in a very jolly stroll around the three pubs we are blessed with, listening to live music in each and partaking in the liquid refreshments on offer.  A good time was had by all.  As the weather has turned, so Phil has been able to have a rest from the ride-on mower, but we’re all hoping the Porlock rail project will keep him active through the winter.
 
We are now in the midst of half term and looking forward with much excitement to Halloween tomorrow night.  I seem to be one of very few people who never went trick or treating as a child.  I wasn’t too sure about the idea of turning up at stranger’s houses and asking for sweets, I think I was also rather afraid of receiving a trick..!  Maybe my fears weren’t all that irrational, I was shocked to see advice on a recent trip beyond my usual boundaries, which warned children that their sweets might in fact be drugs, given out as some sick kind of trick by deranged individuals. 

Thankfully Porlock is quite the best and safest place to go trick or treating.  Part of the beauty of it is that we don’t actually knock on stranger’s doors, the doors belong to people we have spoken to or at least nodded at almost every day when we pass through the village.  They are people who we have got to know through several years of trick or treating and every Porlock child knows the best houses to go to.  The children are very good at respecting the rules – only knock at doors that are decorated with pumpkins and which look relatively inviting.  The residents that take part are equally good at playing their part, often with incredibly generous and well thought-out treats, funny costumes and bucketfuls of patience.  It has become a treat for me to make the annual excursion and to see the joy it brings.  It’s yet another reason to love this quirky, happy village.

I know many of you will disapprove, but I am typing this while munching a *gasp* mince pie… ssshhh! 

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! 

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!

Who would have thought it, I managed to win a little money at the Holnicote point to point last week – things are looking up!  In more ways than one, because the weather has taken a glorious turn and the memories of our very wet Easter are now distant as we are baking in the sun and wondering how long the grass will remain green if this beautifully sunny weather continues.

It is of course PERFECT camping weather and we have been completely inundated with campers eager to evict the metaphorical moths from their kit.  The campsite has been a joyfully busy sight and dear Phil has been run off his feet trying to keep up.  It really has been quite a change of gear since Easter.
 
The merriment is set to continue this weekend as we host the annual Porlock Duck Race, a fantastic village event that has a long history.  The event on Sunday 20 May has continued to improve in recent years and as well as featuring a long list of races, it now includes barbeque and bar, tea, cakes and ice creams, donkey rides, bouncy castle, face painting and a best hat competition.  The action starts at 2pm but you are advised to arrive early if you wish to ‘own’ and name a duck as they get bought up very quickly!  Car parking and entry are free and all monies raised go towards putting on Porlock Carnival, which is itself a great family event which runs on 1 September 2018.  Come along and enjoy the spectacle with us.
 
If you are looking for camping, please do come along and find us, we operate on a very laid-back basis and generally speaking no advance booking is necessary.  Please bear in mind though that our sunny weekends, particularly the bank holidays and that of nearby Weirfest (28 June – 2 July) are very busy and that the electric hook ups for these weekends are almost all spoken for at the time of writing.  If in doubt give Phil a ring on 07721 045123 (but please go easy on him if he’s very busy, he hasn’t had time to pause for breath recently!).

The 2018 season is well underway and the grass is growing green and lush (and very fast).  It was no doubt helped by the exceedingly wet Easter we experienced and while the grass might have enjoyed it, it was very frustrating for us and our campers, most of whom were sadly rained off.  Luckily many have been able to re-plan their breaks and we are now anticipating a busy bank holiday weekend, with all our electric hook ups being booked up some way in advance (sorry folks).
 
It is heartening to see the local events calendar bursting to life again and visitors to Porlock this weekend can take advantage of guided walks that visit Porlock Marsh and Bossington.  The hedgerows are coming to life with abundant greenery and a rainbow of pretty wild flowers and it won’t be long until we’re picnicking at the beach again, hooray! 
 
On the weekend of 12 and 13 May, visitors can enjoy the annual Porlock Open Gardens event, where keepers of gardens large and small throw open their gates and welcome visitors for a nosey, many also offer refreshments, plant sales, raffles and other attractions.  Anyone interested in the majestic Exmoor ponies can visit Allerford Community Hall on Saturday 12 May (12-4pm) to meet some equines from the Exmoor Pony Centre while scoffing a cream tea and enjoying pony-themed activities (entry free, no need to book). 
 
On both Sunday 6 May and Saturday 12 May there is also a point-to-point (amateur horse racing) at Holnicote, which is only a couple of miles from Sparkhayes, towards Minehead on the A39. 
 
So there’s plenty to do, in addition to exploring the beautiful local landscape and sampling our local artisan’s wares.  We’d love to welcome you to Sparkhayes, for a relaxed and friendly break and/or refreshing rejuvenation, come and visit us soon!

OK, technically we still have some winter left to go, but there are signs of spring all around us in Porlock and we're really glad the days are lengthening and there is so much to look forward to.  The camp site is looking brilliant and all ready to welcome campers again in 2018.  The number of enquiries we receive is growing rapidly as people look ahead to the school holidays and start planning their escapes to pretty Porlock Vale!  

We have decided, after a great deal of deliberation, to raise our prices a fraction.  They have not been changed since 2015, so maybe a small increase is due but you'll be pleased to know that we still offer excellent value camping at a very reasonable rate.  Adults are now charged at £9 per night, children's prices remain unchanged (students aged 13 - 17 years are £5 per night, children aged 4 - 12 years are £3 per night, children aged 3 and under are free).  Electric hook ups have risen from £4 to £5 per night and pets are now £1 per night.  We still offer our weekly deal, whereby if you stay for seven nights you only pay for six of them.  It's been a difficult decision to make these price increases but the Sparkhayes railway needs to be paid for somehow (watch this space, perhaps for some while..!).

Looking forward to welcoming our regular customers again this year and meeting many more of you during a wonderful 2018.

Wishing all our customers past, present and future a really wonderful New Year. 

​Thank you for all your support and custom during 2017 and here's to making 2018 a brilliantly memorable year. 

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

The little team at Sparkhayes :) 

Well, we survived Christmas and there was even snow (for a little while)....!

Well, the nights are drawing in and at last the grass is growing more slowly..!  Halloween has passed with it’s usual merriment in the village – some delighted children were seen sporting enormous hauls of sweets thanks to the good-natured and friendly spirit of the village, where the ethos is entirely about treats, interesting pumpkin carving and dressing up rather than tricking anyone.  Bonfire night has been and gone, relatively peacefully, and the village has taken on a more wintery appearance, with smoke curling from the chimneys and bonfires dotted around the village, mingling with the smell of freshly roasted coffee from Miles Coffee shop.  We’re waving a slow goodbye to the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, as we’ve eaten and drunk our fill of the village’s apples (and what a LOT of them there were, the wassailing seems to have been as successful as ever!). 
 
We have some hardy campers still booking to visit us over the festive period, coming to join family and friends or just get away from the rush elsewhere.  I wonder whether it will snow over the moors this year.  We have had campers here in the snow in the past…!
 
Thoughts are slyly turning to Christmas… some of us are decidedly more humbug than others (!) but many are eagerly anticipating seeing the village lit up with little Christmas trees and cosy lights in the shops and cottage windows.  Next weekend (25 and 26 November) the season kicks off with Porlock’s Christmas Fair, in which the village hall is filled with locally made crafts and gift ideas.  If you haven’t found all your gifts by then, you can head to the Allerford Christmas Craft Fair on 2 and 3 December.  On Friday 8 December we can cosy up in the village hall for a Victorian Christmas evening, with traditional carols, hand bells, stories and humour, a heart-warming evening that starts at 7pm (tickets are £7 per person).  Then It won’t be long until Porlock’s late night shopping and santa festival, which is a wonderful evening full of entertainment, festive refreshment, social opportunities and maybe even a little shopping (Saturday 9 December, 6-9pm).  To round off the local offering, there’s a Christmas lunch in the village hall on Tuesday 8 December from 12.30pm. 
 
If all that isn’t enough, there’s the famous Dunster by Candlelight nearby on 1 and 2 December (shuttle buses leave at regular intervals from the Doverhay car park in Porlock).  If you’d like a little trip across the moor, you could also head to Dulverton by Starlight on Sunday 3 December.  I think that after all this I might need a restorative lie down – saving just enough energy to write my letter to Father Christmas first; I’ve been very good this year.  

*Thanks to Lucy Stevens-Mounfield for the photo of Porlock, taken November 2017.

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..!).