The Exmoor Forest Inn

No availability at present on Pitchup.com 9 10 reviews
The pub
Grass pitches along ashcombe water
A well stocked bar awaits
Grass pitches along ashcombe water

  • Quiet camping field for over-16s behind a popular pub near Simonsbath
  • Pub site situated on the Two Moors Way in Exmoor National Park
  • Dark-sky reserve and wildlife haven at an inn known for its food
Like the sound of hikes along the Two Moors Way or the Tarka Trail with the promise of a pint of Somerset cider at the end of it? Camping at The Exmoor Forest Inn near Simonsbath is probably going to suit you very well. Set bang in the middle of Exmoor National Park, the grass pitches at the rear of the historic Victorian inn provide a great overnighting spot for long-distance walkers – or indeed a peaceful rural base if you fancy hanging around for a few days to explore the area. Bordered by Ashcombe Water and mature woodland, the campsite is within easy staggering distance of the pub, which is renowned for serving the freshest and best local organic produce including beef, lamb and venison reared in the owners’ farm, which surrounds the campsite. A cooked breakfast is served daily in the inn and is available to campers, but you'll need to book ahead. Seasonal local produce is often available for sale too. On-site facilities include a modern bathroom, firepits for hire and kindling to buy. Pitch numbers are limited so you can unwind in peace and enjoy the views over the River Barle opposite the inn. If you’re quiet during the day, chances are you can spot all manner of wildlife. By night, watch out for views of the Milky Way – the lack of light pollution hereabouts has led to Exmoor being designated as an international dark-sky reserve. Please note: this site does not accept anyone under the age of 16.

Campground type

Tent sites 4
Opens
Please note
  • Under 18s must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
  • Your dog must be tattooed or microchipped.
  • The campground/park does not accept breeds/crossbreeds listed in the Dangerous Dogs Act (i.e. Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasileiro) and/or any of the following: Staffordshire bull terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Rottweiler, any Mastiff or Tosa.
  • Guests under the age of 16 are not allowed on site.
  • Bookings must not be for more than 5 consecutive nights.
  • No cars/motorcycles at the site. All cars must be parked in the designated area.
  • Discount cards and gift vouchers cannot be applied to bookings made via Pitchup.com.
  • This is a quiet campground/park: no music is allowed.
  • If making a fire, the fuel, logs and coal have to be purchased on site.
  • Guests are advised to bring a good quality torch with them as parts of the campground/park are unlit.
  • Please note that the toilet/shower facilities are unisex.
  • No gas barbecues allowed.
  • No electric barbecues allowed.

Languages spoken

English

Reviews

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    10
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    9
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    8
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    7
  • 10%
    6
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100% would recommend this campground to a friend

100% would stay here again

Reviews page 1 of 1
Arrival date (latest first)

Will definitely be going back.

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Very enjoyable stay, food excellent, shower room like hotel bathroom. Lovely atmosphere, beautiful countryside.

Disliked Only one toilet.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Wonderful stay would recommend and definitely stay again.

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Amy K. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Bathroom was lovely and clean.
Location.
Staff were welcoming
Campsite field was very pretty

Disliked No wheelbarrow/cart to carry luggage.
Only 1 toilet which is joined to shower.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Great site.

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
6
Accommodation
8
Facilities / Activities
6
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Great food and lovely shower room. Super friendly staff.

Disliked Was quite expensive for what it was, only one toilet which included the shower could be an issue if more campers were there.

Recommend to friends Visit again

The food was.amazing, camping was quiet and the stars at night were…

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked The food was.amazing, camping was quiet and the stars at night were incredible. Great facilities.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful location next to a friendly pub that served great food

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
10
Sandra P. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Loved the location - very beautiful. The bathroom was like a hotel en-suite bathroom- the best I’ve ever seen camping. The staff at the Inn were very friendly and helpful and the food was delicious.

Disliked No washing up facilities.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely venue, pretty river and trees and not busy. Friendly staff…

Overall 6/10

Location
10
Value for money
6
Accommodation
6
Facilities / Activities
6
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
6
Wifi
6
Christine D. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Lovely venue, pretty river and trees and not busy. Friendly staff at the pub, food fabulous, organic local meat. (Book in advance) and a good range of local beer and cider.

Disliked Lovely bathroom but only one loo etc. Bin needed emptying more often and attention to keeping it clean.
No washing up place. No sign on water to say if it was drinkable.
No recycling bins etc.
I'm sure this will be sorted in time, I imagine this is a new venture.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Brilliant- will be back

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked The setting is lovely, stream and woodland to rear of pitches and the pub is great- fantastic food, lovely breakfasts, and has extras available to buy such as wood, rental BBQs and some BBQ food if you require these. The shower and toilet facilities were the best I've seen on a campsite, new stylish and clean. Staff very helpful, happy to help with any issues.

Disliked Only downside was there was only one loo and shower, and in same room, but during our stay only a few other campers so not a big wait.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely clean site, peaceful at the back of a lovely pub

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
8
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
2
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
2
Justin E. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Lovely bathroom / shower and toilet. Fabulous location at the back of a lovely pub. Very quiet. The sky at night benefits from no light polution. Pitches will get better over time. Would stay again

Disliked Could do with an extra toilet only as the bathroom, though fabulous is the only one.
Take your own milk etc as there is no local shop.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Lovely and quiet place to stay. Beautiful views and walks close by.…

Overall 10/10

Location
10
Value for money
10
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
10
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
10
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
8
Katie W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Lovely and quiet place to stay. Beautiful views and walks close by. Bathroom was very well kept and clean.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Really friendly owner. Lots of space to pitch up in the rear…

Overall 8/10

Location
10
Value for money
6
Accommodation
10
Facilities / Activities
8
Customer service
10
Child friendliness
No rating
Cleanliness
10
Wifi
No rating
Emma W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Unpowered grass tent site

Liked Really friendly owner. Lots of space to pitch up in the rear garden of the pub. Lovely bathroom facilities and access to water.
Clean and tidy site
Perfect for walkers undertaking the Two moors way. Right in the route
The food in the pub was amazing, but would recommend booking ahead of arrival.

Disliked The site has one bathroom/ shower. No issues on the night we stayed and you do have access to the pub toilets when open.

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on site

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Games room Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Play area TV room Take away Tennis Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Food shop Free wifi Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundry Local produce Parent & baby washroom Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Public telephone Shower available Toilet block Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Adults only Barbecue provided Barbecues allowed Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Gastronomic delight Leave the car at home Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Walkers' paradise Wild camping Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Communal freezer Communal fridge Dump point Electric car charging point(s) Gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Pop-up campground Pub campground Tiny (1-10 sites)

Location

The Exmoor Forest Inn

Simonsbath

Somerset

England

TA24 7SH

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

51.13995°N
-3.75456°W

Nearest transport

Coach
14.7 km The Square
14.7 km The Square
20.6 km The Parade
Rail
22.6 km Umberleigh Rail Station
22.8 km Barnstaple Rail Station
23.4 km Chapelton (Devon) Rail Station
Ferry
21.3 km Minehead Harbour
26.2 km Ilfracombe Ferry Landing
31.5 km Instow Ferry Landing
Airport
40.8 km Cardiff International Airport

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Local attractions and activities include: - Exmoor National Park (walking and cycling): access from site - Wheal Eliza Mine: five minutes’ drive - Tarr Steps (clapper bridge): 20 minutes - Lynton: 20 minutes - Lynmouth: 20 minutes - Dunkery Beacon (viewpoint): 20 minutes - Dulverton: 25 minutes - Porlock: 25 minutes - Webbers Post (moorland views): 25 minutes - Greencombe Gardens: half an hour - Dunster (medieval village): half an hour.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020201920182017
Lynmouth 11.3 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Porlock Weir 12.5 km Sea N/AExcellentExcellentExcellent
Combe Martin 21.1 km Sea PoorPoorPoorPoor
Minehead Terminus 21.4 km Sea N/AGoodGoodGood
Dunster North West 23.2 km Sea N/AN/AN/AGood

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

RHS Garden Rosemoor 34.6 km

The National Trust Killerton House & Gardens 44 km

Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 44.4 km

National Trust

Watersmeet 9.7 km

Heddon Valley 14.8 km

Holnicote Estate 15.2 km

Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum 15.9 km

Dunster Working Watermill 21.9 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Simonsbath - Picked Stone - River Barle Valley - Simonsbath 0.2 km

EXMOOR 7.2 km

Withypool - Tarr Steps - Knaplock 8.2 km

Lorna Doone Country: Malmsmead - Badgeworthy Water - Malmsmead 8.7 km

Hillsford Bridge - Watersmeet - Lynmouth - Hillsford Bridge 9.1 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Offers

Conditions apply - see site type section for details

Nearest campgrounds

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable campgrounds.

Want to know more about camping in Somerset?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does The Exmoor Forest Inn have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is The Exmoor Forest Inn dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near The Exmoor Forest Inn? Local attractions and activities include: - Exmoor National Park (walking and cycling): access from site - Wheal Eliza Mine: five minutes’ drive - Tarr Steps (clapper bridge): 20 minutes - Lynton: 20 … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of The Exmoor Forest Inn?
    Camping and caravan
    Arrive:  3 p.m. –  8 p.m.
    Depart by:  10 a.m.
    Read more