| Your future Exmoor |
 An important new planning document, 'Your Future Exmoor', which will help decide issues such as where new housing and employment on Exmoor should be provided over the next 15 to 20 years as well as conservation, building design and community facilities is beginning the first stages of consultation and Exmoor National Park Authority is inviting local communities to give their views in a series of informal, drop-in events tailored to individual parishes. Tourism providers will no doubt wish to put their views forward as to how we can maintain the assets that tourism is built upon whilst helping to increase the economic value of tourism to the area. For full details and a list of dates please click here (PDF, 395kb). |
| Snowdrop Valley |
 This years Snowdrop Valley 'park and ride' scheme is once again organised by Cutcombe Parish Council with support from the Exmoor National Park Sustainable Development Fund.
Buses will be operating between the 30January and 21 February, during which time the access road will be closed. Please note the road closure will continue to the 28 February, during which time volunteers will be on hand to provide disability passes and information for walkers. For full details click here. |
| Walks galore |
 The programme for this years walking festival (29 April to 7 May 2010) has recently been published featuring over 80 walks including a variety of food walks as well as walks accessible by public transport. The festival is now hosted by Active Exmoor and is supported by the Exmoor National Park Sustainable Development Fund. All of the information, as well as online purchasing, is available on the new festival website.
Active Exmoor and the National Park Authority also host the Exmoor Perambulation on the 19 June 2010 - booking will open on the new website in February. |
| Exmoor Tourism Partnership |
 The new tourism partnership for Exmoor has had a busy few months. A detailed action plan for the coming two years has been developed and will shortly be approved by the core partners.
The new Exmoor 2010 brochure has been developed by Active Exmoor with funding from West Somerset council and is available for online viewing here.
Plans are also underway for attendance at Visit 2010 - an new tourism show highlighting the opportunities available in the South West to journalists, tour operators and group travel organisers as well as the public. Why not pay our stand a visit on the 23 January at the Westpoint Arena, near Exeter? |
| Feeling the cold? |
Many businesses will have been impacted by soaring fuel bills over the last weeks as the 'big freeze' has hit Exmoor. There are still a number of free energy efficiency surveys available to tourism businesses located within the National Park funded by the National Park Authority and delivered by Forum 21. Each survey will provide an opportunity for a trained volunteer to assess appropriate (and often relatively low cost) actions you can take to decrease your energy use whilst maintaining comfort levels and saving money. The surveys are delivered for free, impartially and with no obligations towards any further action. To apply please complete a simple application form (PDF, 156kb). |
| Exmoor Exchange |
The annual literature exchange hosted by the Exmoor Tourist Association with Porlock Tourist Association takes place on the 11 March 2010 at Raleigh's Cross Inn. This year the day is enhanced with a series of seminars running throughout the day in addition to the usual opportunities to share information and literature amongst tourism providers. For further details or to book a stand please contact ETA secretary Rachel Kelly. |
| Read all about it! |
 In addition to this tourism update Exmoor National Park Authority will now be publishing two more e-newsletters - one focusing on general news from around Exmoor National Park, and the other focusing on the work of the Authority. To sign up to either of these newsletters please click here. |
| Are you climate prepared? |
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The climate is changing, and alongside actions taken in an effort to mitigate the effects of climate change it is also important to ensure we are prepared for the likely impacts resulting from climate change.
A new online resource will assist forward-looking businesses in preparing for the effects of climate change. Climate Prepared has been developed in partnership by Climate South East, South West Climate Change Impacts Partnership, South West Tourism and Tourism South East, and is structured around the impacts of severe weather. Each section tells how businesses might be affected, suggests practical actions to reduce the risk or take advantage of the opportunities, and provides guidance to further information and support. |
| Gable Lodge - flying the flag for green tourism |
Gable Lodge in Lynton is a great example of a sustainable tourism business. Not only do they hold a silver Green Tourism Business Scheme award in recognition of their environmental practices they have recently won the Devon Federation of Small Businesses award for 'Environmental Responsibility' and reached the finals of the Devon Environmental Business Initiative 'Sustainable Devon' award.
Proprietors Anne and David Wilford have completed a range of actions including introducing local produce to their menus, reducing energy and water consumption, providing an Ecover refill service and providing Exmoor picnics for guests including delicious homemade and locally produced ingredients. For further information on the Green Tourism Business Scheme (currently the only 'green scheme' validated by Visit Britain) please click here. |
| Ridan Composting |
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The Exmoor National Park Sustainable Development Fund has recently awarded a grant to Ridan composting. Ridan is a new company based within the National Park producing on site hot composters to deal with catering food waste in an environmentally friendly manner.
As a result of the grant Ridan are able to offer a local Exmoor based business the opportunity to obtain an on site hot composter with a 50% subsidy against the normal purchase price of £2720 + VAT. Further details on the Ridan composters are available on their website along with contact details for anyone interested in the offer. |
| Are broadband speeds slowing your business down? |
| A joint project between Devon and Somerset County Councils is looking to improve accessibility to broadband for all. They require accurate data about actual internet speeds to help target resources effectively. The evidence will be used to both form an accurate picture of broadband speeds and in particular to help draw down EU funds. If slow broadband speeds hinder your business do complete the survey here. |
Last year Exmoor Awareness was rated as 'excellent' or 'good' by over 97% of attendees (with over 80% rating the series as excellent). This year Exmoor Awareness is back for the 7th year. 
