087: Doone Valley to Dulverton (Malmsmead, Oare, Tarr Steps and Dulverton) (Exmoor 2017)

EXMOOR TOUR FEATURING MALMSMEAD, OARE, TARR STEPS AND DULVERTON
"Doone Valley to Dulverton”
Filmed 30th August 2017
Post-production completed 11th November 2017
*Contains some swearing*
I take a walk through a little of Exmoor’s Doone Country, the setting for R D Blackmore’s famous novel “Lorna Doone”. Later in the day I travel to the lovely Tarr Steps with its old clapper bridge, another of my favourite spots in Exmoor. I end the day exploring the pretty town of Dulverton, known as the southern gateway to Exmoor…..
Filmed in Exmoor in the counties of Somerset and Devon. Locations include Malmsmead, Oare, Tarr Steps and Dulverton.
Written, researched, directed, camera and sound, edited and music by Patrick Leach.
Any other names credited in this film, i.e. Bob Morgan and Martin Roy, are pseudonyms, which I used at the time of making this film. However, I no longer use these pseudonyms as I want viewers to be clear that my films are completely my own work.
Click here for a map showing the route of the locations used in the film. Aside from the circular route in the Doone Valley between Malmesmead, Cloud Farm and Oare, this is not a walking route, but it shows the route on which I travelled by both car and foot between the various locations featured in the film: osmaps.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/r...
DISCLAIMER: Although I work hard to ensure all information is correct to the best of my knowledge, I am only featuring information I have found online during my research when putting this film together, so I cannot guarantee that there are no mistakes or errors.
As with all the films I make, this is a mini-movie of my personal journey along the walk, in which I might share some of my own personal stories, and not actually intended to be a guide to the area.
If you are new to my channel, I strongly recommend reading the description under the “about” tab, which will provide a clearer understanding of what to expect in my films: / solitaryrambler
There is also a short “Introduction to the Solitary Rambler” video, which briefly explains what my films are all about: / solitaryrambler
Many thanks and I hope you enjoy watching!
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For a small fee you can download any of my musical soundtracks I have composed for my films: patrickleach.bandcamp.com/tra...
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[@MrDaiseymay]

I enjoyed your film very much , even though I was never a 'Walker', but have motored all over Exmoor many times. I love Dulverton, a great starting point to tour from. There's a 'Marker' on the Townside wall, of the Bridge; which shows the height that the River water reached, on the night of August 15th , 1952, when Lynmouth, on the opposite side of the Moor, was almost destroyed. If I remember correctly, it is nearly 6 FT above the road. A Local man told me that the Bridge was blocked by a huge Dam of tree trunks and boulder's., and the surrounding fields, flooded. What a terryfying night that was.

[@solitaryrambler]

Many thanks for watching and for your kind comments 😀

[@deaconpaulsandersonocds4103]

Made for a perfect Saturday night. Watching this film supping a Guiness after a very long day was certainly a highlight of the week.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks Paul, really pleased to know this was a good accompanyment to a Guiness! Thanks again for watching :-)

[@nicholaslewis6065]

The correct mixture of information and interest. Excellent with a large whisky in lockdown!

[@solitaryrambler]

Glad you liked it and many thanks for the kind comments! Hope you enjoyed your whisky 😀

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

Most certainly a lovely area of the South-West, Patrick. It's understandable that you made a re-visit here. The Lorna Doone farm building is in a nice setting, and the stone bridge crossing over to it is of brilliant architecture. Tarr Steps are most unique, and the stone bridge at Dulverton is another gem. it was great to see the shore of the Bristol Channel, as well. Many thanks for this most enjoyable video, Patrick.

[@solitaryrambler]

I miss being able to visit this area as much now since living in Derbyshire, but it was good to travel here back in 2017 to film this. Doone Valley and Tarr Steps are wonderful and I would have liked to have filmed more walks around Exmoor had I more time back then. Thanks Ffranc for watching and commenting 👍

[@anndeakin6763]

Thanks again for all your walks great areas renewed thoughts enjoy walking much appreciated thanks Ann DeakinWarwick 2022

[@WyeExplorer]

Hi Patrick I was inspired to watch another episode. I must say I don;t think I've seen a quainter bridge as that at the start of the walk. A quintessential English country cart bridge. Beautiful - set the walk up nicely. Your entry into Oare was really impressive - in fact the videos I've seen of Exmoor and it;s surrounds have been impressive. It feels old. Old churches, old hills, old market towns and old brides such as Tar Steps. Great video Patrick. Loved that. All the best. Mark

[@solitaryrambler]

Hey nice one Mark. Yes that Malmsmead Bridge is very quaint indeed. Lovely spot and it was nice to have been able to make a couple of films in Exmoor last year. The old church at Oare is the only time I've gone inside a church in my films. Tarr Steps I've always found amazing, I just had to film it whilst I was in Exmoor, one of those must-do places! Thanks for your great comments as always Mark. All the best to you. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@WyeExplorer]

A pleasure Patrick. A few typos there I noticed in my comments. I should take more care - but enjoyed all of it as I do all your videos. Peace!

[@frankfitzgerald5832]

What an excellent day you had and thank you so much for sharing it with us all mate....some of the countryside down there is simply beautiful , and i am a little envious of you Patrick ...I loved the Tarr steps , great story that went along with them ...and you really spoiled me two churchs this time , Oare Church with its connection to Lorna doone ,was a lovely little church ... dont see you go inside many churchs... mate...and Dulverton Parish church looked great too .....You managed to cram quite a bit into this film ,so Thank you once again Patrick , we really enjoy it....Frank and Lee.....

[@solitaryrambler]

Whilst I was filming inside Oare Church I thought to myself "I know someone in particular who'll like this" :-) I loved exploring Exmoor when I lived closer to it years ago, so I tried film as many places as I could whilst staying there a few months ago, although there are still lots and lots of other locations in Exmoor to see of course. I'm glad you enjoyed watching this Frank and Lee. Thanks for watching. Cheers, Patrick :-)

[@jeffallinson8089]

That was superb as per usual Patrick, thanks for a very interesting and informative film. I don't know Exmoor at all so it was an eye opener to how lovely it clearly is. I loved the score, definitely one of your best ones I think. Dulverton l;ooks a lovely place to visit.

[@solitaryrambler]

Pleased you enjoyed the music on this one, I was pleased when i made it at the time. Thanks for watching 👍

[@rallyeraidr7841]

Wonderful! It reminds the The Far Distant Oxus, those wonderful books by Katharine Hull and Pamela Whitlock were set here.

[@solitaryrambler]

Nice one, thanks for watching and commenting 😀👍

[@shaunmckenna1923]

Hello Patrick loved this walk another very beautiful part of England , I always loved the Lorna Drone story I will have to see if there is a movie to watch now :)

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks as usual for watching Shaun 👍

[@robertlangley1664]

A wonderful place in the early 1960s my dad took me there and told me stories about Lorna doone .and the doones riding cross exmoor allways though they would come true

[@solitaryrambler]

👍

[@pete7179]

Another great walk and film Patrick,thanks for sharing. I'v never seen anything like the Tarr Steps,it was lovely there. Always something new to look at and new to learn in your films. Much appreciated as always. Pete.

[@solitaryrambler]

I thoroughly enjoyed filming this one as I wanted to cover some of my favourite spots in Exmoor. Glad you liked Tarr Steps, it is just wonderful. Thanks Pete. Cheers, Patrick :)

[@MrDarcy-OlMan]

Well done for making this buddy!

[@solitaryrambler]

Thank you! :)

[@WalksWithOlly]

I really like some of the footage you filmed, where the camer's sat on a slope, looking down over a valley and, there you go, walking in between. :-) Good to see the clapper bridge has been restored - I think it was mostly washed away by the river, during a storm last year.

[@solitaryrambler]

I like those shots too actually, maybe as they seem to give more depth of field? I try to vary the shots where I'm walking, and this year started other shots like putting the camera at ground level and shooting upwards as I walk past. I recall reading about Tarr Steps being washed away during my research for the commentary. Thanks Olly :-)

[@WalksWithOlly]

Certainly, it's a different perspective and one I can't say I've seen in anyone else's videos, either. Little tricks like that are what keep a viewer active, I believe. ;-) People seem to be getting in to drones and aerial footage but it's a lot of extra baggage to carry, not to mention the expense and the fact that, well, lots of people are doing it.

[@solitaryrambler]

I must admit I've no interest in drones. The first time I saw a video shot with a drone I thought "wow", but I found the novelty wore off very quickly. I have to say I do find a lot of them quite boring to watch now. Most of them are literally just one long, complete shot in the whole film whereas the films you and I both make are made up of several shorter shots, which I'm sure will remain more interesting to viewers in the long run :-)

[@WalksWithOlly]

I share quite the same opinion on drones. I've been unfortunate to be walking beneath or near one on only a couple of occasions and can say that they're quite a nuisance. In a way, it's great that this technology is so widely available (without needing a pilot's license and helipad). But yes, we are a species with short attention spans. I watch a lot of woodworking videos (as a woodworker myself) and don't often enjoy the long 'time-lapse' style footage where we witness the same processes played out from start to finish, albeit at increased speed.

[@Elfwald]

Think this might be your best one yet. 👍

[@solitaryrambler]

That is a lovely thing to say, thank you so much, makes it all the more worthwhile making these films with such lovely comments! :-)

[@Elfwald]

Solitary Rambler rewatched this and remembered how much I enjoyed the music. Good stuff.

[@solitaryrambler]

Thanks again! :-)

[@tonymaries1652]

I saw the title and thought - that is going to be one long walk!!! And why are Exford and Withypool missed out? I live at the other end of Somerset and chanced on this for ideas on where to go this weekend. I wasn't disappointed but I think my walk will be Oare and across the moors to the infant Exe and back down the Doon valley to Malmsmead. Quite far enough for one day.

[@solitaryrambler]

Ha ha yes indeed a long walk. I tried to squeeze in as many places in Exmoor as I could film in this one day, before returning home to Derbyshire where I live. Thanks for watching :)

[@trevorwright6165]

wonderful trip that was patrick we have spent many great time down there and walked miles but sadly now my walking is restricted . due to a bad lungs so i can still get out with you on here patrick i have done the South west way as well i backpacked it and stayed in BB but my past has caught up with me with the breathing and the abuse i have done to my lungs well patrick thank you so much for all the walks you are sharing all the best from trev

[@solitaryrambler]

I had hoped to walk more of Doone Valley in this one, but I was returning home after this day so didn't have enough time as I really wanted to feature Tarr Steps and Dulverton before i left. It was a lovely day though. I've only ever done the odd bit of the south west path long before now, I'm sure that's a lovely walk. Anyway thanks Trev for giving this a watch. Cheers, Patrick :)