Exford Hostel

One of our top picks in Exford. Set in a large Victorian house beside the River Exe, this Exemead Lodge is in the heart of Exmoor National Park. The lovely lodge features riverside gardens and free parking. Exemead Lodge is available for 7 night stays.

The Exemead Lodge has a fully equipped kitchen, dining area and barbecue facilities for self-catering guests. A range of hearty meals, light snacks and beverages are available across the road at The Exmoor White Horse Inn

Exemead Lodge offers bright and airy private en-suite bedrooms, and there is also a cosy guest lounge. The majority of rooms contain bunk style beds. Full laundry facilities are available, and there is a drying room for walking equipment.

Surrounded by scenic Somerset countryside, Exemead Lodge is just 6 miles from Dunkery Beacon. The coast at Minehead can be reached in 20 minutes’ drive, and there are plenty of walking routes nearby.

Information about the host

The hostel is now available for Exclusive Hire as 2 separate self-contained units with Exemead Lodge offering first floor ensuite accommodation for a max of 19 people and Exemead Bunkhouse offering groundfloor accommodation with shared bathroom facilities for 34. A former Victorian Gentleman’s residence, with timber features, this building stands in its own secluded wooded riverside grounds with ample social space, in the centre of a quiet village, next to the banks of the unfenced River . Originally with in excess of 15 acres & an impressive stable block. Overtime land was put to sale & the stable block lost. Today the hostel sits in 1.5 acres of stunning riverside garden. It retains much of its original character in the communal spaces. Our aim is to provide good reasonably priced accommodation for families, walkers, cyclists & YHA members. We have a vested interest in Exmoor & delight in sharing our knowledge & experience of the area with guests to enhance their visit. There is a rolling program of improvements which we are implementing.

Due to the location, I can honestly say we love all things outdoors! Photography is a key passion - you will see several photographs of the area on the walls of the communal areas. Exmoor provides a perfect location for landscape & wildlife photographers, with great photographic opportunities literally on the doorstep. Fly fishing is our other passion, there are great fishing opportunities within driving distance for both the beginner & experienced Fly fisher. We are always keen to share our tales of the one that got away (!!!) alongside newly discovered stretches of water. Keen on Ornithology we are constantly monitoring & encouraging bird friendly practices -we have successfully fledged a new family of tawny owls in 2020 - very proud parents. We aspire to be better cyclists although our bikes seem to spend more time in the rack than is healthy for them. Our Mad dog Molly, ensures that walking is adhered to regularly. 10 circular walks from the door step ensure that he never gets bored with the route. We love Exmoor- we have lived in the village for the past 30 years & although we are not considered locals, we are getting there in an unconventional way !

Exmoor is one of the smallest & least known National Parks in England, boasting both coastal & moorland areas, with some of the highest cliffs in the UK. Gentler than its closest & more well known neighbour Dartmoor, It has historical links with writers such as Shelley & Coleridge who sought sanctuary in its remote & beautiful location.Home of the West Somerset Railway, enjoy a trip back in time under steam power. The Village of Exford sits in the centre of the Exmoor National Park, with the village green forming the focal point. There is an impressive children's play area which always proves popular with visitors to the hostel. The perfect place for a picnic, game of cricket or just letting the children let off steam. It's delight is with 'traditional simple pleasures' which make a holiday memorable. We still have a village shop (reopening Autumn 2020 & a country store selling curios. Walking, cycling, fishing, coasteering, horse riding provide active days out. There are days of exploring pretty Exmoor villages. Doone Valley lies some 5 miles away, the setting of the romantic novel 'Lorna Doone'. Lynmouth with its steep funicular railway is a 20 minute drive away