Chicken and Walnut Salad

Makes 4

Ingredients:

250 grams Smoked Chicken Breast

50 Grams Walnuts

4 X Medium Red Apples

6 X Celery Sticks

Mayonnaise

Method:

Chop Celery In to Bite Sized Pieces

Add Walnuts & Celery To Mayonnaise

Chop Apples In To Bite Sized Pieces And Add To Mayonnaise & Walnut Mix

Serve With Chicken Breast Whole Or Sliced

NB. Only Add The Apples When You Are ready to Serve The Salad or They Will Go Brown

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Lovely Lichen

The stunning variety of the Exmoor landscape amazes and delights me every visit, a bit of everything………..hills coasts and cliffs, valleys woods and rivers, patchworks of fields, pretty cottages.

I am fascinated by lichen it’s shapes and shades of silver/green and there is a great deal to be seen in the Exmoor woods especially on the walk from Simonsbath to Cow Castle following the River Barle on the edge of the wood. Also at Webbers Post where every branch of a small tree is laden with lichen. Maybe you can find it when walking there!

Lichens favour low branches and spread over dead wood but are also found on a tree trunks and thrive in areas of dappled shade.

At this time of the year you share the roads around Exmoor with Pheasant and Red-Legged Partridge which have escaped the gun. They soon make way for vehicles but unfortunately some quicker than others. By the law of nature these very pretty birds will be a welcome meal for a local Buzzard having eaten well on nearly corn.

Myself, family and friends are looking forward to a Christmas Lunch at the Exmoor White Horse Inn this year, having taken the opportunity in years past and are wondering if it will be a White Christmas. Exford in the snow is magical, I spent several days at the Hotel last Winter and wrote my blog ‘Tracks in the Snow’.

I wonder what my December blog will tell!

Sherryl Woods 27 November 2011

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To some the vast landscape of Exmoor can seem daunting and to be frank a bit scary. The thought of massive bogs, jagged cliffs and the famous mist throwing us of our path all come to mind. First of all any one who knows Exmoor will tell you these key things always carry a map and compass, some good sturdy boots, a bottle of water, waterproofs and a smile. This beautiful landscape is waiting to be explored, heather as far as the eye can see, gnarly old oaks clinging to the coast for dear life and some of the most spectacular wildlife this country has to offer. Buzzards and Falcons soar overhead as Red Deer frequent the woodlands, binoculars are a must.

It is a good idea to know your own ability on longer walks so you can chose the optimum route for you to enjoy there are defined paths for different users, yellow paths are for walkers only. Blue paths are for walkers, cyclists and horse riders and the purple routes are for ramblers, cyclists, horse riders and small carriages. There are over 1000km of bridleways to suit walkers of all abilities so everyone can enjoy the stunning view. The south west coast path follows the coast from the Somerset half through to Devon and then off to Cornwall and all the way round to Devon again then Dorset. These walks offer superb views out to sea and to Wales as well. If you fancy there are walks through the dense moor that lead to Dartmoor eventually and beyond.

The most important idea here is to know your surroundings and to build confidence in exploring the unmarked paths that are dotted around the 18000 hectares of land open for the public to ramble. These routes are perfect for walkers of all abilities, cyclists and horse riders the key is to always come prepared and to carry your map and compass in waterproof casing whilst knowing where you started from and where you are heading.

Exmoor folk are notoriously friendly and in most cases enjoy a good yap. The park is full of small hamlets and villages with fine home cooked food, local ales and cider. When visiting Exmoor be sure to visit the  Exmoor White Horse Inn, Exford for an amazing selection of over 150 malt whiskeys and food that would bring tears of joy to a cold ramblers eyes as well as luxury accommodation

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The darkest but brightest skies of Exmoor

Exmoor is a symbol to many of a wilderness this country has long forgotten. Sweeping moors of purple heather, ancient woodlands, the huge herds of Red Deer and the jagged coastline of Devon and Somerset this national park has some of the most diverse terrain of any of the UK’s parks.

These are all features of Exmoor’s landscape and what it offers in the light of day. We are not concerned with this for the moment but the crystal clear night sky that opens up on the moor. Exmoor has recently been awarded the status of an International dark sky reserve a prestigious status only awarded to one site before it. The IDSR is given on the quality and abundance of nights with outstanding astronomical views that are rare to find in this small land full of light pollution.

If one ventures out onto Exmoor on a clear night spectacular  views of the brightest and most beautiful constellations are abundant and clearly visible.

Without the encroaching light the stunning and varied colours come alive, whites, blues and deep purples. The Perseid meteor shower of August blew my mind sky came alive in a fantastic show of power, danger and beauty as the fragments of ancient dead stars danced around the sky. To see a shooting star is one thing but a shower of them is jaw dropping and thought provoking, it really gives you that insignificant feeling of size and time whilst the infinite galaxies exist around us. To me it also raises the question of how our ancestors navigated using the skies and predicted meteor showers with in depth knowledge of the celestial cycles.

This immensely powerful landscape commands your emotions and makes you stop still, whether watching the Red Deer stags fight for mating rights in Autumn or watching comets grace the skies with colour and fantasy. By looking up we add a new dimension to the beauty of our surroundings and the landscapes we appreciate. Hopefully this will attract more visitors to this amazing part of the world to enjoy a truly unspoilt view night or day of the wonder f earths creation.

Exmoor has many small villages, pubs, restaurants and places to stay for a high quality stay in the depths of the moor with crystal clear skies, over 150 malt whiskeys and some of the finest food around look no further than Exmoors White Horse Inn, Exford.

• “Definition of Dark Sky Reserve:: a public or private land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural, heritage and/or public enjoyment mission of a large peripheral area. The International Dark Sky Reserve consists of a core area meeting the minimum criteria for sky quality and natural darkness, and a peripheral area that supports dark sky values in the core and receives benefits from them as well. The International Dark Sky Reserve is formed through a partnership of multiple land owners and/or administrators that have recognized the value of the starry night through regulation and/or formal agreement and/or long term planning.”  International Dark Sky Reserve – Exmoor National Park

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