Simonsbath is a tiny hamlet deep in the heart of Exmoor National Park, where the River Barle meets Ashcombe Water amid wild, open moorland.
Once the centre of the Royal Forest of Exmoor, Simonsbath retains an atmosphere of true remoteness and unspoilt beauty. The hamlet was transformed in the 19th century when the Knight family purchased and began reclaiming the former royal hunting forest, building farmsteads, roads, and plantations across the surrounding moorland. Today, a handful of stone cottages, the renowned Exmoor Forest Inn, and Simonsbath House are all that make up this peaceful settlement.
This is one of the most secluded corners of Exmoor. The surrounding landscape is dominated by rolling open moorland, deep river valleys, and ancient woodland. Red deer roam freely, Exmoor ponies graze the hilltops, and the night skies are among the darkest in England -- perfect for stargazing in the Exmoor International Dark Sky Reserve.
Simonsbath itself has no shop, so it is worth stocking up before you arrive. The nearest village shops and post offices are in Exford, approximately 5 miles to the south-east, and in Lynton, approximately 10 miles to the north. Dulverton, around 12 miles south, has a wider range of independent shops, a butcher, a chemist, and the Exmoor National Park Visitor Centre. For supermarkets and high street shopping, Minehead is approximately 15 miles away, and South Molton is around 12 miles to the west.
