Nature festival launched on Exmoor National Park
Festival organiser, Julie Colman, rural enterprise co-ordinator at Exmoor National Park, said: "National Parks were created to help support the Nations' health and wellbeing and this is a real opportunity for everyone to connect with nature."Not only are people learning about Exmoor flora and fauna but hopefully being inspired to help us look after this very special landscape."Information about the different events and activities are available on the Exmoor Nation Park website, and at its visitors' centres in Dulverton, Dunster and Lynmouth.
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an hour ago
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Times
2 hours ago
- Times
Seven of the UK's best hotels with wild swimming
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Details Half-board doubles from £336 ( • Read our full guide to the Lake District This ivy-covered castle has been the family seat of the Cunliffe-Listers since the 1880s and its estate encompasses 20,000 acres of the Yorkshire Dales — including a lily-filled pond (rather unfortunately called Coffin Lake) with a purpose-built swimming platform from which guests can take a wild dip from 7am to sunset from May to September. For a less chilly swim, the hotel also has a sumptuous spa with a heated indoor pool and a thermal suite. Stay in the castle or keep up the wild theme by booking a tree lodge or yurt at Swinton Bivouac. Details B&B doubles from £306 ( With a private lake in 1,000 acres of rewilded countryside on the Norfolk/Suffolk border, this countryside retreat in the Somerleyton Estate is a must-visit destination for wild swimmers. 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The Sky Suites and cabins are cool and contemporary, but for stargazing potential, book one of the domes, in which you'll feel as though you're sleeping outside, with the added benefits of king-size beds and rolltop B&B doubles from £202 ( There are dozens of wild-swimming options in the Cairngorms — from glassy lochs to icy-cold rivers. At the luxurious Fife Arms, the gillie team will pick your spot with the help of Wild Braemar, which knows all the best locations the owner, Annie Armstrong, grew up here and is an experienced outdoorswoman and nature guide (from £250; Sessions are about two hours, or for a longer day out you could combine your wild swim with a forest hike, picnic and session in a mobile wilderness sauna beside a clattering brook. Then it's back to the hotel for a warming dram in the Flying Stag bar and dinner in the opulent Clunie Dining Room. 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