On Safari: Richard Growden style
| Author: Clara Lawrie | Published: 5th April 2007 08:18 |
I had no plans to drive around Exmoor this early in the year, and certainly had not thought of joining a Discovery Safari expedition. I live in Minehead, after all, and that sort of thing is really for tourists, isn't it? Well, no actually. But I'll come back to that later.
Anyway, when Richard Growden announced that he would pick me up at Porlock's Visitor Centre last Monday morning, I was not prepared to argue with him. That is how I found myself taking a full morning off and in his sturdy Landover, heading towards Porlock Weir to pick up a further couple of passengers before being given the tour of Exmoor. The Lorna Doone Tour, to be precise.
Richard Growden
It may be a good idea to know a little about the man to understand the concept of these safaris.
When Richard left the armed forces, it must have been a sad loss for the soldiers he trained. A Sergeant Major to his fingertips, he is loud, challenging and tough. Originally from Minehead, Richard spent a whole month living on the moor with only a hammock to sleep on and his military training to sustain him. He put his time there to good use, learning everything about the area and its people, past and present.
Discovery Safari of Exmoor
It doesn't take long before you realise just what a special vehicle is used for these safaris. I had read the specifications, but being of the female persuasion with a very limited understanding of anything technical, they just went over my head. So for anyone with similar limitations: looks like a Landrover, behaves like a tank!
Vehicle Specifications
Heavy duty steel wheels with tubed tyres, roof rack which provides mounting points for all the lights. Long mounting steps spanning both doors and the rear door. Steel sump protection plates.Air conditioning, twin fuel tanks and high capacity electrical system to cope with all the lights and the winch. Front winch, protective grill with spot lights and four roof mounted spot lights. Rear work lights, light protection grills, roof ladder, full width mounting step with tow hook mounting.
To repeat Richard's commentary would do it an injustice. The trip took the best part of three hours, and throughout that time we were informed and entertained in equal measure. Not to mention the white-knuckle rides over the heather and bracken chasing after a herd of red deer. I would defy even the most churlish of teenagers not to be thrilled by this safari.
We learned about: Big Bess, her part in the history of Porlock Weir and her final resting place; French pheasants imported by local farmers. (These birds are distinctive from our British birds by their white collar and red heads); the legend that surrounds Lorna Doone; real-life highway robbers and cut-throats; why the wild sheep have blue paint on their horns; and much more.
We have all seen the AA box at the top of Porlock hill, but did you know it is a Grade II listed building?
Is it just a tourist thing? A resounding NO to that. The vast majority of this area's population has, like my family, moved here from various other parts of the country. Chances are that most of us who call ourselves ‘local' don't know half of the history and folk-lore of the surrounding landscape. Exmoor is wholly privately owned and protected fiercely against change, resulting is some areas being rarely visited and unspoiled.
In many ways, I probably got more out of the safari than my fellow companions. Now that I know where certain roads will take me I have already re-visited one particularly idyllic spot twice since. In addition, this particular trip only covered a quarter of Discovery Safaris of Exmoor's repertoire. So throughout the year, depending on seasonal interest, there are three other excursions I could find myself on. I recommend you try at least one. You will not be disappointed.
For more information on the routes and how to book a place on a Discovery Safari go to the website here.
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