Exmoor Associates has been set up to acquire trackbed and property along the route of the former Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, so as to allow for future reinstatement. The route of the railway is 19 miles long, and currently comprises of a patchwork of different land owners.
 

 

A short section of the railway has already been opened on Exmoor.

Snapper

Our most recent acquisition, Snapper, is now our flagship site. This section includes the original railway halt serving the adjacent hamlet, complete with the waiting shelter and platform. There is 12 acres of land, including over a third of a mile of trackbed and river frontage. Over the winter 2010/11, volunteers helped clear the station site and restore the waiting shelter roof.

Work remains ongoing to complete drainage and fencing works across the site in line with our conservation policy. We anticipate being in a position to graze this land through the valley from 2012 onwards.

Collard Bridge

The first section of land purchased by Exmoor Associates was ten acres of grass and woodland, with river frontage, at Collard Bridge in the Yeo Valley. This was the first of two sections so far acquired at this end of the line. “Collar Bridge”, as it was known by railwaymen, marks the start of the 1 in 50 ascent which continues for the next 8 miles to Blackmoor at the boundary of Exmoor. The bridge gets its name as it is where the real collar work started for the loco crews.

Bought at auction in September 2002, this land includes a short stretch of trackbed between the river and road bridges. We also own the fishing rights along our section of river bank. In spring 2003 we arranged for the restoration of the road bridge over the trackbed, and we now have a programme of management for the land that is in line with our conservation policy.

A further half mile of trackbed is also owned by Exmoor Associates in the Yeo valley. This section is within an area of forestry plantation.

Blackmoor

A half mile stretch of former Lynton & Barnstaple trackbed was purchased in 2004. The trackbed in the Blackmoor area is on the boundary of the Exmoor National Park and runs through part of the former Challacombe Estate.

This stretch of land includes three bridges, several embankments and a deep cutting.

Elsewhere…

These are just some of the sections of land we have recently acquired and are managing. We are also currently in negotiation to purchase several other exciting and significant new sections of land and trackbed along the route of the old railway – including an important missing link of land near Parracombe. Slotting the many pieces of the former Lynton & Barnstaple back together is very hard work, and we only have limited funds with which to do it. If you would like to help us with future acquisitions, why not consider buying shares in Exmoor Associates?