Simonsbath having a son called Simon, I just love the villages name. But that apart the Village of Simonsbath is the place where modern day Exmoor began. For Simonsbath is the place where the wealthy Midlands industrialist John Knight. Who we have talked about a lot choose to make his home. It stands at a junction where the North-South Lynton to South Moulton road and the East-West Challacombe to Exford road cross. So given its central location. its easy to see why Knight purchased the nearby, Kings Allotment. Previously Kings Allotment was a  farm that was part of the Royal Forrest. And it was from this base in Simonsbath, that Knight and his son began their grand and ambitious plan to change Exmoor. Knight is responsible for creating seven acre lake Known as Pinkworthy Pond. However  his reason for this is unclear as it does not seem to suit any purpose what-so-ever.

But we can thank Knight for the access improvements he made on the moor. For the plans he and his son had for Exmoor. Needed access so Knight constructed a total of 22 miles of roads that connected Simonsbath to the outside world. And in doing so contributed to its future prosperity.

What of  modern day Simonsbath. Today,the village is still more akin to a hamlet, than a village. It is however a beautiful quiet little village set in the beautiful Barle Valley. In a area that the locale's call 'Exmoor Proper' and they are not wrong for all around Simonsbath is proper Exmoor. The scenery is stunning and the wildlife, not only amazing, but also abundant.Here one can see herds of Exmoor Ponies, and the  Deer freely roam, otters play on the banks of the Barle and the secretive badger lives his life.There is a road running through Simonsbath called the 'harepath' and legend has it that the 'harepath' is a ancient Saxon warpath along which the Anglo-Saxon  farmers of Devon and Somerset tramped in the 9th century. When they were called upon to repel Danish raiders know to history as 'The Vikings.' But the 'Path' is believed to have existed even before the 9th century. Perhaps even as far back as the 'Mesolithic Period?.

Given its central position Simonsbath is as busy little place in the summer months. As many holiday-makers criss cross Exmoor. However it still manages to maintain all its quaintness and charm. Simonsbath House, a 350 year old building stood alone for 150 years.And gradually the village was created around it. And it still stands proud to-day as a reminder of a by-gone era retaining a lot of the old features. The parish church St Lukes, presides over the largest parish in Somerset 56 square miles, and this parish boasts 75 dwelling house,!!!  So you can see even to-day Exmoor is still very sparsely populated.  And thank heaven that is so, for this magical place called Exmoor belongs more to the flora and forna than humans.!

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