Bampton

About

Bampton lies on the very edge of beautiful Exmoor National Park, and is dominated by its Motte dating back to 1067. It has an ancient charter fair and is a well-deserved regular winner of Britain in Bloom.

This traditional town has plenty to offer visitors in the form of various shops, pubs & restaurants and places to stay. As well as the usual amenities such as a post office, spa, pharmacy and greengrocers, Bampton also offers a more unique retail experience. There is locally produced meat available in the Butchers Shop (who are also famous for their home-made pork sausages), unique yet stylish women’s fashion and jewellery in the A La Mode boutique and also a showcase of local art and craft in the trendy gallery No.4, all found within the town.

A range of different places to eat are available in Bampton, catering for any appetite and budget. The award winning Toucan Café-Bistro offers tasty and locally sourced food, within a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. There are also two traditional pubs, The Quarrymen’s Rest and The Exeter Inn, which serve delicious local food and real ale from local breweries. The Bridge House Hotel offers a home cooked and varied menu as well as traditional Sunday lunches. They can also provide rooms for visitors looking to stay in the area and even arrange activities such as salmon & trout fishing, clay pigeon shooting or even riding across Exmoor.

Once a thriving wool town, Bampton's Georgian houses are built of locally quarried stone. The whole town centre is a conservation area, and Bampton boasts almost 100 listed structures including two telephone boxes.

Bampton's Norman motte and bailey castle is one of the best preserved in Devon and offers wonderful views of the town below. St. Michael and All Angels Church is also well worth a visit. It is Grade I listed with a 13th century tower, and contains many interesting features including a unique rhyming epitaph that tells the story of an unfortunate death by icicle!

However, the town is not just renowned for its buildings, but for the glorious flower displays in gardens, windowboxes and hanging baskets that have made it a regular national winner of Britain in Bloom.

Every October the town holds the ancient Bampton Charter Fair which is over 750 years old. Here Exmoor ponies are once again traded just as they were in the famous Bampton Pony Fair from the 1880s to the 1980s. For three days afterwards the town continues its celebrations in After the Fair - lively fun and entertainment for all ages.

The area around Bampton is full of rich wildlife, from amazing birds of prey to rare species of wild flowers, there is always something new to be seen. Due to the towns close proximity to the countryside, specifically Exmoor National Park, Bampton is a handy location for links to further attractions such as Falconry on Exmoor, Devon Badger Watch, Exmoor Zoo and Wimbleball Lake where a range of water based activities are available. Of course Exmoor is very good for walking too and there are a number of different routes and trails available to follow.