Exmoor National Park Authority

The Exmoor National Park Authority visitor centre sits on the edge of one of England's most dramatic landscapes - high moorland, plunging valleys, and a coastline that still feels properly wild. It's not a theme park or a museum, but rather your starting point for understanding what makes this corner of Devon so different from anywhere else.

The centre itself handles the admin and visitor information side of things, which means you'll get proper local knowledge about walking routes, wildlife spotting, and where the red deer actually congregate (spoiler: early morning in autumn). Staff here aren't reading from a script - they've lived it. The moorland rolls out in all directions, and on a clear day you can see for miles. On a grey one, it's equally atmospheric.

If you're serious about exploring, allow half a day minimum. Families with young kids might find the centre itself a touch underwhelming - it's functional rather than flashy - but children who like scrambling across open moorland and spotting ponies will be in their element. Walkers and nature obsessives absolutely should stop here before heading out. The staff can point you toward everything from easy riverside ambles near Tiverton to serious hill treks across the high ground.

Nirvana Glamping sits just down the road, making it a solid base for a proper park-based break. Stock up on information here, grab a map, then disappear into the landscape for the rest of your holiday. It costs nothing to pop in, and honestly, it's worth the detour if you're serious about getting the most from Exmoor.