Snow Drop Valley

Snowdrop Valley is a secluded valley in the heart of Exmoor where snowdrops carpet the forest floor. It is an amazing sight to behold,  a picture book scene. You cannot drive into the valley so instead go to Wheddon Cross and catch the dedicated bus or walk. Exmoor's Snowdrop Valley, near Wheddon Cross , is a nickname for the part of the Avill Valley where snowdrops flourish from late January and throughout February. This hidden valley is owned by the Badgworthy Land Company and is an ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) and situated on the River Avill.

Snowdrops - image supplied by kind permission of Somerset Tourism, Somerset County Council

In February the Avill Valley (nicknamed 'Snowdrop Valley) is covered in snowdrops, especially the stream banks and North "Hawkwell wood. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the main track you willl take whilst walking in Snowdrop Valley, running parallel to the river, led to a sawmill. This was powered by a turbine, fed by a leat which brought water from the river Avill several hundred metres upstream. A steam engine provided power in summer when there was not enough water.

Snow Drop Valley - Photo supplied by Rupert Clegg www.exmoorphotogallery.com

The path from the bridge back to the start of Snow drop Valley runs along the bank of another old leat. From the 1920s the mill was owned by an agricultural engineer and wheelwright. He used the native oak and larch from nearby plantations to construct a variety of items such as gates and railway wagons.

Snowdrop Valley Wheddon Cross

The Walk to Snowdrop Valley

Easy, virtually downhill all the way - about 45 minutes

Head away from the car parks onto the Minehead road. Just past the Post Office, take the road on the right that leads to Cutcombe village. Go past the school and keep to the left hand fork of the road. Go through the village and bear left and past St. John's Church. If you have time do visit the Church. After a few hundred yards you come to the brow of a hill. On your left there is a footpath marked which goes through a gate. After you have gone through the gate, turn right and keep to the edge of the field as the farmer has requested and please keep your dog on a lead. Follow the edge of the field, going past a gate, until you come to where the fence bears off to the right and starts to lead down to a little hunting gate and then into the woods. Go through the gate and straight down the path, which then crosses the main road. Cross the road and carry on down - it then meets up with a track (after about 30 yds) where you turn left. Keep going down the track, which goes through some splendid deciduous woods. There are signs the trees have been coppiced in the past. The wood is crossed by a bridleway, but keep going straight down. You will eventually come out opposite Snowdrop Valley. The route around Snowdrop Valley is a loop.

Snowdrop Valley

Avill Valley really comes into its own in the spring, when the riverbanks are carpeted in snowdrops. Such is the fame of this phenomenon that this section of the Avill is known locally as Snowdrop Valley. People come from miles around every spring to take a look. Snowdrop Valley has become so popular that during Snowdrop Valley time a park-and-ride scheme, making use of special pint-sized buses which operates from Wheddon Cross .

Snow Drop Valley on the River Avill

In Medieval times the pure white blooms of snowdrops were a symbol of Candlemas (2nd February), the feast of the purification of the Virgin Mary and represented purity. There is no hard proof that snowdrops are native to Britain. It is thought that they were brought to Britain from southern Europe by Benedictine monks in the 11th century because of their religious symbolism. Some say that the monks from Dunster introduced the snowdrop to the valley in the 13th century.

The River Avill flowing throgh Snow Drop Valley

The River Avill flowing throgh Snow Drop Valley

Carpeted with snowdrops each February, this hidden valley deep in the heart of Exmoor forms a glorious backdrop to the River Avill. Exmoor National Park Authority run a Park and Ride scheme enabling visitors to reach Snowdrop Valley without having to take cars down the narrow country lanes that lead to it.

Snow Drop Valley

www.wheddoncross.org.uk/snowdropvalley.htm

For years, this remote valley was a secret known only to locals. As visitors increased, so did congestion on the single track sunken road, obstruction of access to local houses and farms, and damage to roadside verges.
Exmoor National Park Authority ran a park and ride scheme and in 2008 Cutcombe Parish Council took it over, access to the privately owned valley being kindly granted by Badgworthy Land Company.
Support is also given by Exmoor National Park Authority, Defra's Sustainable Development Fund administered by Exmoor National Park Authority, Badgworthy Land Company and Exmoor Farmers Livestock Auctions.
Visitors walking the circular route will pass the site of a sawmill, once powered by the river Avill. The course of the water channel, or ieat', can still be seen. A steam engine provided power in dry summers.
The top path from the bridge runs along the bank of another leat. Larch and oak were used to construct gates and railway wagons.

For years the Holland family, and later the Schofield family, sold snowdrops in Minehead,. However, it is now illegal to pick them and visitors are requested not to stand on them. The walking route into the valley is waymarked with snowdrop symbols and visitors should wear appropriate clothing and footwear for winter walking.

More info :
www.wheddoncross.org.uk or call 07531 680445

Contributed by: Jeremy James