Exebridge is in the beautiful Exe valley, surrounded by rolling hills and deciduous woodland. It is on the south side of Exmoor where the River Exe leaves the moor to flow south, on its journey to the coast.

The village is 17 miles from the M5 motorway, about half an hour's drive. 10 miles away is Tiverton, the nearest large town, offering major supermarkets, a market, a castle, a fantastic museum and a stretch of the Grand Western Canal.

If you prefer not to go into town, there are excellent small shops in the villages of Bampton and Dulverton selling local produce.

It is a 40 minute drive over the moor to the north coast.

Staghound Cottages are next door to the Anchor Inn, a pub set on the riverbank, which welcomes families and serves excellent food.

There are lovely walks from the house which is not far from the Exe Valley Way. It is on the West Country Way, which is part of the National Cycle Network. The countryside is ideal for cycling and you can use mountain bikes on the bridleways on the moor.

It is a short walk to Exe Valley Fishery where you can practise your fly fishing on well stocked lakes. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced, you can get qualified tuition for sea or river fishing from Nick Hart (telephone: 01643 831101). There is also coarse fishing available locally.

In the winter Exebridge is a popular starting point for canoeists. There is good access for kayaks and canoes.

A few miles away is Wimbleball Lake and it is here that they are holding the 2006 Iron Man Competition in June. At any other time you can fish, sail, row, canoe or windsurf on the lake where there is equipment and tuition available. Or you may just want to picnic by the water and watch the action.

If you have an interest in plants and gardens, we are near Knighthayes Court at Tiverton and not too far from the magical gardens at Cothay Manor near Wellington. We have a garden centre on our doorstep, Exebridge Nursery is next door, and a few miles down the road is Cove Nursery.

For those who like riding horses, there are stables nearby at West Anstey (West Anstey Farm Stables, Exmoor, 01398 341 345) where the staff are very friendly and you can ride out onto Exmoor at any time of the year.

There is plenty of wildlife to see. In Exebridge I have seen kingfishers on the river, as well as herons, egrets and cormorants. You can see deer grazing on the hills, and in my garden I have seen hedgehogs, grass snakes, lizards and a badger. On a summer night the air will be teeming with bats, and early one summer morning I was very lucky to see an otter flopping about in the river.