The UK staycation with ‘better safari than Africa’ & amazing stargazing spots

PILING out of the Land Rover, we make our way off the beaten track, trudging deeper and deeper into the moorland.

I am on safari, but not the open-top truck, lion-spotting kind you see on TV in the blisteringly hot landscapes of Africa.

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I am, instead, in the very heart of Exmoor National Park, on the border of the Devon coast.

But this wildlife tour brings me much closer to the animals than any safari in the Serengeti would.

Cars are forbidden this far into the moors and it is not long until our first sighting: a deer, completely unalarmed by our beady eyes staring.

During our safari with wildlife expert Daphne Bruce, we spot not one but 12 deer, as well as wild ponies and a plethora of birds from kestrels to buzzards.

It is undoubtedly the highlight of our Devon getaway.

I stay near by, with my husband and our dog, at the The Exmoor White Horse Inn, a bolthole on the banks of the River Exe with bags of character.

The area is a paradise for ramblers and fishermen alike with hiking trails galore and brown trout and salmon swimming in the river.

The White Horse Inn itself is steeped in history with some parts dating back to the sixteenth century.

It feels totally tucked away, and most mornings, we wake to the sounds of the flowing river and the clip-clop of horses hooves from the stables next door.

If you’re visiting in winter months, the open fires and hearty pub food will warm you through, but summer is best spent at one of the garden tables overlooking the water with a tipple in the sun.

On our first morning, keen to soak up the best of this unspoilt region, we set off on one of the dog-friendly walking routes recommended by the Inn’s owners.

The hotel will even prepare a delicious picnic for you to take along.

You can take a bike on these trails, but beware the hills will take some muscle power!

Or, why not do it the old fashioned way on one of the horses from the local stables?

Of course, this sort of outdoor adventure breeds an appetite and the food at the Inn is part of what makes it so special.

Cracking dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients include trout from the River Exe and it is best washed down with one of the excellent local ales.

Even our dog was catered for with half a sausage for breakfast!

If you somehow tire of sandy beaches, characterful harbours, and historic landmarks like Dunster Castle, a day trip to Exmoor Distillery is a great way to spend an afternoon.

Just outside Dulverton on the southern edge of Exmoor, the small, family business produces specially crafted gin, rum and other spirits.

Founded just six years ago, it has already won an international award.

Book a tour followed by a tasting session (you can even sample the spirits neat, if you are brave enough).

The smokey, full-bodied Northmoor Navy Strength Reserve gin was our favourite, having been rested in bourbon whisky barrels for six months before being bottled.

That evening, the sky rewarded us with a glittering display like we have never seen before.

With so little light pollution, Exmoor is one of the top spots in the country for stargazing.

The Inn offers visitors a “stargazing pack” complete with binoculars, torch and blanket as well as directions to marvel at the heavens.

Craggy, rolling moorland blanketed by a flickering night sky is an image that sums up Exmoor perfectly.

And it proves you don’t need to hop on a plane to experience nature at its most beautiful.

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