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Exmoor Associates is a private limited company completely independent of the L&BR Trust and Company.  However the majority of its shareholders are L&B Trust Members as indeed are its Directors.  EA’s primary focus is the opportunistic purchase of any available land on the route of the former railway.  The Directors of EA are committed to the idea of a fully restored railway between Barnstaple and Lynton.   Its shareholders have already purchased several sections of the old L&B trackbed - land that will one day play a key part in the rebuilding of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.   EA do not intend to seek the permissions necessary to construct or operate a railway on any land they own.

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In February 2011, Exmoor Associates organised a working weekend at Snapper Halt, which it purchased three months earlier. Around 25 volunteers from EA, the Trust and others, cleared the area and began restoration, by retiling the shelter roof. For photos and a description of the event, see this News item.

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Snapper Halt Wednesday 4th May 2011 -  As well as the Halt, EA purchased the trackbed and adjacent land (part of which was later exchanged for a further section of trackbed).  Located in the Yeo Valley and nearer to Barnstaple at some 14 miles from Woody Bay, the work to restore the Halt, clear the trackbed of trees and undergrowth and tidy up afterwards has continued since the initial work carried out in February. More recently restoration of the original concrete shelter’s roof was completed with ridge tiles and barge boards.

A project to dig out the earth bank behind the shelter has just been completed by Chris Lane, John Edmonds and Nigel Thompson.


  1. John Edmonds rests outside Snapper Halt shelter prior to another day of digging out behind the shelter.


2. The rear of the original shelter building after completion of the digging out project. Removal of this spoil will help to dry out the shelter and prevent future deterioration of this historic original L&B building.



3. In the afternoon a bonfire was lit to burn off many of the smaller branches of the trees and undergrowth cleared back in February. John attends the bonfire just below the Halt.


4. Nigel enjoys keeping the bonfire going on the sunny afternoon at Snapper.


5. A general view of the L&B trackbed at Snapper Halt now cleared and tidied.

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Words and photos Nigel Thompson