Your Perfect Literary Escape: Woodleigh Cottage During the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival

There's something magical about combining the love of literature with the beauty of Exmoor and a relaxing stay in the country. This November offers the perfect opportunity to do just that when The Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival returns for its fourth year on 14-17 November 2025, and Woodleigh Cottage provides the ideal base for your literary weekend.

A Literary Weekend in the Heart of Exmoor

Your literary weekend will combine captivating author talks and thought-provoking discussions - with renowned writers such as Andrew Lownie, Iain Dale, David Dimbleby and Alice Thomson, combined with delicious food and drink from Dulverton's renowned restaurants and pubs. All safe in the knowledge that just a few minutes' walk from Dulverton town centre where the festival takes place, our charming cottage offers the perfect blend of country chic, comfort and tranquillity.

The 2025 festival promises an exceptional programme featuring bestselling authors, engaging workshops, and special events including the festival's first Literary Lunch. With events taking place across the long weekend in Dulverton Town Hall and various venues around the town, you'll want comfortable, welcoming accommodation within easy reach.

Why Woodleigh Cottage is Perfect for Festival-Goers

Location, Location, Location Set in its own private garden in a quiet location, Woodleigh Cottage is literally within minutes' walk of the festival venues. No need to worry about parking or driving – simply stroll into town for morning sessions, pop back for a leisurely lunch, and return for afternoon and evening events.

Character and Comfort After a day of listening to your favourite authors and discussing their works, retreat to the cottage's cosy log fire with your newly purchased books from the festival bookstall. The comfortable bedrooms ensure a restful night's sleep, ready for another day of literary and adventure.

Dog-Friendly Literary lovers with four-legged companions are warmly welcomed. Woodleigh welcomes up to two small to medium-sized dogs and their are many stunning walks on Exmoor to enjoy between festival events.

Make It a Weekend to Remember

Woodleigh Cottage is currently available from 10 November until 16 November, giving you a chance to enjoy an invigorating few days in the country with a Saturday full of literary exploration.

Example of talks on offer during Saturday 16 November 2025:

10.00 – 11.00 DULVERTON TOWN HALL - HANNAH BOURNE-TAYLOR, CATRINA DAVIES, RUTH PAVEY WITH RACHEL CAMPBELL-JOHNSTON

Nature and Conservation - Dulverton welcomes three writers who have a deep love of nature and a desire to protect it. Hannah Bourne-Taylor is a conservationist, bird lover and author of the acclaimed nature memoir Fledgling and her latest book Nature Needs You - The Fight To Save Our Swifts.

Catrina Davies grew up around Land’s End and is the author of Homesick and Once Upon a Raven’s Nest. Ruth Pavey bought four acres of scrub woodland above the Somerset Levels and set out to improve the lush haven for birds, insects and all manner of wildlife. Her Deeper Into the Wood recounts a year in the life of an amateur naturalist working with wildlife experts to interpret the language of the land.

Hannah, Catrina and Ruth will be in conversation with Exmoor resident and writer Rachel Campbell Johnston. Rachel is a freelance art critic and until recently was The Times’s chief art critic for 20 years. This event has been sponsored by The Exmoor Society.

12.00 – 1.00 DULVERTON TOWN HALL - IAIN DALE WITH JONATHAN DIMBLEBY

Iain Dale is a British broadcaster, author, political commentator and hosts a regular discussion show on LBC Radio. A centenary after her birth, the figure of Baroness Thatcher still looms large over contemporary politics. Iain’s timely short biography - Margaret Thatcher - shows how the ‘Iron Lady’ was a more interesting, nuanced and colourful figure than both her critics and courtiers suggest. Iain’s short biography of our first female prime minister introduces her to new generations of readers who may not remember her premiership, but who are living with its consequences.

Iain will be interviewed by bestselling historian Jonathan Dimbleby, who returns to Dulverton in 2025 bringing two of his most recent books which look back at the Second World War and are now out in paperback: Barbarossa: How Hitler Lost the War and Endgame 1944: How Stalin Won the War.

1.45 – 2.45 DULVERTON TOWN HALL - JESSICA BULL WITH HELENA KELLY

Jessica Bull is a lifelong Austen fan who grew up in South East London. Her debut novel, Miss Austen Investigates, was an immediate bestseller, casting Jane as a literary sleuth searching for the answers to a murder mystery. Her much-anticipated second novel in the series A Fortune Most Fatal, presents Miss Austen with another mystery to solve. Sense, sensibility and a swindled inheritance! Jessica’s third Miss Austen Investigates novel, to be released on 13 November – The Austen Christmas Murders. ‘

Jessica will be in conversation with Dr Helena Kelly, an expert on Jane Austen and her work, who has launched her new title, The Worlds of Jane Austen: The Influences and Inspiration behind the Novels to coincide with the anniversary celebrations this year. This author talk promises both a serious and light hearted look at this much-loved literary legend.

3.00 – 4.00 THE GALLERY, DULVERTON HERITAGE CENTRE - KAREN MINTO AND THE EXMOOR PONY CENTRE

Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of local Exmoor pony charity, The Moorland Mousie Trust, the Festival welcomes Exmoor Pony enthusiast and charity supporter Karen Minto to re-introduce the beloved tale of Moorland Mousie, the Life Story of a Child’s Pony, illustrated by Lionel Edwards, the charming story of an Exmoor Pony, written in 1929 by Murial Wace under the pseudonym Golden Gorse, brings nostalgia of a time since passed. Exmoor ponies and their heritage play a huge part in the past, present and future stewardship of our beloved Exmoor countryside.

3.30 – 4.30 ALL SAINTS CHURCH, DULVERTON - CHLOE HADJIMATHEOU WITH ALICE THOMSON

The Salt Path, written by author Raynor Winn and published in 2018, is a book held dear by many, and particularly those down here on Exmoor. “An uplifting true story of a couple who lost everything and embarked on a journey of salvation along the South West Coast Path”.

Chloe Hadjimatheou is the award-winning investigative journalist who, over many months, carefully researched a lengthy article that appeared in The Observer on Sunday 6 July 2025, delving into the accuracy and reliability of many elements of the story upon which the book was based.

Chloe will be at the Festival to give an insight into how she discovered the truth behind certain aspects of the book, including the couple’s financial losses and subsequent homelessness. Chloe will be interviewed by writer and Times columnist, Alice Thomson, author of What I Wish I’d Known When I Was Young.

5.00 – 6.00 DULVERTON TOWN HALL - ANDREW LOWNIE

Dulverton is delighted to welcome renowned royal biographer and literary agent, Andrew Lownie, back to the Literary Festival. Released in August, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, is the first joint biography of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.

Still living in the same house, they claim to be “the happiest divorced couple in the world”, Entitled reveals the extent to which Andrew and Fergie’s lives are still deeply entwined. Drawing on four years of research, numerous FOI requests and interviews with over a hundred people who have never spoken before, Andrew Lownie traces the lives of the late Queen’s second son and his ex-wife through their childhoods, courtship, marriage, divorce, careers and royal and charitable activities. Rigorously researched and packed full of revelations, this is eye-watering biography at its best.

6.30 – 7.30 DULVERTON TOWN HALL - RUTH HOGAN WITH LISA HIGHTON

This author talk brings together one of Britain’s bestselling novelists, Ruth Hogan, in conversation with her friend and literary agent, Lisa Highton. Ruth and Lisa will be chatting all things ‘Writing Light and Dark (and everything in between)’! In Ruth Hogan's latest novel, The Light a Candle Society, a group of people come together to celebrate the lives of those who die alone so they are not forgotten.

Lisa Highton joined Jenny Brown Associates as an Associate Agent in 2022. Over a long career in publishing both in the UK and Australia (where she was publishing director of Doubleday, HarperCollins and then Hodder), Lisa has published many bestsellers. Her passions are distinctive storytelling and finding those hidden stories with emotional heart.

Dulverton: More Than Just the Festival

While the literary festival is undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend, Dulverton itself is a gem worth exploring. This charming Exmoor market town boasts award-winning restaurants and pubs, independent shops perfect for browsing, and a welcoming community atmosphere. Pop into Seven Fables for books, artwork and ceramics, or explore Acorn Antiques for unique art and furniture finds. The town's excellent delis and cafés provide perfect spots for discussing your favourite sessions over lunch.

Book Your Literary Retreat Now

Festival weekends in Dulverton are increasingly popular, and accommodation books up quickly. Secure your spot at Woodleigh Cottage for the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival to create the perfect combination of literary inspiration and countryside retreat.

Whether you're a devoted bibliophile, a casual reader looking for a cultural weekend away, or simply someone who appreciates good conversation and beautiful surroundings, Woodleigh Cottage and the Dulverton Literary Festival offer an unmissable November escape.

Ready to book your literary long weekend? Visit www.woodlandsholidays.com 

For festival programme details and tickets, visit the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival website.