Enjoy Exmoor National Park By Electric Car without range anxiety

This September Karen and I decided we wanted to visit and enjoy Exmoor National Park by electric car.

The only issue was I wanted to tour in our Nissan Leaf electric car.

A quick look at Zap Map showed this might not be possible due to the lack of charging facilities.

enjoy Exmoor National Park by electric car

A detailed look at the charging infrastructure showed one self catering entry right on the edge of Exmoor. It had an entry for ZeroNet describing the installation but no entries showing any successful charges by customers. The entry was for Acorn Retreat Oakmead House Barnstaple Devon EX32 7QJ showing as Hotel / Accommodation.

Looking at the location it would seem ideal for touring Exmoor and North Devon. The only question was, was it in range for my journey from Ivybridge and was the charging point up and running. Google maps showed the distance as around 75 miles from home so this was easily within my 100 mile safety margin for my 30kWh Nissan Leaf. Next job was to Google the Acorn Retreat.

Acorn Retreat Self Catering Accomodation

First impressions were very good, a professional looking web site

The holiday accommodation was self catering. Ideal for Karen and I and our Clumberdoodle Archie. The website stated one medium sized well behaved dog was allowed – well Archie almost qualified! What was not clear was whether the charging facility was working. A quick call to the owner Linda Davis revealed that whilst it was listed the charging point was not actually installed and connected yet. Immediate disappointment came over me as this looked the ideal solution to tour North Devon and Exmoor with our Electric Car. Linda however said that by the time we arrived to stay in the accommodation she would have her electrician install the charging point. Hoping for the best I paid for the booking and started to look forward to our 5 day break.

Exmoor National Park

We had lived in Bideford and Westward Ho 40 years ago and intended to pop over and visit some old friends. We had not however visited Exmoor in all the time we lived near it. Monday 17th September 2018 arrived and we set off from home with a full charge in the Leaf and a full car with Archie and all his necessary luggage.

Acorn Retreat Self Catering Accommodation

I still had a little trepidation due to the fact I would arrive at the Acorn Retreat with very little range left to get me to my fallback plan which was a rapid charger in Barnstaple. I need not have worried. Linda greeted us on arrival with the good news the Charging point was installed!

Charging Point Exmoor

The next job was to plug Kermit II in and test the charger.

The charger had a 7kWh type2 Mennekes plug as well as a 13amp 3 pin socket.

Thanks to Linda and George we had a great 5 day break in their self catering accommodation. We toured Exmoor. We visited Lynton, Lynmouth, Watersmeet, Tarr Steps, Dulverton, Barnstaple and Westward Ho including Abbotsham Cliffs for Archie.

Each night returning to Acorn Retreat and plugging in our Nissan Leaf for a full charge ready for our next days adventure. Not once did I need a fall back plan to charge in Barnstaple and not once did we suffer any range anxiety as a result. If you are thinking of touring Exmoor or North Devon in your electric vehicle please do check out the Acorn Retreat, we highly recommend it.