PLANNING has started for two popular Exmoor festivals to return in 2025 after they brought thousands of visitors to the area this autumn and winter.

It will be the ninth year of Exmoor Dark Skies, which ran from mid-October to early November and saw more than 2,000 people take part.

Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival will also be back for a fourth time after seeing visitors from all over the country spend a weekend in the town in November.

An Exmoor National Park Authority spokesperson said: “We have just seen the curtain close on our hugely successful Dark Skies Festival 2024.

“Planning is already underway for our Dark Skies Festival 2025, sponsored by BMW Vertu, Bridgwater, and dates are confirmed as Friday, October 17, to Sunday, November 2, 2025.

Stanley Johnson on stage at the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival with Miranda Taylor. PHOTO: George Ody.
Stanley Johnson on stage at the Dulverton Exmoor Literary Festival with Miranda Taylor. PHOTO: George Ody. ( )

“If you are interested in holding an event or wish to find out more, please get in touch with the rural enterprise team.”

The spokesperson said registering as a ‘Dark Skies Friendly Business’ would show commitment to protecting Exmoor’s dark skies.

Literary festival director Ali Pegrum said this year’s event had been ‘hailed as a huge success’.

Ms Pegrum said: “There were strong ticket sales, queues for book signings, and outstanding author talks that encouraged a wide range of emotions, from hilarity to tears.

“The audiences at each session were fully engaged and asked some excellent and probing questions.”

She said plans were already in place for next year’s festival to take place in Dulverton over the weekend of November 15 and 16, 2025.