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Combe
Martin has around 2000 inhabitants and has a great sense of community
with its own medical centre, library, village hall, football clubs,
bowling green, and community centre.
You'll find all the usual shopping and seaside facilities plus a
huge range of clubs and activities for all ages from nine to ninety.
The beaches are brilliant for the whole family with rock pools,
cliffs, caves, peebles - and when the tide is out there's plenty
of beautiful soft sand.
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are many festivals and events in Combe Martin's calendar
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Combe
Martin has loads of festivals and events throughout the year including
a comedy and music festival, carnival, and a monthly farmers market
in the local village hall.
Probably the most famous tradition is the annual hobby horse event
known locally as 'Hunting the Earl of Rone'.
Villagers start hunting the Earl on a Friday evening, and continue
daily until Monday when he is captured in Lady's Wood at the top
of the village.
He is then escorted down to the seaside and thrown into the sea.
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masked Earl of Rone |
The
main cast of characters are the masked Earl of Rone, the hobby horse,
a fool, a troop of grenadiers, the captain, the band, followers
and the donkey which carries the captured Earl, stopping off half
way for a long pint.
The tradition has only recently been revived and wasn't performed
at all between 1837 and 1970.
In 2002 the Guinness Book Of Records recognised Combe Martin as
the holder of the longest street party in the UK.
This event took place during the Queen's Jubilee Celebrations in
2002 and stretched over 1½ miles.
The party consisted of some 700 tables with bands, bouncy castles
and between 5000 and 8000 visitors.
The most high-tech attraction in the village is the Combe Martin
Dinosaur and Wildlife Park.
Set in 25-acres of beautiful woods and parkland, visitors will find
a collection of animatronic dinosaurs alongside hundreds of real
birds and animals.
There's a whole range of things to do within these lovely grounds,
from visiting the butterfly house to falconry displays.
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