Alan Humphries - Oldies Visit Dulverton, Exmoor
02nd October 2026
In: News, Members' Articles
THREE OLDIES IN DULVERTON - ALAN HUMPHRIES
Back in April the writer celebrated a significant birthday. To celebrate we, that is Barbara myself and a significant other, spent a delightful day in Dulverton, a favourite place of ours, which is known as the “Gateway” to Exmoor”.
With a population of around fourteen hundred The town stands on the edge of the Exmoor National Park on the banks of the River Burle, a tributary of the River Exe. A bustling little town with an eclectic mix of shops. These include three cafes, a Post Office, a pharmacy, a butchers, a greengrocer, a branch of the Co-op, a garage, two pubs and a hotel, and other accommodation, and several places to dine. Our favourite being the Copper Kettle for coffee.
Then there is the “Seven Fables” rather unusual book and art supplies shop. In addition there is Rothwell and Dunworth, a second hand book shop, which attracts the attention of the Sunday Times as being mentioned the best second hand bookshop outside London. Another favourite of ours is Lance Nicholson, who supplies fishing tackle, shooting paraphernalia and country clothing to a thriving fishing and shooting community.
Earlier I mentioned places to eat, apart from the three cafes, there is a Thai Restaurant, Fish & Chip Shop/Cafe and Wood’s Dining Room. Our preference being the latter but when the mood takes, the Fish and Cafe hits the spot.
By now you may be pondering the identity of the third of the “Golden Oldies”, you have to wait no longer it was in the form a Panasonic Lumix TZ8!
The DMC-TZ8 was launched in 2010 featuring a Leica Vario-Elmar lens housed in a compact body that can fit in your pocket. the DMC-TZ8 has a 14.5-megapixel CCD sensor and shoots with up to 12.1-megapixel resolution, reproducing images with the lens set from 25mm to 300mm in any of three aspect ratios - 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 - quality, or to simply make still images and video look better, at least according to Panasonic. The TZ8 also features A, S and M exposure modes for creative photographers, in addition to Intelligent Auto and a variety of scene modes for beginners.
The TZ8 is very pocketable, when paired with one of the Lumix LX series, my favourite being the LX7 with its 24/90mm Leica lens. You have a versatile set up that is absolutely ideal when there is need to travel light. Over the years the TZ8 has accompanied me on trips all over the UK and the EU producing many thousands of images.
Now I am not comparing this rather old and diminutive camera with the current offerings from our friends at Leica. On the other hand it has given me a great deal of pleasure, after all this what it is all supposed to be about.
As the screen on my current TZ8 was starting to breakup, Barbara kindly gave me another for my birthday, with which the attached images were taken. The Three Oldies Ride again!
Alan Humphries.
All Saints Church
All Saints Church
'The Best Bookshop Outside London'
Dulverton Post Office
Blast From The Past
Fish & Chips
River Barle
Stansbury's Garage
Wood's Dining Room
Wood's Dining Room
------------------------------------------------------------
For those members who wanted to join the other member’s visit to the Leica HQ. This will now be postponed to January as they are moving to a new Flagship Store which opens officially on 5th November. Any further details please contact Gerald.
Back in April the writer celebrated a significant birthday. To celebrate we, that is Barbara myself and a significant other, spent a delightful day in Dulverton, a favourite place of ours, which is known as the “Gateway” to Exmoor”.
With a population of around fourteen hundred The town stands on the edge of the Exmoor National Park on the banks of the River Burle, a tributary of the River Exe. A bustling little town with an eclectic mix of shops. These include three cafes, a Post Office, a pharmacy, a butchers, a greengrocer, a branch of the Co-op, a garage, two pubs and a hotel, and other accommodation, and several places to dine. Our favourite being the Copper Kettle for coffee.
Then there is the “Seven Fables” rather unusual book and art supplies shop. In addition there is Rothwell and Dunworth, a second hand book shop, which attracts the attention of the Sunday Times as being mentioned the best second hand bookshop outside London. Another favourite of ours is Lance Nicholson, who supplies fishing tackle, shooting paraphernalia and country clothing to a thriving fishing and shooting community.
Earlier I mentioned places to eat, apart from the three cafes, there is a Thai Restaurant, Fish & Chip Shop/Cafe and Wood’s Dining Room. Our preference being the latter but when the mood takes, the Fish and Cafe hits the spot.
By now you may be pondering the identity of the third of the “Golden Oldies”, you have to wait no longer it was in the form a Panasonic Lumix TZ8!
The DMC-TZ8 was launched in 2010 featuring a Leica Vario-Elmar lens housed in a compact body that can fit in your pocket. the DMC-TZ8 has a 14.5-megapixel CCD sensor and shoots with up to 12.1-megapixel resolution, reproducing images with the lens set from 25mm to 300mm in any of three aspect ratios - 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9 - quality, or to simply make still images and video look better, at least according to Panasonic. The TZ8 also features A, S and M exposure modes for creative photographers, in addition to Intelligent Auto and a variety of scene modes for beginners.
The TZ8 is very pocketable, when paired with one of the Lumix LX series, my favourite being the LX7 with its 24/90mm Leica lens. You have a versatile set up that is absolutely ideal when there is need to travel light. Over the years the TZ8 has accompanied me on trips all over the UK and the EU producing many thousands of images.
Now I am not comparing this rather old and diminutive camera with the current offerings from our friends at Leica. On the other hand it has given me a great deal of pleasure, after all this what it is all supposed to be about.
As the screen on my current TZ8 was starting to breakup, Barbara kindly gave me another for my birthday, with which the attached images were taken. The Three Oldies Ride again!
Alan Humphries.
All Saints Church
All Saints Church
'The Best Bookshop Outside London'
Dulverton Post Office
Blast From The Past
Fish & Chips
River Barle
Stansbury's Garage
Wood's Dining Room
Wood's Dining Room
------------------------------------------------------------
For those members who wanted to join the other member’s visit to the Leica HQ. This will now be postponed to January as they are moving to a new Flagship Store which opens officially on 5th November. Any further details please contact Gerald.