48 STAGHUNTING WITH THE 



hills and struck out across a cultivated vale, if 

 the hounds are anything less than an hour 

 behind him the end is fairly certain. 



In quite recent years an opening meet has 

 been held at Haddon, on an occasion when, 

 owing to the decease of the late Sir Thomas 

 Acland, Cloutsham was closed ; but the space 

 available proved barely sufhcient for the con- 

 course that assembled to celebrate the unusual 

 event. 



Of all West Country villages there is none 

 more picturesque than Winsford, and none more 

 truly central for staghunting. It is served too, 

 by one of the best kept roads in the whole 

 surrounding country, and whether one measures 

 the average distance from the pretty thatched 

 inn, that swings the sign of "The Royal Oak," 

 to the meets, or to the usual places such as 

 Horner, or Porlock Weir, or Hartford Mill, at 

 which deer are wont to die, it is only challenged 

 by Exford as a desirable and convenient centre. 

 On the dav of its great annual meet, however, 

 the village becomes blocked with traffic, and it 

 is only with the utmost care and difficulty that 

 hounds can be piloted through the maze of 

 vehicles when they move off to begin the day. 

 "The Royal Oak" once witnessed a sensational 

 finish to a run, which at the time caused much 

 local excitement. A stag from Haddon ran by 

 the Exe valley to the Allotment preserves, and 



