Great South West Walk

Sunday August 12

Section 18. MINEHEAD TO PORLOCK WEIR. Miles: 9.5. Grading: Moderate

Start time and location
Could you please report for registration just past the Red Lion Pub on the quay,
there is a marker which denotes the start of the coastal path at 8.30am.
The walk will commence at 9.00am.

Parking
Plenty of parking avaialble at start points.

BUS SERVICES
Service 28 runs from Taunton to Minehead, and service 300 runs from Porlock Village to Taunton, Minehead, Lynmouth and Barnstaple in the season. Confirmation of all buses can be obtained from Traveline on 0870 608 2608 www.traveline.org.uk.

TRAINS
The nearest railway station is Taunton - for information on train services, contact 08457 484950.
The West Somerset Railway PLC runs steam trains between Bishops Lydeard (near Taunton) to Minehead. For further details, please telephone 01643 704996.

TAXIS
Call the National Taxi Hotline on 0800 654321, and you will be put through to the nearest participating cab firm.

MAPS
Ordnance Survey Landranger Series (scale 1:50 000) - Number 181, Minehead & Brendon Hills.
Ordnance Survey Outdoor Leisure (scale 1:25 000) - Number 9, Exmoor.

GENERAL
Minehead: accommodation, shops, chemists, pubs, parking, toilets and public
telephones.
Bossington: accommodation, refreshments, parking, toilets and public telephone.
Porlock (inland): accommodation, shops, post office, chemist, visitor centre, pubs, parking, toilets and public telephone.
Porlock Weir: accommodation, pub, cafés (seasonal), parking, toilets and public telephone.

TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
17, Friday Street, Minehead, TA24 5UB.
Tel: 01943 70264. Fax: 01643 707166.

The Route
The South West Coast Path starts at the commemorative marker on the sea front just past the Red Lion pub towards the quay. It was erected in
February 2001 and represents a pair of hands holding a map. It was sculpted by Owen Cunningham to the design of local art student Sarah Ward. Across the road between the cottages are Quay Steps, which mark the beginning of the path.

(See also alternative route 1.)

Follow the zigzag path up the hill until you come to a road where you turn right, heading westwards. There are good views of the harbour and on clear days up the Bristol Channel to Weston-super-Mare, Cardiff, Steep Holm, Flat Holm and across to Wales. The track is well signposted and easy to follow along North Hill, past Selworthy Beacon and Bossington Hill, down Hurlstone Combe to Bossington village.

(See the 2nd Alternative Route for a strenuous diversion from North Hill to Hurlstone Combe, the Rugged Coast Path, which starts at about 937 477.)

(See the 3rd Alternative Route for the pebble walk along Bossington Beach.)

Due to the sea breaching the pebble ridge of Porlock Bay the original path along the length of the back of the beach to Porlock Weir is no longer possible—if you try it you will either have a long walk back or be in great danger as the currents across the breach are severe.

Depending on the tide you may have a choice of paths from Bossington, both ending up at Porlock Weir. Consult tide tables printed weekly in the West Somerset Free Press, or look across Porlock Marsh from the bottom of Hurlestone Combe. If tides are low then either path is available but at high tides and during wet periods, particularly in winter, only the Village route is feasible.

Village Route—All Weather

Coming out of the National Trust car park in Bossington keep right down the lane towards Bossington Beach. Just after the last house on the left there is a National Trust information board showing the alternatives.

Turn left here for the easy walk to Porlock and the only route when tides are high, particularly during the winter months.

This walk is partly between high hedges and can get quite muddy after heavy rain. Turn right along Bay Road and then left up Sparkhayes Lane to arrive in the middle of Porlock.

PORLOCK

If you wish to visit Porlock, the Doverhay Museum and the visitor centre are both worth a visit. St Dubricious’ church is famous for its efigy monuments and the Ship Inn is an historic old pub. Porlock also has some interesting shops, including a couple of outdoor gear shops.

Turn right along the High Street and continue to McCoy’s shop. Do not take the right fork past the Visitor Centre signposted to Porlock Weir, but go left up the hill past the Ship Inn and turn right on the toll road past the Village Hall. In about 50 yards (46 m) a footpath leads off to the right signposted Porlock Weir. This 2 mile (3.2 km) walk is mostly through woods although there are occasional views of the sea. When you reach the road turn left along the lane signposted Worthy Toll road. At the next junction bear right down the hill to Porlock Weir.

Marsh Route—the preferred route but not at high tides or very wet weather

The other choice is to continue down the track towards Bossington Beach turning left by the derelict lime kilns and following the signs across the fields to join a new section of path (thanks to the landowner and the Exmoor National Park) that avoids the need to go into Porlock and cuts about 20 minutes off the suggested time for this section of path. When you reach a wooded area you come to a path—left to Porlock and right to Porlock Weir. Go right and in a few yards pass through a new gate signed Porlock Weir via Marsh.

Follow the signs through new gates and over a new bridge. You go past the remains of the old duck decoy building, eventually turning sharp right bearing towards Porlock Weir once again. Continue through another new gate and follow the path at the back of the lagoon as far as the beach. This path is crossed by several small streams that after heavy rainfall can become more difficult to cross if you want to stay completely dry!

Once on the beach the going can be tough on the pebbles but it is not a great distance before you turn left up steps that take you onto the road, unless of course you prefer to continue your beach walk as far as Porlock Weir.

ALTERNATIVE ROUTES

1. Minehead to North Hill via Burgundy Chapel

If you want a path that is nearest the coast then continue along Minehead sea front past the Commemorative Marker towards the Quay. Continue straight ahead at the back of the beach along the path at Culver Cliff signposted to Greenaleigh Farm. Go through the farm shortly reaching the
remains of Burgundy Chapel, which according to the Dunster Castle records of 1405 was a quiet sanctuary of the Lord of Dunster. The path climbs
extremely steeply to join the National Trail on North Hill. This path is best suited to those with an above average level of fitness.

2. The Rugged Coast Path

This is a harder but rewarding alternative and you need to allow about an extra 1.5 hours—please do not be put off by the name ‘Rugged’ - it really isn’t as difficult as the name suggests and the views are much better. No dogs are allowed on this National Trust route, which is not shown on OS maps. The path may not be particularly well defined at certain times of the year when vegetation is abundant.

Turning right off the main path at about MR 944 477 you proceed over a stile with a National Trust information board, you must take the left fork towards a bench, then continue downhill to take the lower path by a ’Rugged Path’ signpost, which takes you down into Grexy Combe.

From the bottom you head up on a diagonal path that goes seawards at first and then turns west following the field boundaries at about 600 feet (183 m) above the steep slopes down to the sea. Go via Eastern Brockholes, Western Brockholes, and Henners Combe to East Combe. The views are magnificent. After the stile at East Combe continue westwards looking down on
Selworthy Sand and rejoining the main route at the top of Hurlstone Combe.

Strenuous but well worth it!

3. Bossington Beach

Again those who are fit and have sturdy footwear should only attempt this.

At the bottom of Hurlstone Combe turn right towards the derelict Coastguard Station. Soon bear left down a steep path that ends up on the pebble ridge. Turn west and rejoin the main path where the lane comes from Bossington Village to the Beach.

If you have any question on any of the above please do not hesitate to contact one the event organisers found on the Contact us page click here

click to go back to previous page