, and … 6 miles

Holnicote Estate, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/walks

Visit the beautiful Somerset villages of Allerford and Selworthy and walk through Red deer are the predominant woods planted by the Acland family. There are fine views to both and species on Exmoor but you Bay and, from Selworthy Beacon, of the and . may also see roe deer. You

can tell the difference by their Start: Allerford car park bottoms: red deer's are pale Grid ref: SS904147 Maps: OS Landranger 181; Explorer OL9 brown and higher than they are

Getting here & local facilities wide; roe deer's are white and wider than they are high. By foot: The runs very close to Selworthy Beacon, from where ©NTPL/Nick Garbutt this walk can be started By bus: Allerford is served by the to Porlock local bus, which stops on the A39. It is a short walk from the bus stop to the bridge, at the start of the walk Some of these cottages date By car: Allerford is just off the A39, Minehead to Porlock road. There is a free car park back to the 15th century when opposite the Museum, with a further overflow car park at its rear they were small farms. Selworthy Green was Allerford has public toilets, a small shop and post office, Rural Life Museum and a tea- redesigned by Sir Thomas room in the summer. Selworthy village has a tea-room. Acland in the 1820s to house

retired workers from the estate. Look out for… The bulges in the walls of the cottages are bread ovens. © National Trust/Nigel Hester t Allerford and Selworthy Woods: These woodlands were planted by Sir Thomas Acland between 1815 and 1834. On the birth of each of his eight children, a new section of woodland was planted. The trees here include oak, ash, beech, silver The white lime-washed church birch, holly, holm oak, sweet chestnut, sycamore, Douglas fir and Scot's pine. of All Saints, Selworthy, set 500 feet up, is visible from t Acland memorabilia: Evidence of the Acland family is all over the ; much of Exmoor. The church is St Agnes' fountain named after daughter Agnes; the memorial hut commemorates Sir largely 15th-century, with a Thomas Acland, who walked here with his children and grandchildren for over 50 14th-century tower. The years and the Cross is dedicated to the 11th Baronet. churchyard offers views to Dunkery Beacon. t Lady Acland’s Hut: This is a splendid place for a rest. It is said that this chalet in the © Gill Campbell woods was used by Lady Acland to picnic in. She would walk or ride up after church

in Selworthy, her servants having brought up the picnic in advance of her arrival. ‘This walk is a real pleasure at any time of the year with t Selworthy Beacon: This is the highest point on this part of the coast at 310 metres. something for everyone along the way. ’ The views are spectacular up the Bristol Channel, with the two islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm over 20 miles away. Alistair & Gill Campbell, National Trust Volunteer Rangers

Directions - see page 3 for map

1. From Allerford car park turn right to the . Here, turn left and cross this bridge, over the Aller, and walk up the lane. After about 20 metres, turn left onto a footpath, signed Bossington, and pass through a kissing gate. Climb slightly right across the field, up to the gate ahead in the field boundary. Pass through this gate and a second gate to enter the woods on a small woodland path. Continue up this path, ignoring all side paths, to St. Agnes' Fountain.

2. At the fountain, take a sharp right turn, back along the hill. There are two paths to choose from. Take the higher, left, option, signed Selworthy.

3. Eventually, two paths join from the left – you may not notice them - continue forward, signed Selworthy. Further along, the track is twice diagonally crossed by tracks descending the hillside. Continue straight across both, signed Selworthy.

4. You will eventually reach Catherine's Well, a small spring. From the well, continue straight ahead and at the next junction of paths take the right fork downhill, signed Selworthy. At a second fork, again take the right fork downhill, signed Selworthy Green. Follow this path down to a gate and across a bridge into Selworthy Green. Turn left up the tarmac path to the top of the green.

5. At the top of the green, turn right on the tarmac path in front of the top cottage, going past the war memorial and through the gate. Go straight ahead to visit Selworthy church. Having visited the church, return to the war memorial. Turn right up the track, signed Selworthy Beacon and Bury Castle. Pass through a gate and continue up the combe, keeping right on the main track, signed Selworthy Beacon.

6. Eventually the track forks, take the right track signed Selworthy Combe. After about 250 metres fork left, at a large stone, onto a small path which crosses the combe and the small stream - this path can be easily missed. Climb gently up to a T-junction with a small bridleway sign. Turn sharp left, up an unsigned path which soon reaches Lady Acland's Hut.

7. The path continues around the left side of the hut and traverses the hill side to eventually cross a small stream bridge and finally drop to a main track. Turn right, up hill, climbing to the edge of the woods with the heathland of Selworthy Beacon on your right. Pass a turning left to Bury Castle and then, after about 20 metres, take a small path left to visit Acland Memorial Hut.

8. It’s a short walk now to Selworthy Beacon. Cross the road just behind the hut and take the signed path ahead to the beacon. Return on the same path to the Memorial Hut, pass the hut and keeping straight ahead onto the Easy Access Path which wanders through the pine woods to reach the Bossington Hill car park.

9. Leave the car park on the downhill path near the information board, signed to The Cross and Bossington. When the path splits, take the left fork towards the woods, signed The Cross. Pass through a kissing gate to enter the woods and follow the path ahead to The Cross.

10. Turn right immediately in front of the Cross. This small path descends through the wood to cross a track. Keep straight ahead on the small path. When a second track is reached, turn right and immediately left to continue your descent through the woods.

11. Eventually a third track is reached with a gate on your right. Go through the gate into Lynch Combe and turn immediately left, down the combe. Further down the combe, a footpath crosses. Turn left onto this footpath, signed Allerford.

12. Pass through a gate, back into the woods, and follow this path gently downhill. Ignore a path that joins from the right. When the path splits, take the right, lower, path downhill and then, at a crossroads of paths, keep straight ahead and downhill, signed Allerford. When the path splits again, take the right, lower, path. This leads down to the side of the . Keep straight ahead to then cross the stream bridge. Pass through a gate and walk on to enter Allerford village. At the road, turn left to pass Allerford Orchard and the Post Office to reach the car park.

© Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey. All rights reserved. OS licence no. AL 100023974

Distance, terrain and accessibility

Allow about 2 hours 45 minutes for this 6 mile (10km) walk that gently climbs about 300 metres along woodland tracks to the highest point on this part of the coast. The paths are often rough and can be slippery. Dogs are welcome on this walk. There are short sections in farm pasture where all dogs should be kept on a lead.

Contact us

Telephone 01643 862452 Email [email protected] Website www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holnicote

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