South West 07 , Church Ramblers & , Routes DISTANCE 26.5KM/16½ MILES ASCENT 1,083M/3,553FT TIME 8 HOURS TYPE COAST AND MOOR

To download this route NAVIGATION FITNESS PERFECT NUMBER and hundreds of others, visit LEVEL LEVEL FOR OF STILES ramblers.org.uk/routes MODERATE STRENUOUS HERITAGE 2

StroudA long but rewarding circular

Minehead walk from the delightful village Ilfracombe Barnstable PORLOCK of Porlock, visiting secluded 5 4 3 Bideford Taunton – said to be 2 START the smallest parish church in & FINISH – which can only be 1 6 practicably reached on foot.

The route also takes in a section 9 Plan your walk of the 8 WHERE Circular coastal and and includes a return yomp via moorland walk from Porlock. Exmoor National Park START/END Porlock village (SS884467). ROUTE BY MATTHEWMATTHEW JONES JONES TERRAIN Coastal and farmland START at the high street in paths, and moor. Generally well 1 maintained, but can be muddy. Porlock. With your back to the Moderate ascents/descents. Ship Inn, cross over and take the road 7 MAPS OS Explorer OL9; called West End. Look for a path on high hedges follow the bridleway Landranger 181. your R signed ‘Coleridge Way’, named on either side. Drop ahead, bearing L to continue after the poet. Continue along this down into two combes, along it until you reach a road. GETTING THERE Seasonal National Express coaches run path until you cross a footbridge. crossing streams until eventually Turn R along a path to reach the road. reaching a road junction. Continue Turn L onto the road and to , where you can 7 get the no. 10 bus to Porlock. ahead, passing Broomstreet follow until you reach a Turn L onto the road and follow Farm. At a fi ngerpost, turn L uphill junction. Continue straight ahead The nearest mainline station is 2 Taunton (nationalrail.co.uk), it into , passing the (look behind you for wonderful onto a bridleway, which you follow where you get the no. 28 bus to Bottom Ship Inn. Join the South West views of the coast), following the past Lucott Farm. Continue along Minehead (travelinesoutheast. Coast Path, pass the entrance to the fi eld edge until you reach a the road, looking out for a cross-fi eld org.uk) and catch the no. 10. Worthy Toll Road, continuing along main road. footpath on your L. EATING & DRINKING The Top the coast path through interesting tunnels, climbing upwards through Cross the road and turn L, Follow this path down through Ship Inn, Porlock (01643 5 8 862507, shipinnporlock.co.uk). woodland. Follow this path until continuing along the road until fi elds, bearing R as you reach you drop down into a valley, which you see a sign for a bridleway to the woodland. At a path junction, turn L SLEEPING Rooms at the Top Ship Inn (as above). contains hidden Culbone Church. R. Take this and follow it round to to drop down to the stream running the R until you reach a path junction. through Hawke Combe Woods. Cross

VISITOR INFORMATION Go through the small handgate Ignore the path L through a copse the footbridge and follow the stream. Porlock Visitor Centre, West 3 into the churchyard. Take and continue along the bridleway End, Porlock (01643 863150, time to read the headstones, admire to cross North Common, eventually On reaching Peep-out, ignore porlock.co.uk). the large yew and explore the dropping down to the valley. 9 the path on the R, continuing CROWN COPYRIGHT 2019 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA LICENCE 032/19. CREATED WITH MEMORY-MAP CREATED MEDIA LICENCE 032/19. ORDNANCE SURVEY. 2019 COPYRIGHT CROWN GUIDEBOOK Pathfi nder church. Exit the churchyard from ahead until you reach a road to Guides: Exmoor & the the opposite side and head past Cross a footbridge and turn Hawkcombe. Follow this all the way Quantocks – Outstanding 6 stone buildings, through a private R onto the road, over a stone back into Porlock, turning L at the Circular Walks by Sue Viccars residence. At the top of the hill, turn bridge, then L after the cottages onto end to return to the start point. (£12.99, Crimson, ISBN 978 0319090114). L, rejoining the coast path. a broad stony track, heading uphill. Continue across South Common and Walked this route? LOCAL RAMBLERS GROUP Continue through farmyard, onto moorland. At the embankment Rate and review it online at (ramblers.org. 4 still following the South West with a low fence along the top, turn ramblers.org.uk/routes uk/west-somerset).

PHOTO: MATTHEW JONES. MAP: © MATTHEW PHOTO: Coast Path, which is now a track with L to reach a gate. Go through and GO ANGLING SAVE AN EXTRA 10% OFF* THE DISCOUNT CARD PRICE *T&Cs apply. Use Promotion Code: 10WMG GOoutdoors.co.uk

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