England: Coastal Exmoor a Literary Landscape
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Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: [email protected] England: Coastal Exmoor A literary landscape https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/england-coastal-exmoor/ Route Summary At a glance 6 nights (5 days walking) - the full route. We recommend extra nights in Lynton or Lynmouth and/or Dunster. Dog-friendly with some alternative accommodations. How much walking? Full days: 11-22km per day, 3-6 hrs walking Using shortening options: 8-14km per day, 3-4 hrs Max. Grade: page 1/8 In contrast to the more crowded sections of the South West Coast Path, the part along the North Devon and Somerset coasts is not only quieter but of quite a different character, and we at On Foot Holidays have taken the opportunity of adding some lovely inland stretches not normally included. The result is a magical combination of coastal walking (including the highest point on the South West Coast Path), Exmoor itself, cosy villages and some striking literary connections. This is Lorna Doone country – the heroine of R D Blackmore’s Exmoor-set historical tragedy – so prepare the hankies. You can visit the church she married in, as well as other places connected with her tale, and much of the second half of the walk uses the Coleridge Way (named for the English Romantic poet who made his second home in this area). The 6-night version starts with a night at the railhead of Barnstaple, where you can settle in, have a look at the interesting centre and have a good supper to prepare yourself for the next day’s walking. Following a short transfer to the sea village of Combe Martin, start with an immediate climb up to Great Hangman, high over the Bristol Channel, before dropping down to stay in the secluded valley of Heddon’s Mouth and its National Trust run hotel. A day of coastal walking to the twin towns of Lynton and Lynmouth, linked by a venerable cliff railway, is followed by a stretching circuit taking in Foreland Point, Countisbury Church and the beauty spot of Watersmeet on the East Lyn river. Then Lorna’s day to Porlock Weir, surely one of the prettiest ports in the region – maybe an oyster supper? – and finally a long walk over the north slopes of Dunkery Beacon to historic Dunster, with its unmissable castle, High Street and a range of eateries. Your holiday should end (we recommend) with a trip on the privately run West Somerset Railway to (almost) Taunton, and home. Route Highlights ● Variety of coastal walking and wide views ● Traditional villages and a taste of the moors ● Literary connections – Lorna Doone and Coleridge ● Lynmouth and the story of the Flood ● Picturesque Porlock Weir ● Historic Dunster – a great end to your walk We Recommend Extra nights in Lynmouth/Lynton. An extra night in Dunster to give time for exploring the castle there and the many tea rooms... undoing all the good of the previous days' walking! page 2/8 Grading Full days: 11-22km per day, 3-6 hrs walking Using shortening options: 8-14km per day, 3-4 hrs Generally the signage is very good (following the South West Coast Path acorn and Coleridge Way plume). The highest point on the coast is Great Hangman (between Combe Martin and Heddon's Mouth) at 318m; high point on the route as a whole is between Lynmouth and Porlock Weir at 400m. Some parts of the coast path between Combe Martin and Lynton may worry the acrophobic. Paths and tracks, some quiet asphalt. Medium-hard: average cumulative uphill stretches (CUSs) 625m (450m-850m) per day. GPX file available for handheld GPS or smartphone App for complete route. Important note: Times given for each day are walking times for an “average” walker and exclude stops. “CUSs” stands for “Cumulative Uphill Stretches” and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb. See “Walk Grading” for more information. When to go The best months to walk: April, May, June, September, October. Other possible months: July, August (but this is peak UK holiday time, so availability can be difficult!), November to March (shorter options) This walk is best in spring and autumn, but beware of shorter days from late October through to mid-April, when it may also be rather wet and muddy! Please note: date ranges shown are for a ‘normal’ year. While Covid-19 restrictions remain, please contact us to discuss your plans and availability. Itinerary Day 1 - Arrive in Barnstaple Allow time, if you can, to explore this old market town, and choose somewhere to dine tonight. Day 2 - Combe Martin to Heddon's Mouth After a taxi transfer to Combe Martin (included), your path ascends swiftly up to Great Hangman and along the edge of the cliff with views over to Wales. A final stretch takes you away from the coast on a small road to the tiny village of Trentishoe before reaching your destination of Hunter's Inn, deep in its wooded fastness, close to the smugglers' bay known as Heddon’s Mouth. (11 kms, 4 hrs, CUSs 600m) page 3/8 Day 3 - Heddon's Mouth to Lynton/Lynmouth A gentle and relatively short day’s walking along barely accessible and spectacular parts of the coast, Woody Bay, the pastoral setting of Lee Abbey, the Valley of the Rocks and finally to the Victorian charms of Lynton/Lynmouth for a late lunch. Make time to explore the museum dedicated to the Great Flood of 1952. (11 kms, 3hrs, CUSs 470m) Day 4 - Countisbury Circuit You might decide to take a day off, but you would miss a splendid and varied day, taking in some fine coastal walking to Countisbury, with an opportunity to divert to the lighthouse at Foreland Point, a look at Countisbury church with its carved screen, then a descent to the wooded valley of the mighty East Lyn river. For the final stretch our recommended route takes you high above the valley for some great views and a beautiful wooded descent into Lynmouth. (17km, 4¼ hrs, CUSs 850m - shortenable) Day 5 - Lynmouth to Porlock Weir A long but rewarding day, initially following the Coleridge Way and later rejoining the South West Coastal Path as you head down into Porlock Weir. After a gradual climb beside the East Lyn river, head into Lorna Doone country with a steep climb up from Oare. The afternoon encompasses coastal scenery with spectacular views across the Bristol Channel and to Wales before some woodland walking past Culbone Church, England’s smallest complete church, to your destination at Porlock Weir with a magnificent vista of Porlock Bay and beyond to Hurlestone Point. (Full route 22km, 6 hrs, CUSs 750m, shortenable with a taxi at start - supplement) Day 6 - Porlock Weir to Dunster Pleasant woodland walking at first with glimpses of wonderful panoramic views, then a climb up to Webber’s Post with vistas of glorious rolling high hills and the distant view of Dunkery Beacon, Somerset and Exmoor’s highest point. The traverse across the northern slope of Dunkery Hill and gentle descent into Wootton Courtenay provides, with good weather, spectacular and distant views across the West Somerset landscape, and continues on to picturesque Dunster, entering the village over historic Gallox Bridge. (20km, 5½hrs, CUSs 450m) Travel Information ARRIVING BY AIR Best “local” airports are Exeter or Bristol, but connections to Taunton are good from the London airports. Flight information can change rapidly and not all flights run daily. Please do check directly with the airlines’ websites or Skyscanner (see below) before finalising any booking with us. Do not book your flights until we have confirmed that we have provisionally reserved accommodation for you. For up-to-date schedules and flights from all airports check Skyscanner. See “Getting to the start of the walk” below for more detailed transfer information. ARRIVING BY TRAIN Train to Barnstaple (changing at Exeter St Davids). Nearest railway station: Start: Barnstaple Finish: Taunton page 4/8 Sample journey by rail: Via London: Paddington to Exeter St David’s, then train to Barnstaple (c. 3½ hrs) Dunster to London: bus Dunster to Taunton, then train (c. 3 hrs) We suggest thetrainline.com for times, ticket booking and other information. ARRIVING BY CAR Driving isn’t the easiest option, but you can leave your car at the railway station in Taunton (supplement payable locally – buy ticket online on the day (only) here) and take a train on to Barnstaple. Do note that space at Taunton station isn’t guaranteed (there are 140 places), and other options are available either in the town or via private arrangements on the JustPark app. Long term parking may also be available in Dunster at Dunster Steep car park, again subject to space being available (not prebookable). You will then need a taxi back to Barnstaple (supplement from £83). Getting to the start of the walk The first hotel is in Barnstaple, the last in Dunster. Transfer times and methods are suggestions from London Gatwick and London Heathrow airports, but if you arrive at Bristol or Exeter airports, then transfer times will be shorter in most cases. GATWICK AIRPORT Outward: Gatwick Express to Victoria, underground to Paddington, train to Barnstaple, change at Reading and Exeter St David’s (c. 5 hrs) 20 min walk from Barnstaple station (or taxi – pick up at station) Return: Hourly buses (c. 1 hr) from Dunster to Taunton or pre-bookable taxi; then train to Gatwick, change Reading (c. 3½ hrs) HEATHROW AIRPORT Outward: Heathrow Express to London Paddington, train to Barnstaple, change at Exeter St David’s (c 4 hrs) 20 min walk from Barnstaple station (or taxi – pick up at station) Return: Hourly buses (c.