Walk - Minehead to Porlock Weir

Highlights

• Admiring the SWCP monument on the promenade in Minehead, which marks the beginning of the 630 mile path. The impressive bronze monument, forming enormous hands gripping a map, is based on a design by local art student Sarah Ward.
• Seeking out the Dartford warblers and nightjars living amongst the western gorse and bristle bent heath on North Hill, plants found only in the West Country.
• Catching glimpses of the beautiful Red deer and wild Exmoor ponies.
• Standing upon Selworthy Beacon (summit 308m, 1013ft) and resting to admire the spectacular views inland to Dunkery Beacon, the highest point on Exmoor, out over the Bristol Channel and along the coast to the journey ahead.
• The fantastic views across the Bristol Channel to the Welsh coast and tiny islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm.
• Enjoying a welcome rest at harbour side pubs in Porlock Weir and waiting for the tide to go out and reveal the submarine forest (ancient tree stumps) on the beach.

Shorter option

There isn’t an easy way to shorten this section, other than walking out a distance and then returning to Minehead.

Longer option

Continue on to the car park and bus stop at County Gate Visitor Centre (1/2 mile off the path and in total an extra 5 miles from Porlock Weir).

Public transport

Minehead can be reached by regular bus services from Taunton (nearest mainline rail station) or to arrive in style catch one of the steam trains running on the West Somerset Railway from Bishop Lydeard (close to Taunton). The 10 service runs roughly every 1–2 hours between Minehead, Porlock and Porlock Weir. For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

Near the start point in Minehead (Postcode for Sat Navs: TA24 5QW), off Hill Road above North Hill, Bossington, Porlock and Porlock Weir.