- Difficulty
- Challenging
Moderate with an alternative more strenuous section
- Start
- Minehead
- Finish
- Porlock Weir
- Length
- 8.9 miles (14.3 km)
- Summary
Leave the pavements of Minehead behind as you set off onto the first section of the 630 mile trail, through woodland, along steep cliff tops, farm tracks and up and down beautiful wooded combes with bracken, gorse and bubbling streams.
Exmoor boasts the highest coastline in England with cliffs rising to 250m, 820ft, therefore there are some steep climbs and descents in this section. You can choose to follow the dramatic route known as the ‘rugged’ coast path which runs closer to the coast, or stay more inland on the moor and enjoy the spectacular views from Selworthy Beacon.
There is a lot to look out for, as the Exmoor coast provides a rich habitat for many beautiful and rare species of flora and fauna, including the blackneck moth, red deer, stag beetles and whitebeam trees (relatives of the rowan or mountain ash, unique to Exmoor).
The force of the sea is really evident at the end of your journey, where it is essential to follow the sign-posted paths. In 1996 the natural 6000 year-old shingle ridge across Porlock Bay was breached by a storm, resulting in the dramatic flooding of the fields behind at each high tide. This land is now changing from farmland to saltmarsh, creating a very special habitat for marine life and birds.
- 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.
- Nearest car park
Near the start point in Minehead (Postcode for Sat Navs: TA24 5QW), off Hill Road above North Hill, Bossington, Porlock and Porlock Weir.
- Nearest toilets
Minehead, Bossington and Porlock Weir.
- Nearest refreshments
You can stock up on supplies in Minehead, which has numerous shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs. There are also pubs, restaurants and shops in Porlock and Porlock Weir. There are a number of establishments within reach of the route serving local produce, including Kitnors, National Trust Tea Room, Bossington, Tel: 01643 862643 (open daily Easter to October) and the Countryman Restaurant, High Street, Porlock, Tel: 01643 862241.
