Walk - Hurlstone Point Adventurous Walk

3.2 miles (5.1 km)

Bossington car park - TA24 8HF Bossington car park

Moderate - Footpaths, one challenging, some steep ascent, some descent. Do not attempt in bad weather, especially if it's windy

A breathtaking route for the walker who is stout of heart and limb, exploring the remote and rocky realms tucked away behind the old coastguard lookout on Hurlstone Point.

There are a range of wonderful places to lay your head near the Coast Path for a well-earned sleep. From large and luxurious hotels, to small and personable B&B's, as well as self-catering options and campsites. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Bossington Hall Luxury B&B

With breathtaking views and 9 superb rooms, Tennis and Squash within the 8 acres, and a private bar for the lazy evening.

Sparkhayes Farm Campsite

Family site-5 minute walk to the village and its shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants. 20 minute walk down to the sea on the South West Coast Path.

The Cottage B&B

A cosy, luxurious, historic and friendly B&B in the heart of the village, close to all amenities

Myrtle Cottage B&B

A comfortable thatched cottage built over 400 years ago, bursting with character and charm. All rooms en-suite, SW Tourism award winner 2024.

Harbour House Coffee Shop

SWCP Passport Stamping Station - Coffee Shop/Cafe next to South West Coast Path, Porlock Weir, Exmoor, FREE water refills, healthy eat-in/takeaway menu incl Vegan/Veggie

Ash Farm B&B

We are a working farm just off the Coast Path. We can pick up from Porlock Weir if required. Packed lunch on request.

The Beach Hotel Minehead

The Beach Hotel is the perfect place for your South West Getaway, Apprentice run social enterprise, with a little help from us!
You'll be spoilt for choice for where to eat and drink along the Path. With lots of local seasonal food on offer, fresh from the farm, field and waters. Try our local ales, ciders, wines and spirits, increasing in variety by the year, as you sit in a cosy pub, fine dining restaurant or chilled café on the beach. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Harbour Gallery & Cafe

Situated right on the coastpath we sell a fabulous range of freshly prepared food and drinks.

Flapjackery Minehead

Stop off and treat yourself or stock up for your trip along the Path with these delicious, award winning, gluten free flapjacks in a variety of flavours.

What is on your list of things to do when you visit the Path? From walking companies, to help you tailor your visit, with itineraries and experts to enhance your visit, to baggage transfer companies and visitor attractions there are lots to people and places to help you decide what you'd like to do. The businesses that support the Path, where you've chosen to visit, are listed here.

Porlock Visitor Centre

Porlock Visitor Centre provides a vast array of information for visitors to Porlock Vale, including accommodation booking service, maps, walks, things to see and do.

Minehead Information Centre

Maps and Guide Books for sale. FREE accommodation booking service

Interactive Elevation

Route Description

A noticeboard on the path around Hurlstone Point warns against attempting this route in bad weather, and even on a good day it is not for those who dislike heights or are not sure-footed, as there are steep sections with loose stones and some exposure. For those ready to meet the challenge, however, this is an inspiring walk.

  1. From the car park cross the stream via the footbridge and turn left onto the path alongside it.
  2. After about three quarters of a mile you come to Hurlstone Combe. If the weather is bad, take the footpath uphill to the right to continue your walk, turning right at the top and then left onto the track leading to the Coast Path. (You might want to go ahead first, as far as the coastguard lookout point, and then retrace your steps to go up the combe). For the adventurous walk, however, do not go up Hurlstone Combe, but instead carry on to the left, and bear left again (but don't take the path down to the beach), heading for the lookout point.

The coastguard lookout tower was built in 1902, and remained in use until 1983. It was manned until after World War II, and housed a rocket warning system and rescue equipment. A tall semaphore system was also used at the end of the point.
There are caves between Hurlstone Point and Minehead, gouged out by sea erosion but reckoned in some cases to have been artificially enlarged in order to provide better facilities for the contraband trade which once flourished here. One such smugglers' cave is under the point itself. It has been muttered in nearby Selworthy that a passage leads down to the cave from the famous white Church of All Saints in the village, but whether it's true or not, no-one is telling!
The sheer cliffs on the northern face of the point also provide a large number of routes for climbers which are accessible even at high tide, although in places the vegetation makes the climbing a bit of a horticultural activity!

As it goes around the point beyond the lookout station, the path gets twisty and the wind roars in your face, and there is a sudden exhilarating sense of stepping into an unexpected wilderness. Take care along the first stretch, as it is narrow and exposed.

Around the corner, above the beach, the hillside thinks it's a mountain, complete with goat-tracks, scree and sheer rockfaces.

  1. Pick your way carefully up the steep, winding, stony path to the top. There will be plenty of opportunities to admire the view to the beach below and across the Bristol Channel to the Welsh coastline as you pause frequently to catch your breath!
  2. When you finally get to the top, bear left along the top of the hill, ignoring the various small paths leading off through the gorse. Ignore the bigger path to the left a little further on, too, staying with your path until it meets the Coast Path coming up from Porlock via Hurlstone Combe.
  3. Leave your path here, and turn left onto the main path running along the top of the hill, going straight ahead at the junction shortly afterwards and carrying on as another path joins from the left.

The rock on the point and around Culbone Cliffs, across Porlock Bay, is harder than that in the bay, which resulted in these two promontories towering above the mile-long shingle beach below once erosion had reduced the vale between them to the long flat valley so spectacularly displayed from here.

  1. After about half a mile a track joins from the right. Turn sharply right, onto it, and carry on down the side of Bossington Hill, dog-legging into Lynch Combe and ignoring the path leading steeply up the combe in the crook of the second sharp bend.
  2. Bear left through the woods and the path will return you to the stream at the start of the walk. Cross the footbridge to return to the car park.

Public transport

Quantocks Motor Services Routes 39, 300 and 400 travel several times a day between Minehead and Porlock, stopping at Allerford, a 10-minute walk along quiet lanes from Bossington.

For timetable information, zoom in on the interactive map and click on the bus stops, visit Traveline or phone 0871 200 22 33.

Parking

The car park at Bossington

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