Walk - Minehead 10 Mile Challenge

Minehead Porlock Weir

Challenging -

Start Point: Minehead Seafront

Finish Point: Porlock Central Car Park

Leave the pavements of Minehead behind as you set off onto the first section of the 630 mile trail. With the guide of the National Trust coastal ranger team, head across the Holnicote estate through woodland, along steep cliff tops, farm tracks and up and down beautiful wooded combes with bracken, gorse and bubbling streams, landscapes that inspired some of our most famous romantic poets from Wordsworth to Coleridge.

Exmoor boasts the highest coastline in England with cliffs rising to 250m, 820ft, therefore there are some steep climbs and descents in this section. The route will follow the more inland path on the moor and enjoy the spectacular views from Selworthy Beacon and across the Bossington coastline, both cared for as part of the National Trust Holnicote estate.

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.

Will you spot your first porpoise, peregrine falcon or Exmoor pony as you complete your challenge?

The route will go from the pretty harbour of Porlock Weir inland back to Porlock to the finish point at Porlock Central Car Park.